ETSU’s Scholarship Office is trying to educate the campus community about the Don’t Lose Hope Campaign, which informs students about how to receive and keep the Hope Scholarship.
This is the first year for the Tennessee Educational Lottery Scholarship, also known as the Hope Scholarship. At ETSU, 1,649 students are receiving the scholarship.
Kathy Feagins, assistant director in the scholarship office, said, “We are trying to educate students, advisors and the campus community about the rules of the Hope Scholarship.”
In addition to meeting ACT score requirements to receive a Hope Scholarship, students must also meet certain criteria in order to maintain their scholarship eligibility for subsequent semesters.
If a student repeats a class, both grades count in his or her “lottery GPA,” but not in the traditional ETSU grade point average where only the second grade counts, Feagins said. Also, classes taken before high school graduation do not count in the lottery GPA but do count in the ETSU GPA.
The scholarship provides $3,000 per year for students at four-year institutions and $1,500 per year for students at two-year schools. A program called the Need-Based Supplemental Award provides students who meet certain income requirements with an additional $1,000 per year.
Students who fail to reapply for the scholarship or lose their eligibility for any reasons may never receive the Hope Scholarship again.
To maintain eligibility, the scholarship office advises students to study, attend classes, make good grades, meet with advisors, register for classes with caution, decide upon a major as soon as possible, stay in school and complete the FAFSA form each year.
Students who dropped from full-time to part-time after Sept. 10 will lose their lottery scholarships. Students who lose their scholarships may file an appeal with the financial office within 30 days.

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