Tennessee football legend Peyton Manning awarded four UT freshmen with the latest installment of his namesake scholarship and he was on campus to honor the recipients on Aug. 31.
Hector Centeno-Lopez, Breanna Gonzalez, Olamide Olakunle and Mikayla Schumpert, the 2026 Peyton Manning Scholars, earned their four-year award and a spot in the selective Haslam Leadership Scholarship program through a rigorous selection process that sought "academically successful incoming Vols who exemplify service, leadership and integrity," UT said in a school release.
“The growth of this program remains a point of pride for me,” Manning said. “This is just the beginning of the positive mark these students will leave on their community and this university. I hope
they will leave UT with the same passion for this special place that I have.”
Manning is still the most prolific passer in UT football history, having thrown for 11,201 yards over four seasons from 1994-97. The first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, Manning won a Super Bowl with both the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
He endowed the scholarship when he graduated from UT in 1998 and it has been awarded to 69 students in the 29 years since. This year's four Manning Scholars all have diverse academic and career interests but are bonded by a "desire to lead and leave UT better than they found it," according to UT.
What the 2026 Peyton Manning Scholars said
Centeno-Lopez of Lakeland, Tennessee, plans to major in electrical engineering. A graduate of Arlington High School, he aspires to become a prominent businessperson, a philanthropist and a public servant.
“Thank you, Mr. Manning, for a scholarship that means that my dreams can remain as big as they were since I first moved here,” Centeno-Lopez said. “Thank you for a scholarship that allows me to begin climbing the mountain of my own career with the support of someone who has already reached extraordinary heights of his own. I am forever grateful.”
Gonzalez of Smyrna, Tennessee, is a graduate of Central Magnet High School who plans to study marketing.
“I am inspired by your willingness and commitment to continue to pour into the next generation year after year with this scholarship program, Mr. Manning, and to spare time out of your day to hear about our lives,” Gonzalez said. “Thank you again for this incredible opportunity.”
Olakunle of Antioch, Tennessee, plans to study finance. A graduate of John Overton High School in Nashville, Olakunle plans to attend law school.
“The Peyton Manning Scholarship specifically represents the incredible support the UT community offers,” Olakunle said. “The ability to not worry about financial issues during my time at UT will allow me to thrust myself into my studies. This is a gift I will never forget. Thank you for the opportunity and thank you to Mr. Manning.”
Schumpert of Knoxville plans to study civil engineering. A graduate of Hardin Valley Academy, Schumpert will specialize in structural and transportation engineering with minors in city planning and leadership studies.
“Being named a Peyton Manning Scholar is an incredible honor that I’m so grateful for,” Shumpert said. “The Manning name represents integrity, leadership, service and a genuine commitment to the Volunteer community. I hope to carry these characteristics with me throughout my time at UT and my entire life. His generosity gives me the opportunity to pursue my goals with confidence, and more importantly, it challenges me to give back to the Knoxville community that has given so much to me.”
Stephen Thompson covers Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball. Email him at stephen.thompson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @stephenethom.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Why Peyton Manning was at University of Tennessee to honor four freshmen students
