NASHVILLE (AP) - More than 20,000 Tennessee Promise students plan to use the scholarship to attend a community or technical college in the fall.

The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/1Ggd2kK) reports that data pulled from the students' applications for federal financial aid was released Friday and shows the scholarship program's potential impact during its first year.

More than 58,000 high school seniors initially applied for the scholarship that covers tuition at the state's community and technical colleges. More than 31,500 of those students have filed the Free Applications for Federal Student Aid and are still eligible for the scholarship.

Executive director of Tennessee Promise Mike Krause says he expects around 18,000 students to stick with the program through the fall.

Next year, Krause hopes to encourage more students to consider one of the state's technical colleges.