KnoxAchieves is being highlighted in the July/August edition of Business Tennessee. Reporter Sara Shoemaker says KnoxAchieves is new education initiative that “provides a statewide template for improving Tennessee's workforce.”
Here’s how Shoemaker describes the program: “Though every graduating high school senior in Knox County may apply for a KnoxAchieves grant--a last-dollar scholarship of up to $2,000 annually--there are some catches. Each student must do his or her part--taking the ACT, applying for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) and enrolling in one of the approved community colleges: Pellissippi State Technical Community College, Roane State Community College or Walters State Community College.”
In her article, Shoemaker relates the program's origins: “The brainchild of [County Mayor Mike] Ragsdale and further supported by City of Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, KnoxAchieves is a program that affords every public county high school graduating senior, regardless of grade point average or American College Test (ACT) scores, the opportunity--meaning, the financial wherewithal--to continue his or her education at a regional, participating community college while waiting for federal assistance to kick in.”
The article goes on to talk about the critical mentoring and community services components. The program has paired ~175 volunteer business professionals with students to shepherd them through the application and enrollment process. Students also commit to give back to the community by completing at least 10 hours of community service for each semester they receive funds.
Shoemaker also spotlights the work of KnoxAchieves fundraiser-in-chief Randy Boyd. "Boyd is the get-it-done, energetic CEO of Knoxville-based Radio Systems Corp., maker of pet-friendly technology products and a founding KnoxAchieves board member, who within about a week raised $1.7 million of private contributions and pledges ... KnoxAchieves is 100% supported by business and community donations, and all of the proceeds go toward tuition fees."
Read the full article, “To the Last Dollar,” online at Business Tennessee’s website www.businesstn.com.
