Memphis Residents Surprised With $10,000 Scholarships From WGU Tennessee

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Aug. 22, 2022) – WGU Tennessee, a nonprofit, online university, surprised Memphis-area residents Allison Weaver and Ashley Fischer with $10,000 Tenn-K Scholarships, which will cover about two-thirds of the costs of their degrees.

Weaver and Fischer are two of 10 Tennesseans who have been awarded a Tenn-K Scholarship in 2022. Weaver is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, and Fischer is pursuing a master’s degree in Educational Leadership. With WGU Tennessee’s flexible degree programs, Weaver and Fischer are able to continue working full time while simultaneously earning their degrees.

Weaver is a specialized educational assistant at Macon Hall Elementary. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, she intends to work as a full-time elementary teacher while pursuing her master’s degree.

“Earning my degree online with WGU Tennessee is helping me prepare for my future,” Weaver said. “One day, I want to be able to walk into my own classroom, and WGU is helping me learn the skills I need to do that while working full time.”

Fischer has 12 years of teaching experience and is a fifth grade teacher at Crosswind Elementary School. She plans to finish her master’s program and move into an administrative role at the school or district level.

“I want to make a difference in the lives of teachers, students, and their families. Pursuing my master’s degree is putting me on that path,” Fischer said. “WGU is setting me up to be a well-rounded teacher and administrator, helping me achieve my goals and making them feel attainable.”

Weaver and Fischer learned that they had been awarded Tenn-K Scholarships during a surprise Zoom call with WGU Tennessee Strategic Partnerships Manager – Derriell Springfield.

“WGU Tennessee is proud to offer Allison and Ashley Tenn-K Scholarships to minimize the financial burden of pursuing their career goals,” said Kimberly K. Estep, Chancellor of WGU Tennessee. “The drive and determination of our students who seek to make an impact in the lives of others is inspiring. We can’t wait to see the contributions they will make to their classrooms and communities.”

The Tenn-K Scholarship – which covers a large portion of WGU Tennessee’s already-low tuition of around $4,000 per six-month term for most programs – is awarded based on students’ academic records, readiness for online study, and demonstrated financial need. WGU offers more than 60 online undergraduate and graduate programs in business, K–12 education, health, and information technology.