The Tennessee Technology Center at Chattanooga State Community College recently selected Brian Born as the 2011 Outstanding Student of the Year at the annual luncheon on campus. Born will represent Chattanooga State at the regional competition in Knoxville on January 27. One of the nine regional competitors will be declared the top TTC student in the state at the SkillsUSA banquet here in Chattanooga on April 24. The winner receives a new car.

After Born was named outstanding student of the year, he attended an orientation meeting in Nashville with the other regional winners who Born indicated were “a very diverse group.” At the orientation, the regional winners learned that their primary goal is to spread the word about how Technology Centers change lives throughout the state. “It’s not just about the competition,“ declares Born, “it’s about the ambassadorship.”

Brain Born views this recognition as a way to improve his networking, presentation and public speaking skills. “It will help me when I go on job interviews. I was very shy a few years ago. I feel honored that my instructors saw this kind of potential in me,” Born says.

Since Born had a history of not being outgoing or seeking the spotlight, his family was shocked when he followed through with participation in the competition. Born notes, “I’m learning to put myself out there.”

Before returning to school to study computer operations technology, Born worked for the postal service keying in address the computers could not read. As technology advanced, his position was no longer needed. “I decided if computers can take my job, I’ll learn to fix them, so they can take me along for the ride,” explains Born.

Born was one of 11 students competing for the honor of student of the year. The criterion for selection was based upon the student’s personal story, presentation skills, attendance and performance in class. TTC instructors selected all of the nominees. Dr. Jim Barrott, Chattanooga State vice president for technology, thanked the students for their excellence and hard work that earned them this recognition.

Other nominees included Benny Hall, nominated by Houston Graham, air conditioning instructor; Vince Anderko, Robert Miller and Tameeka Rogers, nominated by Jill Wentworth, Mike Mercer and Dominick Phipps, computer operations technology instructors; Erik Hopkins, nominated by Scott Smith, electronics/electricity instructor; Sandra Lambertino, nominated by Richard Clayburn, industrial maintenance instructor; David Gaskill nominated by Wade Silvey, machine tool instructor; Audrey Welch nominated by Cynthia Quick, medical assistant instructor; Donna Morrision nominated by Ed Grun and Jimmy Jones, motorcycle and marine instructors, and Chandler Fitch nominated by Gary Holland, welding instructor.

Suzanne Myatt, TTC student coordinator, planned the holiday themed event. Scott Smith, TTC associate instructor in industrial electricity/electronics, and a former TTC Outstanding Student of the Year for the 2008-2009 academic year, assisted Mrs. Myatt.

Chattanooga State staff members judged the competition. Jerome Gober, director and affirmative action officer, Human Resources; Stephanie Hollis, counselor, Career Services & Counseling; Renee Lynn, director, Diploma Completion Project and Scott Smith served as judges. Jim Walpert of Snap-On Tools and a member of the TTC Advisory Board also assisted with judging the competition.