See Matt's recent info at this link.

Matt Medearis, a Senior at University School of Jackson
admitted to the Yale Class of 2001!

5/12/97 (Newspaper Release)
Matt Medearis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter "Chip" Medearis of Lexington was accepted to Yale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut, for the fall semester.

Medearis is valedictorian of his senior class based on class rank for 8 semesters at the University School of Jackson, where he is president of Mu Alpha Theta, a member of the Science Bowl team, Quiz Bowl team, SGA General Assembly, Senate, Finance Committee, Headmaster's List, Three Quarters Honor Roll Recipients and the National Honor Society. Medearis is the 1996 Geometry Region Winner of the Tennessee Math Teachers' Association State Math Competition and 1997 Advanced Topics II District Winner (Calculus). At the JSCC College Preparedness Competition, Medearis was on the first place team in Chemistry and Math in 1996 and Physics in 1997. Medearis took the American High School Math Exam and scored a 100 which qualified him to enter the American Invitational Math Exam where he led his team to a 6th place finish in the state.

Medearis attended the Governors School of International Studies where he studied Japanese, National Business Week at Belmont College, National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. and served as Junior Rotarian of the Month with the Lexington Rotary Club.

Yale's highly selective Recruitment Committee admitted only 16.8 % of the eligible candidates that applied to the 1997 freshman class. Yale is ranked #1 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report among colleges and universities. Matt is the brother of Brent Medearis. He is the grandson of Leroy Holmes and the late Evelyn Holmes of Lexington, and Dora Medearis of Birmingham, Alabama and the late Walter Medearis of Centerville, Tennessee.

Yale Award

(Press release May 23rd, 1996- Lexington Progress)

University School of Jackson held its 1996 Celebration of Academic Excellence May 19, 1996 at the Poplar Heights Baptist Church. Yale graduate Elizabeth Ford Hohenberg, a graduate of Yale University presented the award on behalf of the Yale Club of Memphis.

Each year the Yale Club presents The Yale Shakespeare, The Complete Works, edited and annotated under the direction of Yale's Department of English to a select number of deserving high school juniors.

The purpose of this award is to give recognition to the students outstanding personal character and intellectual promise, attributes Yale seeks in its own students.

The recipient of this award must first possess a sharp and inquiring mind coupled with a capacity and desire to use it. The student selected to receive this years Yale Book Award has outstanding college board scores. His academic achievement is reflected by his membership in the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and his participation and achievement as a member of the Math Team and the Science Bowl Team. His courses have all been AP and Honors Courses. His GPA is an incredible 4.11 on a scale of 4.0 and he ranks at the top of his class of 62 members.

The second criteria is a motivation to stretch one's capacity, to go the extra mile and commit oneself to excellence in one's chosen pursuits. Our recipient this year has mastered the discipline of martial arts. He is a tennis player and a talented musician. As if scholastics, athletics, and extra curricular activities were not enough, he has amassed an impressive array of experiences in the real world, having worked his way, at this tender age, into assistant manager and supervisory positions.

Finally the candidate for this award must exhibit moral concern and consideration for others, including public motivation and the capacity to sacrifice the self for something larger. Our recipient is active in his church and in church related community activities and has even served as a missionary.

It is with great pleasure that I present this year's Yale Book Award to Mr. Matt Medearis.

Academic Competitions

MATH: Math Awards: TN High School Mathematics Contest

TMTA District Contest Geometry 1st place.

TMAT State Math: Geometry 5th place.

JSCC College Preparedness Math Competition: 2nd place.

Regional Division of All West Tennessee: Geometry 1st place

SCIENCE : JSCC College Preparedness Competition in Chemistry: 2nd place individual competition. First place in team competition.

University School Of Jackson: May 19, Celebration of Academic Excellence

(2 medals & 8 certificates)

First place AP Medalist American History

First place Medalist Honors Chemistry I

Academic Excellence Certificate Computer Applications I

Academic Excellence Certificate Government and Geography

Academic Excellence Certificate Honors II Algebra

Outstanding Academic Certificate Honor Roll

Governors School in International Studies

Yale Award

Matt will be attending the Governors School for International Studies at the University of Memphis this summer.

Matt is the son of Chip and Anne Medearis. His brother Brent attends the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and is majoring in electrical engineering, computers, and mentoring in business administration. Matt is the grandson of Leroy Holmes and the late Evelyn Holmes.

He is the grandson of Dora Medearis of Birmingham, Alabama and the late Walter Medearis.