Fentress County’s Roane State Campus will offer up a taste of Kentucky Derby weekend Saturday to help students.
The Roane State foundation and community members brainstormed ideas for a fundraiser before settling on the Scholarship Gala. Director Cheryl Tays said money will go to the Scholarship Foundation.
“One of the mission statements of Roane State is access to education,” Tays said. “And we pride ourselves in providing that to the smaller, rural areas through our satellite campuses. And that’s what Roane State-Fentress is. A satellite campus for this area.”
The Gala is Kentucky Derby themed, meaning attendees can wear Derby attire. There will be food, entertainment, and a hat competition at the Gala.
“The Foundation is so wonderful to our students,” Tays said. “We not only have scholarships that based on merit, but they provide a lot of other smaller pots of money for students who may experience emergency situations.”
Roane State also offers online and dual-enrollment programs to allow high school students to get a head start on their college education.
“We’ve got our first cohort of Middle College graduates at York Institute this Spring,” Tays said. “They’re graduating not only with their high school diploma, but an associate’s degree. And they’re ready to move on to their four-year university.”
The event will be held at the Burnett Family Farm in Deer Ridge. More information on the Scholarship Gala is available on Roane State’s website and on Facebook at the Roane State-Fentress Campus page.
