Tennessees Community Colleges Host Scholarship Saturday to Encourage Students to Sign up for Tennessee Promise

Southwest Tennessee Community College will open its computer lab from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, for area high school seniors to sign up for Tennessee Promise and fill out their college applications as part of a statewide Scholarship Saturday.

The event is designed to encourage students to enroll in Tennessee Promise, the state’s new program that provides two years of community college or technical school tuition-free for any student graduating from a Tennessee high school. It includes a mentoring component, as well as a last-dollar scholarship to cover tuition and fees not covered by the Pell grant, the HOPE scholarship or TSAA funds. Students may use the scholarship at any of the state’s 13 community colleges, 27 colleges of applied technology or other eligible institution offering an associate’s degree program. The Class of 2015 will be the first eligible to take advantage of the program, which is part of the Drive to 55 initiative to increase the number of Tennesseans with some form of post-secondary credential.

During Scholarship Saturday, students may come to any Southwest location: Macon Cove Campus – 5983 Macon Cove, 38134; Union Avenue Campus – 737 Union Ave., 38103; Maxine A. Smith Center – 8800 E. Shelby Drive, 38125; Whitehaven Center – Director's Row, Building 6, 38131; and Gill Center – 3833 Mountain Terrace, 38127, between the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and use the college’s computers to sign up online.

Free refreshments will also be on hand for anyone signing up. The college’s usual application fee of $10 will be waived for any student who also completes his or her college application during the event.

“Tennessee Promise is such an incredible opportunity for students to pursue their dreams after high school,” said Vice President of Student Services and Enrollment Management Dwayne Scott. “We want to make signing up for the Promise a celebration for the students and also give them an opportunity to get their application to college in at the same time. This puts them well on their way down the path to a degree or certificate.”

Tennessee Promise Director Mike Krause said he hoped many Tennessee students would attend the event nearest them. “The Nov. 1 deadline to register for Tennessee Promise will be here soon, so we encourage students to sign up early,” Krause said. “The Scholarship Saturday event is a great opportunity for students to sign up at tnpromise.gov and enjoy getting a look at their possible future campus.”

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