Union County High School Class of 2019 students have now made their last entrance as seniors and students at UCHS. On May 14, at the Senior Brunch and Awards Ceremony, students were congratulated and honored with an estimate of a half million dollars in scholarship funds being presented.

The awards ceremony was directly succeeding the brunch kicking off with introductions from Dr. Jimmy Carter and Principal Carmen Murphy. Guest speakers and former UCHS students, Jared Effler and Jason Bailey followed with speeches encouraging and uplifting the students. Effler emphasized. “Always be early, on time is late.” UCHS Counseling Department, Ryan Graves, Jamie Branton, and Beth Moore, introduced speakers and presented awards. Flowers by Bob created gorgeous flower arrangements for the program.

Scholarships were presented as follows to these individuals by the entity listed: Miss Union County Participant – Katelyn Knight; City of Maynardville – Alex Bowman; City of Plainview – Emily Hickman; Commercial Bank – Aimee LeFevers; First Century Bank – Dalton Truan; Union County Business and Professionals Association – Aimee LeFevers, Ethan Dyer, and Nathan Ashher; Corum Legacy – Ethan Dyer; Sunset Bay – Sara Daniels and Ethan Dyer; Warwick’s Chapel Baptist Church – Holden Headrick and Ethan Dyer; St. Theresa of Kolkata Catholic Church – Ethan Dyer and Neil Ingram; Youth Leadership Union County – Alex Bowman and Alexandra Moshe; Union County Opry – Nathan Asher; Union County Farm Bureau – Sawyer Henderson, Zach Hickman, and Ethan Dyer; Mark Martin and Brenda Mincey Memorials – Hannah Brown, Ethan Dyer, Aimee LeFevers, Caroline Rutherford, Tyler Summers, and Neilea Hansen; Pam Hampton Memorial – Rebecca Hickman.

Amongst the nearly two hundred graduates, many have chosen a respectable career in the military field. Some of those students were awarded with scholarships from the VFW American Legion including Hazel Suffridge, Alex Roach, Conner Smith, Christopher Braden, Benjamin Gonzalas, Max Ellis, Tavish Curry, Jacob Newton, Kilen Lister, Conner Bailey, Jacob Dyer, Tyler Greenlee, Greyson Moyers, and Gabriel Posani.

Other military scholarships presented: Army National Guard - Jacob Newton, Benjamin Gonzalez, Max Ellis, and Chris Braden; Army - Jacob Dyer and Conner Bailey; Tennessee Air National Guard - Conner Smith and Alexis Roach; Marines – (athletic) Dalton Truan and Caroline Rutherford, (academic) Skyla Webb, and (music) Nathan Asher.

Many colleges were present in awarding partial and full scholarships to students. Schools present include Walters State Community College, Lincoln Memorial University, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, University of Tennessee, University of the Cumberland’s, East Tennessee State University, Maryville College, and Cleveland State. Around twenty students were awarded a 2018-19 Work Ethic Distinction. Dalton Truan received a special Tree Top Award. A large number of students were identified as receiving the Tennessee Hope and Promise Scholarships.

As Mrs. Murphy shared reflections and closed, she recognized outstanding student Seth Jackson for his accomplishment and hard work in planning and constructing an outdoor classroom area as a part of his Eagle Scout. So many students have gone above and beyond and have given there all in pushing forward to becoming tomorrow’s young leaders. Union County should be proud of this profound Class of 2019.