Event organizer and district communications director, Jeff Bennett said, “This was a huge undertaking, but it’s exactly what our students need – especially during their early high school years when graduation is so close, but seems so far away. This project would not have been possible without the efforts of our school counselors, administrators, and transportation department.”
Bennett said the district deployed 20 school buses to 10 different post-secondary institutions including Austin Peay State University, Freed-Hardeman University, Nashville State Community College, Tennessee State University, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Lincoln College of Technology, Volunteer State Community College, Trevecca Nazarene University, Lipscomb University, and The Art Institute of Tennessee.
Chief academic officer, Dr. Tara Watson said, “These trips allowed students to explore the possibilities for educational and job-training initiatives after high school. The Middle Tennessee region provides many post-secondary opportunities and it’s our goal to share them with our students.”
Watson added, “In spite of the recent winter storm and school closures, our high school counselors were phenomenal in bringing everyone together to make this trip successful.”
Watson said the district conducted an exit survey for students and chaperones, which has provided positive feedback for improving the trip next year.