The generosity of a private, anonymous donor has enabled 77 Tennessean youth participating in
Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Chattanooga, East TN, and Middle TN mentorship programs to receive
scholarships totaling $225,000, with some students receiving upwards of $5,000 to contribute
toward their continuing education.
From mechanical engineering, criminal justice, game design, and wildlife & fish management,
scholarship submissions represented a wide range of post-secondary career interests and
educational institutions. Students have the freedom to spend the scholarship money in areas
deemed most needed.
“It means the absolute world to me to win this scholarship,” said Hunter, alumni E-Mentoring
Little, Middle TN. “It has helped me so much through this year. I’ve decided to use the money to
help pay for my housing, since there is no on-campus housing. This also helped me buy food
since meal plans are not offered through the school. Thank you again to everyone who made this
scholarship possible. The amount of stress this takes off college students is staggering and very
much appreciated.”
East TN alumni Little Brooke, who is studying Criminal Justice at Pellissippi State Community
College, said, “The TN scholarship allowed me to leave school with no debt and get me supplies
while I was in school.” She added that her Big Sister has always been a trusted adult in her life
that she knows she can count on “no matter what.”
73% of BBBS alumni mentees report that their mentor introduced them to interesting career
paths, and 86% report that their mentor exposed them to experiences they would not otherwise
have had. The role of caring adult mentors provides critical exposure for first-generation college
students and youth from communities with limited access to professional networks.
E’Janay Reynolds from Chattanooga said, “My Big played a major role in my decision to attend
college by helping me build confidence in my abilities. She shared words of encouragement and
reminded me that my hard work would pay off, which made college feel like an exciting next
step.”
Unstable housing situations, mental health, family responsibilities, and transportation gaps have
resulted in school absenteeism doubling since the pandemic. Mentorship brings additional caring
adults into students’ lives who focus on encouragement, connection, and support to help youth
navigate these challenges. Littles who graduate from Big Brothers Big Sisters programs:
● Are 20% more likely to enroll in post-secondary education
● Will earn 15% more over their lifetimes
● These gains mean closing two-thirds of the poverty gap
Key Scholarship Metrics:
Gender: Male – 25
Female – 52
Institution Type: Four-Year College – 65
Two-Year College – 12
Immediate Degree Sought: Certificate – 1
Associates – 13
Bachelors – 55
Masters – 5
Doctorate – 3
About Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters has been creating and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships
that ignite the power and promise of youth since 1904. Through proven data-informed and
evidence-based programming, BBBS mentorship increases confidence, connection, and
academic success for youth aged 6-24 years. Learn more about becoming a Big by visiting
bbbschatt.org.
