Tullahoma High School senior Maggie Lynch was named the recipient of the 2025 Tennessee School Board Association (TSBA) South Central Student Achievement Award earlier this month.

“This honor is extremely important to me because it represents the hard work I have put in to get where I am,” Lynch said. “It also acts as motivation as I get set to head into my future career path after graduation.”

This marks the third consecutive year that TCS has had a student receive the TSBA South Central Student Achievement Award. Brady Welch won the award in 2023, while Claire Fogarty was named the winner in 2024.

Each year, the Tennessee School Boards Association recognizes students from across the state who have distinguished themselves in academics, community and service activities, and leadership roles and activities. Superintendents, school board members, or district directors are encouraged to help acknowledge the achievements of Tennessee’s students. Nominees must be juniors in Tennessee public schools at the time of the application deadline.

Lynch is the Senior Class President at Tullahoma High School. Additionally, she is a member of the student leadership club, student advisory team, National Honor Society, debate club, math team, volleyball team, softball team, and a member of the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA). Lynch was also crowned the Distinguished Young Woman of Tullahoma and is the first alternate for the state of Tennessee.

“I was surprised when I received the news that I had won the Student Achievement Award,” Lynch said. “I had originally submitted my application two months before I learned that I won, so I did not think I would be receiving the award. When I saw the congratulatory email, I immediately told my parents and celebrated with them. I was then met with an overwhelming amount of congratulations from the Tullahoma School Board.”

Awards were given at each of the nine Fall District Meetings. The nine district winners are now tasked with writing a 1,000-word essay on a selected TSBA topic that will help determine the statewide overall winner. Additionally, the nine district winners will be interviewed by a committee appointed by the TSBA President. The statewide winner will be recognized at the TSBA Awards Ceremony of the Annual Convention in November and awarded a $2,000 scholarship.

“Maggie is an amazing young woman whom I have known since her middle school years, and I’m so very proud of her for achieving the accolade of TSBA’s South Central Student Achievement Award winner,” said Dr. Catherine Stephens, TCS Director of Schools. “Maggie truly deserves this recognition, and I cannot wait to see how she does in November as she moves forward in the state competition.”