The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Scholarships Newsletter 

What comes to your mind when you hear the word scholarship? Most people would immediately say money, specifically money for college. Don’t get me wrong, it is the main thing that comes to my mind as well. However, through my own experiences with scholarships, I also think of another word: community. 

 

As a child of two public high school teachers, I knew early on that I was only going to be able to attend college by receiving scholarships. I explored any types of scholarships — employer-based, community programs, merit & federal assistance. I made sure to only consider in-state schools so that I could receive the 25% tuition discount for state employees' children. I spent my spare time completing applications for community scholarships. Because of these efforts, I ended up receiving a scholarship from my church and one from our local bank.  

 

Eventually, I decided to attend the University of Memphis after hearing the news that I was selected for a substantial scholarship from their Student Leadership & Involvement Office. This scholarship, combined with the others, covered my expenses. These scholarships took the burden off of me for having to work multiple jobs throughout college and gave my parents the relief of knowing that college finances wouldn’t be a main point of stress for us. What I didn’t expect was the community that would come along as a result of receiving the University of Memphis scholarship. 

 

The Emerging Leaders Scholarship created a community for me that helped me afford and attend college, but also thrive and ultimately love my college experience. As an Emerging Leader (EL), I always had a group of fellow ELs to accompany me to the nearby nursing home or tutoring center to get community service hours. I had a built-in network of upperclassmen and alumni ELs who were there to guide us and offer assistance when we needed it. I had program leaders who taught me aspects of leadership that I would’ve never learned without leaving my small town and by being around people who hadn’t known me since I was born. And I wouldn’t have the network of diverse professionals I am so blessed to know today and call on when needing their expertise.

 

Pictured above: Jasmine Sweet & Kelly Pietkiewicz, Kelly Pietkiewicz & Kimmy Camp

 

This network includes two specific former ELs who now serve on the Scholarship Committee at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Let’s talk about full circle! 

 

Jasmine Sweet and Kimmy Camp recently shared their thoughts with me on scholarships and how they create community. 

 

“Besides financial support, what did receiving a scholarship or scholarships do for you or mean to you?”

 

Kimmy - “As a child of a single, immigrant mother with low-income, receiving a scholarship for college was more than just having financial aid. It was a recognition of all the hard work my mother and I put toward building a future. Receiving a scholarship was an acknowledgment that my future was worthy of being invested in and that my potential was seen. It was an overwhelming wave of emotion to see the fruits of our labor and to have a way forward to pursue my career goals.”

Jasmine - “It meant that I'd achieved a level of esteem that I'd been striving for. I'd done the work, and receiving my reward was the scholarship. It means that hard work does reap rewards.”

 

“How has your experience in receiving scholarships built a community for you?”

 

Jasmine - “I earned scholarships through [the] University of Memphis, Miss America Pageant Organization, 100 Black Men and a few other organizations. I gained support, mentorship, community and lifelong friendships. I've leaned on this network for many career decisions.”

 

Kimmy - “Because of the scholarships I received in college, I was able to connect with so many other students from all different backgrounds. Coming from a very small, homogenous high school, being around so many different people and having an opportunity to make all sorts of friends was such a critical and valuable stage of my life. It was more than just making a bunch of friends; it shaped how I saw the world, ignited passions I didn't know I had, and molded me into a better person. Without the scholarships I received, I wouldn't have built the community or made the friends I had in college, many of which are still my closest friends today.” 

 

“What does it mean now to serve on the scholarship committee for the CFMT?”

 

Kimmy - “Being a part of the CFMT scholarship committee is such a full circle moment for me. I vividly remember the amount of time and effort (and stress!) that went into applying for scholarships and the weight these decisions had on my life. Therefore, I take the role of being a committee member very seriously and see it as such a huge responsibility to the many students who have been working hard to get ready for college. To be a teeny, tiny fraction of paving a student's future is a true honor and privilege.”

 

Jasmine - “It's life changing to be able to make pivotal moves in someone's educational trajectory. I love being able to aid in their futures. It's truly an honor to read their stories and be a part of their scholastic ventures.”

 

It’s hard for me to imagine my life without Kimmy and Jasmine. They are such integral parts of my journey from college into adulthood. Anytime I get bogged down by the number of calls and emails or back and forth with a donor at work, I am easily grounded back into the meaning of my work by thinking of the community that was built for me through a scholarship.

Sincerely, 

 

Kelly Pietkiewicz 

kellyp@cfmt.org

615-321-4939  ex:116

 

CFMT Scholarship Application Update

• If students need any help with the technical side of the application (a feature online not working, a recommender not receiving the recommendation request, etc.) please have the applicant email help@myKaleidoscope.com

 

• Please encourage fellow teachers and other counselors on your team to look in their junk folder for emails from Kaleidoscope. That is the email the recommendation and transcript requests will come in under. 

Community Partner Highlight - ECE

There are over 7,000 Tennessee-based students who have grown up in the United States but do not qualify for Tennessee Promise, in-state tuition, financial aid, or student loans despite impressive academic records. Why? Due to their immigration status - a classification they have no ability to remedy on their own.

Equal Chance for Education ("ECE") partners with students, their families, and universities to offer four-year scholarships for undocumented high school graduates. ECE bridges a gap in access to higher education, which leads to a more inclusive workforce, an opportunity for students to end cycles of poverty, an overall increase in local taxable earnings, and other remarkable outcomes - all of which benefit the community at large. Beyond offering scholarships, ECE provides student-focused programming and mentoring to aid scholars in completing their collegiate journey and graduating career-ready.

 

The application process for the academic year 2024-2025 will open on November 1, 2023. Completed applications MUST be submitted by March 1, 2024. Priority will be given to applications completed by January 15, 2024.

ECE is funded by individuals, foundations, and corporations who believe in the transformative power of education. To learn more about how you can support its work or have students apply for, visit www.equalchanceforeducation.org.