AIM Scholars was developed for application by business and education coalitions, which was based on a combination of two programs utilized by the Greater Longview Organization of Business and Education (GLOBE) and Great Expectations-Great Rewards both from Longview, TX. It was brought to Kingsport in 1994 and organized through Eastman Chemical Company's education initiatives until 1999 when it became a program of the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce. In 2006, AIM Scholars changed its name to Tennessee/Virginia Scholars and transitioned to an affiliate of the statewide scholars effort.

TN/VA Scholars is a business led regional rewards and recognition program designed to encourage students to complete high school courses that provide a fundamentally sound academic education. Students are encouraged to pursue a more rigorous high school curriculum, maintain at least a “C” average, achieve 95% attendance, exhibit good behavior and perform 80 hours of community service over the duration of their high school career. The TN/VA Scholars program provides an education that better prepares students to enter a university, community college, technical or vocational school, the military, or the workforce.

To learn more about the TN/VA Scholars program, visit www.tnvascholars.org.