Haydon Tucker
Baylor senior Haydon Tucker is one of 13 students chosen as the new class of Ingram Scholars at Vanderbilt University. Over 800 high school seniors applied for the prestigious program.
Haydon has experience in Baylor’s community service program, serving as a site leader for after-school tutoring, a grant writer, and a grant writing leader. She has been chosen to join community service trips to AHOPE Day Shelter in Asheville, N.C. and Marigold Orphanage in Kingston, Jamaica. An advocate for reading, Haydon has written and published a children’s book, Keep Trying Tiny Turtle, to encourage the children of inner city Chattanooga visited each day by Baylor community service volunteers.
While at Baylor, Haydon has been the winner a Jumonville Award, a Joe Key Leadership Award, and an AP Scholar Award. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Round Table, and Red Circle. Away from Baylor, she is active in her church’s youth group and is a WyldLife leader.
Haydon is Baylor's sixth Ingram Scholar, joining alumni and former recipients Niti Shah Tejani '01, Vishruth Reddy '05, Rachna Patel '06, and Elin Bunch '09.
The Ingram Scholarship program was conceived in 1993 by E. Bronson Ingram, former president of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust, as a way to encourage students to combine a professional career with a commitment to community service. Mr. Ingram's own life exemplified volunteerism and an untiring commitment to mobilizing resources of the business community to assist nonprofit community groups. His endeavors are being continued by his family, including his wife, Martha Ingram, an emerita member of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust.
In addition to committing at least 20 hours per month to community service while at Vanderbilt, Ingram Scholars are also required to design and implement projects that address significant community needs, much like Baylor’s grant writing program. The program encourages scholars to create projects that become self-sustaining.
Ingram Scholars receive a minimum of full-tuition and a stipend for a summer project.