Blog | Todd McKinley

The Todd A. McKinley Scholarship (2026)

Todd McKinley
Apr 4, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Apr 4

Memorandum For: Sullivan West Ridge High School Seniors (Class of 2026)

SUBJECT: The Todd A. McKinley Scholarship

1. I’m pleased to announce the Todd A. McKinley scholarship for the fifth graduating class of West Ridge, the Class of 2026.

2. This scholarship will be available to only 1-graduating senior, from West Ridge’s class of 2026, the fifth graduating class. It will be awarded primarily based on character, academic qualifications; career goals, projects, accomplishments, and educational plans, and any recommendation letters will also be considered. The scholarship is in the amount of a one-time payment of $1,000 to the winner, which will be made to the awardee after officially and successfully graduating, but the winners will be named during the 2026 awards day.

3. Minimum Prerequisites:

a. Be a person of good character.

b. Be a West Ridge 2026 graduate in 4 years or less.

c. Have at least a 3.0 GPA

d. Be involved in at least one extracurricular activity outside of normal school hours, either sponsored by the school or a reputable organization. Regularly volunteering in the community will suffice.

e. Not required but encouraged: A letter of recommendation from a West Ridge faculty member, former Teacher, an elected official, community leader, coach, etc., but not from a relative.

4. How to apply:

a. Complete the attached application. (Email me for an application: Todd@toddmckinley.com)

b. Submit all required documentation before the deadline. Applications will not be reviewed until after the deadline, therefore changes to submitted applications will be allowed until then.

5. Application deadline is 5:00 pm on Friday, April 3rd, 2026.

6. Submit all applications to Todd@toddmckinley.com

Subject: Todd A. McKinley Scholarship: Your Last Name, Your First Name

Title all documents appropriately. Use Word and/or PDF if possible.

7. I look forward to receiving the applications and rendering a timely unbiased decision. Note, my decision will be based solely on the criteria above, no applicant will be discriminated against for any reason.

8. Any questions and applications should be emailed to the undersigned.

Todd A. McKinley, BA, MSL

SFC, USA-Ret.

Todd@toddmckinley.com

Two Roads

Todd McKinley
Feb 23, 2024
2 min read

Title: Two Roads

1992 was my Freshman year at Sullivan North High School, little did I know it set me up to take the road "less traveled by," which for me "has made all the difference."

In that year, the Sullivan County Board of Education approved the inclusion of a Junior Reserve Officer Training Course (JROTC) program into the curriculum at Sullivan North. Truly, in my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined that that one decision on their part would lead to a lifetime of what I can only refer to as a mixture of both service and adventure. After initially choosing to serve in the United States Army, I continued to encounter opportunity after opportunity of paths I could choose.

I chose to jump out of planes as a Paratrooper amongst other things. After serving around 5 years, I was recruited to serve at the White House Communications Agency. I’ve traveled and seen the world all while serving my country. In all the places I’ve been, even while serving in combat in two wars and multiple hostile nations and others, I've made it a point to learn all I can.

I traveled Europe using my Military ID card, I’ve traveled under Diplomatic and Official Passports while supporting U.S. Presidents and Vice Presidents, I’ve also used my Tourist Passport to travel a bit as well, one such trip was with my late best friend, and fellow Army Veteran Brad Bush, who sadly committed suicide on Christmas Eve 2017. I’ve stepped foot on 6 of the 7 continents, visited in various capacities nearly three dozen nations, 46 of the 50 U.S. States, and at least 1 U.S. Territory, plus the District of Columbia.

In all my travels, I’ve met and dealt with some real characters, from the famous and important to the not-so-famous but still important types. I’ve met Kings, Queen Elizabeth II on two occasions, and a Pope. Presidents, Prime Ministers, Ambassadors, and many others with any number of titles and honors, and it all began by choosing a path.

I say all of this to point out that those choices and opportunities have never been lost on me. My road forked again in 2016 when I had a choice to stay in Hawaii, take a lucrative government contracting job, or retire and return home. To me, it was an easy choice. I chose home. I chose family. I chose a return to serve my community.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens aka Mark Twain wrote “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”

Certainly, I’ve not vegetated in any corner, nor do I plan to start now. I’m just getting going, I plan to put all that I’ve learned in my travels, my education, my military, and post-military experiences, and my connections to good use for the people of Sullivan County Board of Education District 5 to great use.

Todd A. McKinley, BA, MSL

SFC, USA-Ret.

Todd@toddmckinley.com

Campaign Pledges

Todd McKinley
Feb 5, 2024
3 min read

February 5, 2024

Memorandum For: The Residents of Sullivan County School Board District-5

SUBJECT: Campaign Pledges

1. I, Todd Allen McKinley, with this signed memorandum, do solemnly pledge to the residents of Sullivan County Board of Education (BOE) District-5 to adhere to and support the following areas, and more. Note: The U.S. & Tennessee Constitutions appear first, the rest are in alphabetical order, as each area is important.

A. The U.S. & Tennessee Constitution: I’ve sworn an oath to “support and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic” on many occasions, which to me hasn’t expired since the first time I took the oath when I was eighteen (18) years old. When I’m sworn in, it will be a reaffirmation of that oath.

B. Accessibility: I will be available to every 5th district resident, which includes meeting with those who attend County BOE & Commission meetings, monthly social media town halls, quarterly in-person meetings within the district (provided people participate), attending community functions, answering emails daily, and more. (Todd@toddmckinley.com)

C. Budget & Public Comment Period: I'll never support needless spending, especially if there's no true direct benefit for the Students and Teachers of the 5th district and Sullivan County. Also, I’ll work to ensure the public has ample time, at least 30 days before any major action is taken, especially when it comes to spending millions of taxpayer money.

D. Education: Sullivan County students should be able to graduate with a well-rounded education, one that will equip them for the world that awaits them. As I say, an educated public is an employable public. That’s why every Teacher should have the pay & benefits, as well as the tools and funding they need to educate our nation's future. Remember, industry only moves into areas with an educated population. With a young, educated population, as evidenced across the country, local populations, from the young to the old alike benefit when this happens. More jobs mean more money in each area, which means more spending, which benefits local businesses and local governments through taxes, thus reducing the burdens on everyone, especially the working class as well as the elderly and aging.

E. My Pay: Some of my pay will go to increase the amount of my current scholarship offered to one West Ridge Senior, plus I’ll likely add at least an additional scholarship.

F. Oaths, Ethos’, Creeds, and Values: Find out more here.

G. Safety & Security: The safety and security of the students, and every employee of the BOE will be a major focus of mine. While serving more than 20 years in the Army and having served in some of the most dangerous places on earth, including combat tours in Afghanistan & Iraq, as well as having served closely with Local, State, and Federal Law Enforcement, especially the United States Secret Service and the Diplomatic Security Service and dozens of Regional Security Officers at various U.S. Embassy’s the world over, I fully understand personal and physical security and have assisted in the security of three (3) U.S. Presidents & Vice Presidents, and other world leaders. I’ll ensure that the proper resources are made available to ensure the safety of everyone at every school.

H. Term Limits: I pledge to serve no more than two (2), four (4)-year terms in my lifetime.

I. Transparency: I will be honest in all I say and do and will keep the public apprised of everything I do when it comes to my duties as a BOE member.

Todd A. McKinley, BA, MSL

SFC, USA-Ret.

Todd@toddmckinley.com