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 President
Edwards honored with Project GRAD award
President Allen Edwards has received “The Caught Doing
Right for Kids” Award from Knoxville Project GRAD for his
work in helping students at participating Knoxville schools. The
ceremony took place at the Project GRAD Celebration Dinner May
9 at the Knoxville Convention Center.
“Many of the students we see in Project GRAD may not consider
going to college,” Edwards said after receiving the award,
“so we’re proud to be part of a process to encourage
them and help them earn a college degree and better prepare for
their future.”
Edwards is only the third person to receive the award. The first
recipient, in 2004, was the late Sarah Simpson, assistant superintendent
of Knox County Schools. Last year’s winner was Sam Anderson,
a member of the Knox County school board.
“We’re very pleased to name Dr. Edwards,” said
Jerry Hodges, executive director of Knoxville Project GRAD, “because
as a founding member of the board for Project GRAD, he has on
numerous occasions been ‘caught doing right’ and is
very deserving of the honor.”
Project GRAD is a joint program between selected inner-city schools,
Pellissippi State and the University of Tennessee. It is designed
to prepare students for continuing their education at the college
level. Students who earn the required grade-point average in high
school and in Project GRAD receive scholarships.
Knoxville Project GRAD started in 2001, and the first students
finished the program last year. Ninety-eight earned scholarships
in 2005, and 101 graduating seniors are eligible this year.
Edwards, who also serves on the national board of directors of
the American Association of Community Colleges, praised the Project
GRAD program.
“It extends the reach of higher education and helps more
people help themselves by earning a college degree.”
This is the fifth year that the College has conducted a Summer
Institute for Project GRAD students.
“Each year we’re seeing better prepared students come
into the program, thanks to the educational components that are
now available in the Project GRAD elementary and middle schools,”
said Rosalyn Tillman, assistant dean of the Magnolia Avenue Campus
and coordinator for the Summer Institute.
“It’s an exciting time to be a part of such a powerful
educational reform movement.”
For more information about the program, visit www.projectgradknoxville.org.
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