Perhaps “miracle” is an even more appropriate descriptive because any means of new financial support aids not only the colleges and universities, but more importantly the students who attend them.
Tennessee Board of Regents representative John Morgan may have said it be best last week during a welcomed visit to Cleveland when he stressed, “Higher education is economic development.”
We agree.
Education molds minds and fosters strength in spirit — both of which lead to innovation and creativity, and these build communities. And jobs.
It all points to the importance of the confirmation that local businessman Allan Jones, chief executive director and founder of Check Into Cash Inc., is partnering with Cleveland State Community College to launch “bradleyAchieves,” an outreach of the umbrella campaign called “tnAchieves” which helps to pay tuition costs for public high school graduates who want to continue their education but lack the monetary resources to do so.
Jones, a Cleveland native and well-known philanthropist for many years, is making it possible for graduates at Bradley Central High School, Walker Valley High School and Cleveland High School to attend Cleveland State with an assurance their tuition will be paid, provided they adhere to program criteria and meet all guidelines.
All expectations are reasonable. All benefit the college. All support the community. Most importantly, all provide a guiding hand for young people who want to advance their education, but fall short on meeting tuition expenses.
Students wishing to participate must:
— Fill out a “Free Application for Federal Aid” form.
— Maintain a 2.0 grade-point average while taking a minimum of six credit hours.
— Work closely with a mentor.
— Participate in an eight-hour community service project each semester.
Students who have earned scholarships or grants will use those first to pay their CSCC expenses; however, any unpaid balances will be covered through the Allan Jones Foundation. For all practical purposes, the Cleveland businessman has handed the local community college a blank check in order to make college attendance possible for local students.
Last week, he presented a first installment on the bradleyAchieves program, but acknowledged neither he nor Cleveland State knows how much the program will cost. Jones aptly worded it when he offered, “This is my first donation where I don’t know exactly where the zeroes end.”
CSCC President Dr. Carl Hite was right on when he called the presentation a “special day” for Cleveland State and for Bradley County. It must be remembered that only weeks ago the Tennessee Board of Regents announced a 9.3 percent tuition increase for students attending its schools. This includes Cleveland State.
It all points to this dilemma. The cost of education is soaring at a time when college students can least afford it.
And this points to the importance of innovative and community-minded programs like bradleyAchieves and the Jones Foundation partnership with Cleveland State.
We congratulate the local pair on this worthy campaign.
We thank both for their commitment to community and their support of higher education.
And most endearingly, we applaud their belief in our young people.
