The purpose of the State Scholars Initiative (SSI) is to increase the percentage of students graduating from high school with a rigorous, defined academic course of study sufficient to prepare them for higher education, the workforce, or the military. 


Eligibility Requirements of Tennessee Scholars

· Completion of 4 English courses

· Completion of 4 Mathematics courses (Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, & 1 higher level course)

· Completion of 3 Laboratory Science courses (Biology I, Chemistry, and 1 other course, preferably Physics)

· Completion of 3 Social Studies courses

· Completion of 1 Health/Physical Education credit

· Completion of 1 Fine Arts course

· Completion of 2 Foreign Language courses in the same language

· Completion of 2 Career Technical Education courses, one of which must be in an area of Computer Applications

· Completion of 40 hours of community service

· Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher

· 95% attendance during high school (which averages to no more than 36 absences over 4 years)

· No out-of-school suspensions

· All exit exams passed

From the 2009 Sumner County high school graduates, 113 outstanding young men and women applied and fulfilled the requirements of the Tennessee Scholars program and have been offered their scholarship reward:  Jeffrey Adams, Tancy Adamson, Jennifer Atkins, Lillian Bacus, Charelle Baxter, Allison Bentley, Lindsay Black, Bobby Brake, Sierra Bruner, Amber Burkhart, Magan Caldwell, Cristy Carbotti, Olivia Cawthon, Jan Claussen, Kate Claussen, Taylor Coffee, Trevor Coffee, Joseph Collins, Michael Cope, Ter'rez Crabtree, Leah Crafton, Bethany Crain, Ryan Davis, Crystal Diep, Emily Dillman, Christina D'Ordine, Bridget Douglas, Cassidy Duchesne, Elizabeth Duke, Devan Finn, Jonathan Fowler, Rob  Gann, Boris Gerosanu, Benjamin Goodwin, Jordan Hall, Cassie Harrison, Alexandra Hartman, Jimmy Hawkins, Vanessa Hilgadiack, Bryan Hill, Martha Holmes, In Hee Hong, Maggi Hume, Shannon Hunter, Ethan Hurst, Amber Jarles, Andrea Jones, Camilla Jones, Jake Jones, C S Kammerzell, Haley Kidd, Sarah Lamberth, Joshua Langford, Jason Malkiewicz, Justin Malkiewicz, Emily Mansfield, Stacie Maples, Ryan Martin, Savanna Meshew, Ted Miller, Brittany Miller, Drew Morgan, Jordan Moura, Daniel Myers, Joshua Nicholson, Justin Ostrander, Callie Pearson, Jasmine Perdue, Ashleigh Piper, Haley Porter, Christian Powers, Kelsie Raines, Stephanie Ramey, Candace Ramirez, Richard Ray, Cassidy Richard, Raegan Richardson, Allysa Roberson, Amber Roberts, Laura Michelle Sanders, Rachael Sarrett, Courtney Searcy, Kaleb Short, Roman Shutt, Rachel Simms, Richard Simpson, Lundy Slaton, Eva Smith, Samuel Sprouse, Jason Spurgeon, Monica St. Amant, Joshua Steele, Curtis Stewart, Rachel Stoller, Mang Thang, Lindsey Thibedeau, Victoria Thomas, Sarah Thompson, Benjamin Trammel, Bethany Veale, Victoria Ward, Jaclyn Watson, Bryan Weakley, Clint Welch, Cole Welch, Tricia Wethington, Benjamin Wilburn, Brittney Wilhite, Chelsey Williams, Erin  Wilson, Taylor Wohlfohrt, Megan Yates, and Holly Yearout.