Karen Wooden Hughes 

2025 Inductee

Ridgeland High School proudly welcomes Karen Wooden Hughes, class of 1990, into its Athletics Hall of Fame, celebrating her remarkable achievements as a three-sport athlete and her enduring legacy of leadership and dedication. A four-year letterman in both softball and basketball, and a three-year letterman in track, Karen consistently demonstrated exceptional talent and commitment across multiple sports.

In softball, Karen was a varsity starter for three years, playing a pivotal role in the team's consecutive State Championship victories in 1988 and 1989. Her consistent effort and positive attitude were recognized with the Coaches Award in both 1987 and 1988.

On the basketball court, Karen was a four-year varsity player, culminating in a Sweet Sixteen appearance during her senior year. Her outstanding skills earned her All-Region honors for three consecutive years (1988-1990), as well as All Tri-State recognition in the same period. In her senior season, she was named to the All-State Team, solidifying her position as one of the top players in Georgia. Her exceptional performances were further highlighted by being named the Rome Tip-Off Club Player of the Month and Player of the Year in both 1989 and 1990. Her leadership and impact extended beyond the court, as she was honored with the Alan Morris Award from the Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame in 1989, the Ray A. Kroc Leadership Award in 1990, and the Scrappy Moore Athlete of the Year Bob Davis Award, also in 1990.

Karen's athletic versatility extended to the track, where she earned three varsity letters. She left her mark by setting the Rossville High School High Jump record at an impressive 5 feet 2 inches. Her dedication and improvement were acknowledged with the Coaches Award and Most Improved Award in 1987, and she earned All-Region honors in 1989.

Beyond her athletic accomplishments, Karen was deeply involved in the Ridgeland High School community. She served on the Student Council for all four years, holding the positions of Vice President her junior year and Co-President her senior year. She was an active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Pep Club throughout her high school career. Demonstrating her commitment to service, she volunteered her time for the Chattanooga EPA, assisting with water field testing for local farmers. Karen also contributed to the school through her involvement with the Yearbook and Newspaper staff for four years and played a role in writing the Alma Mater alongside her classmates. Her leadership extended to community initiatives, as she sponsored the Toys for Tots Christmas toy drive during her junior and senior years. She was also a member of the Class Night Court and participated in the State Science Fair for all four years, graduating 8th in her class.

A testament to her exceptional talent, Karen signed the first Division I athletic scholarship in Ridgeland High School history with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the fall of 1989, even before her senior season began. At UTC, she was a member of the Southern Conference Championship teams in 1991 and 1992 and earned Academic All-Conference honors for her academic achievements, consistently making the Dean's List.

Continuing her academic and athletic pursuits, Karen transferred to Carson Newman College in the fall of 1992. There, she showcased her versatility by playing volleyball and basketball for two years and softball during her senior year. She celebrated further team success with South Atlantic Conference Championships in Basketball in 1993 and 1994, and once again earned All-Conference honors for her academic excellence and consistently made the Dean's List.

Karen is an educator, serving at Lafayette Middle, Lafayette High School, Ridgeland High School, and now at Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence.  She is a wife to Pete, and a loving mother to Kayla and Erin and a grandmother to Teagan Marie and Kori Brooke.  Karen Wooden Hughes' exceptional achievements across three sports, her academic excellence, and her dedicated leadership within her school and community make her a truly outstanding inductee into the Ridgeland High School Athletics Hall of Fame. Her pioneering spirit in securing the school's first Division I athletic scholarship and her continued success at the collegiate level serve as an inspiration to all Ridgeland Panthers.