By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Taizhan Fuller and Daniel Edwards will represent Union City High School in the 10th annual Vaughn RisingStar Leadership Summit on the campus of the University of Tennessee at Martin.
The two-day program is designed specifically for high school seniors across West Tennessee. The summit’s primary purpose is to give students across the area the chance to develop leadership skills and learn the importance of community involvement.
Students from more than a dozen rural West Tennessee high schools will participate in the event, Nov. 4 and 5.
Nine customized individual campus tours will be available to attendees. Among those specialized fields are engineering, nursing, art/theatre, fashion/nutrition/child & family, agriculture, computers/technology, communications, sports management and criminal justice.
Team building, a session on motivational leadership and recreational activities will also be a part of the summit.
Both UCHS participants are well-rounded with a variety of interests.
Fuller, whose future plans include attending a HBCU (Historical Black College/University), is a member of the Drama Club, the UCHS Choir and the Art Club, among his many activities. He also has been a member of the Tornado track team.
Fuller has been recognized as a Kiwanis Student of the Month and has earned a spot on the All-West Tennessee Choir.
He plans to seek a degree in music performance and desires to work on a cruise line as a lounge singer.
Edwards has been a member of the Top 10 academically, won Student of the Month honors, and was tabbed as the school representative for Boys State.
He is a member of the school’s Engineering Club, has been a STEM Club and Beta Club member, and has represented UCHS in Ethics Bowl competition.
Edwards plans to attend Tennessee Tech and major in mechanical engineering.
“We are so excited to have Taizhan and Daniel participate in a program that has proven to be both rewarding and beneficial to students in the past,” UCHS guidance counselor Susan Searcy said.
“They’ll have multiple opportunities to learn important lessons and skills, and also make many contacts that could be useful in networking in their futures.”