Elijah Hughes was awarded the Malco Power Tools “Head of the Class Award” In recognition of outstanding achievement in an autobody repair program. Elijah is a Collision Repair Technology student in Chattanooga State’s Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) who will graduate in 2022. The class is taught by Timothy Chastain, who nominated Mr. Hughes.

Elijah, a Tennessee Promise student, hopes to further his career as a fabrication specialist. He currently works at Boyd Speedway and was presented the award based upon his creation of brackets from sheet metal. The award not only included a recognition certificate but came with the choice of a Malco TurboShear or TurboXTool, and a Malco cap. Elijah chose the TurboShear that transforms a drill into a metal-cutting shear. A quick demonstration of the tool proved that it cut through metal easily to make his work a breeze.

All TCAT programs are obtainable in one year or less and designed to put students to work immediately following graduation. Students may use the Tennessee Promise scholarship or Tennessee Reconnect grant to attend classes tuition-free. Call (423) 697-4433 for more information.