Spring 2025 Newsletter
If there is an ethos at tnAchieves, it would be the deeply rooted belief that high-quality post-secondary pathways lead to meaningful, gainful careers. As an organization, we are on a mission to build Tennessee’s future workforce, one student at a time. You may even notice that our tagline has changed on our logo…
Bound together by the shared belief that intentional student interventions lead to better outcomes, tnAchieves programs all started as a pilot, were analyzed for impact and then scaled to serve students across the state. This method of “pilot, study, scale” has developed a series of programs that place students on a supported pathway beginning the fall of their senior year of high school and ultimately ending when they pursue a high-quality career. Everything that starts at tnAchieves is met with the same question - can we do this efficiently and effectively at scale?
Launching this week, “At Scale” represents more than just a podcast. It’s a commitment to listening and learning in an effort to better understand Tennessee’s workforce needs and how we can be better partners to those involved in preparing tomorrow’s workforce. While we are excited to launch a new podcast, we are equally as thrilled to be traversing the state to meet with partners and for you to learn more about the amazing work happening across Tennessee. Stay tuned to tnAchieves.org/at-scale and @tnAchieves on social media for more to come on this exciting exploration into what it takes to build Tennessee’s future workforce.
As you will read below, the Class of 2025 just crossed a significant college-going milestone. More than 43,000 students completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - signifying an intent to go to college and retaining TN Promise eligibility. Our team worked with K12 and post-secondary partners to ensure all students were aware of this important deadline and provided assistance in counties across Tennessee. We are grateful to the partners who helped make it possible.
Finally, we want to extend our thanks to Representative Pat Marsh, who invited more than 25 tnAchieves students to the Tennessee capitol to learn more about how government works. You will find some great photos of the event below, and we appreciate all the legislators who took the time to visit with our students.
Spring is such an exciting time at tnAchieves. From helping high school seniors navigate the often-intimidating journey of college access to seeing students earn their degrees, this time of year is full of optimism and an inspiration to think about what’s next!
Program Updates
AT SCALE
tnAchieves is relaunching its podcast!
At our core, tnAchieves is dedicated to building Tennessee’s future workforce. A workforce that is more educated, more skilled and more prepared for the jobs of today and tomorrow. To do that, tnAchieves is committed to building and executing programs and supports for students AT SCALE that lead to more college graduates.
To give some insight into the tnAchieves story and what ‘at scale’ actually means, we’re relaunching our podcast, aptly named, you guessed it, At Scale. You can listen as we explore what’s working to ensure more students access and complete college on their way to meaningful careers. You’ll hear from our friends and partners who also care deeply about putting students first. You’ll meet those who have a clear vision for what’s working and those who continue to challenge us to think about what’s next. We aren’t doing this work alone. We’re all on the same team.
You can listen to our first episode that launched this week! In it, Knox County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk and Pellissippi State Community College President Dr. Anthony Wise discuss the magic that happens when an entire community rallies around students and pulls in the same direction. It started after Knox County’s college-going rate dipped following the pandemic. The collaboration that followed led to setting a BIG goal: a 70 percent college-going rate in Knox County by 2024. Spoiler alert: we did it! (See more about this achievement and the next big goal below in the DID YOU KNOW SECTION!)
TN PROMISE UPDATES
Congratulations to the Class of 2025 who is about to graduate from high school! We’re so proud of you, and we’re here to support you as you move from high school to college!
This year’s class applied for TN Promise at record numbers: 67,000+! From December to February our team of 50 mobilized across the state to meet these students face to face at more than 400 mandatory meetings. It’s the first requirement for students to receive the TN Promise scholarship, and we love meeting these students and parents. A big thanks to our volunteer mentors, too, who come out to these meetings to begin building relationships with students to talk about their next steps after high school graduation.
After mandatory meetings, the next requirement for students was to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 15th. FAFSA is a crucial step for students to ensure eligibility for financial aid opportunities, like TN Promise. The FAFSA is recognized as one of the biggest college-going hurdles, and our team works tirelessly with students and parents to ensure it’s not what keeps a student from enrolling.
Thank you to every mentor who reminded students of the FAFSA filing deadline, every high school guidance counselor who helped answer questions and every post-secondary institution who held FAFSA filing nights to help students meet this deadline! We can’t do this work without you!
DAY ON THE HILL
Last month, more than 25 tnAchieves students were invited to visit the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville for the annual Day on the Hill! Thanks to Representative Pat Marsh for hosting students and taking time to give them an up-close look into our state’s government.
Students viewed a house session, toured the Capitol and had lunch with some legislators! It gave them insight into what a career could look like in government and a chance to see how legislators are shaping policies to support college students in Tennessee!
Did you know?
Did you know Knox County is dedicated to ensuring every graduate is pursuing a high-quality pathway after high school? Although once at an all-time high of 67 percent in 2015, Knox County’s college-going rate dropped to 59 percent in 2021. This dramatic decline posed a threat to the county’s long-term economic viability. As a result, the community rallied together to support a BIG HAIRY AUDACIOUS GOAL to increase the college-going rate to 70 percent by 2024.
Earlier this year, we’re pleased to announce we met that goal!
Now, we still have work to do. After meeting the goal of 70 percent, ADVANCE865 was born. This is a collective of leaders and organizations in Knox County committed to increasing outcomes for Knox County graduates. ADVANCE865 supports initiatives like the Enroll, Enlist, Employ framework from Knox County Schools to ensure graduates are equipped for college, the military or the workforce.
After meeting the original goal of 70 percent, ADVANCE865 is now pushing toward a new goal of 80 percent by 2028!
Student & Mentor Highlight
Program Reminders
All TN Promise students must submit 8 hours of community service by July 1, 2025. Students can learn more about this requirement and submit their hours at tnAchieves.org/community-service!
The tnAchieves Summer Institute application is now open! Hosted in a pilot phase at four community colleges, Summer Institute provides an exceptional opportunity to begin college more prepared. If you are a students who scored below a 19 on your ACT, check it out at tnAchieves.org/institute!