(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - Feb. 20, 2017) - - - A group of Columbia State Community College Youth Education Foundation Scholarship recipients recently met with YEF leaders to express their appreciation for their support of Tennessee Promise and Columbia State.

"The YEF has been very focused in their approach to helping as many Maury County Tennessee Promise students as possible," said Bethany Lay, Columbia State executive for advancement and executive director of the Columbia State Foundation. "Columbia State joins them in wanting students to make the most of opportunities that will help them to be successful and to be able to give back to the community throughout their lives."

To date, the scholarship has awarded approximately $26,000 to Maury County Tennessee Promise students to help cover the costs of books and fees not covered by the Tennessee Promise.

YEF is made up of community leaders from a variety of sectors. These individuals hold a luncheon annually to raise funding for the scholarships.

The YEF is a Tennessee nonprofit based in Columbia, dedicated to providing ways to encourage youth to complete high school and post-secondary education. As part of its overall mission, YEF seeks to reinforce the goals of Tennessee Promise and remove barriers that may prohibit students from seeking post-secondary education such as providing funds for costs and fees that are not covered by the state's scholarship program.


Photo Caption: (Pictured left to right) Russ Adcox, YEF member; Bethany Lay, Columbia State executive for advancement and executive director of the Columbia State Foundation; scholarship recipients Courtnee Boyd, (Mt. Pleasant), Leah Hendrickson, (Columbia), Brandon Sanchez (Spring Hill), Nick Herrud, (Spring Hill) and Stephen Hughes, YEF member.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, one of the largest higher education systems in the nation. For more information, please visit www.ColumbiaState.edu.

Tennessee's Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. We offer associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tncommunitycolleges.org.