Ayers Foundation to launch scholars program expansion

PARSONS, TN - Wednesday, at The Ayers Foundation headquarters in Parsons, TN, Governor Bill Lee joined Jim and Janet Ayers, The Ayers Foundation staff and board members, Ayers counselors and staff from across the state, as well as local school and community leaders to celebrate the support of the Governor’s Rural Education Foundation and the recent expansion of The Ayers Scholars Program into seven additional rural and economically distressed or at-risk counties across the state.

Leveraging new state funding through the Governor’s Rural Education Foundation, The Ayers Foundation announced this summer the expansion of its Ayers Scholars Program into Benton, Claiborne, Hardin, Haywood, Lewis, Union, and Wayne counties, following a competitive RFP process.

“Tennessee has led the nation in expanding educational opportunities for our students, and this new partnership will continue to build on the strides we’ve made,” said Governor Bill Lee. “I commend the Ayers Foundation for their partnership to support Tennesseans, strengthen our workforce and revitalize rural communities across the state.”

As part of the Governor’s Rural Education Foundation expansion, The Ayers Foundation has hired 14 new counselors in selected counties to provide students in 8th through 12th grade and their families with support and assistance on college knowledge and planning, college fit and application assistance, college affordability, transition support, academic support, and completion and transfer support. All students in the expansion counties will have access to their Ayers counselors through postsecondary completion, providing an unprecedented level of one-on-one counseling and support to ensure postsecondary preparedness and success.

“Growing up in rural Tennessee, I saw firsthand the difference that access to training and higher education had on students and families—including my own. That’s why we first launched the Scholars Program so many years ago and why we are so deeply committed to the students we serve and the counselors who support them,” said Jim Ayers, founder of The Ayers Foundation. “We are grateful to Governor Lee for his vision and to our legislators for their support to help scale this program into more communities across the state.”

The Ayers Foundation Scholars Program was created in 1999 to significantly improve the quality of life in Tennessee, with a concentration on improving postsecondary education opportunities for high school students in rural counties. Prior to this fall’s expansion, the program served five counties in Tennessee. Participating communities have seen extraordinary success, with up to an 87% college-going rate and up to an 82% college-completion rate with over $150 million in student grants and scholarships.

“Supporting rural Tennessee has always been our passion,” said Janet Ayers, president of The Ayers Foundation. “We are proud of the proven success our College Access and Completion Program has demonstrated over the past twenty years and we are grateful to Governor Lee and the legislature for their belief in the model and for their support in expanding this opportunity to more students across rural Tennessee. Together we can ensure that every student has the support to pursue an educational option after high school best suited to their unique interests, strengths, and needs.”

For updates and more information about the many programs of The Ayers Foundation, please visit TheAyersFoundation.org.