Claim of Policy

Hannah McCravy

Mr.Yeargin

English1020

7 April 2016

        Children all around the world dream of growing up and receiving a scholarship to play their sport at a collegiate level. Coaches, parents, and athletes work their entire lives in hopes of reaching their goal to play in college. What if those late nights at the ball field and endless hours of practice resulted in not being able to receive a scholarship? Unfortunately, this will be the case for any upcoming athletes at Volunteer State Community College. Mr. Faulkner, the President of Vol State, declared this year that any future athletes will not be able to receive a scholarship to play because of the new Tennessee Promise opportunity. I believe if the residents of Tennessee, especially in Gallatin, work together, we can bring back athletic scholarships and give students the chance to receive the scholarship that they have worked for their entire lives.

        Athletic Scholarships are just as important to parents as they are to the athletes. The more money an athlete receives, the easier it is on parents to pay for their kids to go to college. I believe if parents, not just from Tennessee, send a letter, e-mail, or even call Mr. Faulkner and explain how an athletic scholarship will help their child succeed in the future, it will open up Mr. Faulkner’s eyes on why it is so important for an athletic scholarship to be available. One of my

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team mates at Vol State is from Kentucky. She has played a HUGE role on the softball team and we wouldn’t have been able to win games without her. By us having a talented team that wins games, it gives pride to Gallatin and raises support from Gallatin residents and people from other states that know people that are a part of the team. Families that support Vol State athletics that are not from Gallatin and needed the scholarship money, can reach Mr. Faulkner and explain how Vol State has changed their child’s lives for the better.

        American citizens aren’t the only ones being affected by the removal of athletic scholarships, but it has also given students from other countries the opportunity to come to Gallatin and help create a better future for themselves athletically and academically.  It is important for kids all around the world to continue to have this opportunity because it changes people’s lives. Raul and Kaldwin are two baseball players at Vol State that are from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. I have become good friends with both of them and they have talked to me about how much they love Tennessee and attending Vol State. I believe the best thing to do would be for Raul and Kaldwin to talk face to face with Mr. Faulkner and explain how Vol State has changed their lives in an amazing way. They would have missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime to be able to attend college in America if they weren’t able to receive an athletic scholarship.

Volunteer State has been known for having some of the most talented teams out of all Junior Colleges in America. Vol State has traditionally been one of the top teams in the state. Vol State was the winner of the 2008-2009 All-Sports Award for TCCAA and the softball team

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were National Champions in 2012. (Volstate.edu) Because of all this success, it gives pride to the whole community of Gallatin and gives more students a reason to be involved in the school. Vol State has remained number 1 in the country for having the highest attendance at softball games. This is proof that students enjoy and support Vol State. Having sports teams that win and become nationally ranked gives students a more enjoyable experience in college and gets students to become more involved in their school. If recruiting become limited, it will be hard to find the talent Vol State athletics needs to remain as one of the most talents junior colleges in America. I think students can show how much they care by creating a petition for who thinks athletic scholarships should be brought back. If the majority of the school supports this and shows how much they enjoyable going to games, Mr. Faulkner will see how important it is to entire school.