WSCC Announces New Scholarships for Associate’s in 1 Students

Avery Swinson (center), director of admissions and enrollment development at Walters State, enrolls Natasha Henderson from Cocke County and Chris Deskins from Hamblen County into Walters State’s new Associate’s in 1 program. Students in this program can complete two years of college in one and receive a $4,000 scholarship.

A new scholarship is available for students who are accepted into Walters State’s Associate’s in 1 program. Called the Senators Honors Scholars program, eligible students will receive $4,000 to help pay for tuition. This will enable students to use other financial awards, such as the Tennessee Hope Scholarship and the federal Pell grant, to pay for textbooks and living costs.

The Walters State Community College Foundation is funding the new scholarship program.

“We are grateful to the college’s foundation trustees for funding the Senators Honors Scholars scholarship program in recognition of the academic accomplishments of students who are accepted into our new Associate’s in 1 program,” said Dr. Wade McCamey, president of Walters State.

Walters State recently launched the Associate’s in 1 program for pre-professional health majors. Through this program, which begins in fall 2014, students can complete two years of college in only one year. It is designed for high-achieving students who want to pursue a career in one of the healthcare professions, such as medicine, pharmacy, or dentistry.

The college is still accepting students for the fall 2014 cohort class.

In addition to the $4,000 scholarship, students who enroll in the Associate’s in 1 program realize financial savings by completing two years of college in one. And a majority of students will likely attend tuition free through the Tennessee Hope Lottery Scholarship, the last-dollar Tennessee Achieves Scholarship and other financial aid funds.

The program will enroll around 20 students during its first year. Students applying should have a minimum math ACT score of 26 or be willing to take pre-calculus during the summer to prepare for the required math. The curriculum follows the Tennessee Transfer Pathway for Pre-Health Professions.

The program is designed as a cohort, with the same group of students taking all their classes together. Classes will meet on the Morristown campus five days a week in a small classroom setting and will be organized in eight-week blocks: two in the fall, two in the spring and one in the summer.

Instructors and students will utilize the latest technology for course delivery. Students will also benefit from a weekly meeting with an advisor or counselor.

Students majoring in optometry, veterinary medicine, physician’s assistant, physical therapy and other medical-related fields may also benefit from the program.

For more information about the Senators Honors Scholars or the Associate’s in 1 programs, contact Linda Roberts, assistant vice president for academic affairs, at (423) 318-2336 or Linda.Roberts@ws.edu.