How do I qualify?

  • Reside in Panola County while in the program.
  • Register for the program by November 30 of your sophomore year of high school.
  • Complete 25 hours of volunteer service by April 30 each year of high school.
  • Maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher in high school.
  • Submit the FAFSA and complete Panola College's general and endowed scholarship application by March 31 of your senior year.

 

 

What are the requirements while I'm at Panola College?

  • Must start classes in the fall semester after high school graduation.
  • Must enroll in the Learning Framework course and a math course (if required for the degree program) in the first fall semester.
  • Must enroll in a minimum of 9 semester hours or be enrolled in a Workforce program.
  • Must attend an academic advising session each semester.
  • Must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
  • Must complete Panola College's general and endowed scholarship application each spring by March 31 before attending the fall semester.

 

 

Volunteer Hours Completion Form - Due April 30

As part of the Panola Promise, students are required to complete 25 hours of community service each year during their sophomore, junior, and senior years once pledged to the Promise Program during high school to maintain eligibility.

TIMELINE TO EARN VOLUNTEER HOURS

  • August 1 to April 30 during your sophomore year
  • June 1 to April 30 during your junior year
  • June 1 to April 30 during your senior year
*Volunteer hours must take place during the appropriate academic year. Students cannot use volunteer hours accrued during their freshman year or the summer after their freshman year. After enrolling in the program in the fall of their sophomore year, students can count their summer volunteer hours for the next year.

Why is volunteer service important?  

  • Opportunity to become active members of their community
  • Enables students to acquire life skills and knowledge
  • Provide a service to those who need it most
  • Increases social awareness and responsibility
  • Helps students enhance their personal knowledge 
  • Grow from new experiences 
  • Develop better interpersonal communication skills
  • Has a lasting, positive impact on society at large 

 Some examples of Volunteer Service:

  • Helping at a nursing home
  • Volunteering at a food pantry
  • Assisting a civic organization
  • Tutoring
  • Community clean-up
  • Volunteering with a church group
  • Assisting with community projects

How many hours of service am I supposed to complete?

  • Twenty-five (25) service hours or more in your sophomore year of high school.
  • Twenty-five (25) service hours or more in your junior year of high school.
  • Twenty-five (25) service hours or more in your senior year of high school.

Submitting Volunteer Service Hours

  • Submit the form by April 30 each year.
  • Submit all service hours for Panola Promise on this electronic form.
  • Submit a form only after ALL 25 hours of volunteer service projects are completed.
  • All submissions should total 25 or more hours to meet the requirement.

 

Listing of Community Volunteer Opportunities

The following organizations have requested volunteers for their organization or event. These opportunities are not affiliated with Panola College but can count toward your Panola Promise volunteer service hours. Please note you are not limited to these opportunities.

*This form is updated as opportunities are submitted.

 

East Texas Food Bank
Opportunity: East Texas Food Bank - Longview Resource Center
Date & Time: Weekly Time Slots Available
Location: 2900 Signal Drive, Longview, Texas
Contact: Tabitha Johnson
Email: tjohnson@easttexasfoodbank.org
Website: etfbvolunteercenter.volunteerhub.com/vv2/lp/LRC

 

If these opportunities do not work with your schedule, you may contact your high school counselor's office in regard to opportunities they may know are available for you to complete your hours. 

Additionally, this site provides online options for students looking to get volunteer service hours. 

Community Organization Volunteer Opportunity Form

Are you a community or nonprofit organization in need of volunteers for a project or event you are hosting this semester? Promise Program students can be a great resource. 

Rules for Volunteer Service Opportunities for Promise Program students:

  1. Scholars should not be used in place of student workers. 
  2. Scholars may not receive any compensation for volunteer hours.
  3. Student volunteer verification forms must be completed by April 30 each year. Please keep this in mind when submitting the form.

Other important information:

  • All submissions will be reviewed to ensure they meet the requirements. 
  • Completion of this form does not guarantee volunteers or that your opportunity will be posted. Students will reach out to you in regard to their willingness to participate. 
  • Submissions should be received at least two weeks or more prior to the event.

 

FAQs

What is the Promise Program?

The Panola College Promise will support students’ success in completing a certificate, degree, or transferring to a four-year university. The Program covers the tuition and fees for every eligible Panola County high school graduate for up to three consecutive years immediately following graduation.

The Program provides a scholarship that is a last-pay scholarship only covering tuition and fees not already covered by other scholarships or federal and state grants. Any federal, state, or institutional awards or scholarships granted to the student will be applied to the tuition and fees first. The Panola College Promise will be the final resource applied for in-district tuition and fees at Panola College.*

The Program will cover up to 66 course hours or six consecutive 16-week terms, whichever happens first.

Students that do not complete the required course(s) in their first fall semester will be ineligible for additional scholarships.

*It is not a requirement to receive federal, state, or other institutional awards to receive the Panola College Promise. Textbooks and supplies are not covered under this program.

Who is eligible to participate in the Promise Program?

Eligible students must:

  • Reside in Panola County while in the program.
  • Register for the program by November 30 of their sophomore year of high school.
  • Complete 25 hours of volunteer service by April 30 each year of high school.
  • Maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher in high school.
  • Submit the FAFSA and complete Panola College's general scholarship application by March 31, their senior year.

What are the requirements to remain in the Promise Program while at Panola College?

  • Must start classes in the Fall semester after high school graduation.
  • Must enroll in the Learning Framework course and a math course (if required for the degree program) in the first fall semester.
  • Must enroll in a minimum of 9 semester hours.
  • Must attend an academic advising session each semester.
  • Must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
  • Must complete the general scholarship application by March 31 each spring before attending the fall semester.

Which programs can I enroll in through the Promise Program?

Academic & Technical

  • Nursing and Health Sciences
    • Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) (RN)
    • Licenced Vocational Nursing (LVN)
    • Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)
    • Emergency Medical Sciences (EMT) / Paramedic
    • Health Information Technology
    • Medical Assistant
    • Medical Laboratory Technology
  • Education
  • Fine Arts and Humanities
  • Kinesiology
  • Science and Mathematics
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Computer Information Technology
  • Cybersecurity
  • Business
  • Cosmetology
  • Energy
    • Electrical and Instrumentation
    • HVAC
    • Petroleum Technology
    • Agriculture
    • Welding Technology

Workforce and Continuing Education

  • Nurse Aide (CNA)
  • Medication Aide
  • Patient Care Technician
  • Phlebotomy Technician
  • EKG Technician
  • Dental Assistant
  • Pharmacy Technician
  • Professional Truck Driving (CDL)
  • Paraprofessional Certification
View All The Promise Program FAQs

The Panola College Promise for Panola County is sponsored by the

Charles C. Matthews Foundation.