The tnAchieves Podcast

Welcome to another inspiring episode of the tnAchieves podcast! Join our hosts, Senior Director of Mentors Tyler Ford and Outreach Manager Baylor Williamson, as they delve into the critical role volunteer mentors play during the summer months in preparing students for their upcoming college journey in the fall.

In this episode, Tyler and Baylor share practical tips, effective strategies, and real-life success stories to help mentors maximize their impact. Learn how to guide students through the maze of college readiness, from completing necessary paperwork to developing essential life skills. Discover ways to foster resilience, confidence, and a growth mindset in your mentees, ensuring they start their college experience on the right foot.

Whether you're a seasoned mentor or new to the tnAchieves family, this episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable advice to help you make the most of the summer months. Tune in and get ready to inspire, motivate, and support the next generation of college students! 🎓✨

Ready to make a difference? Listen now and learn how you can be the mentor that helps students thrive!

tnAchieves Sr. Director of Mentors Tyler Ford is joined by tnAchieves Director of COMPLETE Emily Jones to discuss the upcoming July 1 community service deadline. Learn how you can support your students as they complete this important TN Promise requirement!

In this episode, Tyler Ford sits down with Ben Sterling to discuss how mentors should be preparing to work with students this summer! Summer is a critical time for students as they graduate from high school, register for classes and make final preparations to begin in the fall. Remaining connected with your students and celebrating victories can lead to enhanced mentoring relationships!

Please connect with our team if you have any questions throughout this important time as a tnAchieves mentor. We are here for you!

The tnAchieves Summer Bridge Program is a FREE, 14-day program designed to help students who have not tested into college-level courses enter college more confident, both socially and academically! Held at community colleges across the state, the tnAchieves Summer Bridge Program gives you the opportunity to gain college experience, meet professors and make new friends!

Specifically, if students have scored below a 19 in reading or math and/or below an 18 in English on the ACT, the Summer Bridge Program could be right for them! In this case, students' ACT scores may require them to take corequisite courses prior to earning college credits. Through the Summer Bridge Program, they will receive FREE instruction by college professors in math, reading and English. These courses will give students a feel for what college courses are like and they will experience working with college professors. On the first and last day of the program, students will have the opportunity to test into college-level courses via a placement test (ACCUPLACER).

*The deadline to register is May 10, 2024. * Please note, space in each program is limited and priority will be given to TN Promise eligible students who plan to attend a Tennessee community college and require corequisite classes. If interested, we encourage students to register as soon as possible!

Learn more about tnAchieves Summer Bridge at tnAchieves.org/bridge!

Check out the audio from the February 2024 tnAchieves Mentor Webinar focused on kicking off the 2024 mentor program. This episode provides insight into beginning your mentoring experience and establishing connections with students.

Connect with our team anytime you have questions by emailing [email protected] and following us on social media at @tnAchieves!

In this episode of the Mentor Moment, we dig into how mentors can help their students complete the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and highlight how tnAchieves is helping students navigate the financial aid landscape.

Host Tyler Ford is joined by Allison Johnson, Director of Knox Access, a transformative pilot program in Knox County designed to increase Knox County's college-going rate. Together, they dissect the FAFSA application process, breaking down its components and shedding light on recent updates for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into the importance of completing the FAFSA accurately and on time, unlocking crucial financial aid opportunities that can alleviate the burden of college expenses. Allison shares tips and strategies to streamline the application process, ensuring that students maximize their chances of receiving aid.

Most importantly, this episode highlights ways that tnAchieves mentors can support their students in the FAFSA filing process. Mentors are never expected to be experts on the FAFSA; however they have a unique opportunity connect students to valuable resources.

Tune in to this informative episode to demystify the FAFSA process, learn about the resources available through tnAchieves, and discover how students access essential financial aid for the 2024-2025 academic year.

*tnAchieves is excited to announce The Mentor Moment podcast! *

The Mentor Moment is a podcast influenced by and designed for tnAchieves mentors! Join Tyler Ford from tnAchieves every other week for an episode highlighting tips and best practices to enhance your mentoring experience. Subscribe to tnAchieves in your favorite podcast feed to always stay up to date with episodes. Thank you for volunteering and standing with students across Tennessee!

The first episode of the Mentor Moment will be released this Wednesday, March 27!

If you would like to learn more about mentoring with tnAchieves, please visit tnAchieves.org/mentors!

Hear from three individuals that represent the first person in their family to attend college. We hope this discussion inspires you to Find Your Why! Learn more about #FindYourWhyTN​ at tnAchieves.org/findyourwhy.

Get to know each panelist:

Becoming a great leader requires hard work, trying a lot of things and learning from failure. Hear from tnAchieves Board Members Randy Boyd and Mike Ragsdale and Executive Director Krissy DeAlejandro as they discuss what it takes to become a great leader!

This interview is taken from one of our virtual community service webinars. We liked it so much we turned it into a podcast!

More than a decade has passed since knoxAchieves was launched from a whiteboard in the Knox County Mayor's office, but Executive Director Krissy DeAlejandro's commitment to student success has not wavered. Since 2008, tnAchieves has grown, innovated and paved pathways for all students, including those that are the first in their families to pursue college. The seventh installment of our podcast dives into the beginnings of tnAchieves, why it was founded and how we have stayed true to our mission. Graham Thomas steals Krissy's mic for an engaging interview!