CHATTANOOGA, TN -- In a series of ceremonies in April and May, Chattanooga State Community College honored the achievements of over 1,000 students who earned degrees and technical diplomas. Friends, family members, faculty, and community supporters gathered on campus to celebrate this milestone and the graduates. 

All told, 147 students graduated from ChattState’s TCAT, and 854 graduated with degrees from the college. While the average age of a college graduate was 26 years old, the youngest graduate was 15, and the oldest was 61. Graduates came from both the United States and 10 other countries: Algeria, Cuba, Honduras, India, South Korea, Libya, Mexico, Peru, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. 31 percent of graduates were the first in their family to graduate from college. 

Speakers at the commencement ceremonies included ChattState President Dr. Rebecca Ashford, Tennessee College of Applied Technology at ChattState Vice President Bo Drake, and TCAT Dean Jessica Green, along with other faculty and staff members. 

In her address, Dr. Ashford emphasized the importance of lifelong learning. 

“Graduates, I challenge you to continually move out of your comfort zones and learn new technologies and approaches to your jobs,” Dr. Ashford said. “But don’t just limit your learning to your job. Learn about the world, learn a new language, learn to paint, or learn to cook. Your mind is no different from your biceps or your quads. If you want it to grow, you have to keep working on it.” 

In one ceremony, the college recognized the hard work of an adult student who persevered to continue her education despite a cancer diagnosis.  

Diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2015, Mary Brooke Hutchinson faced additional challenges when the cancer spread. Despite her terminal diagnosis, she continued pursuing a business management degree through the Tennessee Reconnect program while managing a full-time job and her health.   

Brooke died during her final semester, just a few assignments shy of completing her degree. In her memory, Dr. Ashford presented Brooke’s wife with her Associate of Applied Science in Management degree, honoring her unwavering dedication and perseverance. 

"Going back to school has been an inspiration of mine for a very long time,” Dr. Ashford shared, reading a letter written by Hutchinson when she was chosen as a Tennessee Reconnect Student of the Week. “I am also a cancer patient, but I'm doing this for me.”  

Two ChattState students also spoke at the graduation ceremonies, both recapping their experiences at the college and sharing motivational words with other graduates. 

Elizabeth Berberich chose to move from Chicago to Chattanooga to study in the college’s automotive program. 

“It’s not just the material, but it’s the instructors who make a program great,” she said. 

Having completed her automotive studies, Berberich said she will continue studying at ChattState, this time in electric vehicle engineering technology. 

Jose Abraham Diaz, an aesthetics student, also spoke at a graduation ceremony, sharing that he is the first in his family to attend college. 

“This program has taught me a lot,” he said. “It has shown me how to be more comfortable in my own skin, how to express myself in ways that I would have never thought were possible, how to have patience, and how to work as a team.” 

Tennessee Board of Regents East Tennessee board member Tom White also spoke during the ceremonies, lauding the college’s commitment to student success. 

"The Board of Regents is really driven by two principles: student success and workforce development," White said. "These TCAT commencement exercises are special occasions for me and my fellow regents as they show that the system is working for the benefit of you, the graduates, and the overall success of our community." 

The graduation ceremonies were a testament to the hard work and dedication of the students, the support of their families, and the commitment of the faculty and staff at Chattanooga State Community College, Dr. Ashford said. 

“Behind all of today’s graduates are family members, friends, and supporters who encouraged our students, who helped them, who motivated them,” she said. “Today we celebrate the accomplishment of getting a valuable education that will lead to the start of your career.”