Applications Remain Open Through Month of April
NASHVILLE – In light of the recent Middle Tennessee tornadoes and ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, WGU Tennessee is extending the deadline for its largest annual “Tenn-K” scholarship to April 30. The university will award $10,000 scholarships to up to 10 Tennesseans, which covers approximately 70% of the cost of a degree at WGU Tennessee.
“This is a time of extreme uncertainty for many Tennesseans, particularly in regards to careers and income,” said Dr. Kimberly K. Estep, WGU Tennessee chancellor. “With cost being one of biggest barriers for potential students, our scholarship offerings help minimize that risk so students can pursue higher education, for whatever reason they choose.”
WGU Tennessee has helped to alleviate the financial burden for its students by awarding more than $3 million in scholarships to Tennesseans since 2013, including more than $225,000 of that total coming from Tenn-K awards. Other open scholarships include Everywhere, TN and Sixth Anniversary Scholarship.
Jackson, Tenn., teacher Emily Stutts wanted to take the next steps to accomplish her goal of becoming an administrator within the Jackson-Madison County School District. On a whim, she applied for the 2019 Tenn-K Scholarship in hopes of starting her Master of Education program with WGU Tennessee. By receiving the scholarship, Stutts was able to begin her master’s program and take the necessary steps to accomplish her goals.
“I applied for the scholarship on a whim, thinking that I had a one-in-a-million shot – and here we are,” said Stutts after receiving her Tenn-K Scholarship. “This is definitely going to allow those possibilities to become a reality. I am super excited about furthering my career and future career opportunities … it’s the biggest blessing,” she said.
WGU Tennessee offers a competency-based approach, allowing students to receive credit for knowledge they have gained on the job. That coupled with low tuition ($3,500 per six-month term) that includes all learning materials, makes WGU Tennessee an ideal option for working adults. Students study at their own pace and can being working on their degree on the first of any month.
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.
Launched in July 2013, WGU Tennessee is an online, accredited, nonprofit university established to meet the needs of working adults who wish to complete a bachelor’s or master’s degree and advance their careers. WGU Tennessee – created through a partnership between the state of Tennessee and nationally recognized Western Governors University – has graduates from all 95 of Tennessee’s counties and has conferred more than 4,800 degrees since the university’s inception. More than 4,200 are currently enrolled.
To learn more about the Tenn-K Scholarship, visit tennessee.wgu.edu/TennK.
WGU Tennessee is an online, nonprofit, competency-based university established to expand Tennesseans’ access to higher education throughout the state. Formed through a partnership between the state of Tennessee and nationally recognized Western Governors University, WGU Tennessee is open to all qualified Tennessee residents. The university offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the high-demand career fields of business, K–12 teacher education, information technology and health professions, including nursing.
Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Teachers College programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
In addition to WGU Tennessee, there are seven other WGU state-based, state-endorsed universities: WGU Indiana, established in June 2010; WGU Washington, established in April 2011; WGU Texas, established in August 2011; WGU Missouri, established in February 2013;WGU Nevada, established in June 2015; WGU North Carolina, established in October 2017; and WGU Ohio, established in February 2018.
For more information, visit the WGU Tennessee website, tennessee.wgu.edu, or call 855-948-8495.
