Tusculum College to encourage adult students to “Finish Strong” through full tuition essay competition

Tusculum College wants all students to “Finish Strong” and is offering for the second time a full tuition scholarship to one lucky contest winner.

“We are pleased to announce the launch of an exciting scholarship contest representing a great opportunity for the winner to complete their undergraduate degree through one of our Graduate and Professional Studies programs,” said LeAnn Hughes, vice president for enrollment management and marketing and director of the Graduate and Professional Studies program at Tusculum College. “The Tusculum College Finish Strong Scholarship Giveaway recognizes the hard work and sacrifices our adult students put forth when returning to school to finish their degree.”

“Getting people back to school to finish their degrees is life changing,” said Lindsey Seal, director of Graduate and Professional Studies enrollment. “Through this essay contest, we will learn the individual stories of our students and be able to share them with others who wish to follow in their footsteps. The bonus is that one lucky participant will receive a full tuition scholarship as a prize.”

The winner of last year’s Finish Strong contest was Aimee Teffeteller of Maryville. Teffeteller is currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program and plans to major in education. “Winning the Finish Strong scholarship has been such a blessing,” said Teffeteller. “It has enabled me to finish my degree without the financial burden that comes with continuing one’s education. I am so thankful to have been given this opportunity.”

The Finish Strong Scholarship Giveaway is provided by Tusculum College in partnership with Food City and WIVK-Radio. Both Food City and WIVK will promote the contest in the greater Knoxville area during the term of the event.

The Finish Strong Scholarship Giveaway will begin on Thursday, Sept. 1, and will end on Friday, Sept. 30. The contest is open to all legal U.S. residents age 18 or older with a valid Social Security number at the time of entry. The winner must submit the following: an application for admission and be accepted to an undergraduate degree program at Tusculum College, an essay and official transcripts of all college level work from regionally accredited schools demonstrating a minimum of a 2.0 grade point average and the equivalent of 54 semester hours or an associate’s degree. Currently enrolled Tusculum College students are ineligible to win.

The required essay should describe how obtaining an undergraduate degree from Tusculum College will transform the entrant’s life.

There is no charge or fee to submit the essay or enter the contest. The essay submitted must contain between 250 and 500 words to be considered a valid entry. In addition to the required essay submission, entrants are encouraged to promote actively their participation in the Scholarship Contest via social media, using #finishstrong. Social media participation is not part of the criteria for eligibility or for judging the best essays.

One grand prize will be awarded. The grand prize package consists of a tuition-paid scholarship to one of Tusculum College’s undergraduate degree-completion programs which can be redeemed at any of the Knoxville, Morristown or Greeneville locations and can be applied to pay all of the regular tuition charges for an undergraduate degree-completion program in business administration, management, interdisciplinary studies (education, K-5) and psychology, behavioral health concentration.

Enrollment into one of the four undergraduate degree programs is subject to availability at the respective class location. The winner is responsible for paying all other charges, fees and amounts payable by a student enrolled in the program and will not be eligible to receive any additional institutional-based scholarships.

The prize may be combined with other forms of financial aid available through Tusculum College.

To enter, the essay must be submitted in writing to the Tusculum College admissions office. Entrants may visit Tusculum College’s “Finish Strong Scholarship” website at www.tusculum.edu/finish to submit the online entry form.

A complete copy of the rules may be obtained at the Tusculum College Admissions Office, 60 Shiloh Road, P.O. Box 5051, Greeneville, TN 37743, during normal operation hours, Monday through Friday, or by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to the above address.