(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this part to the contrary, a student who is eligible for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship upon graduation from high school, completion of high school in a Tennessee home school or obtaining a GED® or HiSET®, but who, instead of applying for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship, applies to and enrolls in a Tennessee college of applied technology and receives a Wilder-Naifeh technical skills grant, shall continue to be eligible for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship; provided, that the student:

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 49-4-937

  • diploma: means a credential, other than a degree, the receipt of which indicates satisfactory completion of training in an eligible program of study offered by an eligible postsecondary institution. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • Eligible postsecondary institution: means an eligible independent postsecondary institution or an eligible public postsecondary institution. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • General assembly merit scholarship: consists of two (2) parts, a Tennessee HOPE scholarship and a general assembly merit scholar supplemental award. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • Scholarship: means a Tennessee HOPE scholarship or a Tennessee HOPE access grant. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • Tennessee HOPE access grant: means a grant for coursework in an eligible program of study in pursuit of an associate or baccalaureate degree at an eligible postsecondary institution that is funded from net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded to freshman students meeting the requirements of §. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • Tennessee HOPE scholarship: means a scholarship for coursework in an eligible program of study in pursuit of an associate or baccalaureate degree at an eligible postsecondary institution that is funded from net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded under this part. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • Wilder-Naifeh technical skills grant: means a grant for coursework in an eligible program of study at a Tennessee college of applied technology operated by the board of regents of the state university and community college system that is funded from net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded under this part. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
(1) Applies for a HOPE scholarship and enrolls in an eligible postsecondary institution within three (3) years of completing a diploma from a Tennessee college of applied technology consisting of at least nine hundred (900) clock hours;
(2) Is not ineligible for a HOPE scholarship under § 49-4-904; and
(3) Meets the requirements of § 49-4-905(a).
(b) This section shall also apply to students who are eligible for general assembly merit scholarships and Tennessee HOPE access grants.
(c) Enrollment at a Tennessee college of applied technology by a student working toward a diploma before receiving a Tennessee HOPE scholarship, general assembly merit scholarship or Tennessee HOPE access grant under this section shall not count under § 49-4-913 or § 49-4-920 toward the limitation on receipt on a Tennessee HOPE scholarship, general assembly merit scholarship or Tennessee HOPE access grant.