At Scale Newsletter: June 2026
Welcome to the latest edition of the At Scale Newsletter,where we highlight the impactful programs and initiatives falling into one of our three priorities — all designed to drive our mission to Build Tennessee’s Future Workforce.
Scroll down or click to read each section!
Students First
Summer Bridge Concludes
An annual summer tradition, Summer Bridge is a three-week academic preparation program designed to help students begin college with confidence, momentum and a stronger foundation for success.
This summer, nearly 350 tnAchieves students participated in Summer Bridge at one of 11 host sites across the state. Throughout the program, students engaged in reading, English and math curriculum while also receiving targeted support to strengthen the skills they will need in their first semester of college. Students also had the opportunity to test out of learning support classes, helping them save time, reduce barriers and move more quickly into college-level coursework.
This year’s program success rate was 87%!
While the academic component is central to Summer Bridge, the value of the program extends well beyond the classroom. Students spend three weeks building relationships with peers, professors, college staff and campus administrators, creating a sense of familiarity and belonging before the fall semester begins. Because of this early connection, Summer Bridge students will arrive on campus in August better prepared to navigate the college experience and more likely to see a familiar face on their first day.
We are grateful to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and our host colleges for supporting this year’s Summer Bridge programs and helping tnAchieves students start college strong.
Community Centered
COMPLETE Coaches Host Community Service Days Around Tennessee
Across the state, tnAchieves COMPLETE Coaches recently hosted Community Service Days, bringing students together to give back while strengthening the connections that support student success.
Through these events, students served local organizations including Beardsley Community Farm, Crabtree Farms, Crockett Co Carl Perkins Center, Friends of Animals Rescue, Keep Blount Beautiful, Keep Knoxville Beautiful, Knoxville Youth Athletics, Letters Against Isolation, Memphis Inner City Rugby, Muse Knoxville, and Tullahoma Animal Shelter. From supporting community-based nonprofits to helping organizations that serve children, animals and local neighborhoods, students experienced firsthand the impact of showing up for their communities.
Community service is a cornerstone of the tnAchieves experience, and these days offered something more. Serving alongside their COMPLETE Coach and peers, students built relationships, discovered local needs and saw how their time and effort can make a real difference.
With the August 1 community service deadline approaching, now is the perfect time to log hours and stay on track — students can find everything they need at tnAchieves.org/community-service.
We are grateful to our COMPLETE Coaches for creating these opportunities and to each community partner for welcoming tnAchieves students. Because of their leadership and support, students across Tennessee are building lasting habits of service, connection and community engagement.
Check out some photos and highlights:
Workforce Focused
Turner Constructions Hosts tnAchieves Team at New Titans Stadium
This month, members of the tnAchieves team had the opportunity to tour the future home of the Tennessee Titans and Super Bowl LXIV. The visit was hosted by tnAchieves partner Turner Construction, a key builder of the project, and led by Herbert Brown, Community & Citizenship Director at Turner Nashville.
Throughout the tour, our team learned more about the scale of the stadium project and the intentionality behind its connection to the broader Nashville community. Herbert shared how Turner is approaching the work with a focus on community partnerships, workforce development and ensuring the entire city feels connected to what is being built.
This emphasis closely aligns with our conversation with Herbert on At Scale: The tnAchieves Podcast, where he discussed Turner’s commitment to building more than buildings. His perspective reinforces how major projects can create meaningful opportunities for students, workers, neighborhoods and community partners when workforce and community impact remain central to the work.
We are grateful to Herbert and the Turner Construction team for welcoming tnAchieves, sharing their vision for the project and helping our team better understand the workforce and community priorities rising alongside Nashville’s newest landmark.
Listen to Herbert’s conversation on At Scale: The tnAchieves Podcast to learn more about Turner’s priorities, the future stadium project and the workforce opportunities taking shape in Nashville.
