With only a little more than two weeks before the Nov. 30 deadline, tnAchieves still needs almost 2,500 volunteer mentors across the state to support TN Promise students. Locally, Hamilton County still needs 101 volunteers to ensure each scholarship applicant is paired with a local support system.
"Mentors spend one hour a month assisting students as they transition from high school to college. They remind students of important deadlines, serve as a trusted college resource and, most importantly, encourage students to reach their full potential," officials said.
Local mentor, Sheila Smith, shared her favorite memory in eight years as a mentor, “The best moment that I have had as a tnAchieves mentor is being a part of a student's college career. A student that I mentored the first year of TN Promise recently graduated with a degree in radiology technology. I would hear from this student every so often, after she began college, if she had questions about TN Promise. I am glad that she knew she could contact me with any questions and I am very proud of her accomplishments. She is now employed at a Chattanooga hospital working in her field of study.”
TN Promise, in partnership with tnAchieves, allows every graduating high school senior the opportunity to attend a community or technical college, as well as several universities, tuition free with mentor support.
"Many of the students that apply for the scholarship will be the first in their family to attend college and mentors work with students to overcome barriers that previously prevented students from accessing higher education," officials said. "Since the launch of TN Promise in 2014, economically disadvantaged students are 17 percent more likely to go to college and students participating in the program are graduating at rates higher than their non-TN Promise peers."
“Education needs community support and buy in to thrive,” says Krissy DeAlejandro, tnAchieves executive director. “tnAchieves launched in one community 10 years ago and spread across the state because it had the support of community leaders. We are not recruiting college experts. We are asking people who value education to serve as student cheerleaders.”
Potential mentors must be 21 years of age, are subject to a background check and complete a one-hour training session. For more information, or to apply, visit www.tnachieves.org or contact tnAchieves Deputy Director of Outreach Graham Thomas at 615-604-1306 or graham@tnachieves.org.