Kingsport, Tenn. – Two Dobyns-Bennett High School students have been named as recipients of the 2018-2019 Ned McWherter Scholarship. Over 1,500 applications were received this school year, with only 70 scholarships awarded.

Those named scholarship recipients from Dobyns-Bennett are Karli Ailshie, daughter of Dr. Lyle and Vanessa Ailshie and Kendall Miller, daughter of David and Kellie Miller. 

The Ned McWherter Scholars program recognizes Tennessee’s highest academic achievers who have chosen to attend college in Tennessee. The program awards each student $6,000 per academic year, with $3,000 from the State of Tennessee and $3,000 from the college or university the student attends. The incoming class of Ned McWherter Scholars totals 70 students.

"Karli and Kendall have been exceptional students and leaders during their time at Dobyns-Bennett," said Dobyns-Bennett Principal Dr. Chris Hampton. "They are excellent representatives of our school and will represent the state of Tennessee and will represent the McWherter's Scholars Program in the same fashion. I can't wait to see what these incredible students will do at the college level and beyond. 

The Ned McWherter Scholars Program began in 1986 and is designed to encourage academically superior Tennessee high school graduates to attend college in Tennessee. Since 2002, there have been over 1,000 Ned McWherter Scholars. 

The Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation awarded funding to 70 new applicants and 310 renewal applicants for a total of 380 Ned McWherter Scholars. Current Ned McWherter Scholars will attend 13 Tennessee higher education institutions, had an average high school GPA of 3.99, and hold an average ACT score of 34.5. Recipients must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average in college and attend full-time to remain eligible for the program.

For more information on the Ned McWherter Scholars Program, please visit their webpage on TN.gov here. 

Kingsport City Schools (KCS) is a public school district located in Kingsport, Tenn., serving students in Sullivan and Hawkins county. The district is comprised of 13 schools, including a Pre-K, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, a high school program of choice and an alternative learning program; with total enrollment over 7,700 students. The vision of Kingsport City Schools is to be, Student Focused … World Class.

KCS has been named the top school district in Tennessee as winner of the 2014 SCORE Prize District Award by the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) and has earned the 2014 Achievement Award in the annual Excellence in Tennessee Recognition Program by the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence (TNCPE).

For more information on KCS, visit k12k.com, listen live on WCSK 90.3 FM, The Voice of KCS, read our blog, We Are KCS, download our mobile app for Apple / Android devices or call (423) 378.2100. We’re social too; follow us on Facebook (Kingsport City Schools), Twitter (@KCS_District), LinkedIn (Kingsport City Schools) and check out our YouTube Channel (KPTSchools).

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