White County, Van Buren County schools will receive support from Ayers Scholars Program

The Ayers Foundation Trust recently announced that an additional seven counties have been selected to participate in the Ayers Scholars Program, the organization’s nationally acclaimed college access and success initiative, with White County listed as one of those recipients.

Thanks to funding through the Governor’s Rural Education Foundation, students in Clay, Hancock, Hardeman, Johnson, Lake, Van Buren, and White counties will begin receiving support from the Ayers Scholars Program beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. With this expansion, the Ayers Scholars Program will be operating in and supporting students in 28 of the state’s most economically at-risk and distressed rural counties.

“We are proud of the proven success our Scholars Program has demonstrated over the past 25 years, and we are wwgrateful to Gov. Lee and the legislature for their continued confidence and support in expanding this opportunity to more students across the state,” said Janet Ayers, Chairman of the Ayers Foundation Trust.

Founded in 1999, the Ayers Scholars Program already supports students in 33 Tennessee high schools. With this latest expansion, it will operate in 40 rural high schools across 28 of Tennessee’s most economically challenged counties. The program places full-time, trained counselors and advisors in the high schools to provide students with individualized guidance beginning in the 8th grade and continuing through college or other postsecondary pathways.

“We are incredibly thrilled to partner with the Ayers Foundation Trust through the Ayers Scholars program,” Kurt Dronebarger, White County director of schools, said. “This opportunity will open new doors for our students and helps ensure every graduate is equipped for success beyond high school.”

“Success looks different for every student, whether it is enrolling at a community college or four-year university, pursuing job training at a local Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), or enlisting in the military,” said Shawn Kimble, Chief Scholars Officer at the Ayers Foundation Trust. “The goal of our counselors is to help every student plan, pay for, and reach his or her highest level of academic achievement to better prepare them for work and successful careers.”

During May, the Ayers Foundation Trust put out a request for proposals to all qualifying Tennessee counties. Ayers Scholars Program leaders then completed a thorough review of all responses, followed by an in-depth round of on-site visits and interviews with each finalist before announcing today’s selections.

“Too often, our most distressed rural communities have the passion and dedication but lack the resources to truly support students on their postsecondary journey,” said Dr. Burton Williams, Chief Executive Officer of the Ayers Foundation Trust. “We’re grateful for the opportunity and honored to work alongside these school communities with a proven, student-centered model that is setting the standard for success.”

Williams noted that Ayers Scholars Program students are once again leading the state and nation in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)—an essential first step toward college access and postsecondary success.

Ninety-seven percent of Ayers Scholars high school seniors completed a Tennessee Promise scholarship application last year, and 97.6  percent of those completed a FAFSA, opening the door to millions of dollars in annual financial aid.