Denise Tran, Jonathan Mai, and their two sons pose for a photo with the Smokey mascot during a 2023 UT alumni tailgate.
While Denise Tran and Jonathan Mai hold several degrees between them, not one diploma came from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville—yet several of the more than two dozen students they financially supported to attend college studied at UT, including their two sons and multiple recipients of the UT scholarship they established.
Their deep conviction about education’s importance led them to assist multiple family members’ higher education goals, setting aside funds for every new arrival to the family from cousins to great nieces and nephews.
This passion for education also inspired the couple to endow the Tran Mai Family Scholarship at UT for students experiencing financial need. As a Tri-Star Pledge Scholarship, it provides last-dollar support to Tennessee residents, covering remaining tuition, room and board, and mandatory fees. Denise and Jonathan have a strong attachment to their Tennessee home in Bristol and stipulated that the scholarship support students from the area.
One of this year’s two Tran Mai Scholarship recipients, Charlie McHugh, is a first-year student with aspirations to become a physical therapist.
“I have personal experience with sports injuries so physical therapy became a real interest,” says McHugh. “UT has a great kinesiology program with connections to UT Athletics.
“The scholarship I receive means I get to pursue all that with almost no financial burden. It’s a great deal, and this opportunity wouldn’t be possible without Denise and Jonathan.”
The people we’ve worked with to establish this endowment at UT have supported our interests and desires for this scholarship in every detail, and we’ve been so gratified to see it supporting students like Charlie to achieve their dreams.”
Denise Tran
The beginnings of the couple’s decision to provide such support originate in their backgrounds as immigrants from Vietnam, where their families historically had little access to higher education.
“My dad ran a general store in Vietnam, and had we not left during the fall of Saigon in the seventies, I probably would have followed in his footsteps—the ability to attend college changed all of that,” says Jonathan. “We left our country for freedom, and now we have that freedom to pursue our dreams. Our parents reinforced education because it’s the most important thing for pursuing those dreams.”
Jonathan now works as a radiologist. Naturally he holds a medical degree, but he also has an MBA, a law degree, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He asserts that education allowed him to shape his life and career, and his wife shares this perspective.
Denise worked as an occupational therapist and holds an undergraduate degree and a master’s, as well.
“I received a scholarship that gave me that little bit of extra assistance, and without it, I wouldn’t have been able to attend university,” says Denise. “I told myself if I’m ever in a situation where I can give back, I would do it.”
As soon as possible, Denise and Jonathan began making good on that promise.
They set up the UT scholarship in 2018, as well as hosting alumni receptions in their area and participating as members of the former Parents Council. This connection formed because two of their three children chose to attend UT.
“We had little firsthand knowledge of UT until it came time for our kids to go to college,” says Jonathan. “We emphasized to our kids that college is about what you put into it. We told them to pay attention to environment and culture, because if they’re unhappy with their choice, they won’t be motivated to do well…it can dictate your whole future.”
“But for our boys, UT felt like home,” says Denise. “UT had all the resources our kids could need or want.”
They began attending UT family events, and as they learned more about the university, they saw how much they had in common with Vol culture and the UT mission.
“Though we’ve attended multiple universities and lived in half a dozen states before moving to Tennessee, we haven’t developed a relationship with any institution like we have with UT,” says Jonathan. “UT is the only university we’ve supported in this way.”
“When we got to know the heart of UT, we recognized that our vision and values aligned with the university’s,” explains Denise, in reference to their convictions and support of higher education.
“The people we’ve worked with to establish this endowment at UT have supported our interests and desires for this scholarship in every detail, and we’ve been so gratified to see it supporting students like Charlie to achieve their dreams.”
