Brianna Johnson benefits from the Tri-Star Scholarship Program, which includes 38 Flagship High Schools and expands access to Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university.
Brianna Johnson’s journey to UT began at West Creek High School in Clarksville, Tennessee, which is one of 38 Flagship High Schools throughout the state. She earned a Flagship Scholarship through her academics and described the application process as “accessible and attainable,” saying guidance counselors presented it as “an incentive and reward for working so hard during high school.”
The Flagship Scholarship is offered to admitted first-time first-year UT students who graduate from one of the designated Flagship high schools. Combined with the HOPE Scholarship, it covers a student’s tuition and mandatory fees for up to eight semesters.
Receiving the scholarship made all the difference in Johnson’s choice of higher education. She has several family members who are deaf, and that prompted her to pursue a deaf studies major in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences. She is now a sophomore.
“I had decided not to go to college but was convinced by friends and family to apply anyway,” Johnson said. “I received acceptance letters from all of the schools, but my concern at that point was if I would be able to afford college without having to depend on my mom, who also has to worry about taking care of my brother. I was determined to pay for college on my own so there would be money for other things that my family might need.”
Nearly 90 percent of Tennessee residents who apply to the university are admitted, but family finances can at times be a barrier to attendance. The Flagship Scholarship, which Johnson received, is a part of a portfolio of aid options called the Tri-Star Scholarship Program. It seeks to ensure Tennessee residents have access to the state’s flagship land-grant university.
“I think the Flagship Scholarship was personally a really good opportunity for me,” Johnson said. “I know that without this financial aid I probably would not have gone to college at all.”
We strongly believe that education plays a critical role in improving all our lives. Everyone should have the opportunity to pursue their educational goals without regard to their financial situation. The financial support that we are providing will help these young Tennesseans to achieve their dreams and benefit us all.
– Mary and Rich Antonucci, Tri-Star Scholarship Program Donors
