Wednesday, March 26, 2025
The Tennessee Promise scholarship and Tennessee Reconnect grant, combined with Nashville State’s expanding campuses across Middle Tennessee, are providing more students with increased access and affordability to higher education.
Established in 2015, Tennessee Promise for those aged 18 to 23, followed by Tennessee Reconnect in 2018 for those aged 24 and older, provides last-dollar scholarship money —after other scholarships or gift aids are received—for students to attend community colleges or technical schools throughout Tennessee.
“By removing financial obstacles these programs are improving student success and increasing access to higher education,” Dr. Justina Rogers, director of student success at Nashville State said.
“Tennessee Reconnect gave me that final push,” Sean Wilson, a second-year Nashville State student at the Clarksville campus said. “It took a lot of worries off my shoulders.”
Wilson, 28, is one of more than 1,000 students utilizing the Reconnect program throughout Nashville State’s seven campuses. After Wilson graduated Clarksville High School, he relocated to Florida for a few years before returning to pursue his associate degree at Nashville State.
“Tennessee Reconnect gave me the enthusiasm to go back and pursue my degree and Nashville State has been nothing but helpful,” Wilson said. “I’ve gotten assistance from them (Nashville State) whenever I’ve needed it.”
Wilson is primed to graduate this spring with a degree in geography and then transfer to Western Kentucky University (WKU) to study meteorology. His ultimate goal is to move to Miami to work in weather forecasting and hurricane tracking.
For adult learners like Wilson, Tennessee Reconnect is often the helping hand they need to begin or complete their degree. Meanwhile, Tennessee Promise offers recent high school graduates the chance to earn their degree tuition-free.
Allie Wills, 19, is one of the 1,200 Nashville State students utilizing Tennessee Promise to enroll right after high school.
A Dickson County resident, Wills is in her second semester at the Dickson County campus where she is studying early childhood education. “They do a really good job of making it a fun experience while giving us the resources to focus on class,” Wills said.
Tennessee Promise requires student recipients to volunteer and complete eight hours of community service per term. Wills said that experience has been one of the best things about being a Promise student.
“I really like the fact you get to volunteer and pick where you get to go,” Wills said. “I’ve been able to volunteer at several different local schools and education programs and it’s given me a great opportunity to job shadow and learn the environment and build connections.”
After completing her associate degree, Wills said she is most likely to transfer to Austin Peay State University or another local university to complete her bachelor’s degree and begin a career teaching. “I’ve recommended utilizing Tennessee Promise to others,” Wills said. “It can help all walks of life.”
With Reconnect, Promise, and Nashville State’s growing campuses, more and more students are finding their path to higher education and a degree or credential.
“These programs are empowering students to pursue their academic and career goals,” Dr. Rogers said.
For Wills or Wilson — and the thousands of other students like them — the ability to graduate tuition-free through programs like Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Reconnect has been a game changer.
March 26, 2025
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