About Us

knoxAchieves provides an opportunity for Knox County public high school graduates from the Class of 2011 to receive up to $3,000 annually for community college tuition. Our program has three unique components.

Volunteers from the Knox County community are donating funds to provide a college education for students who would otherwise lack the opportunity.

Volunteers serve as mentors to our students to eliminate the barriers of post-secondary education.

Our recipients volunteer their time and energy by giving back to our community with eight hours of community service per semester they receive funding.

knoxAchieves will accept students from the Class of 2011 with preference given to first generation college attendees.

Research shows that, on average, an individual with an Associate’s Degree makes over $400,000 more in a lifetime than a high school graduate.₁ Similar statistics indicate that individuals with Associate’s Degrees volunteer more in their community, vote more often, and need less public assistance than those with only a high school diploma.₂

While many students participating in knoxAchieves plan to continue their education earning Bachelor’s and advanced degrees, others will take several courses and not receive a degree but gain the skill set needed to enter apprenticeship programs for skilled labor positions. In both cases, their earning potential increases dramatically.

[1] CollegeBoard – 2007
[2] U.S. Census Bureau – 2000 data

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Board of Directors

Randal Boyd is the Chairman, CEO, majority shareholder and founder of Radio Systems Corporation. He received a degree from the University of Tennessee in Industrial Management in 1979 and a Masters Degree in Liberal Studies from Oklahoma University in 1988.

Bill Haslam was elected Knoxville Mayor in 2003 and again in 2007. During his time as Mayor, he has focused on stronger, safer neighborhoods, reliable city services at a competitive price, an energized downtown, and more and better jobs.  He is a graduate of Emory University.

Mike Ragsdale was elected to serve as Knox County Mayor in 2002 and again in 2006. The first in his family to attend college, he completed a doctorate in education at the University of Tennessee where he also received the Torchbearer award as an undergraduate student.

Rich Ray is co-founder and CFO of 21^st Mortgage Corporation. He is the first in his family to receive a college degree due to the encouragement and support of his parents. Rich is a graduate of old East High School and holds an accounting degree from the University of Tennessee.

Tim Williams is co-founder and CEO of 21^st Mortgage Corporation. 21^st Mortgage is the highest volume lender in the manufactured home industry. In 2003, 21^st Mortgage was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway Company. Tim holds a BS and MBA from the University of Tennessee.

Chris Woodhull is a City Councilman and the Executive Director of TRIBE ONE, an inner city Christian ministry that encourages at-risk youth to walk away from gangs and destructive lifestyles and lead productive lives. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Asheville.