A keystone is the stone at the top of an arch that holds it all together. Without the unique architectural support it provides the rest of the stones in the arch, the entire structure would collapse. This word has come to mean “something essential on which other things depend.”

We believe that community—building it, participating in it, and leading within it—is the keystone to success in and out of the classroom.

The Keystone Scholarship honors and awards students who have demonstrated active participation in their local communities and a commitment to making them more accessible for all.

Scholarship recipients exemplify the core tenets of Vol is a Verb:

• Exploring what leadership looks like and what it means for our communities on- and off-campus
• Practicing building community and facilitating relationships in our local communities
• Living out their commitment to being a Volunteer and a servant leader beyond UT

Six Volunteers per academic year will be selected and receive a one-time scholarship of $2,000 total, dispersed in $1,000 increments at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.

Eligibility

To be eligible for scholarship consideration, all applicants must:

• Be enrolled full-time at UT, including in the academic year in which the scholarship portion will be awarded.
• Be full-time students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, and be in good standing.
• Complete and submit the application in its entirety, including a resume/CV, a personal biography, and a photo. Upon a recipient’s acceptance of the scholarship, their biography and photo may be used (with prior consent) for promotional and scholarship support purposes.
• Submit one letter of support from a faculty or staff member outlining the student’s academic achievements and contributions to the University of Tennessee and/or Knoxville community. The recommender may also email the letter of support to the Office for Campus Culture & Community directly at [email protected] with your name in the subject line.

Selection

A selection committee with representatives from many different units across UT will score applications using a rubric with four domains:

1. Extracurricular involvement
2. Demonstrated leadership
3. Submitted essay question response
4. Recommendation letter from a faculty/staff member

Application

Applications are due by April 24, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. to be considered for the 2026–27 academic year.

Apply for the Keystone Scholarship

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration without regard to, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.

All recipient(s) will forfeit their scholarship if they do not remain eligible to study at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus or upon transferring to a campus other than the University of Tennessee, Knoxville at the beginning of each semester the scholarship is to be awarded. The selection committee may then re-award the remaining funds or return them to the scholarship fund for the following academic year.

For any questions about the scholarship, please contact us at [email protected].