NASHVILLE, Tenn. – WGU Tennessee – a nonprofit, online university – recently surprised White House resident Kristen Schillo with a $10,000 Tenn-K Scholarship, which will cover up to 75% of the costs of her degree. Schillo is the first of 10 Tennesseans to be awarded a Tenn-K Scholarship in 2022.
A beloved middle school math and science teacher for the past 15 years, Schillo was named White House Middle School Teacher of the Year for 2020-2021. After seeing the learning deficiencies that students faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she saw a need to provide flexible lesson plans to keep students engaged and motivated in their classwork.
Schillo decided to pursue a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with an aim of becoming an even more effective teacher and better help her students learn. With WGU Tennessee’s flexible degree programs, Schillo is able to earn her degree while taking care of her family and teaching full time.
“Earning my master’s degree from WGU Tennessee will allow me to improve my teaching practices and make sure my students receive the best education possible,” Schillo said. “To make that even better, the Tenn-K Scholarship will allow me to continue my coursework and take care of my students and family without financial burden.”
Schillo learned that she had been awarded the Tenn-K Scholarship during a surprise ceremony at White House Middle School with Principal Mark Mills, her fellow teacher colleagues and Kimberly K. Estep, Chancellor of WGU Tennessee.
“It is truly inspiring witnessing hardworking individuals like Kristen who come to WGU Tennessee to obtain a master’s degree that will not only further their education but that of their students as well,” Estep said. “We are honored to aid in her progress toward her goals by awarding her a Tenn-K Scholarship.”
The Tenn-K scholarship – which covers roughly two-thirds 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.
