Scholarships
EA's Charlie Rollins & Gay Henson Scholarship
Congratulations to our 2025 Scholarship Winners:
Gracie Hibbs, Madison Stuber, & Graham Jenkins
(Click Names above for their Thank you Letters)
The Charlie Rollins/Gay Henson Scholarship Award Program is in investment in the future of our members, their families, and our Association. These scholarships are to provide to reward academic excellence while balancing school, athletic/other activities, family, and community. All the applicants worked very hard and are described by their references as achieving this balance plus maintaining their strong moral character and humility amid their successes. Each students’ application was reviewed several times by each Committee member. Quite frankly, we wish that all could be awarded an EA scholarship. The Committee is confident that each applicant will continue to be upstanding, responsible citizens that contribute greatly to their families, churches, and communities.
After careful consideration of the seven very worthy applicants for the 2024 Charlie Rollins/Gay Henson scholarships, the Scholarship Committee came to a unanimous decision. Committee member. Quite frankly, we wish that all could be awarded an EA scholarship. The Committee is confident that each applicant will continue to be upstanding, responsible citizens that contribute greatly to their families, churches, and communities.
Please join us in congratulating to Gracie Hibbs, Madison Stuber, and Graham Jenkins as the top three applicants; each student will receive a $2,000 scholarship to assist in furthering their secondary education. These young women are high achieving scholars and athletes in addition to volunteering their time and talents in their communities.
Gracie Hibbs (Charlie Rollins Scholarship) – Ranked 1/99 in her senior class with a perfect 4.0 GPA, Gracie Hibbs has excelled in AP courses (scoring a 5 in U.S. History and a 4 in Literature) and dual-enrollment college math (earning a 103 in Statistics and 100 in College Algebra), alongside achieving a 33 ACT score. Recognized as a Supreme Court Historical Society Scholar, she researched a landmark Supreme Court case and co-created an educational exhibit displayed in Chattanooga’s federal courthouse. Her civic engagement earned her distinction as a national finalist in both the Federal Bar Association’s Civics Essay Contest and the LegalEagle Judicial Case Bee (Top 5 out of 250 participants). Gracie’s STEM accomplishments include competitive research programs at the University of New Hampshire, where she analyzed CO2 emissions data, developed biomedical engineering solutions, and modeled molecular dynamics—even winning a Shark Tank-style pitch competition. She served as Mock Trial Co-Captain, leading her team to three victories while earning multiple Best Attorney awards, and balanced this with leadership in Tri-M Music Honor Society (as Secretary) and performances with All East Honor Choir and CCA Jazz Ensemble. Committed to service, Gracie supports environmental conservation (Tennessee Heartwood, school Recycling Club), wildlife rehabilitation (Opie Acres), and caregiving for her disabled grandmother.
Madison Stuber (Gay Henson Scholarship) – Madison just completed her second year at Murray State University in Murray, KY. Madison is majoring in Psychology and minoring in Criminal Justice. Madison made Murray State’s President’s list, and she is actively involved in the school’s Baptist Campus Ministry and a Community Group (C-group). Madison completed a child abuse prevention training and received training to become a Green Bandana Ambassador on Murray State’s campus. She is an active member of Twelve Oaks Baptist Church and works part time as a barista at Paducah Nutrition.
Madison was a 2023 Honors Graduate and Valedictorian of Community Christian Academy (CCA) in Paducah, KY. During her time at CCA, Madison was a member of the National Honors Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Calligraphy Club, and Bible Study Club. Madison was a six-year member of the varsity tennis team and made the First Team All-State Tennis Team. Madison received several senior superlatives from her graduating class including “Most Likely to Succeed,” “Most Likely to Be Like Einstein,” and “Most Likely to Be President.”
Madison has been an active volunteer in the community serving with many organizations including Idols Aside Ministry, The Community Kitchen, St. Vincent De Paul, and BBQ on the River.
Graham Jenkins (2nd Annual VW Presidents Scholarship)
Brief Summary of Achievements
- University of North Alabama Academic Scholarship
- University of North Alabama Tennessee Valley Scholarship
- Graduating with Honors from Lexington High School in Lexington, Alabama
- National Honor Society
- Junior National Honor Society
- Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society
- LHS Coronation Court
- LHS Senior Court Homecoming Representative
- Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles Course with College Credit
- Dual Enrollment credits completed at University of North Alabama and Northwest
Shoals Community College
- FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America) Member
- STEM Camp UNA Innovation Idea Award
- Lexington High School Golf Team 11th and 12th grade years
- Lexington High School Track Team 7th, 8th, and 9th grades years
- Worked jobs as Concession worker, Go Kart technician, Security and Cashier at
Killen Time Park
- Works for individuals doing yard work and landscaping
PREVIOUS WINNERS:
2023 - Connor Anderson & Madison Ellis
2022 - Kelsey Hewitt
2020 - Nolan Scherer Smith
2019 - Victoria Starks
2018 - Sarah Houff
2017 - Nolan Smith
2016 - Gwen Foster & Jarod Davis
2015 - Gwen Foster
2014 - Phillip Evans & Hayley Dinkins
2013 - West Phifer & Hannah Davis
2012 - Katherine Thurman & Chapelle Ayres
2011 - Jessica Henson & Trey Brown
2010 - Samuel Broder
2009 - Preston Moore, Katherine Thurman, & John Johnson
2008 - Janet Nelson
The Engineering Association, Inc. is offering two scholarship awards as an investment in the future of our members, their families and Association.
· The Charlie Rollins Scholarship Award Program was created in 2008 in memory of Charlie Rollins to honor his commitment and dedication to working men and women and education. Charlie Rollins (1939 – 2005) dedicated much of his adult life to organized labor as well as education. He was an instructor of adult continuing education students at the Northeast Area Vocational-Technical College in Afton, Oklahoma in the early 1980’s; President of United Rubber Workers Local 318 in Miami, Oklahoma 1983 - 1986; and Senior Labor Relations Specialist for the Engineering Association, Inc. in Knoxville, Tennessee from 1987 until his retirement in 2002.
· The Gay Henson Scholarship Award Program was created in 2021 to recognize Gay Henson’s commitment to EA and involvement. Gay Henson was the Engineering Association President, 2005-2022, EA Southeastern Section President from 1994- 2005, EA Designated Union Rep from 1991- 2022, IFPTE Vice President of Eastern Federal Sector, 2012-2021, IFPTE Executive Council from 2012-2022, IFPTE Secretary/Treasurer 2021 to present.
Each year the Engineering Association, Inc. award a value of $2,000 for each scholarship winner (applicants may apply for both).
THOSE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY
Applicants must be currently enrolled in post-secondary education (includes high school seniors with dual enrollment) and must be related to an Active Engineering Association, Inc. member or staff in one of the following ways:
Spouse (not employed by TVA)
Unmarried and under Age 26 in one of the following categories:
Natural or Adopted Child /Grandchild
Foster Child /Grandchild
Stepchild /Grandchild
Child of whom you are the legal guardian
Child for whom you have legal custody