In 2019, Bill and Rosann Nunnelly made the largest gift to UTM in the history of the university. This gift of $22 million has been used for the Bill and Rosann Nunnelly Family Scholarship, a four-year scholarship awarded to incoming freshmen with a 2.75 GPA or higher from Hickman County.
Although the recipient being from Hickman County is a preference, it is also open for students from the rural counties of Dickson, Giles, Lawrence, Lewis, Maury and Humphreys. Students with a major in Agriculture, Business or Education are given first preference with second preference going to students majoring in Computer Science or Pre-Medicine.
For the 2021-2022 school year, four students from the incoming class of 2025 received the scholarship. Those selected for the four year schcolarship include Spencer Tomlinson of Lyles; Carlin Cochren of Nunnelly; Jackson Thigpen of Centerville; and William Dixon of Centerville. These students are pursuing degrees in many different programs including civil engineering, performing arts, dietetics, and economics, respectively.
In addition to the incoming students, nine current students have received the scholarship for another year: Emma Copley, Health and Human Performance; Olivia Craft, Integrated Studies; Faryn Matney, Integrated Studies; Alyssa Poff, Nursing; Isaiah Puckett, Management; Trinyti Taylor, Agriculture; Jacob Bybee, Computer Science; Elias Istre, Information Systems; and Emmalee Matthews, Health and Human Performance. Istre, Bybee and Matthews were among the first four students to ever receive the Bill and Rosann Nunnelly Family Scholarship.
Bill Nunnelly is a UTM Alumnus who graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. He then went on to receive a Master of Education from Boston University. He continues to give back to his UTM and Hickman county family through the years. Without contributions from donors like the Nunnelly family, UTM would not be as highly awarded, from friendly campus to award-winning athletics. Students will also be able to receive more academic and financial opportunities for years to come.
