2008 Woodie Awards
First class of HOPE scholars graduates
By Hayley Graham
Issue date: 3/20/08 Section: News
Representatives of the advertising agency for the Tennessee Education Lottery HOPE scholarship are searching for students to be featured in a multi-media campaign celebrating the lottery's first graduating class, officials said.
Students graduating in May who have maintained the HOPE scholarship are encouraged to share their thoughts on the scholarship and how it has benefited them with Gish, Sherwood and Friends agency, according to information in an e-mail.
To share these experiences, students can visit www.tnhopegrads.com.
The HOPE scholarship has afforded many students a great monetary advantage, Joy Gilliland, a Chattanooga junior, said. "It pays for most of my tuition," she said.
Reanne Bumpus, director of financial aid, said, "I think it does afford students more opportunity to go to school with less debt."
The HOPE scholarship is awarded to high school students who are Tennessee residents and who remain in-state to attend college, Bumpus said.
In order to maintain the scholarship, students must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 after 24 semester hours and a 3.0 minimum GPA after subsequent semester hours, all while being enrolled full-time, Bumpus said.
Hannah Wright, a Chattanooga junior said, "It's affected me keeping my grades up to keep it."
Students who drop below the minimum GPA requirement are ineligible to renew the scholarship until the following checkpoint, where they must regain satisfactory academic standing, Bumpus said.
Students may not, however, get it back if they have dropped below full-time.
Malerie Thompson, a lottery scholarship coordinator said, "If they start full-time, they must remain full-time."
This includes students who have taken time off. Students must be continually enrolled in order to receive lottery awards, Thompson said.
Elisha Kenny, an Ashland City, Tenn., senior said, "I didn't get HOPE because I took a year off. I wasn't sure I wanted to go to school."
Thompson said if there's an excusable reason, such as illness, school-related activities such as volunteer work or other pre-approved absences, the HOPE scholarship may be received, but not for simply taking time off.
Also, if a student is doing poorly in a course, "it's better to stay and remain full time" than to drop it and fall below full-time hours, Thompson said.
If students have additional questions or problems regarding the HOPE scholarship, they can contact Thompson at (423) 425-4677.
Students graduating in May who have maintained the HOPE scholarship are encouraged to share their thoughts on the scholarship and how it has benefited them with Gish, Sherwood and Friends agency, according to information in an e-mail.
To share these experiences, students can visit www.tnhopegrads.com.
The HOPE scholarship has afforded many students a great monetary advantage, Joy Gilliland, a Chattanooga junior, said. "It pays for most of my tuition," she said.
Reanne Bumpus, director of financial aid, said, "I think it does afford students more opportunity to go to school with less debt."
The HOPE scholarship is awarded to high school students who are Tennessee residents and who remain in-state to attend college, Bumpus said.
In order to maintain the scholarship, students must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 after 24 semester hours and a 3.0 minimum GPA after subsequent semester hours, all while being enrolled full-time, Bumpus said.
Hannah Wright, a Chattanooga junior said, "It's affected me keeping my grades up to keep it."
Students who drop below the minimum GPA requirement are ineligible to renew the scholarship until the following checkpoint, where they must regain satisfactory academic standing, Bumpus said.
Students may not, however, get it back if they have dropped below full-time.
Malerie Thompson, a lottery scholarship coordinator said, "If they start full-time, they must remain full-time."
This includes students who have taken time off. Students must be continually enrolled in order to receive lottery awards, Thompson said.
Elisha Kenny, an Ashland City, Tenn., senior said, "I didn't get HOPE because I took a year off. I wasn't sure I wanted to go to school."
Thompson said if there's an excusable reason, such as illness, school-related activities such as volunteer work or other pre-approved absences, the HOPE scholarship may be received, but not for simply taking time off.
Also, if a student is doing poorly in a course, "it's better to stay and remain full time" than to drop it and fall below full-time hours, Thompson said.
If students have additional questions or problems regarding the HOPE scholarship, they can contact Thompson at (423) 425-4677.
