For UT sophomore Alexander Perry, the Regal Scholars program helped erase difficult questions like “What if I have to work a few part-time jobs?” or “What if my parents have to work overtime constantly or sign their names to loans they cannot afford?”
Dedicated to students from families making less than $40,000 a year, the program provides a $2,500 scholarship to forty UT students from Knox County annually.
The Knoxville-based Regal Entertainment Group’s foundation invests $100,000 each year in the program. For Volunteers from lower-income families, the need-based scholarships help make the dream of earning a college degree from UT a reality.
“It was such a surreal moment for me when I received the letter congratulating me on receiving the scholarship,” said Perry, who graduated from Farragut High School and is majoring in public relations. “And the tears came because I knew what this would mean, not just for me, but my family. My books and fees are covered.”
The Regal Scholars program, offered for the fourth year in a row, now provides scholarships to ten freshmen, ten sophomores, ten juniors, and ten seniors.
“We are so grateful for the partnership with Regal Entertainment Group,” said Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek. “One of our primary goals is increasing access for all students who want to be Volunteers, and the generosity from partners like Regal makes it possible.”
To be eligible, students must be admitted to attend UT and meet the same income guidelines as those for the need-based Tennessee Pledge Scholarship (a family adjusted gross income of less than $40,000).
“This is one of our favorite things at Regal that we do,” said Amy Miles, UT alumna and CEO of Regal Entertainment Group. “As part of the corporate culture at Regal, it is important for us to give back to the communities that we live in. We are extremely proud of the Regal Scholars and our partnership with the University of Tennessee.”
Students applying to UT should visit their high school guidance counselor and ask for more information about the Regal Scholars program as well as other scholarships.
The scholarship program is just one of several ways that Regal supports UT. The company has endowed two Regal Entertainment Group Distinguished Professorships in the Haslam College of Business and supports the college’s technology fund. The company has also helped make several new UT athletic facilities a reality. The Regal Soccer Stadium was named in honor of the company’s legacy of support for UT Athletics in 2008.
Regal also established the Mike Campbell Pulmonary Medicine Fellowship at UT Medical Center and the UT Graduate School of Medicine. The fellowship fosters research and training for physicians specializing in pulmonary disease.
Headquartered in Knoxville, Regal Entertainment Group is the largest and most geographically diverse theater circuit in the United States. The company operates theaters in forty-six of the top fifty US designated market areas.
For more information on UT financial aid and scholarships, visit the One Stop website.
Regal Scholarship holders for 2014 are:
First year—Salena Chowdhury, James Deal, Christopher Haines , Thomas Jean, Kylene Johnson, Alicia Lewis, Austin Mccarter, Jenine Omari, Matthew Sowards, and Hannah Wunschel.
Second year—Kristen Asbury, Molly Cross, Catherine Meadows, Samantha Medina, Bethany Miniard, Mary Moore, Sara Paterson, Alexander Perry, and Tabitha Smalley.
Third year—Christopher Bright, Dallas Dearmond, Jarrod Drury, Hayden Eidemiller, Cameron Hensley, Angela Kirkpatrick, Connie Liu, Neha Patel, Nicole Talley, and Garrett Wamack.
Fourth year—Grecia Ferron, Grayson Hunley, Carter Jersey, Kodi Lovin, Tayler Moon, Sneha Patel, Catherine Quintero, Merry Sheffer, and Jessica Vande.
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CONTACT:
Karen Simsen (865-974-5186, ksimsen@utk.edu)