(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - Sept. 16, 2016) - - - Columbia State Community College will host "Scholarship Saturday" on Saturday, Oct. 1 for area high school and home school seniors to sign up for Tennessee Promise, apply to Columbia State and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at all Columbia State campuses.

Current Tennessee Promise students are also encouraged to attend to renew their Tennessee Promise and to receive assistance with completing the FAFSA.

The Scholarship Saturday events will be held at the following locations:

• Columbia Campus - 1665 Hampshire Pike, Columbia
  Warf Plaza in front of the J.H. Warf Building
• Williamson Campus - 1228 Liberty Pike, Franklin
  Administration Building, 3^rd floor, room 317
• Clifton Campus - 795 Main Street, Clifton
• Lawrence Campus - 1620 Springer Road, Lawrenceburg
• Lewisburg Campus - 980 Ellington Parkway, Lewisburg
  

This event is part of a statewide initiative designed to encourage students to enroll in Tennessee Promise, the state's program that provides two years of community college or technical school tuition-free for any student graduating from a Tennessee high school or home school.

Tennessee Promise is part of Governor Bill Haslam's Drive to 55 initiative to increase the number of Tennesseans with some form of post-secondary credential, such as a college degree or technical certificate.

Tennessee Promise includes a mentoring component, as well as a last-dollar scholarship to cover tuition and fees not covered by the Pell grant, the HOPE scholarship or TSAA funds. Students may use the scholarship at any of the state's 13 community colleges, 27 colleges of applied technology or other eligible institutions offering an associate's degree program.

"Tennessee Promise is a wonderful opportunity for students to pursue their dreams of obtaining a college degree," said Dr. Margaret D. Smith, executive vice president and provost. "We want to provide high school seniors and current Tennessee Promise students an opportunity to have the assistance they need.

During Scholarship Saturday, students may come to any Columbia State campus and use the college's computers to sign up online. All Columbia State campuses will have free food and drinks for those that attend.

The deadline for high school seniors to apply for Tennessee Promise is Nov. 1. Mentors must apply by Nov. 20. To learn more, visit http://tennesseepromise.gov.

To learn more about "Scholarship Saturday," visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/Tennessee-Promise, or contact Bethaney Holt at 931.540.2766.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, one of the largest higher education systems in the nation. For more information, please visit www.ColumbiaState.edu.

Tennessee's Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. We offer associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tncommunitycolleges.org.

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