Shannon Bream Speaks at 2026 Bryan Opportunity Program Dinner

Bryan College hosted its annual Bryan Opportunity Scholarship Program Dinner on April 16, 2026, in downtown Chattanooga, bringing together donors, friends of the college, and community supporters to celebrate a scholarship initiative that opens doors to higher education for financially underserved Tennessee residents.

Shannon Bream, anchor of FOX News Sunday with Shannon Bream and the network’s chief legal correspondent, delivered the keynote address. A New York Times bestselling author and host of the Livin’ the Bream podcast, Bream spoke about her passion and determination to follow God’s calling upon her life to leave the law firm where she was working to pursue news media. She also shared about the importance of scholarships in her own life and how that made a difference in allowing her to finish school. “I needed scholarships. My family was very modest but very determined to find a way for me to get a Christian education … For a lot of families it’s an incredible challenge,” she said. “For all of you who are here supporting the scholarship program to make sure that other young people have that same opportunity, it’s such a blessing, and I’m so happy to be here tonight to be a small part of testifying to the way that you can change a life forever.”

Following Bream’s address, guests also heard from Adriana Martinez-Rodrigues, a sophomore nursing major at Bryan College, who shared how receiving an Opportunity Scholarship has shaped her educational journey. “Being a first-generation college student means more to me than earning a degree,” Adriana noted during her speech. “It represents breaking a cycle. It represents new opportunities for my family. For my mom, it means that her sacrifices were not in vain… Because of you, I am one step closer to becoming the nurse God has called me to be. And I promise to carry forward the generosity you have shown, by caring for others with the same compassion and hope that you have shown to me.”

The Bryan Opportunity Scholarship Program is designed to make a private, Christ-centered education accessible to academically qualified Tennessee students with significant financial need. Through the program, eligible students are guaranteed to have 100 percent of tuition covered through a combination of federal, state, and institutional scholarships and grants. “The Bryan Opportunity Scholarship Program provides students—who might otherwise attend a two-year community college or forgo higher education altogether—the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree from Bryan College,” says Janice Pendergrass, Associate Vice President of Advancement. “Through this program, students receive a Christ-centered education grounded in a biblical worldview, equipping them academically, professionally, and spiritually for their future endeavors.”

At the end of the night, donors gave $353,725 toward the Bryan Opportunity Program, surpassing the goal of $325,000. Thanks to the generosity of so many supporters at this event and beyond, Bryan College can continue to support the next generation of Christ-like leaders as they prepare to make a difference in today’s world.

To continue supporting students through the Bryan Opportunity Scholarship Program, donations can still be made at https://www.bryan.edu/donatebop