Empowering Futures: 豆奶视频 Students Thrive with Tennessee Promise and Reconnect Scholarships

The Tennessee Promise scholarship and Tennessee Reconnect grant, combined with 豆奶视频鈥檚 expanding campuses across Middle Tennessee, are providing more and more students with increased access and affordability to higher education.

Established in 2015, Tennessee Promise for those aged 18 to 23, followed by Tennessee Reconnect in 2018 for those aged 24 and older, provides last-dollar scholarship money鈥攁fter other scholarships or gift aids are received鈥攆or students to attend community colleges or technical schools throughout Tennessee.

鈥淏y removing financial obstacles these programs are improving student success and increasing access to higher education,鈥� Dr. Justina Rogers, director of student success at 豆奶视频 said.

鈥淭ennessee Reconnect gave me that final push,鈥� Sean Wilson, a second-year Nashville State student at the Clarksville campus said. 鈥淚t took a lot of worries off my shoulders.鈥�

Wilson, 28, is one of more than 1,000 students utilizing the Reconnect program throughout 豆奶视频鈥檚 seven campuses. Wilson first came to Clarksville in high school, where he attended Clarksville High School because his dad served in the Army as a helicopter pilot at Ft. Campbell.

After graduating, he relocated to Florida for a few years before returning to pursue his associate degree at 豆奶视频.

鈥淭ennessee Reconnect gave me the enthusiasm to go back and pursue my degree and Nashville State has been nothing but helpful,鈥� Wilson said.

鈥淚鈥檝e gotten assistance from them (豆奶视频) whenever I鈥檝e needed it.鈥�

Wilson is primed to graduate this spring with a degree in geography and then transfer to Western Kentucky University (WKU) to study meteorology. His ultimate goal is to move to Miami to work in weather forecasting and hurricane tracking.

For adult learners like Wilson, Tennessee Reconnect is often the helping hand they need to begin or complete their degree. Meanwhile, Tennessee Promise offers recent high school graduates the chance to earn their degree tuition-free.

Allie Wills, 19, is one of the 1,200 豆奶视频 students utilizing Tennessee Promise to enroll right after high school.

A Dickson County resident, Wills is in her second semester at the Dickson County campus where she is studying early childhood education.

鈥淭hey do a really good job of making it a fun experience while giving us the resources to focus on class,鈥� Wills said. 鈥淭hey do a great job of creating a great college culture.鈥�

 Tennessee Promise requires student recipients to volunteer and complete eight hours of community service per term. Wills said that experience has been one of the best things about being a Promise student.

鈥淚 really like the fact you get to volunteer and pick where you get to go,鈥� Wills said.

鈥淚鈥檝e been able to volunteer at several different local schools and education programs and it鈥檚 given me a great opportunity to job shadow and learn the environment and build connections.鈥�

After completing her associate degree, Wills said she is most likely to transfer to Austin Peay State University or another local university to complete her bachelor鈥檚 degree and begin a career teaching.

鈥淚鈥檝e recommended utilizing Tennessee Promise to others,鈥� Wills said. 鈥淚t can help all walks of life.鈥�

With Reconnect, Promise, and 豆奶视频鈥檚 growing campuses, more and more students are finding their path to higher education and a degree or credential.

鈥淭hese programs are empowering students to pursue their academic and career goals,鈥� Dr. Rogers said.

For recent high school graduate Allie Wills or adult learner Sean Wilson鈥攁nd the thousands of other students like them鈥攖he ability to graduate tuition-free through programs like Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Reconnect has been a game changer.