Representatives from Tennessee Promise told local principals and guidance counselors that the program was about "snatching that student who never thought that college was an option" and giving them a mentor and financial assistance.
The program will pay for interested students to go to a community or technical college and receive an associate's degree. The only requirements for the scholarship are meeting all application deadlines, attending required meetings with a mentor, and performing eight hours of community service each term.
Once in the program, students must maintain a 2.0 GPA.
The mentors will meet with students at their high schools. Mentors will act as a source of information, especially for students who are the first in their family to attend college. Mentors will also act as "cheerleaders" through any challenge students face during the process.
Another role the mentors will play is that of a "task master," motivating students to meet their deadlines. They will make sure that students get through every step in the process, such as filling out FAFSA.
Jason Seay, one of the representatives, said the process was "super easy" but encouraged students to start now.
He also said, "It does not matter if they don't know what school they want to go to."
More information can be found at TNPromise.gov.