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College & Career

2026-27 FAFSA is OPEN! Go to studentaid.gov to apply

Laura Austin

FHS College & Career Facilitator
laura.austin@knoxschools.org
865-966-9775 ext 72397

Important Dates

May 4-15: AP Exams
 
May 7: Last day of Senior Classes
 
May 8: Senior Anchors Away (mandatory)
 
May 11 & 12: Senior Final Exams
 
May 16 @ 5 PM: Baccalaureate ceremony
 
May 17 @ 7PM: Graduation at FHS football field

Upcoming College Visits

Sign up in your SCOIR account

Date
Time
Colleges
Wed Apr 22 2:50PM-3:20PM University of South Carolina
Fri May 1 2:50PM-3:20PM Maryville College

SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES

West Point Summer Leaders Experience

The United States Military Academy at West Point is excited to offer rising seniors the Summer Leaders Experience (SLE)—a rigorous five-day, overnight immersion. App closes April 15.

Learn more here: West Point Summer Leaders Experience

Apply to SLE: SLE Application

Maryville College's Great Smokies Experience (GSE)

Students will get a hands-on experience learning about environmental issues while kayaking down the Little River, living in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, hiking to the summit of Mount Le Conte, and much more! The 2026 program will take place July 9–20, and applications are open on the GSE website through May 1. Participants will divide their time between the Maryville College campus and the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. Students who complete the program earn 3 hours of college credit for Environmental Issues and Sustainability Studies (ENV/SUS 101) through Maryville College.

National Summer Transportation Institute Program

NSTI, is a FREE 4-week residential STEM-focused program that exposes students to the transportation industry and encourages students to pursue transportation-related courses of study. Offered at TSU June 15-July 10 and MTSU July 6-31. More information and apply here. Deadline Apr 30

DUKE KUNSHAN UNIVERSITY

2026 Global Summer Institute is a short-term, faculty-led academic program designed to introduce high school students to DKU's interdisciplinary curriculum, global environmental learning environment. Dates: July 12-August 7. Deadline: May 31

Senior Scholarship Announcements

Check out StudentScholarships.org for many new scholarships posted each week!

NEW: The $1000 Justin Mowery Memorial Scholarship is offered to a FHS graduating senior who meets the following criteria:

Have financial need, plan to attend college, and ONE of the following:

  • plan to study a law enforcement-related major in college
  • have a parent who actively serves in law enforcement
  • plan to serve in the military

If you meet the criteria and are interested in applying for this scholarship, please type and submit the following information to laura.austin@knoxschools.org by April 21, 2026.

In 500 words or less, explain why you want to serve in law enforcement OR how you’ve been impacted by a parent serving in law enforcement OR why you want to serve in the military. In 300 words or less, explain how you would use the $1000 scholarship.

Student-View Scholarship Program: Complete an application survey to be entered in a random drawing for scholarships ranging from $500 to $10,000. Deadline Apr 23

Rotary Club or Knoxville Scholarship: Academic succes, commitment to community, and genuine financial need. Total value = $20,000. Deadline Apr 30

CBFO Scholarship: Graduating senior who participated in CBFO-sponsored sports program, 3.0 unweighted GPA, and community involvement. Deadline Apr 30

Kids' Chance of Tennessee: Applicant must have a parent who has suffered a catastrophic, permanently disabling, or fatal injury for which the parent or family was entitled to receive benefits under TN Workers' Compensation Act. Deadline June 1

SigEp Balanced Man Scholarship: Applicants have no obligation to join or affiliate with or join SigEp to be eligible. Deadlines vary by college

Spokeo Artificial Intelligence Scholarship: $5000 award. Submit 800-1250 word essay and 2 rec letters. Deadline June 25

TN Promise & HOPE Scholarship Summary

 
2-year Community College or Trade School
4-year College (TN Public or Private)
Requirements
Hope Scholarship
 $3,200/year

Years 1 & 2: $4,500/year

Years 3 & 4: $5,700/year

Complete FAFSA

21 ACT or 3.0 GPA
General Assembly HOPE Supplement
 $500/semester $500/semester

Complete FAFSA

29 ACT & 3.75 GPA 
TN Promise
 Pays remaining balance   Complete FAFSA, attend mandatory meeting, complete 16 hrs community service by 8/1

 

Scholarship Information:

The VAST majority of financial aid and scholarships will come directly from the colleges and universities you are applying to.
ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS
SCHOLARSHIP LISTS

Every College That Offers 100% Financial Aid. This is mostly need-based aid, so is most helpful for low-income, high-achieving students (top 10% of the class). The definition of low-income can vary, but a good rule of thumb would be < $60,000/year. If you are a junior and fall into this category, please let me know. There are some programs you should know about.

This is a list of colleges with full ride scholarships based on MERIT. This is the list if you are in the top 10% of the class, especially if there is financial need.

NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP SEARCHES

These are national scholarship searches. Inclusion in this list does not indicate endorsement. Remember to file your FAFSA, and never pay for a scholarship or scholarship search!