By Vivian DiSalvo (Class of 2026)
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, students Isaac Thacker (Class of 2029) and Elizabeth McCoy (Class of 2027) have a unique perspective on service and sacrifice.
Both students have fathers that proudly served in the United States Navy and both have been touched by the often difficult impact of military service. For Thacker, his father’s career on naval minesweepers took a vicious toll on his body, leaving him with permanent disabilities that led to his retirement. Elizabeth McCoy was 15 when her father passed away from cancer before he retired from the Navy.
The Vols of Honor Scholarship program has not only eased the financial burden of college for Thacker and McCoy, but it has also nurtured a sense of belonging for both students through the community it created.
The Vols of Honor Scholarship endowment—which is now approaching $400,000—ensures more veteran and first responder families have the support they need.
Providing Access for Vols of Veteran Families
In partnership with the Folds of Honor organization, the Vols of Honor Scholarship program is open to any student whose parent or spouse was disabled or killed in the line of duty as a military service member or first responder. Since its inception in 2022, the Vols of Honor Scholarship has awarded 49 scholarships to students whose families have endured untold loss. Unexpectedly, the program has also fostered an extended family for recipients.
“My first ever tailgate was a Vols of Honor tailgate, and it was so cool for my family to see and be a part of the community I’ve found here,” says Thacker. “Vols of Honor has helped me meet so many other affected students and create memories with them.”
The scholarship, which is a general, campus-wide scholarship administered through the financial aid office, gives students a built-in support system as soon as they become a Vol. Through fundraising events and continued support from donors and alumni, Vols of Honor is expanding accessibility and opportunity for veteran and first responder families.
“The Vols of Honor Scholarship honors the sacrifices of those that protect us every day by creating opportunities for spouses and children to pursue their education and their dreams,” says Erica Quin, associate director of the Veterans Success Center. “When you invest in a student’s future, you’re not just helping them earn a degree—you’re helping open doors that can change the course of a family’s life. That’s the kind of impact that lasts long after a student leaves campus.”
Building Community on Rocky Top
This past May, Vols of Honor recipients, families, and supporters gathered for two events—the Volunteer Salute and the Vols of Honor Invitational—both of which were instrumental in fundraising for the scholarship and building a unified sense of support for students.
“Vols of Honor has allowed me to meet other people in similar situations as mine. I got to connect with several students at the golf invitational,” says Thacker. “On top of lifting my financial burden, Vols of Honor is also helping me find UT students that can relate to me on a deeper level.”
The Volunteer Salute is an annual event that celebrates veterans, their service, and their sacrifices. This year’s event included music from country duo Thompson Square, as well as testimonials from families and recipients who have benefited from Vols of Honor.
The Vols of Honor Invitational golf tournament, now in its fourth year, raised more than $100,000 for the scholarship in combination with support received from the Volunteer Salute.
“I like to see students in Tennessee exceed and excel, and there’s a vast population of Tennesseans in similar situations,” says Thacker, who hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps by joining the Navy as a physician. “Donating not only helps those families, but it also helps the state by allowing those people to receive an education at UT.”
Supporting Career Readiness
As a biochemical and molecular biology major studying to become a veterinarian, McCoy finds the Vols of Honor Scholarship program has been a huge asset in preparing for her career. She attended several of the events this year and networked with other students and professionals while there.
“I’ve gotten to meet so many new people who have offered great advice when I tell them I’m interested in veterinary school,” says McCoy. “Some of the seniors within the Vols of Honor program are able to recommend classes and offer knowledge that’s been very helpful as a pre-vet undergraduate student.”
That same sense of connection and opportunity extends to 12 additional recipients who benefited from the scholarship this year.
Thanks to continued donor support and funding from this year’s events, the Vols of Honor Scholarship endowment is now approaching $400,000—ensuring more students will have the support they need to pursue their ambitions.
“When a student receives support through a program like this, it doesn’t just impact them—it impacts their family and their future,” says Quin. “As they earn degrees, start careers, and become involved in their communities, that impact spreads far beyond campus. Those are the kinds of investments that strengthen not only UT but communities all across the state of Tennessee.”
You can give back to Vols of Honor, here.
