With two months until the November 15, 2024, recruitment deadline, tnAchieves still needs 1,800 volunteer mentors to meet student demand.
This year, more than 60,000 high school seniors are expected to apply for the TN Promise Scholarship. tnAchieves mentors provide valuable encouragement, advice and accountability to help students navigate the college-going process. The Upper Cumberland region has several counties with outstanding mentor need – Smith County – 6 Mentors Still Needed
tnAchieves mentoring looks different in 2025, most notably because mentors will work only with students who have asked for a volunteer mentor. This change allows mentors to spend more time connecting with students who have raised their hands and expressed interest in mentor support.
Mentors serve smaller groups of 2-3 students so they can establish meaningful connections covering topics that include college going and career plans. In just one hour per month, mentors can make a difference for students who depend on mentor support to successfully navigate the path to a post-secondary credential.
“The November 15 registration deadline is fast approaching and the need for volunteer mentors remains significant,” said tnAchieves Vice President of External Partnerships Tyler Ford. “Meeting mentor demand ensures that every student who wants a mentor has access to a local support system. Each year we see that when the community offers encouragement and support for students, the path to post-secondary is within reach. Students thrive when their community invests in their success! Mentorship really does matter!”
tnAchieves provides resources, training and support to ensure each student and mentor has the information necessary to succeed. Those interested in registering can visit www.tnAchieves.org/mentors.
Mentors will meet their students in December, January or February at the student’s high school and can choose which county and high school they would like to serve.
tnAchieves is a privately funded scholarship and mentoring program that seeks to provide an opportunity for every Tennessee student to earn a post‐secondary degree. If you have questions about the tnAchieves mentoring program, please contact Tyler Ford at (309) 945-3446 or tyler@tnAchieves.org.
