Chattanooga State’s Early College program recently hosted a ceremony on May 6 to recognize seniors who have completed Early College courses, including home-schooled families who do not have a graduation ceremony.

Opening remarks were presented by Nesha Evans, Director of Early College. Dr. Roy Sofield, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs welcomed students and their families to the event before introducing student guest speakers.

Hamilton County Collegiate High at Chattanooga State valedictorian Hannah Rollins received her high school diploma and earned 78 hours of college credit while maintaining a 4.0 college GPA. A member of ChattState’s Global Scholars honors program, she also was an active member of ArtsBuild's Regenerate high school leadership program; an organization that raises money for grant programs for elementary school art teachers around the county. Hannah plans to continue her education at Wright State University majoring in musical theatre.

Outstanding Early College student Wilmer Perez is salutatorian of his class at the Howard School. He completed two dual enrollment courses at Howard while maintaining a 4.0 college and high school GPA. Active in the National Honors Society, Youth Court, Upward Bound, Nooga Chatt, and Student Government, Wilmer will attend Berea College on a full scholarship this fall to become a registered nurse with plans to eventually become a nurse practitioner.

Early College students demonstrate dedication and ambition by embarking upon their college careers while still in high school. The following seniors were recognized by name, high school attended and number of college credit hours completed: 

• Bledsoe County High School:  James Colton Lee Blankenship, 12.
• Central High School: Jacob Logan McClain, 34.
• Chattanooga High Center for Creative Arts: Jaylon Atkins, 6.
• Chattanooga School for Arts Sciences: Troy Alexander Pride, 3.
• Collegiate High: Roland Federico, 78; Hannah Rollins, 78.
• East Ridge High School: Valerie Ho, 6; Deimer Hipolito Ordonez-Gomez, 3; Savannah Phillips, 35; Ana Villegas, 9.
• Family Christian Academy: Olivia Gilley, 40. 
• Gateway Christian Schools: Abigail Germ, 15.
• Hixson High School: Alyssa Hobbs. 6; Faiz Sheikh, 3; Fatima Sheikh, 6.
• Homelife Academy: Zachary Elijah Hendren, 12.
• Ooltewah High School: Jessica Anchanattu, 3; Austin Ash, 12; Avery Bouie, 3; David Thompson, 43.
• Sale Creek Middle High School: Tanner Harvey, 22; Jacqueline Whaley, 18.
• Sequatchie County High School: Amanda Hicks, 6; Alex Moore, 12.
• The Howard School: Galdino Chavez, 3; Hayle Mack, 3; Marco Perez, 3; Wilmer Perez, 6.
• Tyner Academy: Samantha Pena, 6.
• Whitwell High School: Madison Dykes, 28; Hannah Long, 12.

Early College serves more than 1,200 high school students in Grundy, Marion, Rhea, Hamilton, Bledsoe and Sequatchie counties. For more information about Chattanooga State’s Early College program, call (423) 697-4427 or visit https://www.chattanoogastate.edu/early-college.