tnAchieves is celebrating after surpassing its mentor recruitment goal! More than 5,398 volunteers raised their hands to support students in 2026 as they take their next steps.

“We are so grateful for the thousands of volunteers who have stepped up and answered the call to serve students,” shared tnAchieves Vice President of Workforce Tyler Ford. “In surpassing the goal of recruiting 5,000 volunteer mentors, tnAchieves is poised to provide meaningful local support to students across the state as they transition from high school to college and, ultimately, a gainful career. Tennessee once again showed why we are nicknamed The Volunteer State.”

Volunteer mentors had a choice this year between the Access Mentorship program and the new Workforce Mentorship program. Access Mentors play an important role in helping students transition from high school to college. The Workforce Mentor program is aimed at bridging the gap between college graduation and beginning a career.

“tnAchieves exists to help students reach their goals and take their next steps,” said tnAchieves Director of Mentors Baylor Atkins. “We are best able to do that by ensuring students have wraparound supports designed to make sure students achieve success. This isn’t possible without mentors who live and work in the same communities as the students they serve.”

With 84.7 percent of tnAchieves graduates living and working in the state, supporting tnAchieves students as they transition to their next phase of life supports Tennessee’s thriving economy.

nAchieves is now working to get these mentors trained and paired with the students they will work with in 2026. To learn more about the tnAchieves Mentor Program, visit tnAchieves.org/mentors.

tnAchieves is a 501©3 nonprofit that has been providing scholarships with mentor support since 2008. Any interview requests or questions can be directed to Rebecca Franklin at rebecca@tnAchieves.org or (865) 748-7767.