In just a year's time, the idea of knoxAchieves has become a firm reality. With a successful first year completed, the program is experiencing significant growth in student applications and volunteer mentors. When the October 30th deadline for student applications passed, knoxAchieves had received 782 for the 2009-2010 year, a 58% increase from the first year. The number of mentors who will work with this year’s applicants has grown by 30%, to 225 volunteers across Knox County.
knoxAchieves supports community college tuition for Knox County high school seniors who enroll in either Pellissippi, Roane or Walters State community colleges. Preference is given to first generation college students. knoxAchieves scholarships (up to $3,000 annually) are the "last dollar in," meaning other scholarship opportunities are maximized before knoxAchieves funds are drawn.
Each knoxAchieves student has an assigned volunteer mentor to help them work through the college application process. In addition, each student is required to give back by completing an eight-hour community service project each semester that they receive funding. Of the 496 applications received by the deadline last year, 308 actually completed all of the requirements of the program and enrolled in a community college.
For more information about knoxAchieves, visit www.knoxachieves.org or call (865) 214-4754. knoxAchieves is a special program of the East Tennessee Foundation.
