TN Education Lottery Programs
The TELS rules were revised to facilitate administration of the TELS program, which included minimizing the inclusion of rule language that duplicated TELS program statutory language. Where duplication existed, the rules now cite the related statute. To access the code relevant to the TELS Program in the Tennessee Code Annotated: Click Here, then click on each successive link to: Title 49 Education; Chapter 4 Financial Aid; Part 9 – State Lottery Proceeds; and then click on the applicable statute(s).
Related Links:
Click here for Tennessee Education Lottery Program Data and Annual Reports.
The HOPE Scholarship is established and funded from the net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded to entering freshmen who are enrolled at an eligible postsecondary institution within sixteen (16) months after graduating from a TN eligible high school. Students must complete the FAFSA application, be a TN resident and meet the minimum high school GPA requirements and/or ACT/SAT requirements.
The GAMS is established and funded from the net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded to entering freshmen as a supplement to the HOPE Scholarship. Students must complete the FAFSA application, be a TN resident and meet the minimum high school GPA requirements and ACT/SAT requirements.
The Aspire Award is established and funded from the net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded to entering freshmen as a supplement to the HOPE Scholarship. Students must complete the FAFSA application, be a TN resident, meet the minimum high school GPA requirements and ACT/SAT requirements for the HOPE Scholarship and meet the minimum family adjusted gross income requirement.
The Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant is established and funded from the net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded to students who are enrolled at a TN College of Applied Technology. Students must complete the FAFSA application, be a TN resident and be in pursuit of a certificate or diploma program.
The HOPE Scholarship for nontraditional age students is established and funded from the net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded to entering freshmen or students who have not been enrolled in any college for at least two (2) years from the date of last enrollment in college. Students must be age twenty-five (25) or older at the time of enrollment, complete the FAFSA application, be a TN resident and meet the minimum family adjusted gross income requirement.
The Dual Enrollment Grant program is defined as a grant for study at an eligible postsecondary institution that is funded from net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded to students who are attending an eligible high school and who are also enrolled in college courses at eligible postsecondary institutions for which they will receive college credit.
Beginning with the Fall 2018 semester, the Middle College Scholarship is established and funded from proceeds of the state lottery and awarded to high school Juniors and Seniors enrolled full-time at an eligible postsecondary institution. Students must complete the Middle College Scholarship, be a TN resident and obtained a minimum 3.0 high school GPA at the end of the Sophomore year.
The Helping Heroes Grant is established and funded from the net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded to US veterans who were honorably discharged and who are a former or current member of a reserve or TN National Guard unit. Students must complete the Helping Heroes Grant application and the FAFSA application, be a TN resident, enroll at an eligible postsecondary institution and were awarded the Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal or Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.