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

For more information, contact:
Robert Miller
rgmiller1@southwest.tn.edu

Southwest Tennessee Community College will open its computer labs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, 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 historic 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 2016 will be the second eligible to take advantage of the program, which is part of Governor Bill Haslam’s 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 of the following Southwest locations:  Macon Cove Campus (Farris Building) – 5983 Macon Cove, 38134; Union Avenue Campus (E. Building) – 737 Union Ave., 38103; Maxine A. Smith Center – 8800 E. Shelby Drive, 38125; Millington Center- 6500 Navy Road, 38053; 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 a great opportunity for students to pursue their dreams after high school. Southwest wants to make signing up for the Tennessee Promise a celebration for the students and also give them an opportunity to get their application to college in at the same time. This will put them well on their way down the path to obtaining a degree or certificate.

Tennessee Promise Director Mike Krause said he hoped many Tennessee students would attend the event nearest them. “The Nov. 2 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.”