The Students Rise to the Challenge scholarship competition has chosen 15 semifinalists to compete for three $250 college scholarships. Now, SCORE is asking for your help to determine our finalists by participating in our Facebook poll.
The competition provides a way for students to add their voices to the conversation that is helping to shape the future of education. Students know first-hand that their teachers are working hard to prepare them for success after high school with learning they will use in the real world, whether going to college or career.
Tennessee public school students in grades 3-12 were invited to submit an original essay, song, poem, or video addressing how they apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world situations. Students had great things to say, and over 125 entries were submitted! SCORE team members used a scoring rubric to select our semifinalists in three categories:
Grades 3-5: Give a real world example of how you are using knowledge and skills you’ve learned in your classes.
- Paige Copenhaver, fifth grade, Thomas Jefferson Elementary, Kingsport City Schools, essay
- Reese Copenhaver, third grade, Thomas Jefferson Elementary, Kingsport City Schools, poem
- Ashton Jackson, fifth grade, Germanshire Elementary, Shelby County Schools, video
- Ethan Swift, fifth grade, Lamar Elementary, Washington County School District, essay
- Katherine Workman, third grade, Foothills Elementary, Maryville City Schools, essay
Grades 6-8: Give a real world example of how you are using knowledge and skills you’ve learned in your science or social studies classes.
- Nora Blake, seventh grade, Richview Middle School, Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, essay
- Vincent Gould, sixth grade, Robinson Middle School, Kingsport City Schools, essay
- Zaid Malik, seventh grade, Richview Middle School, Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, essay
- Harleigh O’Brien, seventh grade, Montgomery Central Middle School, Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, essay
- Josephina Reyman, seventh grade, Richview Middle School, Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, essay
Grades 9-12: Give a real world example of how you are using knowledge and skills you’ve learned in your math or English classes.
- James Beckman, 12th grade, Central Magnet School, Rutherford County School District, essay
- Samantha Smith, 12th grade, L&N STEM Academy, Knox County Schools, video
- Lorna Treffert, 12th grade, L&N STEM Academy, Knox County Schools, video
- Naba Wahid, ninth grade, Brentwood High School, Williamson County Schools, essay
- LaTosha Walker, 10th grade, Millington Central High School, Shelby County Schools, song
You can have a chance to vote to select our finalists. First, view the semifinalists’ work by clicking on their names in the list below. Then, go to the SCORE Facebook page to vote for your favorite in our online poll. You will be able to vote for one finalist in each age category. The poll opens at 8:30 a.m. Central on Wednesday, October 1.
Hurry! The Facebook poll closes at 4 p.m. Central on October 15.
Once chosen by your votes, finalists will go through an interview with the SCORE team. The scholarship winners will be announced at the SCORE Prize event on Monday, October 27.
Besides receiving a $250 college scholarship, winners will share their work at the SCORE Prize event on Monday, October 27, in Nashville. Fellow students, educators from across Tennessee, and special guest performer Dustin Lynch will all be present at the event.
Congratulations to our semifinalists!