Lessons in Leadership: Dr. and Mrs. Carson Inspire Tennessee Scholars

The sun was shining for the 2025 Chattanooga Carson Scholars Awards Banquet as scholars and their guests gathered on Sunday, May 4^th.  Jaxon Thurman and Ethan Bullock, two shining Carson Scholar alumni, returned for their second year emceeing the banquet and teamed up to make the event fun and exciting. 

This year’s banquet theme was Soaring to New Heights, a concept that perfectly summarizes not only this year’s Carson Scholars, but the thousands of alumni before them. We aimed to focus on scholars’ amazing contributions to their schools, local communities and the world, while continuing to set new goals for themselves.  Three videos highlighting scholars’ work were shown at the banquet and were introduced by Kyleigh Conley, Caleb Lee and Stevenson Vallere.

Additional scholar participants were:

Danika Kolay – led the Pledge of Allegiance

Carolina Lee Deas – delivered the blessing

Ken Yang  – cello performance

Lydia Bullard, Carolina Lee Deas, Natalie Talley, Julia Daniels, Katherine Bremner – asked questions during the Q&A

Victoria Payne – introduced Dr. Carson for his keynote address

Three students set up tables at the banquet’s Scholar Showcase to present their small businesses, nonprofits and/or service projects to attendees. 

Scholars were invited to submit questions to be asked of Dr. and Mrs. Carson during a special Q&A segment.  Guests learned about the experiences that led them to where they are today and heard reflections on their younger selves as they recounted the roadblocks they have overcome. Dr. Carson shared how his 13 unsuccessful attempts at separating conjoined twins were devastating, but the first successful procedure wouldn’t have happened without these failures. Guests were left with some impactful advice:

“The person that has the most to do with what happens to you, is you.” – Mrs. Candy Carson

“Listen to parents, teachers, people who have already been where you’re trying to go. They have a story to tell. You can learn from their triumphs and mistakes.” – Dr. Ben Carson

View photos from the event HERE!