KNOXVILLE Tenn.
A $10 million gift to the University of Tennessee’s main campus announced Tuesday will be used to support its acclaimed forensic anthropology and Renaissance studies programs, endowed professorships and honors scholarships that include study abroad.
The gift is from Jimmy Haslam, president and CEO of Knoxville-based Pilot Travel Centers, and his wife, Dee Haslam, CEO of RIVR Media, a Knoxville-based television production company.
Jimmy Haslam is the son of Pilot founder, longtime UT booster and philanthropist Jim Haslam, who with his wife, Natalie Haslam, made a $32.5 million donation to the university in 2006.
“Students and faculty are what make UT strong, inviting and vibrant,” Jimmy Haslam said. “We are happy to create the Haslam Scholars program to bring some of the nation’s best students to the UT campus … (and to) help the university attract leading scholars.”
Some $2.5 million will be devoted to the scholarships, which will provide recipients with $1,500 for a laptop computer, study abroad valued at $4,000 and up to $5,500 for travel and research toward a senior thesis.
The deadline is Nov. 1 to apply for the first 15 scholarships in 2008.
