Wilson County Sheriff’s Office Selects Two Mt. Juliet Students for Citizenship Awards 

The Wilson County Sheriff’s Office has named two Mt. Juliet High School graduates for its Second Annual Citizenship Award. The recipients, chosen from a field of 470 in the school’s 2015 graduating class, are Aaron Gunn and Rachel Fullerton.

Rachel, who is 17, plans to go to Austin Peay State University. She is a senior editor of the yearbook staff, a member of the national honor society and a member of the Best Buddies Organization (an organization dedicated to working with intellectual and developmentally disabled students.) In addition, Rachel is a member of the BETA Club, which promotes academic achievement, character, community service and leadership development. Rachel is a member of KET (Kappa Epsilon Tau), a community service-based organization. She is the daughter of Laura Fullerton, who said she was “thrilled” by her daughter’s selection, and Paul Fullerton, who added, “We are quite excited, very proud. We feel very blessed to have a daughter who is a beautiful girl, very outgoing and are especially proud she was selected from Mt. Juliet. It’s a great class.”

Aaron Gunn, 18, also plans to attend Austin Peay State University. He is a member of the track team, BNN (the Mt. Juliet news channel), Best Buddies Organization and a member of the student council. He received the prestigious Eagle Boy Scout Award earlier this year. He is the son of Paul and Susan Gunn.

“We were really happy,” said Gunn’s father. “He just received the Eagle Scout earlier this year. That took a lot of work. I think it was a combination of home, church and Scouts. We tried our best to raise him to be a good guy. We were really surprised about this award since we didn’t even know they had one. Given the nature of law enforcement, people who get into trouble seem to be the ones who get the press. It’s really good they care about the good ones too. I’m not sure who all is responsible, but we really appreciate the Sheriff’s Office for doing this. It’s a very kind gesture.”

WCSO School Resources Officer Matt McPeak said this is the second year for the WCSO to present Citizenship Awards to two students at Mt. Juliet High School. He said the selection is made based upon recommendations by teachers and guidance counselors as well as his own personal observance of those who go above and beyond the average student. He said he also relies on his fellow SRO Corporal Trey Tidwell’s advice and gets “a lot of help from” SRO Lt. Scott Moore and Sheriff Robert Bryan.

“We concentrate on those seniors who display outstanding characteristics in their schools and communities,” SRO MCPeak said. “Both have good grades and are excellent examples of the kind of people we should all strive to be.”

The WCSO is hoping to expand the Citizenship Awards to other high schools in Wilson County in the future.

Sheriff Bryan said of the award recipients, “It’s a pleasure for the Sheriff’s Office to recognize and honor young people who are obviously leading by example and making a positive difference in Mt. Juliet High School and Wilson County.”

Pictured L-R: SRO Matt McPeak, Mt. Juliet HS Graduate Arron Gunn and Rachel Fullerton, SRO Lt. Scott Moore