News & Updates
At Scale Newsletter: July 2026
This month's At Scale newsletter recaps Summer Institute's conclusion at Southwest Tennessee Community College, where students wrapped six weeks of coursework with nine college credits each. It also covers the official Memphis launch of MemACCESS, a new partnership with Memphis-Shelby County Schools built on coaching, clear next steps and community investment. Finally, it highlights July's statewide Job Shadow Days, where students explored careers across more than 20 partner organizations, including a look behind the scenes with the latest At Scale episode featuring Hilton.
Hilton’s Playbook for Growing Local Talent
Hilton has been a tnAchieves partner since 2011, opening its doors to students through job shadow days, internships, and its early-talent Launch program. On this episode of At Scale, Hope Thomas, Senior Manager of HR Consulting at Hilton, joins hosts Ben Sterling and Tyler Ford to talk about what that partnership looks like in practice and why it matters. They cover career exposure, professional skill-building, workplace culture, and what students should know as they think about post-secondary opportunity and career pathways in Tennessee.
Is College Still Worth It? A National Researcher Weighs In
Is a college degree still worth the cost — and what actually counts as a "good job" in Tennessee's economy today?
Dr. Jeff Strohl, Director of Research at Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce, joins the At Scale podcast to unpack two decades of national data on post-secondary earnings, underemployment, and career mobility. He and hosts Ben Sterling and Tyler Ford talk through what the research really says about the value of a credential, and how Tennessee can better connect college access to long-term career opportunity.
At Scale Newsletter: June 2026
The June edition of the At Scale Newsletter highlights how tnAchieves continues to Build Tennessee’s Future Workforce through student success, community partnerships and workforce initiatives. This month features Summer Bridge, student-led Community Service Days and a Turner Construction site visit focused on opportunity and impact.
Building East Tennessee’s Workforce from the Ground Up
What does it take to build Northeast Tennessee’s workforce from the ground up?
On this episode of At Scale, Dr. Brian Noland, President of East Tennessee State University, joins tnAchieves to discuss how ETSU is expanding access, strengthening student success and creating clearer pathways from high school to college to career.
Building More Than Buildings — Turner Construction's Herbert Brown on Workforce, Community, and What's Rising in Nashville
Herbert Brown, Community and Citizen Director at Turner Construction, joined the tnAchieves podcast to talk about how one of Nashville's most prominent construction firms is investing in the people behind the projects. From the Titans Construction Training Camp — a paid, five-week workforce credentialing program now in its eleventh cohort — to K–12 art competitions and job shadow experiences for students, Turner is building community partnerships alongside world-class facilities. As the new Nissan Stadium nears completion and the Bridgestone Arena renovation gets underway, Herbert's message to students is clear: connect early, build your soft skills, and know that the opportunities around you are real.
Summer Bridge Is Here — And Tennessee Students Are Starting Strong
This week, students across Tennessee are choosing to start strong through Summer Bridge, tnAchieves’ free academic readiness program offered through 11 programs hosted in partnership with Tennessee community colleges, where they are building skills, gaining confidence and taking an early step toward Building Tennessee’s Future Workforce.
Connecting Leaders, Strengthening Tennessee with Leadership Tennessee's Alfred Degrafinreid
tnAchieves welcomes Alfred Degrafinreid II, President and CEO of Leadership Tennessee, to discuss leadership, education, public service and the importance of connecting leaders across Tennessee. Alfred shares his journey from Memphis to statewide leadership and reflects on how education, perseverance and service can expand opportunity for students and communities.
At Scale Newsletter: May 2026
The May 2026 At Scale Newsletter highlights how tnAchieves is supporting students through graduation, college enrollment, workforce exploration and continued career preparation. From celebrating the Class of 2026 to gathering feedback from more than 30 school partners, tnAchieves remains focused on strengthening student support across Tennessee. This work continues through opportunities like Job Shadow Days, which connect students with employers and help Build Tennessee’s Future Workforce.
Experiential Learning and the Power of “Seeing Beyond” with Scott Williams of Discovery Park of America
tnAchieves welcomes Scott Williams, President and CEO of Discovery Park of America, to discuss experiential learning, career exposure and the power of helping students “see beyond.” Located in Union City, Discovery Park connects education, tourism and community impact through hands-on exhibits and experiences that inspire students and families across Tennessee.
A County Mayor’s Playbook for Workforce Change with Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp
In this episode of the At Scale Podcast, Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp shares why he has made postsecondary access and career pathways a central focus of his leadership, and how expanding options beyond a traditional four-year degree is critical to building Tennessee’s future workforce.
At Scale Newsletter: April 2026
The April 2026 tnAchieves “At Scale” newsletter highlights programs advancing its mission to build Tennessee’s future workforce, emphasizing the impact of coaching and financial support on student success. A recent SCORE report found that students receiving COMPLETE Coaching and Grants were significantly more likely to persist in college, with especially strong gains among students of color. The expansion of MemCOMPLETE and MemACCESS into Shelby County is already showing promising results, including higher graduation rates among economically disadvantaged students through coaching, financial aid, and school-based support. Additionally, tnAchieves has opened registration for its Summer Bridge and Summer Institute programs, which help incoming students strengthen academic readiness and, in the case of Summer Institute, earn college credits before starting their first semester.
Innovative Ideas on Student Success with Dr. Tracy Hall and Dr. Michael Torrence
In this episode of At Scale, the podcast hosted by tnAchieves, Krissy DeAlejandro and Ben Sterling sit down with Dr. Tracy Hall, president of Southwest Tennessee Community College, and Dr. Michael Torrence, president of Motlow State Community College.
Together, they explore leadership, innovation and partnership in support of student success across Tennessee’s community colleges.
The Economic Impact of tnAchieves
A University of Tennessee Boyd Center report finds that tnAchieves students who complete a post-secondary credential generate between $40.6 billion and $45.9 billion in total lifetime earnings. This demonstrates that tnAchieves drives both individual success and statewide economic growth by increasing workforce participation and earnings. Since 2009, tnAchieves has served students in 91 counties, supported 57,767 credential earners, and maintains strong partnerships with high schools and colleges across Tennessee. With 84.7 percent of graduates remaining in-state, tnAchieves strengthens local communities through a more skilled workforce and sustained economic reinvestment.
Taking the "Idea On A Whiteboard" Statewide with Governor Bill Haslam
Celebrate one year of At Scale with Governor Bill Haslam as he reflects on leadership, the creation of Tennessee Promise, and the power of a shared vision to drive statewide impact.
At Scale Newsletter: March 2026
tnAchieves March 2026 newsletter highlights Tennessee’s Future Workforce Framework, shaped by feedback from nearly 6,000 TN Promise students, alongside urgent FAFSA deadline support events and statewide outreach. It also features workforce-focused training with Nissan, emphasizing career readiness, coaching, and cross-sector partnerships.
Tennessee’s Future Workforce Framework
On March 23, tnAchieves released Tennessee’s Future Workforce Framework, a data-driven strategy informed by nearly 6,000 students across 81 counties that outlines how Tennessee can better connect education to workforce outcomes. The framework highlights key challenges students face—including financial barriers, limited career exposure and gaps in workforce connections—while reinforcing the impact of coaching, mentorship and targeted supports. It also establishes five core commitments to strengthen pathways to credentials of value, high-impact careers and long-term economic mobility, serving as a call to action for education, business and policymakers to align around a shared strategy to build Tennessee’s future workforce.
Securing Futures for Middle Tennessee Students with Tara Scarlett
In this episode of At Scale, Tara Scarlett discusses expanding postsecondary access and securing stronger workforce pathways for Middle Tennessee students. The conversation explores scholarships, systems-level change, statewide education goals, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in learning. Tune in for a forward-looking discussion on leadership, collaboration, and building Tennessee’s future talent pipeline.
A Lesson in Leadership and Innovation with Chancellor Donde Plowman
In Episode 23 of At Scale, Chancellor Donde Plowman of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville shares how UT is improving student outcomes through leadership, culture, and innovation. The conversation explores what it takes to create alignment in a complex institution while keeping students at the center. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
At Scale Newsletter: February 2026
From supporting early graduates in Knox County to empowering students at the State Capitol and expanding career-focused mentorship statewide, tnAchieves continues to Build Tennessee’s Future Workforce. This month, we highlight how intentional hand-offs, legislative engagement and workforce mentorship are strengthening student success from high school through career entry. With data-backed results and growing statewide impact, these initiatives are helping students graduate at higher rates and step confidently into Tennessee’s workforce. Read more in our February At Scale Newsletter.