Three More DeKalb County Mentors Needed for TN Promise

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.

November 5, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Christmas is the season for giving and children who participate in this year’s 6th Annual
Regifting Event will have a chance to experience that by doing something special for their parents and total strangers.

Regifting gives children ages 4 to 12 an opportunity to shop for their parents or caregivers at no cost. The gifts are then wrapped, tagged, and prepared for Christmas giving.

This year’s Regifting Event will be on Saturday, December 5 from 8 a.m. until noon or until all gifts are gone at the DeKalb County Complex. Families must pre-register their children through November 20 in order to be eligible for a chance to receive a door prize. This year children will be required to wear a mask. Please wait in your car while your children shop. All children who shop will receive a treat.

Donations are collected throughout the year for this event so that those who can’t afford to buy gifts can still share in the joy of giving by regifting something.

“We let kids come in and shop for their parents or caregivers. It’s not income based. It’s for anybody. They shop for free, wrap the presents, and fill out the card,” said Kim Walker, who organizes the annual event.

The children are then asked to prepare a blessing bag to be given to others.

This year, children will help assemble Blessing Bags for local nominees. You may contact Regifting event organizers to nominate someone who needs a blessing.

For their good deeds each of the children get to take home a goodie bag.

Walker said the hope is the children take home more than that. “We’re trying to share God’s love with kids to plant a seed so that no matter how old they are they always remember to help somebody else”.

The kids and other volunteers will also decorate a quilt square. “After they decorate the quilt squares we put them together and donate the quilt to somebody who needs a blessing in the community due to a health or life challenging issue,” said Walker. Again, you may contact the event organizers to nominate someone for the quilt.

If you need more information or would like to volunteer call or text Kim Walker at 931-212-7567 Monday through Friday responses will be after 4 p.m.

You may also contact Joanna Fuson at 615-517-9100 but no calls after 9 p.m.

You may email patchworkuc@outlook.com or visit facebook

November 5, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A DeKalb County Volunteer Firefighter escaped serious injury Wednesday afternoon after the fire truck he was driving crashed on Allen Ferry Road as he was responding to a vehicle fire on Cookeville Highway.

According to County Fire Chief Donny Green, Bill Brown was responding in Engine 59 (from the main station) to a vehicle fire on Cookeville Highway. While enroute, he was navigating a curve on Allen Ferry Road near Holmes Creek Road when the truck’s tires dropped off the side of the roadway. Firefighter Brown attempted to correct and the truck then crossed over the roadway and overturned.

“This was a very violent crash and we are so thankful that Bill escaped with minor injuries. Also, we can’t thank our partner agencies and community enough for the outpouring of support and concern shown,” said Chief Green.

As it was crashing, the fire truck clipped a utility pole and the rear portion of the truck separated from the cab and chassis.

The crash was investigated by the Tennessee Highway Patrol. DeKalb EMS, Smithville Police and Fire, and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department were also on the scene. Traffic was re-directed during the wreck investigation.

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