PURPOSE
Tennessee Grocers Education Foundation (TGEF) was founded in 1985 to support and promote education of students in the food industry in Tennessee.  It helps deserving students, assists parents with college expenses and colleges benefit by receiving scholarship funds.  For a list of available TGEF scholarships, click here.

ELIGIBILITY
Those eligible to apply are high school seniors, college freshman, sophomores and juniors who are either:
   1.  Children or spouses 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 scholarships are awarded.
   2.  Part-time employees of companies that are members of TGCSA.   The student must have been employed for at least six months as of January 1 of the year in which scholarships are awarded.
NOTE: The applicant or the parent(s)/spouse of the applicant must still be employed by a TGCSA member company at the time the winners are selected.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
Two types of TGEF Scholarships are awarded.
One-year awards ranging from $500 to $1,800 for graduating high school seniors and college students who are children of full-time employees or part-time student employees. 

There are also a number of special one and four-year scholarships of varying amounts that are awarded. 
Winners of one-year awards may reapply each year if they continue to be employed by firms that are members of TGCSA.

Most awards may be used at any accredited non-profit college or university in the United States.  A scholarship recipient may transfer from one college to another and retain the award.

PURPOSE
The Wesley Ball Fellowship Program was established to achieve a number of highly desirable objectives.  First, it recognizes, Wes Ball, former President and CAE of Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association (TGCSA) for his contributions.  Second, it supports and provides the opportunity to obtain financial aid for higher education.  It helps deserving students with the expense of a graduate program and colleges benefit by receiving scholarship funds.

ELIGIBILITY
Those eligible to apply are graduate students who: (Preference is given to student who are pursing a career in the food inudstry.)

1.  Hold a bachelor's degree and are working towards a master's or doctorate degree. 
   
2. Will be a part-time or full-time student in graduate study.
3. Are children or spouses of full-time employees of companies that are members of TGCSA.  The employee must have been employed for at least two years of January 1 of the year in which the scholarshisp are awarded.  OR
4. Are part-time student employees of companies that are members of TGCSA.  The student must have been employed for at least six months as of January 1 of the year in which the scholarships are awarded.

NOTE: The applicant or the parent(s)/spouse of the applicant must still be employed by a TGCSA member company at the time the winners are selected.

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.

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
To assure complete impartiality in the selection of winners and to maintain a high level of professionalism in dealing with students, parents and colleges; the Wesley Ball Fellowship Program is managed by Tennessee Grocers Education Foundation.  Selection of scholarship winners is made by Dr. L. Paul Sands & Associates.

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:

• academic records
• test scores
  
• extracurricular activities
  
• student employment
  
• recommendations. 
  

Winners are selected largely on the basis of academic merit. 

There are several "Best All-Round" scholarships available. 

All applicants are notified of the results of the competition by April 20, 2012.

OBTAINING A SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
Around December 1 of each year, scholarship posters are mailed to TGCSA member companies.  Applications can 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 full-time college students in the fall of the year in which the scholarships are awarded and continue in school for the entire academic year without interruption, barring illness, emergency or military service.

Scholarship checks are mailed to the individual scholarship recipients, and the winners are responsible for making certain that the check is delievered to the college.

PAYMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS
Scholarship payments are made in the following way.  On or about August 1, scholarship recipients are sent checks 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 colleges 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 semster system, checks are sent December 1.

For additional information regarding the scholarship program contact:
Jennifer Kemp
Tennessee Grocers Education Foundation
1838 Elm Hill Pike, Suite 136
Nashville, Tennessee 37210
Email: jkemp@tngrocer.org