Tusculum College offering scholarships for transfer students

Community college students interested in continuing their education at a baccalaureate school will now be eligible for a transfer student scholarship program at Tusculum College.

Jose Guerrero of Knoxville, will be one of the first students benefiting from this program. Guerrero, who has completed a certificate of pre-allied health at Pellissippi State Community College, was awarded the scholarship and will begin the Bachelor of Science in nursing program at Tusculum College in the fall.

Guerrero, a first generation college student who is juggling his educational commitments with working full-time, said that the transfer scholarship helped him make his commitment to continue his education.

“I have known since high school that I wanted to work in health care. The scholarship helped relieve some of the financial worries about continuing my education,” he said. “It’s a huge deal for college students. Every dollar makes a difference.”

Currently an orderly at Park West Hospital, Guerrero said working with the nurses there and talking to them about their jobs and educational preparation led him to the decision that nursing is where he would like to focus his energies.

“I’m taking it a step at a time, but eventually I would like to get my master’s degree and work as a nurse anesthetist or as a physician’s assistant.”

Students who wish to pursue their bachelor’s degree at Tusculum College and are transferring from a qualifying community college may receive a one-time $500 scholarship. In addition to the opportunity to receive this one-time $500 transfer scholarship, students that are members of Phi Theta Kappa or a similar academic honors organization are eligible to receive an additional one-time $500 scholarship, totaling to a one-time $1,000.

“The Tusculum College scholarship for transfer students will help them to make an easier transition,” said Andrew Starnes, admission representative at Tusculum. “Our hope is that it will make the transition from the two-year program to the four-year program a smooth one.”

For more information on admission or to request an application for a transfer scholarship, contact the Tusculum College Office of Admissions at 1.800.729.0256 or email admission@tusculum.edu.