Memorials, Recognition - Andre Jones, 2024 Charter Champion Award for Advocate of the Year -

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Sara Kyle

Honors Andre Jones for advancing student financial literacy through the $6,000 'Financial Freedom' scholarship at Crosstown High, funded privately and mentored by Jones.

Signed by Governor.

#memorials #recognition

Summary of Senate Joint Resolution 144 (SJR 144)

Status: Signed by Governor (2025-03-12)

Sponsor: Senator Kyle

Subject: Memorials, Recognition

Classification: Joint Resolution

Introduced: February 13, 2025

Current Version Focus: A resolution honoring Andre Jones for receiving the 2024 Charter Champion Award for Advocate of the Year from the Tennessee Charter School Center.

Purpose and Intent

To formally honor and commend Andre Jones for his community leadership and dedication to students' financial security and literacy.

To recognize his specific efforts associated with Crosstown High School, including mentorship and philanthropy aimed at promoting financial independence for students.

Key Provisions and Provisions Overview

The resolution commemorates Andre Jones for receiving the 2024 Charter Champion Award for Advocate of the Year.

It highlights Jones’s role as a Crosstown High School alumni parent and board member.

It notes Jones’s creation of a $6,000 “Financial Freedom” scholarship challenge designed to motivate students to learn about obtaining financial independence and financial literacy.

The resolution describes Jones’s personal funding of part of the scholarship, his fundraising to cover the remainder, and his ongoing mentorship of the three winning students as they manage and invest their scholarship funds in a Roth IRA.

It mentions Jones’s broader fundraising efforts to establish the scholarship in perpetuity, ensuring ongoing access to financial literacy opportunities for future generations.

The resolution requests that an appropriate copy be prepared and presented to Jones, with standard formatting for such memorials.

Affected Parties

Primary honoree: Andre Jones (and his dependents/associates through his role in the Crosstown High School community).

Participants in the “Financial Freedom” scholarship program (the three winning students referenced in the bill) and future recipients.

Crosstown High School community (students, families, and leadership) due to heightened recognition of a donor/advocate within the school network.

The Tennessee Charter School Center as the award-granting organization referenced by the recognition.

Procedural/Timeline Details

2025-02-13: Filed for introduction.

2025-02-20: Introduced and passed on first consideration.

2025-02-24 to 02-27: Passed second consideration; placed on Senate Consent Calendar.

2025-02-27: Engrossed; ready for transmission to House; adopted in the Senate.

2025-03-03: Placed on House consent calendar for 3/6/2025; subsequently concurred.

2025-03-06 to 2025-03-07: Sponsor added; concurrence achieved (Ayes 92–Nays 0; PNV 1).

2025-03-07: Enrolled and ready for signatures; signed by Senate and House Speakers; transmitted for executive action.

2025-03-10: Transmitted to Governor for action.

2025-03-12: Governor signed the resolution into law.

Impact and Notes

This is a commemorative, non-binding joint resolution; it does not create or modify law or state appropriations.

The resolution publicly recognizes and celebrates an individual’s contributions to student financial literacy and the broader charter-school community in Tennessee.

While it acknowledges the ongoing scholarship efforts, the act itself does not authorize state funding; it underscores private fundraising and mentorship efforts led by Andre Jones.