Scholarships

The Monroe and Ann Carell Scholarship was established at the school's founding in honor of our principal patrons, Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Carell. The Carell's made the lead gift to the Diocese of Nashville that made then, Pope John Paul II High School, possible. The Carell's gave JPII its name after a private audience with Pope John Paul II in Rome during a visit in 1998. They were so moved by their encounter that upon their return to Nashville, they told Bishop Kmiec of their desire to make a large gift to the diocese, provided that any buildings resulting from the gift would bear the pope's name. Bishop Kmiec told them of the need for a second diocesan high school, and the Carell's enthusiastically agreed. Pope John Paul II High School opened shortly after that in 2002. From that moment to their deaths, the Carell's were significant contributors to the school, sponsoring this scholarship to make Pope Prep possible for deserving young men and women. Their daughters have endowed this scholarship to honor their parents and to carry forward their significant cause for the sake of future generations of Pope John Paul II Preparatory School students.

Scope: The purpose of the Carell Scholarship is principally to give partial tuition assistance to students who could otherwise not afford to attend Pope Prep. Candidates for the award must be students with a demonstrated financial need, a strong academic record, and a good work ethic in the opinion of the selection committee. Students receiving these scholarships are expected to write and thank the Carell daughters for their generosity.

Criteria: Students are considered for the need-based Carell Scholarship when they complete the financial aid process as outlined by the school. No additional steps are required for the application.

How to Contribute: You may contribute to the permanent corpus of the Carell Scholarship by making a tax-deductible gift to the "The Carell Scholarship," Pope John Paul II Preparatory School, 117 Caldwell Drive, Hendersonville, TN 37075. An acknowledgment of your donation will be sent to the Carell family.

The Monsignor Bevington Scholars Fund was established by Pope John Paul II Preparatory School's Board of Trustees in May of 2012 to honor Monsignor William Bevington for his extraordinary contributions to the Catholic community of the Diocese of Nashville, the parishioners of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, and to the parents, students and faculty of Pope John Paul II Preparatory School. Sixty years a priest, Monsignor Bevington helped generations of believers build a closer relationship with the Lord through his unique blend of humor, wit, and saintly witness. As pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church for nineteen years, Monsignor Bevington led the church to become one of the largest and most active parishes of the diocese. Together with other priests and laity, he was responsible for the planning and eventual opening of Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, TN in 2002. He was a sacramental presence at the school from that point forward, celebrating weekly Mass with the student body, hearing confessions, leading school retreats and serving as a permanent member of the school's Board of Trustees. Pope John Paul II Preparatory School wishes to honor his extraordinary commitment to our Church and school in perpetuity through the establishment of this scholarship.

Scope: The purpose of the Monsignor Bevington Scholars Fund is to assist Catholic families who are otherwise not able to afford to send their children to Pope Prep. Since its inception during the 2012-2013 school year, the scholarship supports two new or returning students whose families are active in the Catholic parishes of north Nashville. As the corpus of the scholarship grows, the number of students the scholarship supports may also increase. The amount of the scholarship is dependent on need.

Criteria: Students are considered for the Bevington Scholars Fund when they complete the financial aid process as outlined by the school. No further application is necessary. Scholars will be chosen based on demonstrated need, a strong academic record, and exemplary involvement or service within the Catholic community.

How to Contribute: You may contribute to the permanent corpus by making a tax deductible gift to the "The Monsignor William Bevington Scholar Fund," Pope John Paul II Preparatory School, 117 Caldwell Drive, Hendersonville, TN 37075." An acknowledgment will be sent to Fr. Bevington's family.

The Tate Scholars Fund was established in June of 2016 when alumnus, Golden Tate '07 answered the call to assist female and male athletes in their quest to become Pope Prep KNIGHTS. Once a multi-sport athlete at Pope himself, Tate understands the impact team sports have on a student. During his time at then Pope John Paul II High School, Tate starred on the football field where he was a two-time Mr. Football winner; on the baseball diamond where he was selected in the Minor League Baseball draft as a high school senior and again as a junior in college; on the basketball court; and on the track as a sprinter.

Although Tate's success on the field was nothing short of top rate, he knew that his future success was contingent upon receiving a solid education. Inspired by his mother, Yolonda Tate, who insisted that his academics take priority over his athletic interests and abilities, Tate came to understand the significance a great education could have on one's life-long success. He emerged from high school as a scholar-athlete which propelled him into the national spotlight during his senior football season becoming the most sought after high school football recruit by colleges and universities everywhere.

After graduation, Tate started as a wide receiver on the football team for the University of Notre Dame where he won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as college football's top receiver. He also started on the Notre Dame baseball team as an outfielder. In 2010 he was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks and helped the team win the Super Bowl. He then signed with the Detroit Lions in 2014 where he was named to the Pro Bowl. Tate signed with the Philadelphia Eagles In 2018 and the New York Giants in 2019. Tate continues to play well and also enjoys the entertainment side of the game as he has come to be known as "Showtime Tate"! Watching Tate perform on the football field, on the side-lines, and in his many charitable endeavors makes all KNIGHTS proud of his affiliation with our school!

It was a conversation between Director of Advancement Michelle Barber and Golden one evening in 2015 that led Tate to understand the significant need for financial aid dollars to assist students who, like Golden once did, would benefit from a faith-based academic experience. Upon deciding to establish the Tate Scholars Fund, Golden reflected and said, "The Catholic education I received at Pope helped form me into the man I am today. I will forever cherish the life long relationships I built throughout my time at Pope." Tate went on to credit his faith as the guiding force in his life, "Without my faith in God, I wouldn't be where I am today. Appreciate life, appreciate what God gave you."

Scope: The purpose of the Tate Scholars Fund is to provide tuition assistance to Pope Prep scholar-athletes (rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors) who qualify for need-based financial aid as identified through the FACTS process. In addition to exhibiting financial need, candidates must also exhibit a commitment to achieving one's personal best in the classroom and in the athletic arena. The ideal candidate also demonstrates a strong work ethic and personal integrity.

Criteria: Rising sophomore, junior, and senior scholar-athletes are considered annually for the need-based Tate scholarship when they complete the financial aid process as outlined by the school. No additional steps are required for the application.

How to Contribute: You may contribute to the Tate Scholars Fund anytime throughout the year as the annual need to support scholar-athletes is significant and ongoing. A tax-deductible gift to the "Tate Scholars Fund" may be sent to Pope John Paul II Preparatory School, 117 Caldwell Drive, Hendersonville, TN 37075. An acknowledgment of your gift will be sent to Golden and Elise Tate. Additionally, The Tate Scholars Dinner, which is typically hosted at Pope during the second week of June annually, accepts donations and sponsorships, and individuals may purchase tickets for the dinner party; all proceeds support The Tate Scholars Fund.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 1, 2023

The Pope Prep Scholar Award is for high school students only (grades 9-12).

The purpose of the Pope Prep Scholar Award is to recognize students who are exceptional in their academic achievements and in their commitment to academic excellence. It is a partial tuition "merit" award for one year. Still, awardees have the opportunity to re-qualify for the scholarship if their academic achievements continue to be exceptional.

Awardees are selected based on their academic achievement, as determined by placement tests and academic record (for new students) and exceptional performance in our honors/AP curriculum and on national tests (for returning students). The scholarship is a true "merit" award, independent of financial need. It is highly competitive.

TO APPLY Students are asked to write a personal statement about the importance of education in their life, upload their most recent report card, a resume of academic and extracurricular achievements, and national test scores (or Pope Prep placement test scores). The deadline to apply is February 1, 2023. Late arriving applications will not be considered. The application process is electronic and opens November 1st annually. You can access the application at Pope Prep Scholar Award.

How much is the award? The Pope Prep Scholar Award is a partial tuition scholarship that varies in amount, not to exceed one-third of total tuition. Pope Prep Scholars needing more assistance can augment their total financial award by applying for traditional financial aid in addition to the Pope Prep Scholar Award. Please note application for both the Pope Prep Scholar Award and financial aid have deadlines of February 1, 2023.

When would I be notified? Students selected to be a "Pope Prep Merit Scholar" will be sent a letter of notification and an acceptance form in the spring for the following school year.

How do I accept the award? By signing the acceptance form sent with the notification and returning this form immediately.

If I am named a Pope Prep Scholar, how can I re-qualify for future years? Students can re-qualify as Pope Prep Scholars in subsequent years by re-applying and re-earning the distinction in an open competition. Pope Prep Scholars should be deeply invested in the school's honors/AP classes and continue to perform exceptionally well in these classes and on national tests relative to their peers.

Are there any implications in accepting this award for athletic eligibility? Yes, possibly. By the rules of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA), of which nearly all private schools are a member, varsity athletes cannot receive financial assistance to attend a member school unless he or she demonstrates financial need through a defined financial aid process that includes a third party assessment.

Because the "Pope Prep Scholar" award is a true "merit" award independent of need, accepting the cash award nullifies varsity eligibility in TSSAA sanctioned sports for that academic year. However, the rule does not apply to non-TSSAA sanctioned sports (hockey, swimming, lacrosse, cheerleading, or dance), nor does acceptance of the award exclude the recipient from participation on TSSAA sanctioned freshman or JV teams. In particular cases, a student may wish to apply for the award for the purpose of being honored and building a resume for college applications, but then decline the cash award to preserve his or her varsity eligibility. In the acceptance form for the scholarship, families will be able to state their intentions to Pope Prep directly.

How can I contribute to this award? Donors may augment this scholarship for future recipients by making a tax-deductible contribution to "Advancement Office, Pope John Paul Preparatory High School, 117 Caldwell Drive, Hendersonville, TN 37075 re. Pope Prep Scholar".