Comcast NBCUniversal today announced that it has awarded approximately $31,000 in scholarships for the 2018-19 school year to 31 Middle Tennessee students as part of its annual Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program. The program, funded by the Comcast Foundation, is a one-time, $1,000 scholarship awarded to the best and brightest high school seniors for their community service, academic performance and leadership skills.

In Rutherford County, Sidney Starling of Central Magnet School and Griffin Collins of Blackman High School were selected.

Since 2001, more than $28 million has been awarded to nearly 27,000 high school seniors across the country as part of the Leaders and Achievers Program.

"Our Leaders and Achievers Scholarship winners are exceptional students who are committed to academic excellence and community service," said Comcast Regional SVP, Doug Guthrie. "We are honored to recognize their achievements and excited to support them as they continue their educational journeys."

The Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program provides scholarships to students who strive to achieve their full potential, who are catalysts for positive change in their communities, who are involved in their schools, and who serve as models for their fellow students. The philosophy behind the program is to give young people every opportunity to prepare for the future and to engage them in their communities. The program also demonstrates the importance of civic involvement, and the value placed on civic involvement by the business community.

The 2018-19 Middle Tennessee Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Winners:

· Sidney Starling (Central Magnet School)
· Griffin Collins (Blackman High School)
· Juan Garcia-Carmona (McGavock High School)
· Janiah Carey (Hillsboro High School)
· Makayla Lewis (Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet High School)
· Gabriel Hutchinson (East Nashville Magnet High School)
· Katie Justis (Grace Christian Academy)
· Kayla Belk (Dekalb High School)
· Carolyn Oliver (Heritage Christian Academy)
· Bailey Black (Father Ryan)
· Taylor Gregory (Jo Byrns High School)
· Joe Smith (Beech Senior High School)
· Virginia Crawford (Ezell-Harding Christian High School)
· Matthew Lynn (Smith County High School)
· Elinor Hildabrand (Battle Ground Academy)
· Keyaria Turner (Nashville Big Picture High School)
· Kate Merrill (Brentwood Academy)
· Jefferson LeCates (Centennial High School)
· Caroline Howard (Merrol Hyde Magnet School)
· Hailey Stroud (Hillwood High School)
· Lia Hayduk (The Harpeth Hall School)
· Dawson Wooten (Waverly)
· Zachary Wolfson (Franklin High School)
· Hannah Anderson (Donelson Christian Academy)
· Caroline Conner (John Overton High School)
· Laurel Dernbach (Franklin Road Academy)
· Giggs Lithgow (Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School)
· Vasudhasri Devarasetty (Brentwood High School)
· Jonathan Anderson (Dickson County High School)
· Sarah Calhoun (Christ Presbyterian Academy)
· Paige Randolph (Goodpasture High School)