Proud Heritage, Strong Future

Tennessee Wesleyan’s Economic Impact
Athens City Mayor Ann Davis, on the
importance of TWC in Athens
Since the early day s of Tennessee Wesleyan College it has served as
an anchor for higher education in our area. Through the years it has
become much more than that to our community through a variety
of programs and initiatives. TWC produces quality, well rounded
students, many of whom have made Athens their permanent home,
raised their families here, and contributed in various ways to the
community.
Executive Director of McMinn County
Economic Development Authority and
TWC alumna Kathy Price
There’s several reasons [TWC is important to Athens]. One, it
brings so much diversity to our community and it helps in our
recruiting to know that diversity is here. It brings an educated
workforce for the professional jobs that are here. In addition to the
student body, it also brings faculty here that otherwise wouldn’t be
here. [Tennessee Wesleyan] provides a lot of the professional staff to
our industry and our industrial base, and we have a strong partnership
with Tennessee Wesleyan. I think the economic stimulus that
the college brings to this community in itself is tremendous.
I think Tennessee Wesleyan is very much at the forefront of our
economic development progress. A lot of people who have graduated
from here are employed here locally. I think if you look at
our community we are on a growth pattern. That demand and that
need is going to be further needed here in the community, as far as
having a place to go and to gather. I hope to see [the college] grow
and prosper. I hope more people find out about Tennessee Wesleyan
and have the great experience that I had here.
TWC enhances the quality of life in Athens and Colloms Campus
Center will add significantly to those efforts. The need for meeting
space for receptions, conferences, special events, and more will
be met not only for students but for our citizens, businesses, and
industries.
TWC produces quality, well rounded students,
many of whom have made Athens their
permanent home, raised their families here, and
contributed in various ways to the community.
Charles Darwin said, “He is not the strongest of the species that
survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most open to
change.” I applaud the leadership of TWC for their vision and the
effort being made.
McMinn County Mayor John Gentry, on
the importance of TWC in McMinn County
McMinn County is truly fortunate to be home to a quality provider
of higher learning like Tennessee Wesleyan College. In addition
to the obvious positive impact the college has on the local economy,
TWC has provided quality higher education to thousands of
McMinn County citizens since its founding in 1857. These citizens
have utilized the education provided by TWC to not only build a
better future for their families, but also for the larger community.
Many of our most successful local professionals in the fields of education,
business, law and medicine are TWC graduates.