Staff reports

Lincoln County High School’s Class of 2026 earned more than $10,000,000 in scholarships and awards. A full list of Class of 2026 graduate scholarships are available at www.elkvalleytimes.com.

Claire Ellen Bradford
Valedictorian

Claire Ellen Bradford was named Valedictorian of Lincoln County High School Class of 2026. She plans to attend Harvard University.

Bradford was president of the student body and received a Student Council cord, a Graduate with Distinction, State Honors and received an Honor Sr. Gold Tassel, AP Scholar and Falcon Scholar, College Board AP Scholar with Distinction, College Board National Rural & Small-Town Recognition Honor Recipient, Work Ethic Distinction, Tri Star Scholar and Ready Grad.

She was also a National Merit Scholarship winner.

Bradford has been accepted into the following universities: Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, Brown, University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, Columbia, Rice, University of Michigan, University of North Carolina, Emory, Auburn, Washington University at St. Louis, UT Knoxville, Alabama, Georgia Tech, University of Florida and Williams College.

Her scholarships include: Tennessee Hope, Promise & General Assembly Merit Scholarships; Rice University Trustee Distinguished Scholarship; Auburn University Academic Presidential Scholarship; UT Knoxville Volunteer, Global Fellow and Chancellors Honors Program; University of Alabama Presidential Elite and Housing Scholarships, Witt Fellows Program Recipient; Johns Hopkins University Hodson Trust Scholarship and Scholars Program; Georgia Tech Gold Scholars Program; Columbia Undergraduate Scholars Program; and University of Florida Gator Nation Scholarship, Honors Program, University Research Scholars Program. Other accomplishments include the Crossroads to Destiny Scholarship; Coca-Cola Scholar; United States Presidential Scholars Program Candidate; Brown University Small Town and Rural Students Fly-In Recipient; Coolidge Senator; Washington Youth Tour Delegate and Robert McCarty Essay, third place; Girls State Delegate; Distinguished Young Woman of Lincoln County; Tennessee Association of Student Councils Legacy, Above and Beyond, State All Star, State Impact, and Associated; Leadership Program Awards; Middle TN School Band & Orchestra Association, Mid State Orchestra Seat, Violin; Governor’s School for the Integration of Biological and Statistical Sciences; AP Access for All Student Spotlight Nominee; Student Congress on Policies in Education (SCOPE) Delegate; Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) Ambassador; Lincoln County Dance Team Captain (4 year member); UDA All American and UDA Drill Down Queen; Beta Club President; Student Advisory Boards: First National Bank, Lincoln Health, Chamber of Commerce (co-president), Camp Blount, Junior’s House, Leadership Lincoln; Miss LCHS; and English Award and Social Studies Award.

Zaki Ke Han Lin
Salutatorian

Zaki Ke Han Lin was named Salutatorian of Lincoln County High School Class of 2026. He plans to attend John Hopkins University.

Lin was a Graduate with Distinction, State Honors and received a Honors Sr. Gold Tassel.

His accomplishments include AP Scholar, Falcon Scholar and Ready Grad; College Board AP Scholar with Distinction; Boys State Delegate; Tennessee Hope, Promise & General Assembly Merit Scholarships; John Hopkins University Scholarship; Fayetteville Main Street Scholarship; and the Mathematics Award and Tennis Award.