Meet Sara Benard: Ayers Foundation College Access Counselor at Bolivar Central
Sara Benard is an Ayers Foundation College Access Counselor at Bolivar Central High School (BCHS). For the past four years, she has worked in the same capacity at Haywood High School. The move to BCHS not only gave her an opportunity to continue helping students but was a return to home.
“Hardeman County is home for me. I grew up in Whiteville, so being able to come back to the county that raised me and support students is something that I cherish greatly,” said Ms. Benard. “Being in this role for the amount of time I have been and seeing the impact the Ayers Foundation Trust Scholars Program has had in other counties, I cannot wait to see what we can do in Hardeman County!”
While serving in Haywood County, Sara gained much experience on both sides – high school and college – and made a lot of valuable connections. She plans to use both experiences to support students in Hardeman County.
“Coming into Bolivar Central with a background as a College Access Counselor with the Ayers Foundation Trust, I am excited to continue the work and help remove barriers for students in Hardeman County. We have a lot of big goals for this year, and we are already off to a great start with the Tennessee Promise,” said Ms. Benard. “At BCHS, support from our principal, Miss Avent, is what got the ball rolling. She let us introduce ourselves at the senior meeting the first week of school and since then, has been encouraging students to see us to get the application completed.”
Sara works alongside Ayers Foundation College Access Counselor Amanda Rau. Promoting the Tennessee Promise and encouraging students to apply has been one of the first projects the two women have worked on since arriving at BCHS. They have been pleased with the support received from BCHS guidance counselor Ellen Fulghum, who has also worked to ensure all Class of 2026 seniors complete the application.
“Sharing students on our social media pages has gained attraction. The effort to promote the Tennessee Promise and its opportunities has been getting students. We had a student stop by one day and said, ‘My grandmother wanted to know why my picture has not been posted for Tennessee Promise yet, so I stopped by to complete mine’,” said Ms. Benard. “Lastly, we highlight student participation to build a positive supportive environment around post-secondary planning.”
Ms. Benard noted the BCHS Dream Wall, created by Ms. Fulghum, is a powerful symbol of what is possible when students take advantage of the opportunities in front of them.
“It is a big motivator this year and is a powerful and inspiring visual display. As students complete their Tennessee Promise application, they add their name and career goal to the wall. It’s become a celebration of student ambition and a reminder that their future is worth investing in,” said Ms. Benard.
To learn more about Ms. Benard and her role as a counselor, read Beyond the Title: What Ayers Foundation Counselors Really Do.
You may contact Ms. Benard at (731) 658-3151, extension 27.
Read more local news by clicking here.
Stay informed on what’s happening in Hardeman County by subscribing to Hatchie Press e-mail updates.
Do you have community news you’d like to share? E-mail us at news@hatchiepress.com.
