Summer-Fall 2009, Volume 13, Number 1

Foundation awards 231 Scholarships for 2009-2010
by H. Garrison Coltharp
The Tennessee Baptist Foundation has awarded $184,000 in Educational Grants and Scholarships for the 2009-2010 academic year. Those awards were made from various funds left in the Foundation's care by Tennessee Baptist individuals who left a Christian legacy through the Foundation for that purpose.

Many of those funds stipulate that scholarships are to be for students attending Tennessee Baptist colleges (Carson Newman College and Union University. Sixty-one $1,000.00 scholarships were awarded from those funds. Other funds stipulate that they be awarded to students preparing for vocational ministry roles in one of the Southern Baptist Convention's six theological seminaries (Southeastern, Southern, New Orleans, Midwestern, Southwestern and Golden Gate). Forty-four Tennessee Baptist seminary students received a total of $36,500.00 in scholarship assistance from those funds. The remaining scholarships went to Tennessee Baptist students attending any college, with some designated by the donors for students in medical, dental, pharmacy, nursing or other medical disciplines. Many of the scholarships awarded to students in community colleges and state universities were only $500.00 due to limited funds.

Educational Grants are for incoming freshmen who demonstrate academic achievement and significant financial need. Seventeen such $1,000.00 grants were awarded this year. No other TBF assistance is available to incoming freshmen.

That is the good news. The bad news is that a large number of very worthy applicants did not receive a grant or scholarship this year. The Foundation's Scholarship Committee agonized over these decisions, but faced with far more applicants than available income to distribute, they had to make very hard decisions. Thus many very fine applicants had to be denied assistance. The only remedy for this monetary shortfall is for Tennessee Baptists who have a heart for helping young people reach their potentials through higher education to provide the funding necessary to generate income year after year for this purpose. Christian Memorial Funds provided for in Last Wills and Testaments as well as Charitable Trust arrangements and outright gifts can be sources of such income for scholarships.

To explore ways you might have a part in touching the lives of Tennessee Baptist students through a perpetual fund please contact Bo Childs or Gary Coltharp for a personal consultation. They may be reached by calling toll-free, 800 552-4644.

Back to Articles