MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — 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 — recently named the nation’s top high school for this year.

Part of Rutherford County Schools, Central Magnet 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.

In 2010, MTSU Provost Mark Byrnes, then chair of the Rutherford County Board of Education, pushed for the creation of Central Magnet School, as did County Commissioner Bob Bullen, an MTSU faculty emeritus, and Director of Schools Harry Gill, an MTSU alum. Byrnes said that it has been gratifying to watch Central develop into one of the nation’s best public high schools.

For many 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 students have joined the Honors College as Buchanan Fellows — recipients of the highest academic honor awarded to entering freshmen at the university.

“Many Central Magnet students get their first college experience through MTSU dual enrollment courses,” said Byrnes. “We are always excited when those students decide to continue their education with us after graduation, bringing their talent and curiosity to our campus community.”

Academic rigor a draw

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.”

For Sofia Kime, a biology major and 2026 Central Magnet graduate, the Buchanan Fellowship provided a way to continue the academic rigor she valued while making her future education more affordable.

“The Buchanan Fellowship made me feel seen among a college with over 20,000 people,” Kime said. “Having the title of a Buchanan Fellow is certainly something I’m proud of, and it has a level of rigor that I am used to after Central Magnet. Additionally, free tuition was incredibly important to me as a future med school student.”

When environmental science major Sarah Holzmann began considering college, avoiding significant student debt was a priority. She graduated from Central Magnet in 2022, 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 James M. Buchanan, the Buchanan Freshman Fellowshipis 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 Holzmann. “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.

Sakina Razzaq, a biology major and 2025 Central Magnet graduate, was already familiar with the Buchanan Fellowship when she began exploring her college options. After meeting with Honors College staff, she quickly saw a similar sense of community at MTSU.

“Everyone in the Honors College was so welcoming and supportive that MTSU quickly became my top choice,” Razzaq said. “That moment really showed me how much the Honors College valued creativity and individuality. I knew I had found a place where I could be myself while still being challenged academically.”

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.

For Katie Narrell, an elementary education major, the Buchanan Fellowship offered the combination she was looking for: academic challenge and affordability.

“Coming from a high-demand school like Central, I wanted to still be challenged academically, but I also needed an affordable education,” said Narrell, who graduated from Central Magnet in 2024. “MTSU and the fellowship offered both. The Buchanan Fellowship and MTSU Honors College allow me to fulfill that goal to the fullest!”

Applications for the Buchanan Freshman Fellowship are now open. Interested students must apply by Dec. 1 to be considered for the fellowship. Learn more and apply at honors.mtsu.edu/buchanan.

— Robin E. Lee ([email protected])