By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Hudson Calfee is the Valedictorian for the Union City High School Class of 2020.
Calfee will deliver the keynote graduation address at commencement exercises May 16 at War Memorial Stadium after posting an unweighted 4.0 grade point average to earn the distinguished honor among 91 graduates of this year’s class.
The son of Dr. Michael and Janet Calfee, Hudson was a member of the Top 10 in each of his four years at UCHS and the prestigious 30+ ACT Club while also being named a Boys State delegate. He has been the recipient of numerous academic honors and awards and has been active as well in a number of school and civic clubs while also playing two sports and in the band.
Davie Townes is the Salutatorian for the Class of 2020.
Townes, who’ll also speak during graduation ceremonies, earned her No. 2 ranking among this year’s graduates with a 3.96 unweighted GPA.
She has been a Top 10 student all four years, a member of the Magnet School program and has been a participant in many school activities, including the band color guard and Beta Club – which she served as president. She also has been a Girls State delegate and served in many community involvement causes.
She is the daughter of David and Kristi Townes.
UCHS Principal Jacob Cross and guidance counselor Susan Searcy also released the names of recipients of several scholarships, the list of Top 10 students from each class from 2019-20 and numerous other awards and honors this morning.
That list is as follows:
Memorial and Tribute Scholarships
Marshall Cunningham Scholarship – Davie Townes
This award for approximately $5,000 scholarship total ($1,250 each year for four years) is funded by the Cunningham family, who all were educated in the UC School System.
Wilford Gray Memorial Science Collegiate Scholarship – Kyle Herrell
This $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually by Bill and Carol Latimer in memory of Wilford Gray, who taught in the Science Department at Union City High School for 43 years.
David Isbell Memorial Scholarship – Carson Corley
This $1,000 scholarship is given each year by Bill and Carol Latimer in memory David Isbell.
Marion Reithel Music Scholarship – Caleb Parker
This $1,000 scholarship is sponsored by Bill and Carol Latimer and meant as a tribute to “the Music Man” Marion Reithel.
Baxter Wheatley Scholarship – Joyner Caldwell
This $1,500 scholarship is awarded in recognition of Baxter Wheatley’s contributions to the Union City School System and is sponsored by Bill and Carol Latimer.
Charles Miller Future Educator Scholarship – Amelia Kingrey
This $1,000 scholarship is in honor of Charles Miller, who served as an English teacher at Union City High School for 30 years.
Susan Parr Future Educator Scholarship – AJ Morris
This $1,000 scholarship is in honor of Susan Parr, who served as technology coordinator and a teacher at Union City High School for 25 years.
CUMULATIVE TOP 10 RANKING
Hudson Calfee, Davie Townes, Sam Theobald, Kyle Herrell, Blade Johnson, Briley Coffey, Trey Smith, Caroline Conley, Zoe Cagle and Reice Gray
2019-20 SENIOR TOP 10 (Alphabetical Order)
Zoe Cagle, Hudson Calfee, Briley Coffey, Caroline Conley, Kyle Herrell, Blade Johnson, Caleb Parker, Trey Smith, Sam Theobald and Davie Townes
2019-20 JUNIOR TOP 10 (Alphabetical Order)
Jason Bone, Dalton Bone, Korneilous Brown, Elijah Cavalier, Tammy Huynh, Ben Martinek, Ben McMillan, Matthew Parr, Gabe Qualls and Leah Wisener
2019-20 SOPHOMORE TOP 10 (Alphabetical Order)
Kamia Cross, Daniel Edwards, Gabrielle Jones, Hope Kennedy, Silas Petty, Olivia Tanner, Kobe Terrell, Sara Ullrich, Ella Virgin and Annie Wade
2019-20 FRESHMAN TOP 10 (Alphabetical Order)
Susan Armstrong, Khali Brooks, Reagan Durkee, Chloe Meade, Emma Powell, Owen Rodgers, Jocelyn Ruiz, Katherine Schlager, Madeline Underwood and Charlton Wisener
GRADUATING WITH STATE DISTINCTION
Cumulative average must be a ‘B’ and have ONE of the following:
- 31 composite ACT
- 3 or more on 2 AP Tests
- National Merit Scholarship finalist or semi-finalist
- Attended Governor’s School
- Received All-State Music Honor
- Earned 12 or more semester hours of post-secondary credit.
Hudson Calfee, Briley Coffey, Leah Beth Faulkner, Reice Gray, Kyle Herrell, Blade Johnson, Caleb Parker, Sam Theobald and Cale Yates
PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
Must have cumulative a 90 percent average and ONE of the following:
- 28 or higher on ACT Reading
- 26 or higher on ACT Math
Zoe Cagle, Hudson Calfee, Briley Coffey, Caroline Conley, Nicholas DeRosia, Reice Gray, Madison Halstead, Kyle Herrell, Blade Johnson, Amelia Kingrey, Caleb parker, Jonathan Ransom, Tucker Rivers, Trey Smith, Sam Theobald, Haley Thomas, Davie Townes, Abigail Wagner, Kallie Worrell and Cale Yates
PRESIDENTIAL AWARD OF ACHIEVEMENT
Must have ONE of the following:
- 90 percent cumulative average
- 28 or higher on ACT Reading
- 26 or higher on ACT Math
Diego Arriaga, Sloan Bearden, Nicholas Boyd, Kayleigh Burch, Joyner Caldwell, Dylan Coffey, Carson Corley, Alexia Couch, Kyndall Davis, Olivia Dysart, Leah Falkner, Shadimon Henry, Reed Hughey, Sydney Johnson, Mariah Johnson, Aubree Keeling, Damans Maldonado, Ali Nelson, Maria Vazquez, Lillian Virden and Ali Wheatley
GRADUATING WITH HONORS
Must have ALL of the following:
- ACT English — 18
- ACT Math — 22
- ACT Reading — 22
- ACT Science — 23
Zoe Cagle, Joyner Caldwell, Hudson Calfee, Briley Coffey, Caroline Conley, Carson Corley, Nicholas DeRosia, Olivia Dysart, Reice Gray, Kyle Herrell, Reed Hughey, Blade Johnson, Amelia Kingrey, AJ Morris, Caleb Parker, Jonathan Ransom, Tucker Rivers, Trey Smith, Sam Theobald, Haley Thomas, Davie Townes, Abigail Wagner, Kallie Worrell and Cale Yates
2020 TENNESSEE SCHOLARS
Diego Arriaga, Brooke Batey, Sloan Bearden, Hudson Calfee, Briley Coffey, Caroline Conley, Alexia Couch, Kyndall Davis, Leah Beth Faulkner, Kyle Herrell, Blade Johnson, Sydney Kate Johnson, Aubree Keeling, Amelia Kingrey, Caleb Parker, Jonathan Ransom, Tucker Rivers, Haley Thomas, Davie Townes and Kallie Worrell