STATE EDUCATION NEWS | Recent Moore County High School graduates who received Tennessee Promise Scholarships can earn community service hours as area state parks during work events held this month.

Most parks will hold their events on Saturday June 22. Radnor Lake State Park will have two sessions on Friday, June 21, and Roan Mountain State Park will welcome students on June 22-23 as part of its 77th annual Rhododendron Festival.

Opportunities will take place at nearby Old Stone Fort State Park in Manchester. Projects range from trail upkeep, invasive plant removal, and park cleanup. To learn more, visit the event’s website by clicking here.

Details for all the parks involved can be found online at this link. All participants must register on the website. The parks also accept help from any other volunteers who wish to participate.

“We welcome everyone to these events, and we are excited to be part of the Tennessee Promise program each year,” said Commissioner David Salyers of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). “We have found that many visitors are eager to help maintain our state parks, and this is an excellent opportunity to do that.” 

Activities for the workday at various parks include removing invasive exotic species and reclaiming the old homestead site at Edgar Evins State Park; assisting in the setup, custodial work, and cleanup for the Summer Square Dance at Alvin C. York State Historic Park; trail building and maintenance at Paris Landing State Park; and cleanup along a trail at Chickasaw State Park.

Participants are encouraged to wear appropriate clothing for the work and bring items such as water, snacks, and sunscreen.

Tennessee Promise provides students the chance to attend tuition-free any of the state’s community colleges, colleges of applied technology, or other eligible institutions offering an associate degree program. One of the requirements to maintain eligibility is to complete eight hours of community service.

For more information on the Tennessee Promise program please visit this link.•

{The Lynchburg Times is a nonpartisan, independent community newspaper serving Lynchburg, Tennessee and the surrounding counties. We are dedicated to public service journalism for the greater good of our community. You can support us, by clicking here.}