John W. Prados Chemical Engineering Co-op Scholarship
The Prados Scholarship provides up to five undergraduate TCE students a one-year award of $6,000 each. To qualify, a student must be successfully majoring in chemical engineering, be participating in the Engineering Professional Practice co-op program, and be pursing specific business courses.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the Prados Scholarship, students must meet all of the following criteria:
Major and Academic Standing
- Be an undergraduate student majoring in Chemical Engineering
Co-op Participation
- Be actively participating in the Engineering Professional Practice (Co-op) Program
- Complete at least two co-op rotations prior to receiving scholarship funds
Business and Leadership Coursework
To be eligible for the scholarship, students can choose between the two options listed below.
- Option One- Declare or participate in one of the following:
- A Business Minor
- The Haslam Integrated Business and Engineering Program (IBEP) Minor
- The Leadership in Engineering and Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP)
- Option Two- Complete the following two courses:
- IE 405 – Engineering Economics Analysis
- ACCT 200: Foundations of Accounting or ACCT 203 or 208 (Honors): Introduction to Financial Accounting
In addition, the following assignment is a requirement:
- Read Victory Is In Your Hands: Gain a Competitive Advantage with Lifelong Learning and submit a two to three page typed essay on the book to their CBE academic advisor
Key Scholarship Benefits
- A scholarship valued at $6,000. In addition to the financial support, acquiring business knowledge and co-op experience will better position graduates for early career promotions and enhanced leadership roles.
- A clear understanding of leadership, business, finance, and economics will significantly increase earnings throughout the student’s entire career.
- Prados scholars will receive a set of 10-12 books related to leadership, general business, and finance to help start their journey toward professional excellence.
The Prados Scholarship is named in honor of UT Professor Emeritus John W. Prados, who served the university with distinction for over fifty years. Recognized for his excellence, he was named Macebearer in 1997-98, the highest faculty honor at UT. He was also the first inductee into the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering’s Hall of Fame. In 2010, the Tickle College of Engineering presented him with the Nathan W. Dougherty Award, its highest honor, for his numerous accomplishments that enhanced the profession and brought acclaim to the university.
In 2008, J. Michael Stone (BS/ChE, ’63) established the John W. Prados Scholarship for chemical engineering students. Mike Stone aimed to encourage these students to participate in the co-op program and study business principles. Each Prados Scholarship recipient is also encouraged to develop an understanding that learning is a lifelong endeavor, offering many rewards.
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- Michael Stone, center, with the 2023-2024 scholarship recipients
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- John Prados, center, with two students
Past Recipients
Since the scholarship was established there have been over 40 students that have received the John W. Prados Chemical Engineering Co-op Scholarship. These students went on to start their careers with Cargill, Dominion Energy, Eastman, ExxonMobil, Flowserve, Johnson & Johnson, The Dow Chemical Company, Milliken, Monsanto, and PepsiCo.
Read about the impact this prestigious scholarship has had on its recipients.
“The booklet Exceed Your Expectations Through Lifelong Learning has left a lasting impact on my perspective towards professional and personal development. The insights provided on leadership and emotional intelligence were particularly eye-opening, revealing the importance of soft skills and emotional intelligence in the professional world. The booklet’s emphasis on continuous learning, with its potential to enhance not only one’s life but also the lives of family members and mentees, resonated deeply with me.”
—Autumn Cox, BS/ChE ’24
“The Prado’s Scholarship has been one of the most valuable opportunities I have been a part of while at UT. One of the biggest unknowns throughout college is how to begin and maintain a successful career. Mr. Stone helped me answer some of these questions by explaining and demonstrating the value of lifelong learning. His personal mentorship through this scholarship is something that I will always remember and be grateful for. ”
—Abbie White, BS/ChE ’24
“I think I share this with a lot of current and previous students: I want University of Tennessee engineering students to be at the pinnacle of this profession. It is not going to be easy, but with a dedication to lifelong learning we can do this! The guidance and the resources Mr. Stone have provided, in my mind, give us a leg up on engineers from other universities.”
—Ryan Keever, BS/ChE ’21
“It seems that you have known for a long time what I am now learning through my co-op experience: that business knowledge and experience is extremely valuable even for those specializing in the engineering discipline. I truly believe that to excel in engineering one must know how to understand business and understand people.”
—Jacob Reynolds, BS/ChE ’20
“Diversified lifelong learning expands our level of understanding and allows us to make better decisions as each perspective feeds off the other. In a world that is constantly changing, single-mindedness is a thing of the past.”
—Tasimba Jonga, BS/ChE ’21
“I am convinced in its [the booklet’s] message and now have a “fire in my belly” to pursue a lifetime of learning. I am confident this journey will lead me to success and allow me to provide the best possible life I can for the ones I love.”
—Nathan Tidwell, BS/ChE ’21