KNOXVILLE, Tenn.– A new University of Tennessee-Knoxville scholarship program has greatly increased the number of the state’s brightest students applying to UT-Knoxville, officials said Wednesday.
The Bicentennial Scholarship provides a full-tuition, four-year award to Tennessee high school students who have ACT scores of 31 combined with a 3.75 grade point average.
“From all indications, the program has had a very positive impact on the quality of high school students we are recruiting and attracting,” said Dr. John Peters, UT-Knoxville vice chancellor for academic affairs.
“Guidance counselors throughout the state have told us it has been very well received by students and their parents. For some students, it has meant the difference between coming to UT-Knoxville or choosing another university.”
Dr. Gordon Stanley, UT-Knoxville director of admissions, said 152 students had accepted the scholarship as of May 29, 48 others were undecided and some of them may accept by this fall.
Stanley said the program is more successful than expected in drawing the state’s top students. University officials had hoped to attract about 100 students.
In recent years, UT-Knoxville has enrolled about 70-80 students annually who had both a 31 ACT score and a 3.75 grade point average, Stanley said.
“This is a substantial change in the number of students of this academic quality,” Stanley said. “There’s no question the rate has been directly influenced by this scholarship program.”
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Contact: Dr. John Peters (615-974-3265)
Dr. Gordon Stanley (615-974-2184)