State Scholarship
HOPE, Aspire, Access, and Merit
Application: FAFSA (yearly)
Deadline: Sept. 1 for fall starters and Feb. 1 for spring and summer starters.
Award: 0 - $3,200
Eligibility
*Exceptions for less than 6 hours (half-time) - Must complete the Lottery Exception Form.
Eligibility shall be reviewed by the institution at the end of the semesters in which
the student has reached their benchmarks by attempting a total of 24, 48, 72, 96,
or 120 semester hours
Must have a minimum cumulative *TELS GPA of 2.75 after 24 & 48 attempted semester hours
Must have a minimum cumulative *TELS GPA of 3.0 after 72, 96, and 120 attempted semester hours
Must be enrolled in fall and spring semesters and maintain enrollment status as of the 14th day of class
Award: 0 - $500 supplement to Tennessee HOPE Scholarship
Eligibility
Award amount: 0- $1,000 supplement per year to Tennessee HOPE Scholarship
Eligibility
Students must be in a degree seeking program; certificate programs are not eligible.
In order to continue receiving the Lottery scholarship, students must meet the following criteria: Student must meet the institution's SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress) standards for each term. *TELS GPA Eligibility will be reviewed by the institution at the end of the semesters in which the student has reached a benchmark attempting a total of 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 semester hours:
Student must be continuously enrolled at an eligible postsecondary institution in the fall and spring semesters and maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Eligibility terminates when the student has earned an advanced degree or five years has passed.
Students must maintain their enrollment status as of the 14th day of the term.
Note: In order to ensure as many students as possible retain the Lottery scholarship, WSCC has established the 14th day of each term as the census date for determining eligibility. Thus, students may adjust their schedule prior to the 14th day without losing their scholarship for future terms. Failure to complete all courses enrolled as of the 14th day could result in the loss of the Lottery scholarship. Please check with the Financial Aid office before officially, or unofficially, changing your enrollment status.
Available One time only
This option allows students who lost their lottery (due to GPA) the opportunity to regain it by reaching the required cumulative *TELS GPA at any subsequent benchmarks. This does include remedial hours. Awards are not retroactive. The student will regain eligibility the first term after they have achieved the required *TELS GPA if they stay continuously enrolled and have not changed enrollment status in a term.
It is the responsibility of the student to complete the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Request for Reinstatement Form and submit it to the Financial aid Office when they want to use this option.
Request for Reinstatement Due to Grade Change: A student who obtains a grade change must notify the Financial Aid Office within 30 calendar days of the grade change to request reinstatement of the TELS award.
Available One time only
This option allows students to repeat a course and utilize only the higher of the
two grades in the calculation of the postsecondary *TELS GPA. Credit hours count for both classes in determining attempted hours for benchmark
purposes.
It is the responsibility of the student to complete the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Course Repeat Form and submit it to the Financial Aid Office when they want to use this option.
Additional information for Lottery is available at: Tennessee HOPE Scholarship
for Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship (TELS)
Complete the relevant appeal form. Attach verifiable dated documentation of medical or personal reasons listed on form and a written explanation. The appeal will be reviewed by the IRP (Institutional Review Panel). The student will be notified of the results in writing and via MyWS.
NOTE: Appeal forms are available in the Financial Aid Office or by choosing the appropriate form on this website.
Appeals cannot be considered if Lottery eligibility is lost due to GPA.
Change of Enrollment Status: A recipient of the TELS may not withdraw or drop below full-time enrollment after the 14th calendar day (census date) of the semester and maintain their scholarship unless the student requests and the institution approves the change in enrollment.
Leave of Absence: A recipient of the TELS may be granted a medical or personal leave of absence and resume receiving the TELS award(s) upon resumption of attendance as long as all other applicable eligibility criteria are met.
To appeal Denied decisions rendered by the Institutional Review Pane (lRP), the student must appeal to the Appeals Panel at Tennessee Student's Assistance Corporation (TSAC) within 45 calendar days from the date the IRP decision was delivered to the student.
Your TELS (Lottery) GPA may differ from your overall combined GPA. TELS GPA includes all attempted hours AFTER high school. All attempts of repeated courses are included unless student has requested to use their one-time repeat option for a class.
To view your Lottery eligibility:
Log into your MyWS account