Scholarship program now fully funded

The Citizens for Progress scholarship program is now fully funded, and then some, thanks to a pledge of $5,000 from First National Bank of McMinnville, which puts the funding total in excess of the goal of $101,000 organizers estimated would be needed for the first year.

On hand for the presentation were County Executive John Pelham, Motlow president MaryLou Apple, local Motlow director Melody Edmonds, First National Bank SVP Dwayne Woods and marketing coordinator Candy Powell, Todd Herzog of the Business Roundtable Action Committee, and Warren County Schools director of instruction Bobby Cox.

Citizens for Progress scholarships will allow Warren County High School graduates who qualify to attend a two-year course of study tuition free at either Motlow State Community College or Tennessee Technology Center.

Tom Vance, president and CEO, said First National Bank supports this program and its aim of providing a way for local students to continue their education in Warren County.

‘We are so pleased to offer a gift of this size to Warren County’s Citizens for Progress scholarship program,’ Vance said. ‘First National Bank is fully committed to the continued education of Warren County students as well as the economic growth of our area.

‘As a contributor, we truly believe in this program enabling high school graduate students to receive work experience and tuition-free education right here in Warren County. On behalf of First National Bank, we are pleased to play such a vital role in this program.’

Herzog said the First National Bank donation will provide the program a little extra in its inaugural year.

‘The best part about this gift is it puts us over our minimum target,’ Herzog said. ‘Basically the state has committed to $51,000, and we’re now $51,000 outside the state. So we matched them dollar for dollar so far on paper. We’re thrilled with this contribution. It got us to our minimum point.’

The original estimate was $101,000 to fund the first year, and the program was $4,000 short of that goal. First National Bank’s $5,000 pledge took the total to $102,000.

Cox said the Citizens for Progress organizers appreciate the support local individuals, organizations and businesses, like First National, have shown the program.

‘We’ve been striving for this for over a year-and-a-half,’ Cox said. ‘Other businesses have kicked in. First National, we really appreciate them with their donation of $5,000, getting us over that hump, getting us to where we wanted to be. Hopefully we can sustain this and keep it going year after year and make it a permanent part of our community.’