The Wesley Ball Fellowship Program was established to support higher education. This program was established to provide student employees or children of full-time employees of Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association (TGCSA) member companies with the opportunity to obtain financial aid for higher education. It helps deserving students with the expense of graduate program and colleges the winners attend benefit by receiving the scholarship funds.
ELIGIBILITY
Those eligible to apply are part-time or full-time students in graduate study, must hold a bachelor's degrees, working towards a masters degree or doctorate and who are either:
1. Children of full-time employees of companies that are members of TGCSA. The employee must have been employed for at least two years as of January 1 of the year in which the scholarships are awarded.
2. Part-time or full-time student employees of companies that are members of TGCSA. The student must have been for at least six months as of January 1 of the year in which the scholarships are awarded.
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
Two scholarships will be awarded each year. The Wesley Ball Fellowship scholarship may be used at any accredited, non-profit trade technical school, two-year community college, or four-year college or university in the United States. Recipients may transfer from one college to another and retain the award.
SELECTION OF WINNERS
An impartial Selection Committee composed of education professionals meets in the spring to select the winners. In evaluating the applicants, the committee considers the applicants' academic records, work experience in the food industry, financial circumstances and long-range career objectives with regard to the food industry.
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
To assure complete impartiality in the selection of winners and to maintain a high level of professionalism in dealing with students, parents, high schools and colleges; the Tennessee Grocers Scholarship Program is managed by Tennessee Grocers Education Foundation. Selection of scholarship winners is made by Dr. L. Paul Sands & Associates. Dr. Sands is the Founding President of Columbia State Community College.
APPLICATION PROCESS
OBTAINING A SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
Around December 1 of each year, scholarship posters are mailed to TGCSA member companies. Applications and descriptive brochures are sent to those who request them on Scholarship Application Forms or the application may be completed by clicking the link below. The application and brochure contain instructions about deadlines and other important information.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF RECIPIENTS
Scholarship recipients must enroll as students in a graduate program the fall of the year in which scholarships are awarded and continue in school for the entire academic year without interruption, barring illness, emergency or military service.
PAYMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS
Scholarships payments are made in the following way. On or about August 1, scholarship recipients are sent a check for the fall academic term. Checks are made payable to the colleges. For colleges on the semester system, the checks are for one half the award. For college on the quarter system, checks are for one third the award.
The second and third checks for colleges on the quarter system are sent November 1 and February 1. For those on the semester system, checks are sent December 1.
For additional information regarding the scholarship program contact:
Jennifer Kemp, Tennessee Grocers Education Foundation
P.O. Box 290427, Nashville, Tennessee 37210-0427
Email: jkemp@tngrocer.org
The deadline for 2009-2010 scholarships was Friday, Februrary 20th.
Please check next year to apply for the 2010-2011 scholarhips.
