KNOXVILLE – Eight counties, nine high schools and six community events. That’s exactly how University of Tennessee Interim President Randy Boyd will spend three days in September…pounding the pavement to get the word out about UT Promise.
“One of the most effective ways to spread the word about UT Promise is to go directly to the people it will impact the most – students,” Boyd said. “I’m so excited to be spending time in our public schools talking with students about how UT can help them achieve their dream of a college degree.”
UT Promise is a last-dollar scholarship program that guarantees free tuition and mandatory fees for qualifying Tennessee undergraduate students with a family household income of under $50,000 after other financial aid is received (such as Pell Grants, HOPE Scholarship or other institutional scholarships) at UT Knoxville, UT Chattanooga, UT Martin and UT Health Science Center. Students must qualify for the Tennessee Hope Scholarship and meet the academic qualifications for the institution to be eligible for this new scholarship. To help ensure success, students will complete eight volunteer service hours each semester.
Boyd will make 14 stops during a three-day tour from Sept. 23-25 in Fayette, Madison, Obion, Shelby, Cumberland, Davidson, Hamilton and Knox counties. The schedule is as follows:
Monday, Sept. 23:
- 8 – 8:30 a.m. – Memphis Central High School assembly
(306 S. Bellevue Blvd., Memphis)
- 10 – 10:45 a.m. – Fayette Ware High School assembly
(13470 TN-59, Somerville)
- 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Community luncheon
(invitation only, media welcome, UT Martin Somerville Center located at 214 Lakeview Rd., Somerville)
- 1:30 – 2:15 p.m. – South Side High School assembly
(84 Harts Bridge Rd., Jackson)
- 5:30 – 7 p.m. – Community reception
(invitation only, media welcome, West TN AgResearch and Education Center located at 605 Airways Blvd., Jackson)
Tuesday, Sept. 24:
- 7 – 8 a.m. – Community breakfast
(invitation only, media welcome, Center Point Business Solutions located at 1413 S. Home St., Union City)
- 8:30 – 9:15 a.m. – Obion County Central High School assembly
(North, 528 US-51, Troy)
- 11:30 a.m. – Noon – Hume-Fogg High School assembly
(700 Broadway, Nashville)
- 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. – Community luncheon
(invitation only, media welcome, Tennessee State Museum located at 1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., Nashville)
- 5:30 – 7 p.m. – Community reception
(invitation only, media welcome, UT Chattanooga University Center located at 642 E. 5th St., Chattanooga)
Wednesday, Sept. 25:
- 7:30 – 8:15 a.m. – Red Bank High School assembly
(640 Morrison Springs Rd., Chattanooga)
- 8:30 – 9:15 a.m. – Stone Memorial High School assembly
(2800 Cook Rd., Crossville)
- 11:30 a.m – 12:30 p.m. – Bearden High School
(8352 Kingston Pike, Knoxville)
- 5 – 6:30 p.m. – Community reception
(invitation only, media welcome, Neyland Stadium, Tennessee Terrace located at 1300 Phillip Fulmer Way, Knoxville)
Boyd will speak with high school juniors and seniors during school visits, while community events will include elected officials, UT alumni and high school counselors and principals, among other key stakeholders.
The University of Tennessee Foundation recently launched its UT Promise Endowment campaign when the Vols took on the Mocs in an inter-system game last week. Since UT Promise was announced in March 2019, $17.5 million has been raised toward the $100 million goal.
UT Promise will welcome its first class in the fall of 2020, and the scholarship program will include those students who were previously enrolled in college when the program begins in 2020. Qualifying Tennessee residents who meet the criteria for UT Promise can transfer from any institution. UT Promise is an expansion of scholarship offerings and does not replace existing scholarships.
UT Promise will be another tool in the state’s Drive to 55 workforce development initiative, which aims to get 55 percent of Tennesseans equipped with a college degree or certificate by the year 2025.
More information about UT Promise is available at: tennessee.edu/ut-promise.