The Tennessee College of Applied Technology Elizabethton will host an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 2, for area adults to sign up for the TCAT Reconnect Grant, a program that allows Tennesseans to attend a technical college tuition-free.
The event is designed to encourage adults to enroll in the TCAT Reconnect program, Governor Haslam’s initiative to provide eligible adults the opportunity to earn a technical diploma or certificate at a Tennessee College of Applied Technology free of tuition and mandatory fees. The TCAT Reconnect Grant is part of the Drive to 55, an initiative focused on increasing the number of Tennesseans with a college degree or technical certificate.
The TCAT Reconnect Grant is a last-dollar scholarship, meaning it will cover the remaining costs of tuition and mandatory fees for a TCAT program after other state and federal financial aid has been applied.
James D. King, Vice Chancellor for the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology, states, “We look forward to potential students visiting our 27 campuses to learn more about how technical education can change their lives and provide a successful future through a variety of high skilled and high wage programs, such as Administrative Office Technology, Computer Information Technology, Diesel Powered Equipment, Welding, and Practical Nursing.”
During Scholarship Saturday, adults may come to TCAT Elizabethton between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to tour the campus, learn more about available training programs, and use the college’s computers to sign up online. Free refreshments will also be on hand for anyone signing up.
“TCAT Reconnect is such an incredible opportunity for adults to gain critical skills and enter the workforce,” said TCAT Elizabethton Director Dean Blevins. “Scholarship Saturday is an opportunity to come see firsthand the opportunities we offer at TCAT Elizabethton and take the first step towards admission.”
Drive to 55 Executive Director Mike Krause said he hoped many Tennessee adults would attend the event nearest them. “As we enter the second year of the TCAT Reconnect Grant, there continue to be incredible opportunities for adults students at their local TCAT,” Krause said. “Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology offer an incredible chance for an adult to gain a new skill, become workforce-ready, and learn real-world skills from skilled faculty.”