Highlands And TTU Launch Professional Development Student Program

Highlands Economic Partnership and Tennessee Tech have launched a student program to retain future graduates to the region.

The Young Professional Highlands Student Organization offers networking opportunities, community outreach and professional development. Workforce and Education Director Kaitlin Sayler said the first meeting will be held Thursday.

“We’re really going to brainstorm what does this look like for the students at Tech,” Sayler said. “How do we work with them early this year to get them engaged in the program, but also understanding that we are not going to be in-person right now, but also what are some ideas for the future.”

Sayler said in-person gatherings will hopefully begin later this year with luncheons and special speakers. Sayler said both degree and non-degree holders ages 21 to 45 from all career paths are welcome to join.

“We do have so much fun getting together and meeting with one another,” Sayler said. “Those of us who are at various levels of our career. The mentorships, the collaboration that stems from the meeting of each other at this very informal fun events. We hope to have as many people as we can to get engaged in that age range.”

Sayler said the Center of Rural Innovation reached out to Highlands to launch the program. TTU approved the organization in the Fall.

“We had already been discussing it in-house amongst our leadership team from our organization,” Sayler said. “It seemed like the natural time for this to take place.”

TTU Marketing student Maggie Cunningham was an instrumental part of starting the organization, Sayler said.