ACT Luncheon Honors 17 High School Students

HUNTINGDON (April 20) — Seventeen Carroll County students were the guests of honor at Mallard’s Restaurant Monday, April 20, at the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce’s annual ACT Luncheon.

Each of the students scored a superscore of 29 or higher on the national ACT exam, for which the highest score is a 36. This score places each student in the top eight-percent of students across the nation who took the ACT.

The chamber began honoring students with high ACT scores in 2013, recognizing their achievement with wall plaques inside the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce building.

Carroll County Chamber of Commerce President Brad Hurley estimated that, since 2013, approximately 3,900 students have graduated from Carroll County schools.

In that time, only 184 of those students have made a 29 or higher on their ACT exam.

Hurley spoke to the students on behalf of the chamber board.

“The board wanted you to know that Carroll County is your home,” Hurley said. “We are proud of you today. We’ll be proud of you tomorrow. We’ll be proud of you 10 years from now.”

Hurley asked for students to stay true to themselves and to one day return to Carroll County to build their careers.

“This is your home, and we want you to always know you can come home,” Hurley said. “Regardless of if you change paths, whatever you want to do, this is your home.”

Hurley also challenged students to give back to their teachers by saying thank you.

Of the honorees, six were from Huntingdon High School, four were from McKenzie High School, three were from Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central High School, two were from Clarksburg School, one was from West Carroll Jr./Sr. High School and one was homeschooled.

Carroll County Mayor Joseph Butler and Bethel University President Perry Moulds presented the following students with plaques:

 

Huntingdon High School

Wyatt Bergman scored a 30 on his ACT. He plans to attend the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where he will study diesel engineering. In high school, he was a member of the Beta Club, and he was a four-year member of the cross country team. Bergman competed at the National Beta Convention in Engineering and also in the University of Tennessee at Martin’s annual math competition. He graduated from the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Youth Leadership Program. Bergman has worked at the Huntingdon Animal Lodge since December 2025.

Thomas “TJ” Brea scored a 31 on his ACT. He is studying HVAC at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in McKenzie. In high school, Brea was a member of the band and the Future Farmers of America. He has worked at The Dairy Bar in Huntingdon since March 2026.

Tripp Johnson scored a 29 on his ACT. He plans to attend the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where he will pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. His favorite high school activity has been track and field. Johnson is a member of the Beta Club, and he is in the top 10 percent of his class. He holds a record for the farthest shot put in Huntingdon High School history. He has worked at the Huntingdon Recreational Pool for two years.

Will Lewis scored a 34 on his ACT. He plans to attend the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where he will study biomedical engineering. He is a member of the Beta Club and Math Club. Lewis is a distinguished scholar and was accepted into the Chancellor’s Honors Program at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He has worked at Block City Pizza.

Mary Kendall Stevens scored a 29 on her ACT. She plans to attend the University of Tennessee at Martin, where she will major in finance with the goal of attending law school in the future. In high school, she was a member of the Beta Club and was on the high school tennis team. She is the Beta Club president and is the Class of 2026 vice president. She is a lifeguard at the Huntingdon Recreational Pool.

Blaine Todd scored a 29 on his ACT. He plans to attend Tennessee Tech University and major in civil engineering because he wants to make an impact on people’s lives. In high school, he was a member of the Beta Club and the cross-country team. Todd received the Citizenship Award and is Class President. He spends his summers mowing lawns.

 

McKenzie High School

Brody Berryhill scored a 33 on his ACT. He plans to attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he will major in biochemistry. Berryhill plans to become an anesthesiologist or pulmonologist and eventually open a joint operation in West Tennessee, with the hopes of making healthcare easier and more accessible. In high school, Berryhill was a member of the cross-country team and a member of the DECA Club. Berryhill placed first at the State DECA conference in International Business and is a two-time DECA international conference attendee. He is also a four-time winner of a McKenzie High School Scholar of Merit. Berryhill is a 2026 graduate of Youth Leadership Carroll County and has worked at the McKenzie Park Theatre since October 2021.

Dylan Bomar scored a 30 on his ACT. He plans to study music at the University of Tennessee at Martin, as he said music is the core component of his life. In high school, he was a member of the Beta Club and the marching and concert band. Bomar was named Best Soloist in the prelims and finals of the 2024 Tennessee Division One State Marching Band Championship. He was also voted the most talented in his class.

Tobey Brooks scored a 31 on his ACT. He plans to study international business at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He has always had an interest in business and traveling, so he thought, “Why not put the two together?” In high school, Brooks enjoyed cheer and DECA. He is a 2026 graduate of Youth Leadership Carroll County. Brooks placed third in the International Business Plan event at the State DECA conference in 2025 and placed fifth in the state in International Business for FBLA. Brooks works at The Happy Book Stack Cafe.

Landyn McLearen earned a 33 on his ACT. He plans to study anthropology after graduation. In the future, he hopes to earn a doctoral degree in music and art because he is driven by his passion for music, dance and all forms of art. He has also enjoyed learning to play the bass. McLearen is a four-year honors student and is in the top 10 of his class.

 

Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central High School

Madison Holder scored a 34 on her ACT. She plans to attend Covenant College, where she will play softball and major in biology to prepare for medical school. Her favorite school activity has been playing softball and joining the National Senior Beta Club. Holder scored the highest ACT at Hollow Rock-Bruceton. She attended the American Legion of Auxiliary Volunteer Girls State and is a 2026 graduate of Youth Leadership Carroll County. She has been job shadowing at Apex Bank.

Sarah Smith scored a 32 on her ACT. She plans to attend the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where she will major in political science. She wants to better understand the role and power of government. In high school, she enjoyed managing the football team and being a member of the Beta Club. Smith is a recipient of the American Legion Citizenship Award. She is a 2026 graduate of Youth Leadership Carroll County and has worked at the 1822 Coffee Shop in Huntingdon for two years. She enjoys music, baking and being with her family.

Isaac Walker scored a 29 on his ACT. He plans to attend the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he will double major in political science and psychology. He plans to pursue a career in law and politics because he wants to see the world. Walker was chosen to represent his high school at the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Program and represented his school on the stage at the National Beta Convention as a premier performer. Walker has worked at Block City Pizza for three weeks.

 

Clarksburg School

Ava Akins scored a 29 on her ACT. She plans to attend the University of Tennessee at Martin, where she will major in pre-pharmacy because of her love of science and helping people. In high school, she enjoyed being on the cheerleading squad and was a member of the Beta Club. Akins received Student of the Year and has been on the All As Honor Roll for all four years of high school. Akins is also a 2026 graduate of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce’s Youth Leadership Program.

Orion Cary scored a 31 on his ACT. He plans to attend Tennessee Tech University to pursue a degree in electrical engineering. Afterwards, he hopes to join the TVA because of his interest in electricity. His favorite extracurricular activities have been being a member of the Future Farmers of America and running on the cross-country team. Cary earned the Future Farmers of America’s state degree and competed and placed in the top five in the Beta Club’s state convention. He is also a 2026 graduate of Youth Leadership Carroll County. He has worked at the Cary Cattle Farm for three years.

 

West Carroll Jr./Sr. High School

Brylan Wilbanks scored a 30 on her ACT. She will attend the University of Mississippi and plans to earn her doctorate degree. Driven by her passion for helping people, she will major in psychology. Wilbanks is a member of the Beta Club and the marching band. She is also a member of the National Society of High School Scholars and is in the Torch and Laurel Honors Society. She has enrolled in college classes and has attended academic summer programs since her freshman year.

 

Homelife Academy

Hannah King, a homeschooled Huntingdon resident, scored a 31 on her ACT. She plans to study American Sign Language interpreting at Freed-Hardeman University. King has always had an interest in different languages and in helping people. King received a first-place award in a speech competition and has worked at the AP Dairy Bar for two years.