In 1990, Chris Whittle, of Whittle Communications, gave a gift to the university that established a scholarship in his name. Each year twenty top students were awarded full scholarships for their academics and leadership. This grew the number of students that the University Honors Program welcomed each year to forty.

UT Professor Emerita Susan Becker began the honors program in 1985. She had no staff and typed out program invitations on her ancient Royal typewriter. Each year, the program accepted twenty students called Tennessee Scholars. Dr. Becker was eventually able to hire an office assistant, Ms. Bright who worked with University Honors until her retirement in 2014.