tnAchieves Inducts 2024 Mentor Hall of Fame Members

Today, tnAchieves is announcing the 2024 inductees into the tnAchieves Mentor Hall of Fame. The Mentor Hall of Fame includes volunteers who have gone above and beyond consistently in the interest of supporting students to make a lasting impact on the program and in their communities.

tnAchieves Mentor Hall of Fame inductees include educators, business professionals and community leaders from across the state. This group has consistently answered the call to serve students and ensure that a clear path exists in communities across Tennessee from high school to college and ultimately, a gainful career.

Regardless of whether a mentor has served for one year or 15, they are making a difference in their community and for the state as a whole. tnAchieves relies on a thousands of mentors annually to stand with students and serve as local higher education advocates.

“tnAchieves better serves both students and communities because of our volunteer mentors,” said tnAchieves President and CEO Krissy DeAlejandro. “These 18 Hall of Fame inductees represent a foundational component of ensuring all students have a successful pathway from high school through college into a meaningful career.  We continue to be so thankful for those who continue to support, encourage and lead.  It’s true – mentors matter.” 

“As a first generation college graduate from a rural background myself, I remember the challenges that had to be navigated along my education journey.” Shared Roane County Hall of Fame Inductee Dennis Tumlin. “There were so many crossroads along the way and I credit the completion of my degree to a handful of mentors along the way. They were so inspirational and encouraging so I know first-hand how much a positive mentor means to a young person.  If I can be as impactful as they were for me, then I've shared it forward to the next generation. Helping others win is something that I enjoy doing!”

tnAchieves has inducted the following mentors into the Hall of Fame: 

• Linda Barclay - Obion County - 10 years
• John Becker - Knox County - 10 years
• Marlin Curnutt - Grainger County - 11 years
• Beth Duggar - Marion County - 10 years
• Brittany Ford - Knox County - 8 years
• Kris Frye - Loudon County - 12 years
• Steven Gentile - Davidson County - 11 years
• Michael Harrison - Sumner County - 10 years
• Carissa Hoitenga - Shelby County - 10 years
• Lesli Lee - Shelby County - 8 years
• James Mantooth - Weakley County - 8 years
• Dana Peterka - Roane County - 13 years
• Yvonne Schlangen - Dickson County - 9 years
• Avery Swinson - Hamblen County - 11 years
• Leigh Anne Touzeau - Knox County - 14 years
• Dennis Tumlin - Rhea County - 9 years
• Patrick Wade - Rutherford County - 10 years
• Christopher Whaley - Roane County - 12 years
  
  

tnAchieves inducts mentors into the tnAchieves Mentor Hall of Fame annually. Previous inductees can be found here. Those wishing to join tnAchieves as a mentor can visit https://www.tnAchieves.org/mentors. 1,200 volunteer mentors are still needed by the November 15, 2024 deadline.             

tnAchieves is a privately funded scholarship and mentoring program that seeks to provide an opportunity for every Tennessee student to earn a post‐secondary degree. If you have questions about the tnAchieves mentoring program, please contact Tyler Ford at (309) 945-3446 or tyler@tnAchieves.org.