With a $1 million grant from the state, the Public Education Foundation is launching a college mentor program for struggling high school students, officials announced Thursday.
SOAR, funded by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, will pair college students with graduating high schoolers who plan to attend Chattanooga State Community College and transfer to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Officials say the program will go a long way in encouraging at-risk students to get through to a bachelor’s degree.
“What we are looking at is a change in culture, to get students focused on higher education,” said Hamilton County School Superintendent Jim Scales. “We want to continue to expand the number of students going onto higher education and this is one way we hope to move forward.
“It’s great for the students.”