Fifteen incoming freshmen at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, are the newest members of the Haslam Scholars Program, UT’s most prestigious undergraduate academic scholars program. The program was founded in 2008 with a generous gift from Jimmy and Dee Haslam and Jim and Natalie Haslam.

Thirteen of the 15 scholars in this year’s cohort are from Tennessee. The scholars will receive scholarships to cover tuition, fees, and room and board, stipends to pursue additional experiential learning opportunities, and a fully funded study abroad program.

The Haslam Scholars program is one of four university-wide, interdisciplinary honors programs for UT’s highest-achieving students, housed in the Division of Student Success. Since its inauguration, the program has produced three Rhodes Scholars, recipients of other prestigious awards such as the Fulbright, Goldwater, and Gates Cambridge Scholarships, and graduates who have gone on to attend top graduate schools and hold high-profile positions in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors.

CSPS Director Honored by Senator Bob Corker in Washington DC

Sarah Hillyer, director of the UT Center for Sport, Peace, and Society, last week participated in a ceremony at George Washington University celebrating Tennessee Senator Bob Corker’s contributions to the field of public diplomacy.

Corker received the Walter Roberts Endowment from George Washington University’s Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication for his outstanding diplomatic work as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Two have founded nonprofit organizations. One is a sign language interpreter. Another was a high school offensive lineman who also served as a head teacher for an English tutoring program. They all excel in the classroom and have been active in school and community organizations.

Eight UT students—the largest number to date—have been offered prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for the 2017­–18 academic year to study and teach in cities around the globe.

UT undergraduates Kimberly Bress, Christopher Neal, and Andrew Wintenberg ­­­­­­have been named 2017–18 Goldwater Scholars.