Chattanooga State Community College Class of 2020 TCAT-Chattanooga graduates were recently honored during a virtual ceremony to recognize their accomplishments amid a challenging year. Dr. Rebecca Ashford, Chattanooga State president, noted that a majority of students work full- or part-time and have multiple responsibilities that made this year filled with common, but also rare and unprecedented challenges. “You used your intelligence, resilience and grit to finish your classes and never gave up on your dreams or yourself,” said Dr. Ashford, “proving that you can overcome everything that life throws at you.”

College System of Tennessee, TBR Chancellor Dr. Flora Tydings congratulated the graduates by alluding to the qualities of fortitude, attitude and gratefulness to those that have helped them through the process, as the reason for their success.

Dr. Jim Barrott, executive vice president of TCAT-Chattanooga praised all 643 graduates, 28 of whom are military veterans, and the 82 members of the National Technical Honor society that represent the top 13% of this year’s graduating class before introducing guest speaker Oscar Gaytan Cruz, the first male graduate of the Medical Assisting day program. Oscar, who serves as president of both the student chapter of SkillsUSA at TCAT-Chattanooga and SkillsUSA for the State of Tennessee, told fellow students, “We are about to launch into life so remember ‘no te rajes,’ a Spanish phrase meaning ‘don’t back out’ during tough times and to seek out the top of the mountain you’re climbing, no matter what lies ahead.”

Graduates, family and friends may view the 2020 TCAT-Chattanooga Virtual Commencement Ceremony at https://bit.ly/3aAkdGq.