PGK Postsecondary Scholars Update by Cynthia Manning Dirl What an awesome year of post-secondary graduations! Congratulations to all our Project GRAD Scholars for meeting the challenge, “Don’t Just Go, FINISH!” In the Fall blog, I noted we had 12 Project GRAD scholarship recipients complete their postsecondary program. Of that number, four were from the graduating […]

The National College Attainment Network (NCAN) has developed a credential awarded at the completion of a 21-course online series. The NCAN Certified Advisor recognition has been completed by the following Knox Education Foundation Project GRAD team members: Nancy Gonzalez-Rodriguez Tony Gunn Cleveland Hilton Tracy Holt Danielle Humphrey Jesse Jones Christi Kirk Cynthia Manning Dirl Alexa […]

Author, Christi Kirk Recently we had the pleasure of catching up with Fulton alumni scholar, Dr. Cheri Green for a “Where are they now?” GRAD Alumni highlight. Here are her own words as she describes her journey back to the site of her GRAD Summer Institute residential experience, the University of Tennessee Knoxville. “After graduating […]

Cynthia Manning-Dirl, Author It’s Graduation Season! Congratulations to all our Project GRAD Scholars for meeting the challenge, “Don’t Just Go, Finish!” In honor of their accomplishment, we provide them with an authentic kente cloth stole embroidered “Don’t Just Go, Finish!” on one side and “GRAD Knoxville” on the other as a keepsake for their hard […]

The entire Knox Education Foundation Project GRAD team is taking advantage of the opportunity to refresh our college/career access and success advising skills. The National College Attainment Network is providing a training opportunity for members to attain “NCAN Certified Advisor” certification. NCAN’s mission is to build, strengthen, and empower communities and stakeholders to close equity […]

Click link below for more information and to register to attend the Knoxville meeting hosted by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. K-12, higher ed, business/industry, non-profit/grassroots advocates all welcome. Registration required in consideration of meeting space capacity. Share! Share! Share! TN Momentum Year

Jahneulie West is the first student from Fulton High School to receive the prestigious Haslam Scholars scholarship, which covers tuition, fees, housing, and funding to support her individual research at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK). Her story is featured on the Strong Women, Strong Futures website. Read more about this emerging leader here: https://www.strongwomentn.org/blog/east-tennessee-woman-becomes-haslam-scholar/

Author, LaChia Moore “ASCEND,” the Austin-East Magnet High School Freshman Academy, held its first Destination Graduation Ceremony where students pledged to graduate and soar throughout their high school experience. ASCEND is an acronym for Academic Scholars with Career Expectations and Notable Destinations. The event included WATE TV news anchor, Ms. Tearsa Smith as the guest […]

The second UTK REAP (Rights, Equity, Access, Participation) Academy for rising 9th graders from Project GRAD Knoxville feeder middle schools Whittle Springs and Vine Middle Magnet happened this week at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Students have been introduced to concepts of social issues, social justice, and social change. They have visited sites around the […]

When you reference a high school senior “walking,” you are normally referencing that walk across the stage on graduation day. Several members of the Class of 2022 took a different kind of walk before graduation (but still wearing caps and gowns). Students from Austin-East Magnet High School strolled the hallways of elementary and middle schools […]