Six Tennessee Students Receive $10,000 BlueCross Power of We Scholarships

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation recognizes outstanding students committed to improving health care in Tennessee

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation (BlueCross Foundation) has selected six students from across the state as recipients of its 2026 BlueCross Power of We Scholarships.

Each year, the BlueCross Foundation awards $10,000 scholarships to students based on their outstanding achievements in community service, leadership and academics, as well as their commitment to improving health care across Tennessee.

The scholarship is open to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at accredited colleges and universities in Tennessee who are pursuing health care careers and have demonstrated a desire to improve health for their fellow state residents. Since the program began, the foundation has awarded more than $600,000 in scholarships to students preparing to serve communities across the Volunteer State.

"One way we can help improve health outcomes for Tennesseans is by investing in the next generation of health care professionals," said Dr. Andrea Willis, senior vice president and chief medical officer at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. "These scholars have demonstrated a strong commitment to serving others, and we're proud to support them as they prepare for careers that will make a meaningful difference in communities across our state."

This year's BlueCross Power of We Scholars are:

Breyana Brown - Cordova

Senior, Biology

Tennessee State University

Naisha Chowdhury - Memphis

Graduate Student, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Rhodes College

Staci Dean - Madisonville

Graduate Student, Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Southern Adventist University

Kaylie Huqq - Cordova

Junior, Nursing

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Anjolaoluwa Odomo - Nashville

Junior, Bioinformatics

Fisk University

Ashleigh Spencer - New Tazewell

Graduate Student, Nursing Anesthesia

Lincoln Memorial University

Scholarship applications will open in early 2027. For eligibility requirements and information, visit BCBSTNews.com/scholarship. Awards are funded through the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation's endowment, not from the company's current business operations.

About BlueCross ®

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is a taxpaying, not-for-profit health plan serving more than 3.4 million members in Tennessee and around the country. The Chattanooga-based company was founded in 1945 and has brought peace of mind to its members and local communities for more than 80 years. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Inc. is an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. For more information, visit the company's news center at bcbstnews.com.

About BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation, Inc.

The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. was established in 2003 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation organized to promote the philanthropic mission of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. The foundation provides funding for initiatives that support healthier communities across Tennessee, including the BlueCross Healthy Place program.