Kim Turner
Although Governor Haslam’s Tennessee Reconnect initiative doesn’t officially start until the fall of 2018, adult students at Cleveland State Community College are already reaping the benefits of an adult-based scholarship designed to allow them to earn a college certificate or degree tuition free.
CSCC student Kim Turner is one of those students. Enrolled at CSCC since last year, Ms. Turner is a student in CSCC’s Advance Business program and has five weeks left before completing the requirements for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Business.
Ms. Turner is a recipient of CSCC’s Adult Promise Scholarship and first heard about this at a Meet and Greet for adult students at CSCC’s Athens Center. “I heard about this from Stefanie West, the director of the Athens Center, and she was telling us all about the program,” she said. “She made it clear that this was for working adults, and that it was all evening classes, and that was important to me because I needed to be able to work during the day.”
Hearing Ms. West talk about the programs available to working adults was the pep talk that Ms. Turner needed. It had been years since she had been to college right after attending McMinn Central High School, and she had to withdraw from college then because of her father’s medical issues then.
“This program is only 15-18 months and made it a lot easier for me to be able to go back. I always felt like I needed to finish; something in my life was incomplete. I just wanted to complete this. I have two kids, ages 14 and 9, and I want to be a good role model to them.”
Ms. Turner credits her success this time around to CSCC’s encouraging faculty, as well as her age. “If you are a working adult, you are a little more mature, and you’re going to take it more seriously. I made better grades at CSCC than I did in high school. I wish I had taken high school more seriously…I think working adults, moms, dads, single parents or people that are married—should all do it. If I can do it, anyone can do it!”
Ms. Turner said she enjoyed the small classes and the camaraderie that went along with those small classes at CSCC. Even though all of her classmates worked at different places and had different backgrounds, they soon grew close by studying together and having the same classes throughout the program.
“I want people to know about this program,” she said. “Furthering your education can only help you. Why wouldn’t you go back to school? Especially now with the Tennessee Reconnect! I really didn’t think I’d ever complete this, but here I am. You never know until you try!”
For more information on the Tennessee Reconnect, contact Natalia Williams at (423) 472-7141, ext. 318. For more information on Cleveland State, visit the website at www.clevelandstatecc.edu.