Key: New RSCC Fentress Center Is The Heart Of County

“What makes this campus unique is it’s the heart of the community. It’s the heart of Fentress County.”

That’s Roane State Community College Fentress Site Director Tinisha Key. Ket and President Chris Whaley joined county officials for a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house Friday at the new Clarkrange facility.

Key said the main benefit to the new center is the hands-on experience.

“Being able to be in an environment where you have one-on-one with folks that truly care about your academic future and they care about your success,” Key said. “That is one of, I feel like, the trademarks of the Fentress Campus.”

The new 8,000 square foot campus includes six new classrooms. Due to a shorter commute and a range of offered courses, Key said she expects the Fentress campus to continue to grow.

The Roane State Community College Fentress County Center offers over 20 academic courses. RSCC Foundation Board Phillip Hall said the new center is a starting point for major change in Fentress County.

“The days of waiting on industry to come into the community are over,” Hall said. “It’s time for us to educate our citizens to come into the community and start industry. So when they have those ideas, it’s up to us, it’s up to our high schools and our community college to get behind them and to press forward with those ideas.”

Other campus locations include Cumberland, Roane, and Morgan Counties.

County and state officials such as County Executive Jimmy Johnson, Senator Ken Yager, and Representative John Mark Windle were in attendance.