MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Parenting students at Middle Tennessee State University can get free diapers through a new community partnership.

For the first time, the June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students is teaming up with Nashville Diaper Connection for the Diapers for Diplomas Scholarship Program to provide assistance to students who are parenting young children.

“Our nontraditional students coming back to school are already facing hardships some of our traditional students don’t have,” said Maigan Wipfli, director of the June Anderson Center, located in Student Union Building Room 330. “This program provides a necessity for our students who might not be able to afford both diapers and going to school.”

Diapers for Diplomas is an initiative to help parenting students as they pursue a degree, with nearly a dozen higher education institutions in Middle Tennessee participating in the program. Up to 150 qualifying MTSU students will receive 200 diapers each month for a full academic year. Applications are due Sept. 1 and can be made by visiting bit.ly/4cAHh6y.

“This is an opportunity for our students … potentially saving them up to $1,200 during the school year,” Wipfli said. “That way students don’t have to choose between diapers or books, or diapers instead of taking a class.”

The diapers program is another way the university helps parenting students. Annually, the June Anderson Center offers childcare scholarships and supply-filled backpacks for parents with students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

“This is a new venture with us and I’m really excited to branch out in more ways to help our students,” Wipfli said.

How to qualify

To be eligible for the Diapers for Diplomas Scholarship at MTSU, students must meet the following requirements:

• Be a parent or guardian of children who require diapers (newborn to size 6).

•  Be 18 or older or claim independent on the FAFSA.

• A Tennessee resident for at least one year.

• Have not received an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.

• Eligible for Tennessee Reconnect State Financial Aid Program, Pell Grant, Tennessee Promise or Tennessee Hope scholarships.

• Be a full- or part-time student at MTSU.

The diapers scholarship is also available for students at Austin Peay State University, Columbia State Community College, Motlow State Community College, Nashville State Community College, Volunteer State Community College, Fortis Institute (Nashville campus), and Tennessee College of Applied Technology locations in Dickson, Murfreesboro, Nashville and Shelbyville.

For questions, email diapersfordiplomas@nashvillediaperconnection.org. You can also email Wipfli at Maigan.Wipfli@mtsu.edu.

Once accepted into the program, students will pick up diapers monthly in the June Anderson Center in Student Union Building Room 330.

To kick off the semester, June Anderson Center will host the annual Power of ONE Block Party and Campus Resource Fair, set for 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4, on the sundeck at MTSU Campus Recreation, 1848 Blue Raider Drive. The free student event will feature games, food and prizes.

Visit https://jac.mtsu.edu/ to learn more about the diapers scholarship and other programs and events offered through the June Anderson Center.

— Nancy DeGennaro (Nancy.DeGennaro@mtsu.edu)