Ayers Scholars Alumni are helping to fulfill the Trust’s mission of improving the quality of life of rural Tennesseans.

To celebrate 25 years of transforming rural communities, the Ayers Foundation Trust is recognizing outstanding Ayers Scholars Alumni with our first-ever “Top 25 to Watch.” Ayers staff, alumni, and community members were encouraged to nominate Ayers Scholars Alumni who are making an impact in their communities. The Ayers Alumni Council selected these 25 alumni from the nominees to spotlight their dedication to the Ayers Foundation Trust’s mission of improving the quality of life of rural Tennesseans.

The Ayers Scholars program started with one high school in 1999 and now serves students in 33 high schools in 21 rural Tennessee counties. The Top 25 to Watch includes graduates from the program’s early classes of Ayers Scholars and graduates as recent as the Class of 2023. It includes nonprofit leaders, healthcare administrators and practitioners, social workers, a top state government official, a graduate of Yale University, engineers, and more. Their experiences are vast but they all had guidance and support from the Ayers Scholars Program in common.

The Top 25 to Watch are:

Pamela Bartholomew-Gardner, Riverside High School, Class of 2001

Elijah Berberette, Perry County High School, Class of 2018

Brian-Austin Carlton, Wayne County High School, Class of 2022

Timothy Clark, Lexington High School, Class of 2015

Katelyn Cozart, Lawerence County High School, Class of 2020

Maria Ruiz Davalos, Riverside High School, Class of 2013

Elijah Haggard, Riverside High School, Class of 2015

Addie Hale, Lexington High School, Class of 2015

Lilly Morales, Riverside High School, Class of 2018

Kailey Muncey, Union County High School, Class of 2023

Emily Nicholas, Scotts Hill High School, Class of 2011

Leeanne Pierce, Riverside High School, Class of 2000

Taleya Pearson, Lexington High School, Class of 2016

Antonio Posey, Lexington High School, Class of 2018

Derrick Pritchard, Riverside High School, Class of 2004

Teresa Ramirez, Unicoi County High School, Class of 2018

Morgan Reddix, Riverside High School, Class of 2016

Alec Richardson, Perry County High School, Class of 2012

Kyle Smith, Riverside High School, Class of 2002

Katie Stricklin, Riverside High School, Class of 2008

Steven Szucs, Unicoi County High School, Class of 2019

Keelie Troutt, Camden Central High School, Class of 2022

Lillian Walters, Hardin County High School, Class of 2022

Tiffani Brasher White, Riverside High School, Class of 2001

Alexis Harvey Wilson, Unicoi County High School, Class of 2018