November 5, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
DeKalb County needs 3 more mentors for the Tennessee Promise Scholarship program. Can you help?
tnAchieves, the local partnering organization for Tennessee Promise, which provides two years of tuition-free attendance at a community or technical college in Tennessee, is looking for mentors to assist seniors in pursuing higher education. tnAchieves mentors spend about one hour per month working with a group of students to help them achieve their college-going goals. In 2021, mentors will serve their students using tnAchieves CONNECT. tnAchieves CONNECT is a new virtual mentoring tool that allows mentors to remain connected to their students in a safe, online environment. It will also enable mentors to serve from their home and on their schedule
The deadline to apply as a mentor for Tennessee Promise students is December 4 at https://tnachieves.org/.
After applying, you will receive a confirmation email and instructions to set up your mentor account. While Tennessee Promise funding is critical, the mentor serves as a difference maker for many students who are the first in their families to attend college. The mentor ensures students meet critical deadlines by sending reminders, answers questions as students navigate the college process, and be the person who says “we can do this together”. A minimal commitment of time as a mentor helps to ensure that students receive the encouragement and support they need to continue their education and receive a post-secondary credential tuition free.
According to tnAchieves, more than 3,400 mentors are still needed statewide to meet student demand. Specific areas of need can be found on the mentor recruitment dashboard at https://tnachieves.org/mentors/dashboard/.
As a mentor, you will invest 10-15 hours annually assisting 5-10 high school seniors. Many mentors spend as little as 1 hour per month serving as a resource to students. The role of mentor is simple, but significant. The time commitment consists of a one-hour training session, two one-hour meetings, and communicating with students every two weeks via email, phone or text as they transition from high school to college.
To learn more about this important opportunity and to apply, visit https://tnachieves.org/ or scan a QR code with your phone to complete an application by December 4.
Meanwhile, parents and students are reminded that the deadline to apply for the Tennessee Promise has been extended to Dec. 1.
Previously, the deadline was Nov. 2 but a statement released by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission announced that the deadline has been extended a month due to the pandemic.
The scholarship and mentoring program aims to increase the number of students enrolled in college in our state.
The scholarship can help cover tuition and the cost of mandatory fees not covered by the Pell grant, the HOPE scholarship, or the Tennessee Student Assistance Award.
Students will also receive a mentor to help guide them through the college admissions process.
tnAchieves is encouraging more students to apply.
“The class of 2021 application began serval weeks ago 40% below where we were this time last year,” said tnAchieves Executive Director Krissy DeAlejandro. “So it was a very eye-opening moment for all partners involved with Tennessee Promise, so what we’ve done is close the gap to 14% but we are not satisfied.”
To apply online, you’ll need the student’s name, birthday and social security number.
“Every student has a different story and we want to celebrate that story but provide them with that level playing field so that they can, in fact, find success,” DeAlejandro said.