Ashley Griffin
Tennessee’s class of 2015 seniors have been given a golden opportunity to attend any community collage or career collage for two years where they can obtain their associates degree tuition-free with the Tennessee Promise Scholarship.
This fall of 2015 with be the first year for fresh out of high school students and current college students to attend school by completing community service.
The program allows students who couldn’t go to collage before because of financial reasons relief from the weight on their shoulders.
Even if a student has a scholarship already, Tennessee Promise will cover the rest. Thanks to the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) a non-profit organization, Tennessee Promise will be in full motion next year.
Senior, Aleah Jones is a registered student for Tennessee Promise.
“It’s a great program for you to start off with,” Jones stated. “If you don’t want to go for the whole four years, then you can get your two years out the way.”
Dr. Wendy Willingham, junior counselor, has been key in implementing the program here at GHS and has become quite knowledgeable of the requirements so that she can help all students complete the program. For many the process has begun, but underclassmen can also prepare.
“Any student who graduates from a Tennessee public high school can potentially qualify. You have to meet the deadline for applying, which is in early November, and then after you fill out the information, you apply to the community colleges you are interested,” Willingham stated.
In addition to the basic application process, certain actions during the school year must also be completed.
“You attend two mentoring meetings-one in February and one in March- complete a certain amount of community service and certain amount of hours in community college. You have to meet the GPA min and it has to be consecutive. You can’t stop then come back and if you do all these things, your two years at the community college or technical center will be paid for in full,” Willingham said.
Community service for free education apparently has appealed to GHS students as Willingham stated that around 140 senior are currently registered for the program.
Tennessee’s class of 2015 seniors have been given a golden opportunity to attend any community collage or career collage for two years where they can obtain their associates degree tuition-free with the Tennessee Promise Scholarship.
This fall of 2015 with be the first year for fresh out of high school students and current college students to attend school by completing community service.
The program allows students who couldn’t go to collage before because of financial reasons relief from the weight on their shoulders.
Even if a student has a scholarship already, Tennessee Promise will cover the rest. Thanks to the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) a non-profit organization, Tennessee Promise will be in full motion next year.
Senior, Aleah Jones is a registered student for Tennessee Promise.
“It’s a great program for you to start off with,” Jones stated. “If you don’t want to go for the whole four years, then you can get your two years out the way.”
Dr. Wendy Willingham, junior counselor, has been key in implementing the program here at GHS and has become quite knowledgeable of the requirements so that she can help all students complete the program. For many the process has begun, but underclassmen can also prepare.
“Any student who graduates from a Tennessee public high school can potentially qualify. You have to meet the deadline for applying, which is in early November, and then after you fill out the information, you apply to the community colleges you are interested,” Willingham stated.
In addition to the basic application process, certain actions during the school year must also be completed.
“You attend two mentoring meetings-one in February and one in March- complete a certain amount of community service and certain amount of hours in community college. You have to meet the GPA min and it has to be consecutive. You can’t stop then come back and if you do all these things, your two years at the community college or technical center will be paid for in full,” Willingham said.
Community service for free education apparently has appealed to GHS students as Willingham stated that around 140 senior are currently registered for the program.