By Taki S. Raton
The Milwaukee Alumni Association announces a scholarship offering for Tennessee State University (TSU). To qualify for assistance, the applicant must be a graduating high school senior with plans to attend the university in the coming fall term or a student in good standing currently enrolled at TSU.
Criteria include a high school or a TSU transcript showing a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5 or above, proof of acceptance or current enrollment at TSU, two letters of recommendation from a teacher, official church representative and/or community leader, and the submission of a 200-250 word double- spaced typed essay, with cover sheet, on the theme: “How Will an Education from Tennessee State University Assist Me in Accomplishing My Professional and Personal Endeavors?”
Students interested in attending TSU or those currently enrolled seeking information on this offering should contact Scholarship Committee Chair Etta Ogbetuo for an application at (414) 353-2769. By email, Ogbetuo can be reached at: ettaogbetuo@yahoo.com or MilwTSUalum@gmail.com. The deadline for mailed applications is August 1, 2012
Milwaukee is distinguished as having the largest Tennessee State University alumni chapter in the country with over 300 graduates. Upwards of 500 students from the Milwaukee and greater Southeastern Wisconsin area are presently in attendance on the TSU campus according to Milwaukee chapter president, Gregory T. Williams.
Located in Nashville, Tennessee, TSU was founded in 1912 as an African American normal school. It became a 4-year campus in 1922 and received university status in 1958. The institution as it is known today was the result of a 1979 merger between Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee at Nashville. TSU awards bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tennessee State describes its mission in part as one of “providing quality academic programs which are broadly comprehensive at the baccalaureate and masters levels.” The university’s most popular majors include Business Administration, Nursing, Statistics, and Biology. Corporate partnerships provide experience and contacts beneficial to students upon graduation when students are seeking employment.
The total enrollment of 8,254 students are able to major in a number of different schools and colleges such as the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Engineering, Technology & Computer Science, the College of Health Sciences, the School of Agriculture & Consumer Science, and the School of Nursing. There is additionally a School of Graduate Studies and Research, and the Institute of Government.
Notable TSU alumni include talk show host Oprah Winfrey, Myra Edwards and Kimberly Montgomery, both of the Mayor’s Office, City of Milwaukee, historian and UWM professor Dr. Harold Rose, actor Moses Gunn, NBA player Anthony Mason, Hall of Famers Richard Dent and Ed “Too Tall” Jones, journalist Carl Rowan, Senator Harold Ford, gospel producer Bobby Jones, singer Yolanda Adams and Ron Brown, former Secretary of the Department of Commerce.
