We Heard It Through the Grapevine That...

* Faculty Mentors are Needed: Tennessee Promise offers faculty members and others the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of students in Rutherford County and beyond. At last report, nearly 3,000 mentors were still needed as the Dec. 6 deadline approached. To volunteer or learn more, visit https://tnachieves.org/mentors/apply/new-mentor-application/

* Three Motlow students were recently elected Smyrna Freshman SGA Officers: Marina Hana (freshman president), Bryna Green (freshman senator), and Tamara Diallo (freshman senator).

* Professional counseling is now offered to Motlow students. Helpful resources and contact information are provided at http://www.mscc.edu/counseling/

* The Thanksgiving weather outlook from the Old Farmer’s Almanac looks splendid: “Well, we have good news for those who aren’t big fans of the white stuff: According to our long-range forecasts, much of the United States will avoid receiving more snow on Thanksgiving, and will instead be graced with sunny, clear skies for the holiday. This, along with colder-than-normal temperatures (but not colder than last year’s frigid temps), will make for a pleasant yet chilly Thanksgiving Day—something to ultimately be thankful for!”

* The “50 Stories/50 Stops” Reading Campaign needs readers for various school visits this fall. To express interest, contact Christy Glenn at cglenn@mscc.edu.

* A “Family Fun Day” is being considered for the Smyrna campus on April 17, 2020. Check out a similar event that occurred on the Moore County campus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev8D4ZEWjxQ  

(If you’re heard anything through the grapevine, please share it with us at cwhiting@mscc.edu or rshelton@mscc.edu)

In the Motlow Smyrna Spotlight: Jonathan Graham

By Charles Whiting

Motlow Buzz Faculty Editor

          Tennessee Promise Director Jonathan Graham quietly goes about his work on a daily basis, helping to fulfill the educational aspirations of hundreds of Motlow students. His excellent work at the college earned a nomination for Tennessee Board of Regents Statewide Outstanding Achievement Recognition Award for Staff Excellence. In this issue of The Buzz, Jonathan steps into the Motlow Smyrna spotlight to provide insights about the fast-growing Tennessee Promise program.

Motlow State Community College Tennessee Promise Director Jonathan Graham (photo recently published in the Motlow Newsroom at https://news.mscc.edu/news/motlow-tennessee-promise-director-jonathan-graham-nominated-for-tbr-excellence-award.)

QUESTION: Briefly describe your role with tnAchieves.

ANSWER: “I work very closely with tnAchieves to serve Tennessee Promise students. First, I attend mandatory meetings at local high schools hosted by tnAchieves in order to provide high school seniors information about the Tennessee Promise Scholarship as well as information regarding the enrollment/financial aid process here at Motlow State Community College. Second, I work closely with tnAchieves staff to help students who are facing specific obstacles. For example, a student may have trouble submitting their community service hours in which case I will reach out to tnAchieves on the student’s behalf to find a resolution to the problem. Conversely, a student may be having trouble signing up for a new student orientation or understanding their financial aid requirements, in which case tnAchieves may reach out to me on a student’s behalf to find a resolution. So, we work together in order to make sure that students are successful and complete the requirements that they need to in order to successfully enroll and maintain their Tennessee Promise eligibility.”

QUESTION: How many Motlow Smyrna students are participating in the program this fall, and how will it benefit them?

ANSWER: “This Fall 2019, we have 639 eligible Tennessee Promise students registered at the Smyrna Campus who are a part of the new Fall 2019 cohort. In sum, we have a total of 939 eligible Tennessee Promise students from all TN Promise cohorts at the Smyrna Campus who are currently registered for the Fall 2019 term. Roughly 60% of all eligible Tennessee Promise students registered at the Smyrna Campus are receiving some Tennessee Promise funding, so this scholarship is benefiting these students greatly.”

QUESTION: What are the next two or three deadlines on students’ timelines?

ANSWER: “The deadline to complete the Tennessee Promise application is Nov. 1, 2019 for current high school seniors graduating in 2020.

 

The next community service deadline for currently enrolled Tennessee Promise students is Dec. 2, 2019.

The 2020-2021 FAFSA opened on Oct. 1. The deadline for all Tennessee Promise students to complete this FAFSA is Feb. 1, 2020.”

QUESTION: What are some of the community service opportunities for students in the program?

ANSWER: “Broadly speaking, students can volunteer at a state park, a food bank, a school, or library to earn their community service hours. There are more specific opportunities that arise throughout the school year, and many of these volunteer opportunities can be found by going to https://tnachieves.org/community-service/middle-tennessee/. Students can select their county to find local community service opportunities in their area.”

QUESTION: What is the biggest challenge Tennessee Promise students face, and how can we (faculty, administrators and staff) help solve them?

ANSWER: “The biggest challenge that Tennessee Promise students face is often keeping up with the many deadlines that they must meet in order to remain eligible for the scholarship. Faculty and staff can help students by simply asking them if they have completed their upcoming Tennessee Promise requirements. When meeting with students, faculty and staff can simply ask if they are a Tennessee Promise student and, if so, if they have completed their community service requirement/FAFSA/and financial aid requirements. Faculty and staff can also encourage students to stay in touch with the financial aid office to ensure that all of their financial aid requirements are complete as well.”

QUESTION: Would you like to share a student success story? (How has the program made an impact on students’ lives?)

ANSWER: “We had a Tennessee Promise student a couple of years ago who came to Motlow to pursue an AAS Degree in Mechatronics. He and his family were not going to be able to afford him going to college had it not been for the Tennessee Promise program. The student did exceptionally well in the Mechatronics Program and was hired by Bridgestone Firestone directly after graduating from college and is making a very good living. I hosted a campus cleanup day while he was still taking classes at Motlow State, and I remember talking to the student about his goals as we were picking up trash in our ditches on campus. At that point in time, he was just hoping that going to school would pay off and that he would be able to get a good paying job after he graduated. He went on to do just that and has become very successful since graduating from Motlow.

QUESTION: What’s the most interesting or funniest experience you’ve had with Tennessee Promise students?

ANSWER: “Some of the funniest experiences that I have had with Tennessee Promise students are when I attend trash pickup opportunities with them and they get to see what kinds of things people throw away/litter. Once, a student found a stand-up dummy punching bag in a ditch and had a pretty good time with that find. These kinds of opportunities allow for students to see how much people litter and how much trash we produce as a society. It allows them to have conversations about the environment and it’s funny to listen to their reactions as we come across ‘unique’ litter finds.”

QUESTION: What is the best way for participants to contact you for advice?

ANSWER: I can be reached by phone at (615) 220-7839, by email at jgraham@mscc.edu, or by text at (615) 258-6262.

Motlow Smyrna Student Wins Lipscomb Transfer Trustee Scholarship

By Jonathan Graham

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

          SMYRNA -- As a society, we love tales of those who overcome obstacles and achieve success despite the harrowing challenges that they may face. As a college, we have students who not only do this, but who also embody character traits that humble us in our service to them. Jazzmin Mitchell is one of these students.

          Jazzmin Desiree' Mitchell is a 24-year-old Nashville native who lives in Murfreesboro. In 2013, she was the first in her family to graduate from high school and enroll on scholarship to Middle Tennessee State University. Unfortunately, due to stress and depression, Jazzmin was academically and financially suspended from MTSU in 2014. However, Jazzmin did not give up.

Jazzmin Mitchell

          In 2017, she enrolled at Motlow State Community College as a nontraditional student. Jazzmin took advantage of important resources at Motlow Smyrna, including the Student Success Center's tutoring services. This led her to conquer her first semester with a 4.0 GPA. She went on to serve as the 2018-2019 Tennessee Regional Secretary of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society. Due to her excellent academic performance, she received the opportunity to apply for the Lipscomb Transfer Trustee Scholarship.

          Each year, Lipscomb University awards this prestigious scholarship to eight community college students in the State of Tennessee. The application process is very competitive. Each of the 13 TBR Community Colleges can nominate up to five students to compete for this scholarship. Once a student is nominated by their community college, they participate in a panel interview at Lipscomb University. Out of the possible 65 students nominated by all 13 community colleges, only eight students are selected to receive the full-tuition scholarship. Qualifying students must plan to enroll at Lipscomb as a full-time student, earn at least a 3.5 GPA, and complete 30 or more credit hours at their respective community college.

          Jazzmin Mitchell’s hard work, determination and positive attitude paid off. She was one of eight students this year to be awarded the Lipscomb Transfer Trustee Scholarship and will be attending Lipscomb University this fall. Jazzmin made a comeback. She is a true success story, one which should be told and celebrated.

(Editor’s Note: Jazzmin Mitchell graduated from Motlow State on May 5, 2019.)

Motlow Smyrna Expects 1,300 New Tennessee Promise Students next Fall

By Kenya Anderson

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

SMYRNA, Tenn. -- Motlow Smyrna’s faculty, administrators and staff are standing by to assist the more than 1,300 Tennessee Promise students who are expected to arrive next fall, according to Tennessee Promise Director Jonathan Graham.

Tennessee Promise has had a dramatic impact on Motlow’s enrollment since it was launched in 2015. The total number of students at all four Motlow campuses has increased from 5,294 in 2015 to 6,913 in 2018.

The increase in new Tennessee Promise students is evident to those who work on the Motlow Smyrna campus. A third building is under construction, and the parking lot now extends to Motlow College Boulevard.

 Graham said Tennessee Promise has also given Motlow more exposure, especially in Rutherford County. More students are now aware of Motlow and the programs it offers.

Tennessee Promise was introduced in 2015 by former Gov.  Bill Haslam. The goal of the program is to give all Tennesseans the opportunity to receive a degree from a community college or technical college tuition-free. This program has made it possible for most high school students to obtain a degree.

“For students, it’s not a question of how I will go to college, but where I will go,” Graham noted.

To qualify for a Tennessee Promise scholarship, high school seniors must first apply at www.tnpromise.gov. After they are accepted into the program, they have to complete a number of steps by certain deadlines. Those steps include completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, applying to their college of choice, completing eight community service hours, attending two mandatory meetings at their high school, and attending orientation.

Graham noted that the community service hours are met by volunteering at a nonprofit organization. A good place to earn community service hours is the United Way. The organization hosts events throughout the year and partners with other nonprofits.

Another way students can earn their community service hours is to team up with faculty at Motlow. Greg Upham and Kevin Fitch are professors who offer students volunteer opportunities. Community service hours must be completed by July 1 for students planning to enroll at Motlow this Fall 2019.

Tennessee Promise students volunteer with Professor Kevin Fitch

Another requirement is that students must to attend a mandatory meetings at their high school. At the meeting, students meet with their mentors to make sure that they are on track and have the chance to ask questions. Once in college, students no longer have to attend mandatory meetings, nor do they have to renew their Tennessee Promise application every year.

“Before classes start, students need to attend orientation,” Graham continued. “The sooner they attend orientation, the better.”

Mentors from the community volunteer with Tennessee Promise and serve as guides for the students. Mentors help keep students on track, comparing notes on goals and answering questions. Anyone in the community can volunteer to be a mentor. Mentors must go through training and stay in touch with their assigned students. Some of those mentors include professors on Motlow’s four campuses.

One such mentor is Professor Debra Stockdale, who teaches speech and mass communications.

“Having two sons myself and seeing all that went into starting college, I wanted to help,” said Stockdale.

Once enrolled in college, students have fewer requirements. They don’t have to reapply for the Tennessee Promise yearly, but they must complete their FAFSA by the deadline. Students must remain full time, maintain a 2.0 GPA, and complete eight community service hours each semester.

For more information about resources that are available through Tennessee Promise, visit www.tnpromise.gov.

Students Can Earn TNPromise Service Hours by Volunteering at Radnor Lake

                Students who are looking for TNPromise service opportunities can volunteer for one of the following events at Radnor Lake State Natural Area in Nashville. 

                According to Professor Kevin Fitch, simply follow the weblink below and meet up with Radnor Lake rangers on the selected date. Lunch is usually provided by the Friends of Radnor Lake. Be sure to wear work clothes (e.g., pants, boots, long-sleeve shirt, and bring gloves and plenty of water). Radnor Lake will have you sign a liability wavier.

                Visit here to learn more: https://radnorlake.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Updated-12-17-Volunteer-Liability-Waiver.pdf .

                For directions, visit https://goo.gl/maps/UzifeXmzoVw .

Motlow State Tennessee Promise students Kayla Cuyugan and Ramtin Koushkabaghi volunteer at Radnor Lake with Professor Kevin Fitch (Photo from Inside Motlow)

                Here’s the Radnor Lake State Natural Area Volunteer Schedule for 2019:

                * March 22 (Friday), 2-6 p.m.

                * April 26 (Friday), 2-6 p.m.

                * May 24 (Friday), 2-6 p.m.

                * May 31 (Friday): 2-6 p.m. - National Trails Day Kick-Off

                * June 21 (Friday): 2-6 p.m. - TNPromise Workday Kick-Off

                * June 28 (Friday), 2-6 p.m.

                * July 26 (Friday), 2-6 p.m.

                * Aug. 23 (Friday): 2-6 p.m.

                * Sept. 27 (Friday), 2-6 p.m. - NPLD Kick-Off

                * Oct. 25 (Friday): 2-6 p.m.

                (November: NO VOLUNTEER DAY)

                (December: NO VOLUNTEER DAY)

               Individuals can learn more by visiting https://radnorlake.org/about/get-involved/volunteer/ .

Success is... Serving as a TnAchieves Mentor

By Charles Whiting
Motlow Buzz Editor-in-Chief

            There’s something exciting about volunteering for the TnAchieves/Tennessee Promise program. Perhaps it has something to do with the great memories I have of my very first day of college and the anticipation of the life-changing experiences to come. When I learned about the program and the opportunity to volunteer, that’s the first thing that crossed my mind. It would be a wonderful way to help incoming students with big dreams have a smooth transition to college, while reliving a few unforgettable memories.

            I love the slogan TnAchieves uses: “Changing Lives, Transforming Communities.” According to the organization, its mission is to increase higher education opportunities for Tennessee high school students by providing last-dollar scholarships with mentor guidance.

            The leadership at TnAchieves has been outstanding, starting with a well-organized and encouraging orientation to the program. Mentors begin by selecting a high school for their mentees and attending a one-hour training session with overview, instruction and Q&A. A wide range of dates, times and locations are available, making the process a breeze.

(Photo of Charles Whiting and TnAchieves mentee Brandon Pineda by Jonathan Graham)

            When you arrive for your kick-off mentor meeting, TNAchieves representatives greet you with a smile. They ask you to sign an attendance sheet, then give you a booklet that contains a thorough list and description of student to-dos with deadlines. Mentors are encouraged to communicate regularly with their assigned students over the coming months to provide advice and reminders for due dates.

            The student checklist includes completing their TnPromise Application, attending team meetings, applying to an eligible Tennessee Promise institution, and completing eight hours of community service.

            I was assigned an initial seven male students at Smyrna High School in Rutherford County. My first task was to write each student to remind them about their upcoming first team meeting. I used an e-mail message to introduce myself and tell them a little bit about college life. Several students and/or parents responded, saying they looked forward to meeting me.

            We met for the first time during a specially called Tennessee Promise assembly in the school’s auditorium attended by several hundred students and their parents. During our meeting at an assigned table, I introduced myself and invited them to touch base or drop by to see me if they had any questions. It was fun learning more about them and meeting some of their parents. If I didn’t have the answer to a question, I’d walk them over to a staff member like Jonathan Graham. I asked each student to introduce himself and confirm his contact information. I followed up after the meeting with a note saying I looked forward to working with them.

            In the ensuing weeks and months, TnAchieves provided helpful correspondence about upcoming deadlines, asking mentors to remind their assigned students. To be eligible for Tennessee Promise, candidates had to submit all requested admissions documents to the anticipated college by May 1 and complete eight hours of community service by July 1. They would need to enroll as a full-time student at a Tennessee Promise-eligible institution (minimum of 12 hours) and attend team meetings on various dates hosted by TnAchieves. They would also have to file applications for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) by a certain deadline.

            With so many to-dos with stringent deadlines, you can see how valuable a mentor can be in helping secure bright futures for Tennessee Promise students. And it doesn’t take a tremendous amount of our time. I’m happy to know there are a host of other Motlow faculty members who have volunteered, and even happier to know that some of our mentees are attending college on our four campuses. Special thanks to Jonathan Graham and the other TnAchieves leaders and representatives for the wonderful work they do.

            To learn more about TnAchieves, visit www.TnAchieves.org.

History Club Scrubs and Cleans to Improve Smyrna Campus

By Ramona Shelton

Motlow Buzz Managing Editor

     If you noticed a Mountain Spring fresh smell or clean tables and chairs on campus as you came in last Monday morning, take the time to thank the folks who participated in the History Club’s "Campus Cleanup Day" project on Sept. 30.

     Eleven students gave up their Saturday morning to come in and scrub down the classroom tables and common areas in both buildings. This included the library, where one member of the group spent over two hours scraping gum from the bottom of all the tables (Author’s note- if you are the people sticking gum under the tables, what is wrong with you?!? This isn’t elementary school!).

 

     Student volunteers earned Tennessee Promise and/or FYE service hours for their participation in the project. The History Club will be hosting at least one more cleanup day before service hours are due in December. Be on the lookout for future emails with info on this.

     Special thanks to Stan Temple and George Ciprich for getting all the cleaning supplies for the event, and to Carol Rajchel for serving as our “general.”

Motlow Seeks tnAchieves Mentors for Tennessee Promise Program

By Jonathan Graham

Tennessee Promise Director

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

         “Empower students… Be a resource… Transform your community…”

These are the words echoed by tnAchieves every year as they begin to recruit college mentors across the state of Tennessee.

 One of the unique features of the Tennessee Promise Scholarship program is the mentor component in which each Tennessee Promise student is paired with a mentor from the local community. Mentors help high school seniors prepare for college by informing them of important college deadlines, encouraging them throughout the college transition process, and by connecting them to important college resources.

 Each college mentor is paired with five to 10 high school seniors whom they help transition from high school to college.

“Mentors remind students of important deadlines, answer students’ questions, alleviate their concerns, and most importantly, encourage students to reach their full potential,” said Graham Thomas, deputy director of engagement and partnerships for tnAchieves.

We need your help!

Active recruiting for tnAchieves is occurring across the state. In 2017, some counties did not reach their mentor goal. This year, the Motlow team is hopeful that there will be enough mentors to help provide quality assistance to each high school student.

Below is a breakdown of the number of mentors currently needed by each county in Motlow’s service area:

Make a difference!

                Becoming a tnAchieves mentor is extremely easy. Mentors simply need to complete a mentor application by Dec. 1, 2017. Mentors will select a preferred high school, complete a one-hour training session, and attend a total of two meetings with their mentees.

I’m in! Am I eligible?

                Mentors must:

                * Be 21 years or older.

                * Apply by Dec. 1, 2017

                * Complete a mentor training by Feb. 15.

                For more information about becoming a tnAchieves mentor, please visit www.tnachieves.org

Motlow College Seeks New Building for Record-Breaking Attendance

By Mike Sparks

Motlow Buzz Reporter

SMYRNA, Tenn. -- It is no surprise that the Smyrna Motlow State Community College Center is Tennessee’s fastest growing college with 2,500 students this spring semester, much to the credit of Gov. Bill Haslam’s vision of Tennessee Promise.

Haslam’s Tennessee Promise has been a resounding success. With that success has come a fast-paced 32 percent rate of growth between the fall of 2014 and 2016. The two-building Smyrna Motlow State Community College campus currently has only 33,000 square feet. The classrooms are packed with 35 students each, teachers sharing small closet-sized offices, no area to host large lectures or a large gathering, and a small overcrowded library. The need for this new addition is greater now than ever before.

The rapid enrollment at the Smyrna Campus has led to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and Board of Regents both prioritizing the Smyrna Motlow’s third building as the number one priority in Tennessee for higher education.

The cost of the new 79,443-square-foot building is $27 million. The college is required to raise $2.7 million or 10 percent from local sources such as nonprofits, local county, and municipal governments.  

The new three-story building will be located at the northwest corner of the campus. It will host a much-needed 22 classrooms, one-stop shop for recruiting and financial aid, physics lab, general biology lab, computer science lab, art lab, chemistry lab, anatomy and physiology lab, EMS lab, nursing lab, medical technician lab, mechatronics lab, 15 private faculty offices, and additional office space. Students will be pleased with the new Cyber Café, which will provide seating for students to interact, study, eat, and much more. In order to be more efficient with space, rooms can be utilized together to accommodate up to 350 students. The new library will boast over 6,500 square feet and be available to the general public as well.

“I’m very excited about the new library, which will host 60 computers, open space for 60 students, eight group study rooms, stack space for up to 10,000 volumes and more,” said Campus Librarian Paige Hendrickson. “The students are extremely excited about not only the new library, but also the new Cyber Café.”

In 2014, Tennessee was the only state offering a wide-reaching program that gave recent high school graduates the chance to go to community college without paying tuition. With the ever-increasing cost of a college education, Tennessee Promise came as a relief to many struggling families and students. College tuition debt has amassed to $1.4 trillion today, leaving the average college graduate with roughly $37,000 in student debt, up 6 percent from last year, according to the Federal Reserve.

Educational experts say Tennessee's example as a higher education trailblazer could help shape higher education policy for years as students move through the education pipeline. The Tennessee Promise is an increasingly popular model as Tennessee plays an important role in the education debate.

Many may not be aware that the campus library is open to the general public, which helps with those who may not have Internet access and who may want to apply for jobs online, email or other needs.  For more information on how to get involved with Motlow State and the great things that are happening, visit www.mscc.edu or call (615) 220-7800.

Haslam’s ‘Drive to 55’ Initiative sets the goal to increase the percentage of Tennesseans with a postsecondary credential to meet Tennessee’s current and future workforce and economic needs. The governor has championed both his tuition-free college and the Drive to 55 initiative. For more information on Tennessee Promise or Drive to 55, visit www.TnPromise.gov or www.Driveto55.org

Motlow State Community College Plans New Building

 By Trey Carter 

        SMYRNA, Tenn. – Motlow State Community College plans to add a third building to its Smyrna campus by spring 2019 that will offer more classes, programs and possibly a cafe space.

 Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Cheryl Hyland provided details for this new building. The college’s funding is awaiting approval from the Tennessee Board of Regents. If approved, the building will be built west of the Science and Applied Technology Building. Also, Motlow would be required to raise 10 percent of the total cost for the building.

“I am tremendously excited to be able to expand academic programs and service delivery to serve in the community,” said Hyland.

            Rapid growth of the Tennessee Promise scholarship program has created the need for new space on the Smyrna campus. Some 1,038 students are taking advantage of the two free years provided by the State of Tennessee, a 52.87 percent increase over fall 2015. By 2025, the number of Tennessee Promise students is projected to grow to include 895 more students.

However, Hyland said the proposed building is not a direct result of the Tennessee Promise scholarship. The third building was planned many years ago, with the original master plan laid out before the college opened a campus in Smyrna. The current campus has approximately 2,800 students.   

            The new building will be focused on providing more classrooms and labs for new or already existing programs. The school is looking to add a new nursing program and many classes to go along with it. While plans have not been finalized for what rooms will be included, there is discussion about adding an auditorium, an art room, a cafe, and more labs for science classes.

The school is in search of a restaurant to go inside the new building. The majority of students should be pleased with the inclusion of an outside food vendor.

            If all goes as scheduled, the new building will be expected to break ground in 2017. Once started, the building will take a projected 15 to 18 months to complete.

With a new building, the school will be required to expand the amount of parking spaces on campus. One new building with approximately 80,000 gross square feet must have 750 new parking spaces to accommodate students.

            “A new building sounds great,” said Austin Kraner, a Motlow student. “The campus will definitely need the space once new students come in.”

            For more information about Motlow State Community College, visit www.mscc.edu. 

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Tennessee Promise Expected to Increase Student Attendance

By Trenton Short

 

Motlow Buzz Reporter

 

            SMYRNA, Tenn. – Tennessee Promise is expected to raise the quality of higher education in the state of Tennessee, providing the opportunity for more students to attend college and not worry about the cost of tuition.

            Motlow State Community College professors and personnel expect student numbers to increase next fall because of the Tennessee Promise program. Many professors and students are excited for this increase next fall.

            “I feel that it will help enrollment for the fall with many more students filling the classrooms,” said Gary Winton, assistant director of student services for the Motlow campus in Smyrna, Tenn. “I think it is an exciting time for the state of Tennessee for students that aren’t able to get a higher education after high school.”

            Winton said he feels that the classes will continue to grow each year because of Tennessee Promise and an altering economy. Winton, along with others, can’t think of any negatives for Tennessee Promise. Many are planning to take advantage of the opportunity to receive a cost-free education at the community college level.

“I wasn’t planning on going to Motlow or any type of community college until I heard about it,” said Richard Mulligan, a local Smyrna High School senior. “I was really considering going to MTSU, Lipscomb or Union University.”

Mulligan feels that the only con is that there could be overflowing classes without enough professors to teach them.

            “Tennessee Promise is something I’m very excited to be a part of, and I know I’m not the only one that feels that way,” Mulligan said.

            Tennessee Promise is more of a scholarship program meant for mentoring to increase the number of students in Tennessee. A scholarship will cover tuition for students coming in next fall and the following years.

            Students must go to all of the mandatory meetings to stay eligible for Tennessee Promise. They must also complete eight hours of community service and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA in high school.

            To get more information for the Tennessee Promise, visit www.tennesseepromise.org.

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