Banks Establishes Scholarship Endowment To Assist First-Time Freshmen

Sharon Smith Banks ('73) never bites her tongue when it comes to her beloved alma mater. She fondly recalls the positive influences Tennessee State University had on her life and is now giving back to the institution that gave so much to her.

As the current director of new student programs and an adjunct professor at West Virginia State University, Banks understands the challenges of funding a college education - both from personal and professional experiences.

As a first generation college graduate, Banks has focused her attention on helping those students who fall in the same category- specifically the freshmen. She established the Sharon Smith Banks General Scholarship Fund from a life insurance policy. The scholarship fund is designed to help first-time freshmen, who maintain a 2.5 GPA or better, gain sold footing in their pursuit of higher education and will assist with books and travel opportunities for students.

"My parents attended college, but never graduated, so I became the first college graduate in my family," Banks said, adding that her sister soon followed as a 1978 graduate of TSU. Every day I encourage students by letting them know they can succeed."

She said tuition increases are making it much more difficult to achieve the dream of higher education, and providing support to ease some of the financial hardships of students at her alma mater is just one way she can help.

"I believe God allows you to do what's best for the whole and for me this is the right thing to do."

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