The Oldham Scholarships were created in 1999 (for fall 2000) through a generous gift from Mr. And Mrs. Dortch Oldham of Nashville. Dortch Oldham was a publishing and marketing entrepreneur and president of Southwest Publishing Company. He served as commissioner general for the United States at the 1982 World’s Fair and as a member of the UT Development Council. An alumnus and former trustee of the University of Richmond, three of his sons graduated from UT.
The Oldham scholarships are four-year scholarships, representing a program in which students who are residents of Tennessee may elect any major. They take honors courses and special seminars and complete a senior honors project under the direction of a faculty mentor. They receive a travel stipend for international travel following the sophomore year.