Scholarships Through the Tennessee Southern Baptist Convention

"Tennessee Southern Baptist Convention" represents a synthesis of the names of separate entities: the Tennessee Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention. Although they are related by faith and mission, the latter's website notes that "State conventions are autonomous and independent from ... the Southern Baptist Convention."



The Tennessee Baptist Foundation, the Tennessee Woman's Missionary Union, the African American Fellowship of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, and the convention's Seminary Extension Scholarship program offer financial assistance for Tennessee Baptists who are undergraduate and graduate students.

Tennessee Baptist Foundation

The Tennessee Baptist Foundation, the trust and investment arm of the convention, provides financial aid to college and university students who are members of churches cooperating with the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

Entering freshmen students may seek grants only; sophomores, juniors and seniors may pursue scholarships. Grants are based primarily on needs, but applicants must also fulfill academic requirements. Evaluations of applications for scholarships focus primarily on academic achievement, with additional consideration of need.

As of 2011, students awarded grants have received $500 per semester or $1,000 for the academic year. Scholarships have ranged from $500 to $1,000 per year.

Much of the aid goes to students in Tennessee Baptist colleges or universities. Students at other institutions, however, may apply. Those pursuing master's level studies in the six Southern Baptist theological seminaries qualify for aid through the foundation, as do medical, dental, nursing and pharmacy school students. Additional information is available by calling 800-552-4644.

Woman's Missionary Union

The Tennessee Woman's Missionary Union provides financial assistance to Tennessee Baptists who are students taking the equivalent of 12 credit hours per semester and who are involved in missions and ministry.

As of February 2011, the organization administers seven scholarship programs: the Myrtle Creasman Scholarship at King's Academy, the Acteens Scholarship, the Myrtle Creasman/Mary Northington/General Tennessee WMU Scholarships, the Katharine C. Bryan Graduate Scholarship, the Tennessee WMU Seminary Scholarship, the Tennessee WMU Amanda Day CWJC Scholarship and the Tennessee WMU Creely Wilson CMJC Scholarship. Details of each of the scholarships are available on the WMU website or by calling 800-558-2090.

African American Fellowship

The African American Fellowship--Tennessee Baptist Convention Scholarship Fund awards up to three $1,000 scholarships annually when funds are available. Two scholarships go to the applicants with the best grade point averages. The third scholarship is based on the greatest financial need as determined by evaluation of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

The scholarships normally are available only to those persons who have graduated from high school within the 12 months preceding filing of the application. The scholarship fund's guidelines stipulate, however, that in the absence of another qualifying individual, a recipient may seek the scholarship for a second year.

Seminary Extension Scholarships

The Tennessee Baptist Convention Seminary Extension Scholarships are made possible through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. The allocation for theological education assistance is designed to assist nontraditional students enrolled in a Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Extension center in Tennessee.

The centers are housed at First Baptist Church in Lenoir City, Tennessee; LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, Tennessee and Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. Additional information about the extension scholarships is available by calling 800-558-2090.

References

• Tennessee Baptist Convention: About Us
• Tennessee Baptist Foundation: Educational Grant and Scholarship Programs
• Tennessee Baptist Convention: WMU Scholarship Information
• Tennessee Baptist Convention: AAFTBC Scholarship Fund Governing Guidelines
• Tennessee Baptist Convention: Seminary Extension Scholarship Guidelines
• Southern Baptist Convention: State Convention: Tennessee Baptist Convention

Resources

• Tennessee Baptist Convention: Locate a Baptist Collegiate Ministry