Take a Chance on me: UTC transfer student finds path to success

Chance Rollins is an online business management student in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business. Photo by Angela Foster.

Transferring from Chattanooga State Community College to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga opened doors that Chance Rollins didn’t expect.

“The scholarships worked out where I was getting paid to go to school,” Rollins said. “I loved it. When I came here, I could pay for the costs.”

Though he did not begin UTC as a freshman, he still had a catalog of financial aid and scholarship opportunities available.

According to Ken Scannapiego, the associate director of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, UTC offers several scholarship and financial aid options for transfer students who meet eligibility requirements.

“A transfer student from any community college or any other four-year school can still qualify, assuming they meet the requirements,” Scannapiego said. “They can still qualify for the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship and the Pell Grant.”

He explained that the first step in receiving financial aid is filing for FAFSA. Then, students should look into the requirements for the UTC Transfer Scholarship, which awards some eligible transfer students a $2,000 per year scholarship.

Scannapiego also encouraged transfer students to investigate scholarships that exist within their academic programs. While some scholarships are reserved for incoming high school seniors, he said, there are also several scholarships specifically tailored for transfer students.

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Now a senior in UTC’s online business management program, Rollins said he is grateful for the smooth transition between the two institutions.

“It worked out super well and everything transferred,” he said, adding that even credits from Cleveland State Community College classes he took in high school rolled over.

As a highly independent person, Rollins also found the process of transferring his information from ChattState to UTC incredibly easy. When he saw his graduation date approaching, he said he was able to file the documents and transcripts on his own.

“There was a little kiosk on ChattState’s campus where you could do it all by yourself,” he said. “It was really easy. It was on a computer, and I could’ve done it from home.”

After everything was submitted and processed, he was officially enrolled at UTC, something he planned on happening for a long time.

Growing up in Turtletown, a very small, unincorporated community in Polk County, Tennessee, Rollins knew he would have to leave his hometown to attend an in-state school.

“UTC was always the end goal,” he said. “I considered it one of the better schools, and my choices were Knoxville or Chattanooga. I didn’t want to go to Knoxville; I chose Chattanooga.

“I just wanted to get a degree and do something productive. I knew I would have a lot better chance of being a productive member on a college campus at UTC.”

By the time he arrived at UTC, Rollins wanted to balance his education and work responsibilities. After trying an in-person class during his first semester, he opted for the online program, which best fits his lifestyle and learning style.

In his online classes, Rollins said he found the flexibility he needed and—surprisingly—plenty of interaction.

“In the online program, there are still group projects,” he said. “I’ve met a few friends through online classes and we have a Discord and Zoom together.

“It works out really well where you have the opportunity to be independent and do things at your own pace—but also be able to have a group, meet people, and establish relationships and connections.”