2025 Dwight Kessel Scholarship

The Dwight Kessel Scholarship is a one-time $1,000 scholarship awarded to one graduating senior from East Tennessee. This scholarship is funded by the Tennessee Valley Fair Foundation and is made possible thanks to the gracious contributions of many individuals and companies that support it.

Application deadline is April 11, 2025. The recipient will be notified by email by May 31, 2025.

Qualifications

Applicant must be a graduating high school senior attending an accredited two-to-four-year college or university in Fall of 2025 or Spring of 2026.
Applicant must be graduating from a high school OR homeschool co-op group located within the following counties:
- Anderson
- Blount
- Campbell
- Grainger
- Hamblen
- Knox
- Jefferson
- Loudon
- Monroe
- Morgan
- Roane
- Scott
- Sevier
- Union

Applicant must have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Please submit a high school transcript with your application.
Applicant must include 2 letters of reference with their application. Please note, letters cannot be from family members.

Application

Scholarship Application must be completed and submitted by April 11, 2025, for consideration.

The $1,000 scholarship is paid directly to the recipient’s college or university.

For questions, please contact foundation@tnvalleyfair.org or 865-215-1474.

Applicant Information

First Name

Last Name

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

Postal Code

Phone Number

Personal Email Address

Birth Date

Parent or Guardian Name

Parent or Guardian Email Address

I agree to the terms and conditions
*

School Information

Student GPA

(4.0 Scale)

Student ACT or SAT Score

High School Name

High School Address

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

Postal Code

Phone Number

Counselor Name

Counselor Email Address

Intended College or University

Intended College Start Date

High School Transcripts

Intended Major or Field of Study

Experience and Awards

Experience

In no more than 2 pages maximum, please upload a separate Word document or PDF listing all relevant high school and community activities, work experience, volunteer work, special skills, offices held, etc. in bullet point form during your time in high school.

Honors and Awards

In no more than 2 pages maximum, please submit a separate Word document or PDF, please list in bullet point form any relevant awards or recognition received during your time in high school.

Essay

Please upload your essay in a Word document or PDF format. In 400 words or less, please discuss what you have learned about leadership through experience thus far and explain how you apply leadership skills in your own life.

Essay

Please upload your essay in a Word document or PDF format. In 400 words or less, please discuss any personal and educational goals you hope to achieve, and include why a scholarship is important to you.

Letter of Recommendation 1 Can also be emailed to foundation@tnvalleyfair.org

Letter of Recommendation 2 Can also be emailed to foundation@tnvalleyfair.org

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

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By submitting this application, you understand that you authorize the Tennessee Valley Fair and/or the Tennessee Valley Fair Foundation to make public information about yourself including but not limited to name, hometown, school, and photograph.

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