Education in Sevier County

Scholarship Program Announced

Sevierville, TN - Larry Waters, County Executive, officially announced today the creation of the Sevier County Partners In Process Scholarship Program. This scholarship is available to any graduating high school senior from a Sevier County high school who plans on attending Walters State Community Collage. "We are very pleased to have the opportunity to provide every senior with an opportunity to go to college, regardless of their financial status" said Waters. "It is exciting that we have developed a program that will provide two years of tution for every graduating senior who meets the minimum requirements" continued Walters.

 The scholarship program will be administered by the Office of Admissions at Walters State Community College. "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with Sevier County to promote higher education to Sevier County's youth and continue to provide a quality work force for the local industry and buisness" said Dr. Jack Campbell, President, Walters State Community College.

 Funding is being provided by Sevier County Commision and various private buisnesses. funding for the program is currently at $165,000, which is anticapated to fund the program for several years. An onging fundraising effort will continue to insure the continued viability of the program. "We are sure that this program will be funded for many years to come as local governments and local buisnesses have expressed a great interest in providing funds to train and educate our future workforce" stated Waters.

 "The Sevier County Board of Education has unanimously endorsed this scholarship program and we are very excited that we can offer to all Sevier County youth a college degree at no tution cost to them" stated Dr. Jack Parton, Sevier County School Superintendent. "We were thrilled to be able to sit down with representatives from Walter State and develop a similar program similar to the one that they are currently doing in Sullivan County, Tennessee for our county. Dr. Locke of Northeast State technical Community College was very cooperative in sharing information with us to develop our program:, Stated Parton.

To be eligible, a high school senior must:

• Graduate as a member of the 2002-2003 class with a standard diploma from an accredited

• Sevier County high school or state-approved private school, as authorized by Tennessee state law or obtain a GED diploma with the 2002-2003 class.

• Graduate with a GP A of 2.7 or higher or obtain a composite score of 19 on the ACT or equivalent score on the SAT (910-composite).

• Have a custodial parent or court-appointed legal guardian who resided within the boundaries of Sevier County as of September 1,2002 prior to the student's high school graduation date.

A student and custodial parent or court appointed legal guardian must maintain residence in Sevier County to be eligible for participation and continuation in the scholarship program.

 Students must apply for all other scholarship and financial aid programs available through Walters State. Once a student is notified of all other scholarship and financial aid that they will receive, then the Partners in Progress Scholarship program pays for any amount of outstanding tuition that the other scholarships or financial aid does not provide. "By developing the program like this, it allows for the Partners in Progress Scholarship funds to be used very wisely and assist many more students" stated Waters.


 Students interested in applying for this scholarship program must submit (hand deliver) to the Office of Admissions at Walters State Community College the following four applications. All fours applications must be received by the established deadlines.

1. A completed application for admission to Walters State Community College and the required application fee. Deadline date: March 15,2003.

2. A completed application for Walters State Community College scholarship funding. (Walters State Community College Scholarship Application). Deadline date: March 15,2003.

3. A completed application for federal student financial aid (The Free Application for FederalStudent Aid (FAFSA). Deadline date: March 15,2003

4. Complete the "Request for Transcript" form and submit to your high school guidance
counselor. Deadline date: March 15,2003

Provide notice of graduation and official high school transcript of high school course work.
Deadline date: June 16,2007.

Submit official scores from the ACT Assessment or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).
Deadline date: June 2, 2007.

 Students scoring less than 19 on math, English, or composite score of the ACT or a comparable SAT score (450-math, 460-verbal, 910 composite) must undergo additional assessment by Walters State for purposes of academic placement. Deadline date: June 15,2007.

 For additional information on the Scholarship program, parents of senior high school students should first contact their child's guidance counselor at their high school. The contact for the scholarship program at Walter's State Community College is Mary Ann Rush, Assistant Director of Scholarships and Campus Based Programs. She may be reached at (423) 585-6812.