The Student Emergency Fund, established in the early days of the COVID-19 crisis, has garnered support as Vols from around the nation and world shared what resources they could to help meet the immediate needs of students experiencing hardship.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Student Emergency Fund, established in the early days of the COVID-19 crisis, has garnered support as Vols from around the nation and world shared what resources they could to help meet the immediate needs of students experiencing hardship.
The fund, which had provided support to nearly 830 students by late May, allows for immediate aid to those who did not meet the criteria for funding through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) act. Distribution of the Student Emergency Fund is expected to continue into the fall semester.
“UT opened the application process for relief funding in April and began distributing these funds to students who need them,” said Chip Bryant, vice chancellor for advancement. “We are extremely proud of our dedicated Volunteer community for coming through in a time of need for these students. Thank you helping to ensure this generation of bright, talented, and hardworking young people are able to continue their studies and grow into the leaders we know they’ll become.”
I am grateful for every donor who allowed me to have the opportunity to finish my semester at UT.
– Heath Allen (’21)
For many Vols the support came during a time of genuine struggle. Heath Allen, junior geography major, used support from the Student Emergency Fund to find an apartment in Knoxville.
“I would likely would have had to leave Knoxville and would have been without internet to complete my semester,” Allen said. “Since my mother passed, I haven’t had a place to stay other than on campus. I had to run my credit card up to get a place to stay in town and to be able to afford internet. With the Student Emergency fund, I was able to pay off that debt and move into an actual apartment.
“I am grateful for every donor who allowed me to have the opportunity to finish my semester at UT,” Allen added.
Because of the Student Emergency Fund, I was able to focus on my school work through the end of the semester without having to worry about food insecurity. I used the money to pay my utility bills and buy basic groceries such as bread and milk.
–Caroline Begley, Class of 2020
Krystal Gourley, a master’s student in the College of Social Work, used the emergency fund to buy food and replace a faulty phone charger.
“These problems were affecting my ability to finish my last year of graduate school strong,” Gourley said. “Right at the last minute, I was able to pack my refrigerator with great food and purchase a new phone charger. I was then able to access my classes via Zoom on my phone and finished my semester strong with a 3.9 GPA!”
The university’s initial fund-raising goal of $250,000 was exceeded through the generosity of hundreds of donors, primarily using the university’s VOLstarter crowdfunding platform. The Student Emergency Fund continues to grow which allows us to continue to provide support to UT students in need.
“ Thanks to your support I was able to get the needed resources, like a hotspot and laptop, to participate in my classes from home. Your generosity has allowed the university to continue caring for so many in these trying times. – Danny Lawson, Class of 2022