Recipients of the Carlos and Winnie Simpson and the John Tummins Memorial Scholarships recently gathered for a luncheon to learn more about the inspirations behind their scholarships. Representatives of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, also shared the special connection between these two scholarships. UT Chancellor Donde Plowman told students, donors, and guests that extending UT’s transformational experience to as many bright young students as possible is key to being good stewards of the legacy left by the namesakes of these scholarships.
“As students, your part is working hard and living up to the ideals of people who gave you this gift,” she told the scholarship recipients. “I want to thank and celebrate each and every one of you. We are grateful and proud of what you’ve done and for what you’re going to accomplish yet.”
The Carlos and Winnie Simpson Scholarship Endowment was created in 1983 by brothers Claude and Joe Simpson, founders of Simpson Construction, to honor their parents and provide opportunities for young people from Tennessee to attend UT. It is a campus-wide need-based scholarship.
Dorothy Bryson (’90), who retired from UT in 2018 as an executive director of development, worked with the Simpsons in 1986 in her role in financial aid.
“One of the things Claude Simpson would often say to me is, ‘I hope the students are making use of this scholarship, and wisely,’” Bryson said. The Simpsons built their scholarship legacy over the years with steady contributions, she added. Today the Carlos and Winnie Simpson Scholarship Endowment has grown to one of UT’s largest scholarship endowments and has supported hundreds of students.
The John Tummins Memorial Endowed Scholarship was created in 2009 by Ed Taylor (’83, ’09, ’16). Taylor was an employee of Simpson Construction and saw first-hand the generosity of Claude Simpson. When he expressed a desire to attend graduate school, Simpson saw to it that he could with the assistance of the Carlos and Winnie Simpson Scholarship. That act of kindness stayed with Taylor and inspired him to pay it forward by establishing another scholarship in honor of his friend and mentor John Tummins.
This scholarship helped me afford the opportunity to study abroad and have a great experience in London. Since I’ve gotten back I’ve seen a change in myself and how I view the world, and I’m really thankful for this.
– Kaiya Moore (’23), Simpson Scholar
The Tummins Scholarship is designed to aid undergraduate students in the Tickle College of Engineering. Taylor spoke at the luncheon about the exceptional character of John Tummins, who was a physically large man but gentle and kind despite his imposing frame.
“It wasn’t his size or his athletic prowess that made him special, but it was the size of his heart,” Taylor said. “John had a servant’s heart. He was selfless and would do anything he could to help other people. John loved his God, he loved his family, and he loved his fellow man. He tried to make the world a better place, and so that’s the reason that I wanted honor him with a scholarship.”
Tummins scholar Ander Blowers (’25) is studying biomedical engineering with the intention of attending medical school. He is from Johnson City, Tennessee, and is grateful for the financial assistance the scholarship has provided. “The scholarship means a lot to me in that it is helping me get through college with as little debt as possible so that I can look toward the future and advanced degrees,” Blowers said. Simpson scholar Kaiya Moore (’23) is a first-generation college student from Chattanooga, Tennessee, studying marketing with a concentration in international business. The scholarship helped her participate in a study abroad experience as part of the Greg and Lisa Smith Global Leadership Scholars program.
“This scholarship helped me afford the opportunity to study abroad and have a great experience in London. Since I’ve gotten back I’ve seen a change in myself and how I view the world, and I’m really thankful for this.”
Moore’s career goals include attending graduate school for instructional leadership, management, or human resources and ultimately to start a nonprofit after-school program in fine and performing arts for children.
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