The Roane State Foundation recently celebrated student excellence and local philanthropy across high school senior awards events, recognizing more than 100 students from over two dozen area high schools.

The foundation presented a total of $123,000 in Foundation Merit Awards to high-achieving seniors planning to attend Roane State Community College this coming fall. To qualify, students maintained a minimum 3.5 GPA while excelling in academics, leadership, athletics, or the arts.

“The dedication these students have shown in their schools and communities is truly inspiring,” said Pamela Rudnitzki, Roane State Foundation Director of Student Programs. “We are incredibly grateful to our donors who make these awards possible, allowing us to support the brightest local talent as they take the next step in their educational journeys.”

Representatives noted that these merit awards are only the start of the foundation’s support for the upcoming academic year. Nearly $400,000 in additional scholarship funds will be awarded throughout the summer to help eliminate financial barriers for incoming students.

2026–27 Merit Award Recipients

• Kaylie Stair (Philadelphia, TN) – Horsehead Scholarship Endowment

• Brody Johnson (Philadelphia, TN) – Horsehead Scholarship Endowment

• Kayden Wild (Kingston, TN) – Bionomics Inc Scholarship

• Malea Patterson (Oliver Springs, TN) – Claude Smith (C.S.) and Maxine Harvey Scholarship Endowment

• Derek Fox (Oliver Springs, TN) – Claude Smith (C.S.) and Maxine Harvey Scholarship Endowment

• Haley Seiber (Oliver Springs, TN) – Malinda Raby Yager Scholarship

• Jaren Ginn (Kingston, TN) – Maurice K. and Sarah G. Williams Memorial Scholarship Endowment

• Jayden Gann (Harriman, TN) – Maurice K. and Sarah G. Williams Memorial Scholarship Endowment

• Ashlyn Carter (Lenoir City, TN) – Lucy Ellis and Ross Seabron Jones Memorial Scholarship Endowment

• Maggie Beaver (Harriman, TN) – Cuyler Dunbar Presidential Scholarship

• Railey Jones (Rockwood, TN) – Mary Kirkham Memorial Scholarship Endowment

• Brady Harvey (Harriman, TN) – Suzanne Shelton Memorial Scholarship Endowment

• Hayley Carpenter (Wartburg, TN) – Terry and Marsha Futrell Scholarship

• Emma Davidson (Wartburg, TN) – Herman Postma/PAI Corporation Scholarship Endowment

• Nayumi Testa (Kingston, TN) – Hibbs Scholarship Endowment Fund

• Isabelle Keller (Oliver Springs, TN) – Hibbs Scholarship Endowment Fund

• Brett Smith (Sunbright, TN) – Hibbs Scholarship Endowment Fund

• Sophia Laymance (Harriman, TN) – John and Mildred Dillon Scholarship Endowment

• William Landrum (Lancing, TN) – John and Mildred Dillon Scholarship Endowment

• Josie Kelly (Wartburg, TN) – Plateau Electric Cooperative Scholarship

• Levi Webb (Sunbright, TN) – Plateau Electric Cooperative Scholarship

• Addison Coleman (Sunbright, TN) – Murray and Mimi Rosenthal Scholarship Endowment Fund

• Sawyer Newport (Oakdale, TN) – John and Mildred Dillon Scholarship Endowment

• Rachel Smith (Oakdale, TN) – Barbara K. Lingerfelt Memorial Scholarship Endowment

• Charlie Clinard (Deer Lodge, TN) – Nancy Ann Garrison Memorial Scholarship Endowment

• Braely Hartsgrove (Oliver Springs, TN) – Nancy Ann Garrison Memorial Scholarship Endowment

• Grayson Soldner (Harriman, TN) – Nancy Ann Garrison Memorial Scholarship Endowment

• Makella Anderson (Harriman, TN) – Nancy Ann Garrison Memorial Scholarship Endowment

• Chloe Collins (Rockwood, TN) – Murray and Mimi Rosenthal Scholarship Endowment Fund

• Kaleb Langley (Oliver Springs, TN) – Murray and Mimi Rosenthal Scholarship Endowment Fund

• Miranda Persinger (Crossville, TN) – Jay & Diane Brown Scholarship Endowment

• Chloe Waldo (Crossville, TN) – Jay & Diane Brown Scholarship Endowment

• Marla Ashburn (Crossville, TN) – Jay & Diane Brown Scholarship Endowment

• Abbigail Roberts (Clarkrange, TN) – Jay & Diane Brown Scholarship Endowment

• Emeri Sherrill (Crossville, TN) – Jay & Diane Brown Scholarship Endowment

• Ashton Thompson (Lancing, TN) – Earl McDonald Scholarship

• Sara Gunter (Grimsley, TN) – Nancy Ann Garrison Memorial Scholarship Endowment

• Roslyn Atkinson (Clarkrange, TN) – Nancy Ann Garrison Memorial Scholarship Endowment

• Emma Stover (Jamestown, TN) – Nancy Ann Garrison Memorial Scholarship Endowment

• Savannah Horak (Crossville, TN) – Kurt A. Kraus Memorial Scholarship Endowment

• Brayden Patterson (Crossville, TN) – Kayser Roth/Robert Smith Presidential Scholarship Endowment

• MacKenzie Spriggs (Crossville, TN) – Jay & Diane Brown Scholarship Endowment

• Keely Brown (Crossville, TN) – Jay & Diane Brown Scholarship Endowment

• Marly Elliott (Crossville, TN) – Jay & Diane Brown Scholarship Endowment

• Lydia Hargis (Crossville, TN) – Kurt A. Kraus Memorial Scholarship Endowment

• Domingo Matias (Crossville, TN) – Kayser Roth/Robert Smith Presidential Scholarship Endowment

• Jayda Swafford (Clarkrange, TN) – Raider Fund Scholarship

• Ashton Napier (Jamestown, TN) – Raider Fund Scholarship

• Rayna Scroggins (Kingston, TN) – Raider Fund Scholarship

• Briley Upchurch (Pall Mall, TN) – Raider Fund Scholarship

• Neela Wright (Rockwood, TN) – Bernard-Greif Family Scholarship Endowment

• Addison Langley (Harriman, TN) – Raider Fund Scholarship

• Kynna O’Toole (Harriman, TN) – Lonnie Albert Burns Memorial Scholarship Endowment

• Ava Cox (Rockwood, TN) – C.R. Black Memorial Scholarship Endowment

• Jenna Campbell (Loudon, TN) – Browder/Johnston Family Scholarship Endowment

• Ella Dyer (Lenoir City, TN) – Browder/Johnston Family Scholarship Endowment

• Riley Waugh (Lenoir City, TN) – Browder/Johnston Family Scholarship Endowment

• Annie Alvo (Lenoir City, TN) – Browder/Johnston Family Scholarship Endowment

• Talen Costner (Loudon, TN) – Murray and Mimi Rosenthal Scholarship Endowment Fund

• Sophia Eller (Loudon, TN) – Murray and Mimi Rosenthal Scholarship Endowment Fund

• Gabriel Severance (Greenback, TN) – Murray and Mimi Rosenthal Scholarship Endowment Fund

• Briley Ervin (Greenback, TN) – Murray and Mimi Rosenthal Scholarship Endowment Fund

• Zoey Kring (Harriman, TN) – Gerald Moore Scholarship Endowment