NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 4, 2023) – In celebration of WGU Tennessee’s 10th anniversary, the accredited, nonprofit online university is awarding $10,000 scholarships to up to 10 Tennesseans as part of its annual Tenn-K Scholarship program.
“For the past 10 years, WGU Tennessee has provided access to scholarships and affordable higher education to thousands of Tennesseans, including more than 3,900 WGU grads living in the state, making it possible for them to achieve their dreams,” said Kimberly K. Estep, WGU Tennessee Chancellor. “Going into the new year, the Tenn-K Scholarship provides a path for hardworking adults to pursue higher education and grow in their careers.”
One such beneficiary is Julie Bolling. After teaching 10th grade English at Jefferson County High School for eight years, Bolling decided she wanted to move into an administrative role in the school district. She pursued her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from WGU Tennessee to become an even more effective resource for students and teachers.
“The Tenn-K Scholarship was instrumental in my education, allowing me to earn my degree without the financial burden of traditional brick-and-mortar degree programs,” Bolling said. “The courses in my degree program have been instrumental in my new role as a literacy coach. I can’t thank my mentors, instructors, and everyone at WGU Tennessee enough.”
Bolling is now a literacy coach for high school students across the school district, where she provides data-driven best practices and trend analyses, as well as advises on next steps to address areas of need. With WGU Tennessee’s flexible degree programs and competency-based model, Bolling was able to accelerate through online courses while working full time, at her own convenience and on her own time.
WGU Tennessee has helped alleviate the financial burden for students by awarding more than $5,506,441 in scholarships to Tennesseans in the past decade, with nearly $340,000 from Tenn-K awards and more than $114,500 in emergency aid and programs for nurses, teachers, and more. With WGU’s already-low tuition of about $4,000 per six-month term for more undergraduate programs, the Tenn-K Scholarship covers approximately 70% if a recipient’s tuition costs, on average.
Those interested in applying have until March 31, 2023, to submit their application. Tenn-K Scholarships are awarded based on the applicants’ academic records, readiness for online study, and demonstrated financial need, as well as other considerations. Recipients are awarded four installments of $2,500 per six-month term, disbursed over their first four terms.
To learn more about the Tenn-K Scholarship, visit https://www.wgu.edu/financial-aid-tuition/scholarships/tennessee/tenn-k.html.
