Our Distinguished Tennessean program recognizes students with exceptional academic performance and demonstrated engagement in their community.
Admitted first-year, in-state students will be automatically considered for this award. Priority consideration for this award will be given to first-year, in-state students who apply for admission by November 1 of their senior year.
Recommendation letters for this award (academic, professional, or personal) are encouraged. Please email recommendations* to the appropriate UT Admissions Counselor, with the subject line “Distinguished Tennessean Recommendation for <<insert student name>>.”
*Nominations for the 2024 Distinguished Tennessean Scholarship Awards are now closed. Thank you for your continued dedication to your students’ success! We look forward to begin accepting nominations for next year in August.
A student from each of the 95 Tennessee counties will be awarded a tuition and mandatory fees scholarship, which is renewable for four years. Eligible students must have a minimum 3.2 UT core weighted GPA and will be selected based on a holistic review of their admissions application and supplemental materials. Each award is based on the student’s county of residence, not the county where the student attends high school. You must be admitted to the University and matriculate the fall semester immediately following your graduation from a US high school and be a US citizen, permanent resident, or domestic international student to be considered.
In order to retain this scholarship, students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA, federal Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), and full-time enrollment each semester.