At Middle Tennessee State University, some of Rutherford County’s highest-achieving students are finding an opportunity to continue the academic excellence they developed at Central Magnet School.
That culture of excellence has earned Central Magnet national recognition. The school was named the No. 1 high school in the nation in the 2026-27 U.S. News & World Report rankings, rising from No. 3 the previous year among more than 27,000 public high schools nationwide.
For several Central Magnet graduates each year, the next step in that pursuit of excellence leads just a few miles down East Main Street to MTSU, where 39 have joined the Honors College as Buchanan Fellows — recipients of the highest academic honor awarded to entering freshmen at the University.
Central Magnet challenges students through rigorous academics, critical thinking, effective communication and character development. MTSU Honors gives them an opportunity to continue that work among high-achieving, intellectually curious students.
“Central Magnet students arrive at MTSU with a demonstrated commitment to academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, and meaningful engagement,” said John Vile, dean of the MTSU Honors College. “The Buchanan Fellowship gives us the opportunity to build on that foundation and challenge these exceptional students through rigorous coursework, research, leadership, international experiences, and close relationships with faculty and peers.”
When environmental science major Sarah Holzmann began considering college, avoiding significant student debt was a priority. But after taking a few gap years to explore her options (including universities in Germany), she still hadn’t settled on a major or a college.
U.S. colleges weren’t even on her radar until she attended an MTSU fall open house with her younger siblings and learned about the Buchanan Fellowship during an Honors College session.
“What really intrigued me was the option of a full-ride scholarship plus money for study abroad,” she said. “I really appreciated the Buchanan Fellowship’s commitment to a world perspective, and I plan on making use of that money this spring for a semester abroad in Germany.”
Named for MTSU alumnus and Nobel Prize-winning economist Dr. James M. Buchanan, the Buchanan Freshman Fellowship is limited to 20 students each year. Fellows receive a full tuition waiver for four years, a $500-per-semester book allowance, priority registration, special seminars, and up to $5,000 for approved international study experiences.
Buchanan Fellows become part of a community of scholars who are encouraged to pursue research, writing, leadership, international experiences, and other opportunities that take their education beyond the traditional classroom.
“I will say, it’s nice seeing other CMS graduates in the Buchanan cohort. Buchanans share the drive that CMS students exemplify, and it’s a good way to transition to a college culture that, as a whole, is a lot less nerdy on average than CMS,” said Holamann. “It’s not just CMS students, though. There are new faces, too. CMS was limited to Rutherford County, but Buchanan lets me meet people who are passionate about learning from any county, state, and even other countries.”
Excellence that stays close to home
MTSU’s Honors College provides a small-college academic experience within the resources of a comprehensive public university. Honors courses for freshmen and sophomores are limited to 20 students, giving students opportunities for close interaction with faculty and meaningful discussion.
For Central Magnet graduates, MTSU offers the chance to continue challenging themselves while remaining close to the community that helped shape them, while bringing their curiosity, ambition, and strong work ethic to a broader community of scholars.
“The worst that can happen is you fail to get in, which sucks, but you haven’t lost anything by trying. Reach for the stars, and remember, ‘Always my best’ doesn’t have to end when you graduate,” Holzmann said.
Applications for the Buchanan Freshman Fellowship are now open. Interested students must apply by December 1 to be considered for the fellowship. Learn more and apply at honors.mtsu.edu/buchanan.