Union County Business & Professional Association presented scholarship awards to eight graduating seniors at the Union County High School Senior Awards and College Signing Day on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Receiving the Jeffreys Memorial Academic Scholarship was Rileigh Collins. Rileigh will attend East Tennessee State University to pursue a dual major in physical therapy and business. Rileigh will also be a member of the Buccaneers Cheerleader Squad. Emili Strand accepted the UCBPA Career & Technical Scholarship. Emili will use her scholarship at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Knoxville to obtain a diploma in applied health science for surgical technology. Lauren Bentley performed over 370 hours of community service to receive the UCBPA Founders Scholarship for Service. Lauren will also attend East Tennessee State University to follow her dream of becoming a nurse at East Tennessee Children's Hospital.

UCBPA also awarded five Opportunity Scholarships to supplement the cost of tuition, fees, books, equipment, housing, meals, or transportation while pursuing a degree or beginning a career. Max Richardson will attend UT Knoxville to major in Agriculture with an emphasis in Agricultural Business and Agricultural Mechanics. Kailey Muncey plans to attend East Tennessee State University to get a Bachelor's degree in mathematics and continue until she has a doctorate in genetics in order to research solutions to genetic diseases. Gavin Tharpe will use his communication skills to pursue a degree in public relations at UT Knoxville. Ariel Quisenberry wants to work for the UT Hospital Labor and Delivery Department when she completes her registered nursing degree at Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Knoxville. Jordan Williams completed all 1600 hours of clinicals for her license in cosmetology at Union County High School. She will be using her scholarship to purchase some of her equipment to begin her career at a salon in Knoxville.

With these scholarships totaling $7,000, UCBPA has awarded over $125,000 in scholarships to meritorious graduating seniors. Annually, UCBPA hosts a Scholarship Benefit Golf Classic to raise funds for these scholarships. The 2023 UCBPA Scholarship Benefit Golf Classic will be on Saturday, June 17 at Three Ridges Golf Course. The public is invited to participate. Four person teams are $300 and hole sponsors are $50. Entry forms are attached to this article and available at Corum Bookkeeping or by emailing ucbpa.tn@gmail.com.

The graduating class of 2023 qualified for over $1.5M in scholarship benefits. Thank you to the parents, teachers, UCHS Counselors, and the Ayers Foundation for your support of our students.