Area Seniors Successfully Meeting Tennessee Promise Deadlines
High school seniors at Bolivar Central High School and Middleton High School have been working since November 2, 2024, to complete the requirements of the Tennessee Promise scholarship. As we enter into March, those students have been making strides to ensure they remain eligible by completing the scholarship requirements before the deadlines.
Tennessee was the first state in the country to implement a college promise program for students to access free tuition. Since 2014, $207 million in funding has supported the enrollment of more than 150,000 students in pursuing their dreams of college, creating a more skilled and competitive workforce in Tennessee. A big plus for students is there is no grade point average or standardized test score they must earn to apply for the scholarship.
The deadlines for satisfying requirements are the following:
- November 1, 2024 – Complete the application
- February 2025 – Attend an assigned in-person Mandatory TN Promise Meeting by February 2025. If a student missed the mandatory meeting, they may read the excuse form policy.
- March 15, 2025 – Last date to complete the mandatory meeting if missed.
- April 1, 2025 – Students using the Tennessee Promise for summer 2025 or before the fall 2025 semester must complete eight hours of community service.
- April 15, 2025 – Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- July 1, 2025 – Students using the Tennessee Promise for fall 2025 must complete eight hours of community service.
- Fall 2025 – Enroll as a fulltime student in one of the eligible institutions with at least 12 credit hours or in a fulltime program.
In February, students at both BCHS and MHS met on their respective school campuses with TN Achieves Complete Coaches Jessica Gist and Haley Hysmith for their mandatory team meeting. Ms. Gist and Ms. Hysmith shared about the mentor assistance offered through the organization, which supports students as they transition from high school to college. They also shared their personal stories as college students, which included their challenges and successes, helpful advice, and the value of obtaining an education. Both coaches encouraged student to reach out to their tnAchieves mentors with any questions.
Middleton High School recently announced on its Facebook page its students are almost at 100 percent with completing the FAFSA requirement. BCHS is offering a FAFSA Frenzy workshop for its students and parents on Thursday, March 6, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., who may need assistance completing the form. Call BCHS Guidance Counselor Ellen Fulghum at (731) 658-3151 to schedule an appointment.
Students may find opportunities for completing community service hours through their tnAchieves student portal as well as locally with a several organizations. See a list of places in Hardeman County where they can volunteer.
If you have a student planning to use the Tennessee Promise, be sure they do not miss meeting the scholarship deadlines.
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