Shannon Writes About the Tennessee Lottery

NEWS FROM CHRISTIAN BROTHERS UNIVERSITY
Contact: John Kerr Christian Brothers University Office of Communications and Marketing (901) 321-4417 jkerr@cbu.edu November 5, 2003 Families Should Take Advantage Of Tennessee’s Lottery Scholarships By Jim Shannon Dean of Admissions and Student Financial Assistance Christian Brothers University The Tennessee Lottery Scholarships that will be available to college freshmen and other post-secondary students beginning in Fall 2004 provide a huge opportunity not only for students but for the Memphis area as well. The scholarships are a boost that Memphis and West Tennessee clearly needs to be competitive and to make this area a better place in which to live. The lottery scholarships will help keep Tennessee students in Tennessee and take a significant bite out of the cost of a college education for many students. The lottery scholarship money will make a college education possible for some students who might not otherwise be able to afford it. As a citizen, I am happy for what these scholarships can mean to students and parents. As a financial aid professional, I want to encourage parents and students to take full advantage of this new source of important funding. As I visit with parents and students, there are some questions on their minds related to the lottery scholarships. Here are some of the most asked questions from students and parents and the important answers. Q. Do I have to score BOTH a 19ACT (890 SAT) AND an “unweighted” 3.0 overall and core average to get the Lottery Scholarship? A. NO –you can have one or the other but you DON’T HAVE TO HAVE BOTH. Q. What if I am home schooled A. You must have a 23 ACT (1060 SAT). Q. Do I have to be a Tennessee resident and go to a Tennessee school? A. Yes, you must be a Tennessee resident for at least one year and choose to attend a Tennessee college, university or post secondary school. Q. Are there other scholarships from the Lottery? A. Yes – there are Access Grants and General Assembly Merit Scholarships. There is also a Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Award for students attending a Tennessee Technical Center. Q. What is the value of the Lottery Scholarships? A. Beginning in Fall 2004, the Scholarship is predicted to be $ 3000 per year at SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) accredited 4-year public or private schools. Students at 2-year schools are scheduled to receive $1500 per year. Q. Are scholarships renewable? A. They are except for the Access Grant. Students can check with the school they attend for criteria or go to www.state.tn.us. Q. Do I have to attend college immediately after high school to get the scholarships? A. Yes, unless you go into the military or go to a technical school. Q. What do I do to apply for the scholarships? A. Take the ACT or SAT and FILL OUT THE FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid) as soon as possible after January 1 each year. Those applying early will get priority because funds will be limited. YOU MUST FILL OUT A FAFSA FORM. IT IS THE LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION. Q. What if I make too much money to fill out a FAFSA? A. You must fill out a FAFSA to apply to the Lottery Scholarship. YOU WILL NOT BE EXCLUDED BECAUSE OF INCOME IF YOU MEET THE CRITERIA. Q. Where do I get a FAFSA form? A. High school counselors will have these before Christmas break. Also the student may fill out a FAFSA on-line after January 1 at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Q. Where can I find out more details? A. Log onto www.state.tn.us/tsac. Again, students should remember that the Tennessee Lottery Scholarships are awarded to students attending public or private colleges and universities. In addition, there are numerous other forms of financial assistance available to supplement and help defray the cost of a college education. High school seniors and their parents should complete the college selection process early and carefully identify sources of financial aid and scholarships. Many colleges, universities and technical schools have deadlines in February. March 1 is the deadline for important paperwork that parents and students must submit for federal financial aid. Students should apply early to the schools they wish to attend, ideally no later than fall of senior year in high school. A number of legitimate, and free, scholarship websites are available including www.SRN.com, Express.com or www.fastweb.com. Parents and students should feel free to contact financial assistance professionals at any college or university for additional information about the Tennessee Lottery Scholarships. This new program will make a difference for Tennessee students. And, families should remember the importance of an early and planned process to secure the appropriate and available financial support for that important college education. Latest News CBU Home

NEWS FROM CHRISTIAN BROTHERS UNIVERSITY

Contact: John Kerr
Christian Brothers University
Office of Communications and Marketing
(901) 321-4417
jkerr@cbu.edu

November 5, 2003

Families Should Take Advantage Of Tennessee’s Lottery Scholarships

By Jim Shannon
Dean of Admissions and Student Financial Assistance
Christian Brothers University

The Tennessee Lottery Scholarships that will be available to college freshmen and other post-secondary students beginning in Fall 2004 provide a huge opportunity not only for students but for the Memphis area as well. The scholarships are a boost that Memphis and West Tennessee clearly needs to be competitive and to make this area a better place in which to live. The lottery scholarships will help keep Tennessee students in Tennessee and take a significant bite out of the cost of a college education for many students. The lottery scholarship money will make a college education possible for some students who might not otherwise be able to afford it.

As a citizen, I am happy for what these scholarships can mean to students and parents. As a financial aid professional, I want to encourage parents and students to take full advantage of this new source of important funding.

As I visit with parents and students, there are some questions on their minds related to the lottery scholarships. Here are some of the most asked questions from students and parents and the important answers.

Q. Do I have to score BOTH a 19ACT (890 SAT) AND an “unweighted” 3.0 overall and core average to get the Lottery Scholarship?
A. NO –you can have one or the other but you DON’T HAVE TO HAVE BOTH.

Q. What if I am home schooled
A. You must have a 23 ACT (1060 SAT).

Q. Do I have to be a Tennessee resident and go to a Tennessee school?
A. Yes, you must be a Tennessee resident for at least one year and choose to attend a
Tennessee college, university or post secondary school.

Q. Are there other scholarships from the Lottery?
A. Yes – there are Access Grants and General Assembly Merit Scholarships. There is also a Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Award for students attending a Tennessee Technical Center.

Q. What is the value of the Lottery Scholarships?
A. Beginning in Fall 2004, the Scholarship is predicted to be $ 3000 per year at SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) accredited 4-year public or private schools. Students at 2-year schools are scheduled to receive $1500 per year.

Q. Are scholarships renewable?
A. They are except for the Access Grant. Students can check with the school they attend for criteria or go to www.state.tn.us.

Q. Do I have to attend college immediately after high school to get the scholarships?
A. Yes, unless you go into the military or go to a technical school.

Q. What do I do to apply for the scholarships?
A. Take the ACT or SAT and FILL OUT THE FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid) as soon as possible after January 1 each year. Those applying early will get priority because funds will be limited. YOU MUST FILL OUT A FAFSA FORM. IT IS THE LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION.

Q. What if I make too much money to fill out a FAFSA?
A. You must fill out a FAFSA to apply to the Lottery Scholarship. YOU WILL NOT BE EXCLUDED BECAUSE OF INCOME IF YOU MEET THE CRITERIA.

Q. Where do I get a FAFSA form?
A. High school counselors will have these before Christmas break. Also the student may fill out a FAFSA on-line after January 1 at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Q. Where can I find out more details?
A. Log onto www.state.tn.us/tsac.

Again, students should remember that the Tennessee Lottery Scholarships are awarded to students attending public or private colleges and universities. In addition, there are numerous other forms of financial assistance available to supplement and help defray the cost of a college education.

High school seniors and their parents should complete the college selection process early and carefully identify sources of financial aid and scholarships. Many colleges, universities and technical schools have deadlines in February. March 1 is the deadline for important paperwork that parents and students must submit for federal financial aid.

Students should apply early to the schools they wish to attend, ideally no later than fall of senior year in high school. A number of legitimate, and free, scholarship websites are available including www.SRN.com, Express.com or www.fastweb.com.

Parents and students should feel free to contact financial assistance professionals at any college or university for additional information about the Tennessee Lottery Scholarships. This new program will make a difference for Tennessee students. And, families should remember the importance of an early and planned process to secure the appropriate and available financial support for that important college education.

Latest News

CBU Home