A Win-Win Partnership
About ten years ago First Baptist Church, Knoxville and Pellissippi State Community College entered into a partnership which has been mutually beneficial to both organizations. The Helen W. Cox Music Scholarship program has greatly benefited First Baptist, but the bounty of the blessings has fallen on the many students from Pellissippi State who have received the scholarship opportunity. The 34 students who have been a part of the scholarship program at First Baptist Church have not only gained musical performing skills by being a part of the Sanctuary Choir but have also sharpened their teaching skills by assisting in the children’s choir program. An added bonus stemming from this partnership has been the annual Sacred Concert given at FBC by the choirs and brass of Pellissippi State. This concert gives us an opportunity to sing faith-based literature that we would not necessarily program for other venues. The scholarship has helped Pellissippi State in recruiting quality students who need financial assistance. As the music department at Pellissippi State has grown in quality, many other avenues have opened up to our students. One of these life-changing opportunities has been for the choir which has traveled to Europe five of the past six years during spring break. Our most recent tour this past March was to Germany and included 10 concerts in Munich, Regensberg, Weimar, Wittenberg and Berlin. Thank you, First Baptist, Knoxville for investing in the lives of these Pellissippi State students.




