Gov. Bill Haslam’s vision to provide a tuition-free opportunity for every Tennessee student to earn a college credential is now a reality, beginning with students graduating high school in 2015.
In Franklin County, Mayor Richard Stewart, in partnership with Franklin County schools, has designated tnAchieves to serve as the partnering organization to organize and support Tennessee Promise locally. Tennessee Promise offers two years of tuition-free community or technical college to high school graduates.
“Tennessee Promise and its impact on our students, families and communities can be a real game-changer as we prepare more of our students for the jobs of today and tomorrow,” said Stewart. “I strongly encourage all of our high school seniors and their families to talk with their guidance counselors about the Tennessee Promise, and I hope all Franklin County residents who want to make a real, positive impact on the lives of these students and the future of our local economy will sign up as volunteer mentors. By working together, we can be a model for Tennessee and the nation.”
tnAchieves is a post-secondary access and success program with the goal of increasing higher education opportunities for Tennessee students by providing last-dollar scholarships with mentor guidance. The program has experienced substantial success utilizing volunteers in business and community-based organizations to guide its students through the college access and success processes.
While all public high school students are eligible for tnAchieves, the program focuses primarily on first-generation, low-income students.
“tnAchieves is excited to partner with local leaders in Franklin County and Gov. Haslam’s Tennessee Promise to create a more qualified workforce in the community and also provide students with a promise for a brighter future,” said Randy Boyd, chairman of the board of tnAchieves.
Coupled with the Tennessee Promise scholarship, every student will be paired with a mentor to support the student through admission and financial aid paperwork, motivate the student to meet deadlines, and perhaps most importantly, encourage the student to reach his/her potential.
tnAchieves is currently recruiting volunteer mentors in Franklin County. Mentors spend approximately one hour monthly working with high school seniors to ensure they make a smooth transition from high school to college. tnAchieves will train all mentor applicants, provide them with a mentor handbook, and communicate with them throughout their experience with the program. To apply, visit www.tnachieves.org/mentor-application.
tnAchieves’ mission aligns with Gov. Haslam’s “Drive to 55” campaign which seeks to increase the post-secondary attainment rate to 55 percent by 2025.
Founded in 2008 as knoxAchieves, tnAchieves will operate in at least 80 counties and serve 93 percent of the state’s graduating seniors. The program has experienced substantial success utilizing volunteers from business and community-based organizations to guide its students through the college access and success processes.
In only six years, more than 12,000 students have enrolled at a postsecondary institution with tnAchieves support. Of these students, more than 65 percent were the first in their families to attend college and nearly 70 percent come from families who earn less than $50,000 annually. The program has a 90 percent FAFSA filing rate; a 71 percent fall-fall retention rate (average Tennessee community college retention rate is 59 percent); and a 33 percent three-year graduation rate (average Tennessee community college three-year graduation rate is 11 percent). tnAchieves students have also given back nearly 100,000 hours of community service since 2008.
For information on tnAchieves, contact Krissy DeAlejandro, executive director, at (865) 621-9223 or email <krissy@tnachieves.org>.
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