December Newsletter

This month we are still focusing on tying up loose ends before everyone leaves for Christmas break. Below are some of the items that we will be focusing on. If you need to complete any of these things, come see Ms. Abby Lyons for assistance.

• Applying to colleges- if there are still any colleges that you are wishing to apply to, let's complete this ASAP. A lot of these institutions have deadlines in order for you to be eligible for scholarships. If you apply to a school on your own, make sure to let Ms. Abby know so that she can help request your transcript to be sent.
• FSA ID- you and your parent(s) will need to have an FSA ID. This will be important to complete so that we can complete your FAFSA as soon as we return in January.

Even if you plan to go straight into the workforce, it will be important to complete these items in the event that circumstances shift and you change your mind.

Those students who wish to attend TCAT Morristown in the fall, make sure that you attend your orientation. You MUST attend orientation before you are placed on the waiting list for your program. Those who plan to attend a program in the Knoxville or Oneida locations will not need to attend an orientation until you have a seat.

We still have time to make sure that all students and parents have an FSA ID before January. Parents are more than welcome to set up an appointment with me if they would like me to help them create their ID.

Some parents may prefer to create this on their own. Which is also okay! Steps to creating an ID can be found on last month's newsletter.

Just a small reminder: a FSA ID must be made 10 day prior to filling out the FAFSA.

Filing the FAFSA is the single most important step of the financial aid process and it takes most students less than one hour to complete. The FAFSA is a requirement for all state scholarships, including the Tennessee Promise. You will need to make sure to complete the FAFSA by April 15th to remain eligible to receive these scholarships.

Before we sit down to do the FAFSA, it is important that you take time to gather all of the information you will need. Use this checklist to make sure you have everything you need with you when you get ready to file the FAFSA.

Information:

• Your personal email address (not your high school email) and cell phone number
• Parents' email address and cell phone number
• If you are a Tennessee resident, the month and year you began living in Tennessee
• If your parents are Tennessee residents, the month and year your parents began living in Tennessee
• Your Social Security number
• Your parents' Social Security numbers
• Your parents' dates of birth
• Your driver's license or state ID, if you have one
• The month and year your parents were married, divorced, separated or widowed
• The highest level of school your parents completed

Documents:

• All 2023 federal income tax forms (including W-2's/1099s/Schedules filed) for you and your parents
• Most current statements from all accounts (checking, savings, investments, etc.)
• Child support paid or received
• Value of investments, farms or business
• Other prior year benefits (workers comp, military, clergy, veteran amounts)

Parents and students can begin scheduling an appointment with Ms. Abby Lyons NOW to complete the FAFSA in January. Click the button below!

You must attend a Mandatory TN Promise Meeting to remain eligible for TN Promise scholarship. This meeting will take place on January 15th at 3:30 PM in the high school cafeteria.

If you have a conflict with this date and you won't be able to make it, you must submit an excuse form. This form can be found here: https://www.tfaforms.com/5012496

They will only accept the form if you have one of the following excuses: participating in a school-sanctioned event (athletic event/practice), death in the immediate family, personal illness, conflict with post-secondary class schedule, conflict with religious observance, personal or immediate family emergency, conflict with work schedule, or lack of transportation.

YOU are responsible for filling out this form and notifying TnAchieves BEFORE the mandatory meeting. Failure to do this, will result in you losing your TN Promise scholarship.

After submitting your excuse form, you will receive follow-up communication from tnAchieves via email. This communication will let you know whether your excuse has been approved and will outline the next steps. If your excuse is accepted, you will be required to view a mandatory webinar. This webinar will be sent to you via email on February 11th and you will be required to view the webinar by March 15th.

East Tennessee Foundation Scholarships- Multiple Scholarships/Amounts Varies

Opens: December 15th Deadline: March15th

The scholarship application must be completed and submitted online. Attached above is a copy of the online applicant tutorial. This application may ask for Letters of Recommendation. The letters are uploaded directly from the recommender. Most students will also need to upload a Student Aid Report (SAR). A Student Aid Report (SAR) is an electronic or paper document that summarizes the information you reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

https://easttennesseefoundation.org/students/apply-for-scholarships/

Austin Peay State University Institutional Scholarships- Amount Varies Deadline: FEBRUARY 1ST

All students who have been accepted to Austin Peay are encouraged to apply. You must create your account first.

https://www.apsu.edu/scholarships/

Carson Newman University Bonner Scholars- Amount Varies

Students admitted to the Bonner Scholars program at CNU receive a scholarship package in return for participating in an intensive program of community service and servant leadership development. Participants are called "Bonners" for short. They receive the following financial awards:

• $3,000 in service-based scholarship funds each year
• A need based grant for 100% of unmet financial need each year
• $3,000 living stipend at the beginning of each summers of service (this is awarded twice)
• $1,500 service awards at the end of each summer of service (this is awarded twice)
• $500 in professional development funds, awarded during senior year

Bonners also have access to the Community Fund Grant Program, a program that provides grants for student-led projects at non-profits. These grants have provided story books to children with learning disabilities, shelves for food banks, speech therapy tools for public schools, and furniture restoration supplies for non-profit thrift stores.

https://admissions.cn.edu/register/bonner2025

ETSU Institutional Scholarships- Amount Varies Deadline: MARCH 1ST

All students who have been accepted to ETSU are encouraged to apply. You must create your account first.

https://www.etsu.edu/university_scholarships/application/

Lincoln Memorial University Institutional Scholarships- Amount Varies Deadline: JANUARY 31ST

All students who have been accepted to LMU are encouraged to apply. You must create your account first. Once your account is created, you can access the application from the "Quick Links" tab. Select the "Annual and Endowed Scholarship Portal" option from that menu and log in using your LMU credentials.

MTSU Institutional Scholarships- Amount Varies Deadline: FEBRUARY 15TH

All students who have been accepted to MTSU are encourged to apply. You must create your account first.

https://mtsu.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com/CMXAdmin/Cmx_Content.aspx?cpId=1276

Northeast State Community College Institutional Scholarships- Amount Varies Deadline: MARCH 1ST

All students who have been accepted to Northeast State Community College are encouraged to apply. You must create your account first.

https://lewis.northeaststate.edu/apply/scholarships/

Pellissippi State Community College Institutional Scholarships- Amount Varies

All students who have been accepted to Pellissippi are encouraged to apply. You must create your account first.

https://pstcc.academicworks.com/users/sign_in

TN Tech University Institutional Scholarship- Amount Varies Deadline: DECEMBER 15TH

All students who have been accepted to TN Technological University are encouraged to apply. You must create your account first.

https://www.tntech.edu/scholarships/index.php

University of TN Chattanooga Institutional Scholarships- Amount Varies Deadline: FEBRUARY 1ST

All students who have been accepted to UT Chattanooga are encouraged to apply. You must create your account first.

https://www.utc.edu/enrollment-management-and-student-affairs/financial-aid-and-scholarships/steps-apply

University of TN Martin Institutional Scholarships- Amount Varies Deadline: FEBRUARY 1ST

All students who have been accepted to UT Martin are encouraged to apply. You must create your account first.

https://utm.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com/CMXAdmin/Cmx_Content.aspx?cpId=1212

Walters State Community College Scholarship- Amount Varies

All students are encouraged to apply after being admitted. Use your MYWS log in to apply.

https://ws.edu/cost-aid/types/scholarships/ws-scholarships/index.aspx

Ron V. Dellums SMART Scholarship- Full tuition & $30,000 stipend Deadline: December 6th

High school seniors with a 3.0 GPA or higher can apply. Must want to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in (or closely related to) one of the SMART STEM majors. Must be able to complete summer internship and accept a full-time Civilian Employment with the Department of Defense after graduation. Benefits of the scholarship include: full tuition, $30,000 annual stipend, summer internships, experienced mentors, book and health allowance, and Civilian Department of Defense Employment.

https://www.smartscholarship.org/smart?id=kb_article&sys_id=0383c5d6db2a03006bb8f4b40f961956

ELG Scholarship Program- $5,000 Deadline: December 15th

To be eligible, you must be planning to enroll in an accredited two-year or four-year university or community college. You must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. You must also be a student who witnessed a parent, sibling, immediate family member or close friend fighting cancer.

https://www.elglaw.com/scholarship/

Burger King Scholars Program- Varies Deadline: December 16th

Applications will be accepted from October 15th - Deceber 16th.

https://bk-scholars.com/?utm_source=MCHe1&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BK2022

Science Ambassador Scholarship- $20,000 Deadline: December 16th

Film a 3 minute educational video of yourself explaining a STEM topic you're passionate about. Your video should be:

• A mini-lecture, not a personal statement
• Clear, creative, accurate, and a demonstration of your passion for the subject. Your video doesn't need to be fancy or high-tech. Production value is not a factor.
• 3 minutes or less in length. Videos longer than this will not be considered.
• About any STEM topic, not necessarily your field of study. Pick a topic that excites and fascinates you.
• Scientifically accurate. Cite sources used to research your topic. Ideally, this would be in a slide or frame at the end of the video. You can use any citation format you'd like.
• Uploaded to Youtube and marked 'public'. No exceptions.

https://www.scienceambassadorscholarship.org/

RonranGlee Literary Scholarship- $2,000 Deadline: December 17th

To be eligible a student must write a short essay about your understanding of the writer's underlying meaning. You must create a Bold.org account.

https://bold.org/scholarships/ronran-glee-literary-scholarship/#ref=best-scholarships

Equitable Excellence Scholarship Program-$20,000 Deadline: December 18th

This scholarship program is to assist high school seniors who are planning to continue their education at a two or four year college in Fall 2024. Must demonstrate ambition and self-drive to be a force for good in school, community or work activities. Must have a 2.5 GPA or higher.

https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/equitableexcellence/

Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship- $40,000 Deadline: December 19th

Must be a high school senior who has completed high school or dual enrollment course where computer science, engineering or robotics is the subject. Students who have not taken this course can opt-in to take an assessment offered by Amazon. Must be planning to attain a Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, robotics, or other computer science related field of study from a 4 year college or from a 2 year college with intent to transfer to a 4 year college. Must have a minimum GPA of 2.3 and demonstrate financial need.

https://www.amazonfutureengineer.com/scholarships?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAire5BhCNARIsAM53K1jlY7pJ4JMFA7USc0H_HplfUVMx8MtTFWZAI4Y3_nU8jprcAE2YbgEaAssxEALw_wcB

2024 TN Concrete Association High School Essay Contest-$250-$750 Deadline: December 20th

Open to all TN high school students ages 16-18. Complete online form to submit essay at link below. Essay must be typed, double-spaced and limited to 600 words. It will be judged on content and writing ability (grammar, style, clarity, etc.). Essay should demonstrate a student's awareness of concrete's role as a building material in homes, commercial buildings, streets and highways. The essay should be a short literacy composition about concrete, not a report. Winning essay authors will be asked to submit a head shot phot to accompany their essay in the Tennessee Concrete magazine.

Students submit essay online at www.tnconcrete.org

Appily Easy Money Scholarship- $1,000 Deadline: December 31st

The scholarship is open to high school students for all majors and schools. This will be judged based on criteria such as volunteer work, extracurricular activities, special circumstances, etc.

https://my.appily.com/register/core/scholarship1/preferences?scholarshipID=gp&code=HO1439-5-&utm_source=1439&utm_medium=Affiliates&utm_campaign=5

BadCredit Wealth Wise Scholarship- $1,000 Deadline: December 31st

Must want to major in a career in the finance industry (finance, business, accounting, mathematics, management, and other related majors). Must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Must write a 500-900 word essay on how the US Credit Scoring System can be improved

https://www.badcredit.org/scholarship/

Because College is Expensive- $500 Deadline: December 31st

Fill out the short form. (This scholarship is offered quarterly at the end of the following months- March, June, September and December).

https://cedaredlending.com/scholarship/

Mindscape Big Picture Scholarship- $10,000 Deadline: December 31st

This scholarship is open to all students who have a deep curiosity in studying the universe- whether that be pursuing studies physics, philosophy, biology, mathematics, literature, or any other field that seeks better understanding of our existence- and you will seek to lift up those from underrepresented communities in those fields, and first generation college students.

https://bold.org/scholarships/mindscape/#ref=best-scholarships

Niche "No Essay" Scholarship- $50,000 Deadline: December 31st

Niche is giving one student $50,000 to help pay for tuition, housing, books, and other college expenses. High school seniors will also be eligible to receive acceptances and scholarships from partner colleges. Fill out the Niche profile with key details like your GPA and the high school you attend, and you'll automatically be considered.

https://www.niche.com/colleges/scholarships/50k-no-essay-scholarship-202412/?utm_source=student_scholarships&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=student_scholarships_50k_202412

"No Sweat" Scholarship- $2,500 Deadline: December 31st

The Cirkled In "No Sweat" scholarship can be used for any educational purpose, from books to summer camp.

https://www.cirkledin.com/scholarships/

Path to Pro Scholarship- $2,500 Deadline: December 31st

To be eligible you must plan to be enrolled in an approved trade-related program at an accredited two year school (technical/vocational school or college). You must be focused on a program such as Carpentry, Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing or Construction Management. You cannot be an employee or dependent of an employee of the Home Depot.

https://webportalapp.com/sp/login/skillpointefoundation_homedepot-pathtopro

Power of Resilence Scholarship- $1,000 Deadline: December 31st

High school student in good academic standing with a GPA of at least 3.0. Submit a 1,000 word essay discussing when you were faced with a serious life challenge and how you overcame that challenge. You should explain what you learned, and especially what others can learn from your experience.

https://scottglovsky.com/power-resilience-scholarship/

Too Cool to Pay for School Scholarship- $1,000 Deadline: December 31st

Fill out the short form. (This scholarship is offered quarterly at the end of the following months-March, June, September and December).

https://accessscholarships.com/1k-too-cool-to-pay-for-school/

Winter Wonderland Scholarship- $2,000 Deadline: December 31st

Student must fill out registration form and answer the question about holiday music and movies.

https://www.collegexpress.com/reg/signup?campaign=winterwonderland&utm_campaign=studentscholarships&utm_medium=link&utm_source=studentscholarships

Austin Peay Balanced Man Scholarship- $1,750 Deadline: December 31st

Sigma Phi Epsilon is proud to offer this scholarship for those interested in applying to Austin Peay State University.

https://austinpeay.sigep.org/bms/?_ga=2.79710494.884650831.1724934445-1998930656.1724934444

Youth Leadership and Scholarship Program- $2,500 OPENS: January 1st

The goal of the program is to provide financial assistance, staff and peer support to ensure that you are successful in getting to and through higher education and into the workforce. Students must provide the requested information, submit a transcript, personal essay and at least one letter of recommendation. Must have experienced homelessness in the last six years.

https://schoolhouseconnection.org/scholarship/

Be Bold Scholarship- $25,000 Deadline: January 1st

The "Be Bold" Scholarship is a no-essay scholarship that will be awarded to the applicant with the boldest profile. They define bold as being earnest, determined, and moving. The student whose profile is most like these characteristics will win. You will need to create a Bold.org account.

https://bold.org/scholarships/the-be-bold-no-essay-scholarship/#ref=best-scholarships

GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship-$40,000 Deadline: January 3rd

Earn a $10,000 renewable scholarship (up to $40,000 total) for tuition, school fees, books, supplies, and on-campus room and board. Attend an exclusive, all-expsense paid Scholars Retreat in California. Must have a 3.0 GPA or higher and demonstrate attributes of leadership, integrity, drive, and citizenship within your community, school and workplace. Must plan to enroll at a four-year college or university.

https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/scholarships/GEReaganScholarship25

Live Mas Scholarship- $25,000 Deadline: January 8th

To be eligible you must be planning to enroll in an accredited post-secondary educational program (two or four- year colleges, university, vocational/technical schools). Must be willing to work with the Taco Bell Foundation's Scholarship Management Company throughout the application and award process. Must submit a 2 minute video that answers certain questions asked.

https://www.tacobellfoundation.org/live-mas-scholarship/eligibilityfaq/

Mensa US Scholarship- $2,500 Deadline: January 15th

Must submit an essay of no more than 550 words explaining your career, academic and/or vocational goals.

https://www.mensafoundation.org/what-we-do/scholarships/us-scholarships/

Michelle Obama Award for Memoir- $10,000 Deadline: January 15th

This scholarship is open to current high school seniors who attend public school in the United States and are planning to attend an accredited institution in the fall. You must submit a memoir/personal essay of no more than ten pages in order to be considered for this award.

https://www.fastweb.com/student-news/articles/michelle-obama-scholarship-for-student-memoir-writers

DEWALT Trades Scholarship- $5,000 Deadline: January 16th

You must plan on enrolling full-time at an accredited two-year college or vocational/technical school for 2025-2026. You must also be going into a trade construction, industrial, motor/power sector, mechanics, or technology degree/certificate. Must also have a GPA of 2.0 or higher.

https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/dewalttrade/

Breanna Coleman Memorial Nursing Scholarship- $5,000 Deadline: January 24th

Any high school senior who will be a first-generation college student pursuing a four-year degree in nursing may apply for this scholarship if they have volunteering and extracurricular involvement. Must create a Bold.org account.

https://studentscholarships.org/scholarship/27824/breanna-coleman-memorial-nursing-scholarship

Modern Woodman Scholarship- Amount Varies Deadline: February 3rd

Must be a Modern Woodman member, covered by Modern Woodman life insurance or an annuity of of at least one year. Must have 40 hours of volunteer experience in the previous 2 years. Have a minimum of 3.5 GPA (Track 1) or 2.5 GPA (Track 2) and plan to attend an accredited two or four year college/university or a trade/vocational/technical school for the upcoming fall.

https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/modernwoodmenscholarship/

Modern Woodman Continuing Education Grant- $2,500 Deadline: February 3rd

High school graduates of all ages can apply for a $2,500 grant to help with their education cost. Up to 50 grants are awarded to qualified members on a first come, first served basis. The grant is open to all high school graduates - no matter their age- who want to continue their education including: current college students, those who took a gap year (or more) after high school, and adults wanting to go back to school, obtain a master's degree or earn a designation.

https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/modernwoodmengrant/

UT- Chattanooga Westbrook Scholarship Program- $14,000 Deadline: February 16th

The Department of Chemistry and Physics at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga announces this scholarship program which will award $14,000 (over 4 years) to as many as 7 entering freshmen majoring in Chemistry or Physics. Once awarded these scholarships they are automatically renewed provided that the student meets specific academic requirements. Student must have completed a course in high school chemistry or physics with an A or B, must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher, have an ACT composite score of 26 or higher and must declare chemistry or physics as their major. A separate "Application for Admission" to the university must be submitted directly to the Office of Admissions at UTC by February 1st. The completed Westbrook application (submitted online) and 2 letters of recommendation (emailed) are due by February 16th. Announcement of the awards will be made in middle to late April.

https://www.utc.edu/arts-and-sciences/chemistry-and-physics/department-of-chemistry-and-physics-scholarships/westbrook-scholarship

KFC Foundation Scholarships- $20,000 Deadline: February 17th

You must be an employee at a KFC restaurant participating in the scholarship donation program. Must be enrolling in an accredited trade school or college in Fall 2025. If applying for the $2,500 or $5,000 scholarship, you must have a 2.5 GPA or higher. If applying for the $10,000 or $20,000 scholarship, you must have a 3.5 GPA or higher.

https://kfcfoundation.org/scholarships/

Connex Foundation Scholarship- $5,000 Deadline: March 10th

The Connex Foundation awards scholarship to individuals pursuing careers in the skilled trades (electrical, plumbing, welding, HVAC, carpentry), construction and/or facility management industry. Must have a 2.5 GPA or higher and have a history of active involvement in extra-curricular activities, community service, or work experience.

https://www.connexfoundation.org/scholarship-opportunities/

Heavy Equiptment Parts Express Scholarship- $500 Deadline: April 1st

Must fill out the application and submit an answer to the essay question, which can be found on the application page.

https://excavatorpartscalifornia.com/dozer

Citizens Bank Scholarship- Varies

Fill out the form and submit. Your entry will carry over month to month, but if you want to increase your chances of winning during the sweepstakes period, you can enter up to once a month.

https://www.citizensbank.com/student-loans/scholarship.aspx?authuser=0

https://tengelaw.com/scholarship/

Employment BOOST College Scholarship- $1,000 Deadline: Rolling Basis

Must have a 3.6 GPA or higher. Must include a college acceptance letter, one letter of reference, and submit a short essay. Essay topic is dependent on type of major you plan on pursuing.

https://employmentboost.com/scholarship/

College for TN: https://www.collegefortn.org/

College for TN is a free one-stop resource for college and career information in the state of Tennessee.

Big Future: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/

Big Future is a free online resource that can help you plan for college, scholarships, and explore careers. Plus, when you complete steps, you can earn the chance to win $40,000 scholarships.

Bold: https://bold.org

Bold allows you to search for scholarships

Cappax: www.cappax.com/scholarships

Cappax allows you to search for scholarships and more.

Fastweb: https://www.fastweb.com/

Fastweb allows you to search for scholarships, internships, and more.

UNIGO: https://www.unigo.com/

UNIGO has multiple ways to search for scholarships and explore various colleges.

Become: https://www.learnhowtobecome.org/

Interactive guide that helps you learn about career paths associated with various careers and understand what it takes to get the career by picking the college/classes to climbing the company ladder.