Merit Scholarships - McCallie School

Michaels-Dickson Scholars Program

Investing in Excellence

Visionary McCallie alumni Ed Michaels '60 and Alan Dickson '49 sought to ensure that their alma mater could enroll the most talented and deserving boys possible. They understood how beneficial it would be for future generations of students and for the greater McCallie community. Through their generosity and that of many other alumni and friends, McCallie's Michaels-Dickson Scholars program offers merit-based scholarships and a variety of enrichment opportunities to exceptional boys.

The Program

McCallie's Michaels-Dickson Scholars program recognizes and rewards a cohort of incoming 9th and 10th grade boys based on their academic and personal accomplishments. Its central aim is to identify and enroll boys whose character and values align with those of McCallie and whose potential will make a positive impact at McCallie, both inside the classroom as well as in co-curricular and residential life.

Through a competitive application process, MDS finalists are selected and compete for a scholarship at the required Michaels-Dickson Scholarship Weekend, February 20-21, 2026. Those selected as Michaels-Dickson Scholars have been top students and citizens in their schools and communities.

Scholarship Benefits

Following a competitive application process, all Michaels-Dickson Scholars receive awards ranging in size from partial tuition up to the full cost of boarding tuition. McCallie provides additional need-based tuition assistance for those whose demonstrated financial need exceeds the amount of their scholarship.

Michaels-Dickson Scholars enjoy:

full or partial merit-based scholarships covering tuition and other expenses, a laptop computer, and fee waivers on college applications and standardized testings
funding for a McCallie-sponsored travel experience (international or domestic)
an enrichment stipend to support the pursuit of their interests and talents
personalized academic advising, college counseling, and mentorship from McCallie's talented faculty
access to the Michaels-Dickson Scholars program, a co-curricular set of opportunities to engage with program alumni, bond as a group, and experience all that McCallie and the city of Chattanooga can offer.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for scholarship consideration, a boy must:

be currently enrolled in 8th or 9th grade in the United States
apply for boarding admission to McCallie as a new 9th or 10th grade student
submit a nomination letter of recommendation from someone outside of his family. McCallie faculty and staff are not eligible to submit nomination letters of recommendation.

MDS applicants compete for full or partial merit-based scholarships. Many candidates qualify for additional need-based tuition assistance, so applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for need-based assistance, too.

The most competitive applicants display the following qualities:

Outstanding Character. Application materials, including recommendations from educators and community leaders who know the candidate well, reflect qualities like respect for others, kindness, and a strong sense of integrity.
Demonstrated Leadership. Top candidates have had a notable impact in and out of school through activities such as student government, school or club athletics, academic competitions, fine and performing arts, debate, scouting, church or civic activities, and community service.
Academic Excellence. Successful candidates demonstrate the potential to excel academically at McCallie by engaging in a rigorous curriculum of study and earning strong grades and standardized test scores. Their recommendation letters, interviews, and writing typically reveal a spirit of curiosity, openness to new ideas, and disciplined academic habits.

Application Requirements

A complete McCallie Admission Application OR complete Standard Application Online or other common application
School transcript(s) showing grades earned in grades 6 and later
Standardized test scores, preferably the SSAT or ISEE
- McCallie is test-flexible for MDS applicants, who may instead submit results of the PSAT, SAT, ACT, PreACT, or school or state achievement testing for their grade.
- Applicants whose primary language is not English are required to take the TOEFL. McCallie also accepts the Duolingo English Test (DET).
Recommendations from two teachers and one from a school counselor or principal
Nomination letter of recommendation from
- an adult outside the boy's family. Nomination letters of recommendation should address the candidate's character, leadership potential, and academic accomplishments. McCallie faculty and staff may not submit nomination letters of recommendation.
- Nomination letters of recommendation can be submitted within the McCallie Admission Portal, or by directing their nominating adult to use our online nomination form.

Apply for the Michaels-Dickson Scholarship

Applications must be completed by January 5, 2026.

Start by creating your McCallie Admission Portal account. Within the portal, you may immediately begin the McCallie Admission and Michaels-Dickson Scholars (MDS) program application. You will discover other resources to support your application process.

IMPORTANT: Candidates who intend to file the Standard Application Online or other common application should ALSO create a McCallie Admission Portal account. Within the portal, you can monitor our receipt of third party application materials and receive your admission decision; indicate your interest in the MDS program and identify your nominating adult; and discover other resources and information particular to McCallie School.

Instructions for Nomination Letters of Recommendation

If you wish to write a nomination letter of recommendation for a high achieving boy with outstanding character and academic accomplishments, please submit a nomination on his behalf for the Michaels-Dickson Scholars program.

If you have questions about submitting a nomination letter of recommendation, please contact the program director, Jonathan Webster, at jwebster@mccallie.org.

Meet the Director

Jonathan Webster

Director of the Michaels-Dickson Scholars Program

School: (423) 493-5717

The young men chosen for the Michaels-Dickson Scholarships contribute significantly to the culture of excellence at McCallie. They are wonderful examples of our values of honor, truth, and duty in action and go on to excel at colleges, universities, and communities across the country. This scholarship program has truly been transformative for McCallie.

-Steve Hearn '74, Vice President for Advancement

Note: Athletic eligibility in some sports may be affected by receiving the Michaels-Dickson Scholarship. Please contact Jonathan Webster at jwebster@mccallie.org directly with any questions you may have.

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