News

TN Promise Students Offer Service Hours

By Carol White, Associate Director of Operations –

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For the past three years, I have been honored to be a mentor for Nashville School of the Arts graduates participating in TN Promise, the nation’s first statewide scholarship program offering two years of community college free of tuition and fees. As a mentor, I help students navigate the college admissions process and ensure they complete Tennessee Promise program requirements in order to receive the scholarship.

According to the State of Tennessee newsroom, more than 33,000 students have enrolled in college as a result of Tennessee Promise, and of the students who began in fall 2015, 63 percent are still enrolled in college, including an 83 percent retention rate at TN Colleges of Applied Technology.

One requirement is that the students complete eight hours of community service for every term they are enrolled. Many nonprofits across the state have taken advantage of this opportunity to benefit from the students’ service hours.

Service can include activities that align with the student’s interests and college degree paths. Quite a few nonprofit arts organizations have also signed up to be a service site, such as the Frist Center, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts and Theatre Memphis.

The Frist Center offers students the opportunity to give back to the community by helping with art making, audio technology, the gift shop, and visitor services.

Arrowmont is looking for student volunteers to help break the world record of the largest square dance ever.   Also, they still need help recovering from the significant damage they suffered during the November wildfires.

Theater Memphis is looking for volunteers to get involved either onstage, backstage or in the front of the house.

If you are interested in having students volunteer with your organization, complete the form here.