Spring Commencement 2024 - Friday May 3, 6:00 PM

e e e e e e e e e e e e e e good afternoon on behalf of Chattanooga State Community College I am pleased to welcome you to this 2024 graduation ceremony if you are able and willing will you please rise for the processional a [Music] oh [Music] a [Music] [Music] [Music] h [Music] oh [Music] a [Music] [Music] [Music] n [Music] Jes [Music] oh [Music] n [Music] [Music] [Music] h [Music] oh [Music] oh [Music] [Music] [Music] the [Music] a [Music] oh [Music] la [Music] [Music] [Music] h [Music] oh [Music] oh [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] oh oh [Music] a [Music] [Music] a [Music] [Music] [Music] h oh [Music] a [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] oh oh [Music] a [Music] a [Music] [Music] h [Music] oh [Music] please be seated again welcome my name is Dr Amanda Bennett and I'm happy happy to be serving as the Master of Ceremonies for this graduation celebration joining me on stage are Dr Rebecca Ashford president of Chattanooga State Dr Beth Norton vice president of academic Affairs Mr Chad James Dean of Business and Industry and Dr Tain Powell dean of engineering and information Technologies we are very glad that each graduate and each friend and family member has chosen to participate today there is so much to celebrate to set the tone of Celebration will you all join me in congratulating these members of the class of [Applause] 2024 I would like now like to invite Dr Rebecca Ashford president of Chattanooga State to the podium to share sh some remarks well good afternoon and welcome to the Chattanooga State Community College graduation ceremony for the class of 2024 it is an honor to celebrate this occasion with you tonight I'd like to share a few statistics about this year's graduating class we have 854 graduates and the average age is 26 now our youngest graduate is 15 years old pretty [Applause] awesome this year our oldest graduate is 61 years old it's never too late [Applause] 76 of our graduates are parents and as the mother of two I am very impressed by that so congratulations to you 31% of our graduates are the very first in their families to graduate from college well [Applause] done after today 40 6% of our graduates will transfer on to a university and 54% will go directly into the workforce and we need you in the workforce 25 of our graduates are veterans of the United States armed forces and we thank them for their [Applause] service graduates who are veterans and any audience members who are veterans could you please stand so we can thank you for your service to our country members of this year's graduating class come from 10 countries outside the United States they come from Algeria Cuba Honduras India South Korea Libya Mexico Peru Ukraine and the United king om and we're so happy to celebrate with you thank [Applause] you many of our students face enormous obstacles and challenges along their paths to completing their degrees I would like to share the story of one of today's graduates and I will start by sharing her own words my name is Mary Brook Hutchinson and I'm unbelievably honored to be chosen for this week's reconnect student of the week going back to school has been an inspiration of mine for a very long time I attended MTSU in 2008 at the age of 18 but as a young dumb kid I was not prepared and I dropped out and IET I've always regretted that as an adult going back to school I was worried about how I would be able to handle all the things that I have going on in my life in addition to being a wife daughter dog mom and full-time employee I am also a cancer patient I was originally diagnosed in 2015 with bladder cancer I was all clear until 2021 when I was diagnosed again with cancer in my spine urer and kidney I had my kidney removed and I was treated with radiation for my spine all looked well until we found out it had invaded more of my spine and my liver at this point it is terminal but I'm doing treatments to give me a longer life with all that being said I am doing this for me I currently manage over 20 people in my role as director of operations in my in my company and I wanted to major in business management and learn more skills that I can apply in my everyday life and on the job and the Tennessee reconnect program has been a godsend in giving me this opportunity Mary Brooke Hutchinson was not just a student but a beacon of resilience and dedication throughout her time as our student and am Miss ad missed the trials of battling cancer she exemplified extraordinary strength and determination her commitment to earning her degree never wavered and she approached every task with steadfast diligence Brook's faculty members and advisers unan unanimously remember her as a hardworking and dedicated student never one to complain despite going ongoing treatments and hospitalizations she carried the spirit of Chat State with her with immense Pride wearing her swag As a testament to her connection to the Campus Community as a recipient of the Tennessee reconnect scholarship and enrolled fully online Brook showcased the power of Education to transcend boundaries despite physical distance she touched the lives of countless individuals here at the college leaving behind a legacy of perseverance and inspiration unfortunately Brooke passed away during her final semester at the college while taking her last two classes I think she was just a few assignments away despite Her diagnosis with terminal cancer Brooke never lost sight of her goal to be a college gr graduate so today we honor her memory and present her loving family with the associate and applied science and management degree that Brooke worked so hard to earn I would like to ask Brook's wife Katherine Hutchinson to join me on stage to receive the degree on Brook's behalf [Applause] graduates As you move on to the next phase of your lives I encourage you to approach life with a sense of gratitude the great motivational speaker Zig Ziggler once said the greatest source of Happiness we have is to be grateful at all times we all have the ability to create our own happiness and it starts with gratitude along those lines I would like to thank the many people who've helped today's graduates get to where they are today walking alongside our graduates here at the college were faculty and staff who motivated our students challenged our students in the classroom and helped them all along the way with the faculty and staff of Chattanooga State please stand so we can recognize you and thank you for your dedication to our students [Applause] and of course none of our gradu would be here today without the love and support and dedication of their family members and Friends who've been been with them from the very beginning would all of the family members friends supporters loved ones of today's graduates please stand so we can recognize you thank [Applause] you today we celebrate your accomplishment of getting a valuable education that will lead to the start of your career or maybe the start of your transfer to a university and you will have many opportunities in your careers and in your lives but I want to warn you not all of these opportunities will come wrapped with gold ribbon around them in the words of Thomas Edison opportunity is missed by most because it's dressed in overalls and looks like work you will have the opportunity yes the opportunity to work late to take on additional respons abilities and projects to learn new skills I encourage you Embrace these opportunities these are what will lead to your success as you move on to the next phase of your life I urge you to keep learning Henry Ford once said anyone who stops learning is old whether 20 or 80 anyone who keeps learning stays young the greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young graduates I challenge you to continue to move out of your comfort zones learn new technologies new skills and new ways of thinking the jobs of today and tomorrow require us to constantly learn and grow in order to stay relevant but don't limit your learning to your job learn about the world learn a new language maybe learn to paint learn to cook your mind is no different from your biceps or your quads you must continuously work it in order for it to grow and stay healthy as you keep learning and working your mind I hope that you will not only seek knowledge but that you will also strive for wisdom during your time at Chattanooga State you've gained a lot of knowledge you've learned facts theories processes related to multiple disciplines math biology psychology engineering computer science accounting graphic design theater the list goes on today we award you with a a degree that is a physical representation of the knowledge you've gained here at Chattanooga State so your challenge after today is to apply this knowledge with wisdom and wisdom is far different from knowledge it's the ability to discern conern to apply knowledge in a meaningful way to navigate the complexities of Life while knowledge can be taught wisdom can only be gained through experience through self-reflection through learning from your mistakes and through recognizing that you don't have all the answers in the legendary words of musician in the word in the words of le Legendary musician Jimmy Hendricks knowledge speaks and wisdom listens finally graduates remember that it's the little things that will make a difference in your life and that could possibly change the world hold the door open for someone else say please and thank you if you make a mess clean it up meet deadlines keep commitments put away your cell phones and look people in the eyes as Admiral William H mcraven advised in his graduation speech at the University of Texas he said make your bed he shared that a Navy SEAL training students must make their beds every day to perfection in our own lives making your bed each day when you get up gives you a sense of accomplishment before you even start your day day if you have a bad day at least you get to come home to a tidy bed so make your bed and remember how you do the little things in life is the way you will do everything in life I'm so grateful that you chose to pursue your education at Chattanooga State I hope your education has changed you I hope it's helped you to grow both intellectually and personally and I hope it's challenged you to think in new ways and ultimately I hope your life is better because you were a student here and now I ask that you go out in this world and make life better for someone else thank you so very much I would like to invite Dr Beth Norton vice president for academic Affairs to the podium thank you Dr Ashford will the candidates for degrees and certificates please [Music] rise president Ashford on behalf of the faculty I I have the honor to present to you these members of the class of 2024 I recommend the candidates who have completed their requirements to receive their respective degrees and certificates upon the recommendation of the faculty and by the power vested in Me by the Tennessee Board of Regents I confer upon you the degrees and certificates which you have earned now in recognition of your accomplishment you may move your tassels from the right to the left sides of your mortar boards ladies and gentlemen the Chattanooga State class of 2024 gradu you may be seated and now you will come forward row by row at the direction of the Marshall Isabella Maria rigs Suma [Applause] kumlade Luke Mitchell rig Suma [Applause] kumlade Matthew Alexander rigs Summa kumlade Alicia Leanne [Applause] KN Hannah Leanne [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Stover Thomas Christian Geralds [Applause] kumlade Flor Angela P [Applause] Cruz Adriana desay [Applause] Wellington Daniel Lee Hutchins [Applause] Kai Robert pritchet cuml Christopher Brian [Applause] asinger Spencer Joseph Wagner kumlade [Applause] Regina Fay Lu Allen Magna [Applause] kumlade Jesse Rihanna Rankin Summa kumlade Xander Lynn [Music] [Applause] Harris Paul Howard Lee Ferris [Applause] Max Franklin [Applause] Minter John Thomas [Applause] samples Christopher Tyrie [Applause] white Eric Jordan Ashley Miss D April quarrels Suma kumlade Sherry Katherine Crosby Megan Elizabeth Belcher Jackson Cade Vincent Summa kumlade jerius Stefan Perkins kumlade Michael Tyler [Music] [Applause] Killingsworth Adriana Louise [Music] Morgan Laura Nicole Carr Justice Michelle bush [Applause] Gerald Javier white II Sheamus Sheamus John Murphy Magna kumlade Joshua Anthony [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Jackson and a hly sandria Magna kumla Sadi May Shephard kumlade Autumn Sierra [Applause] [Music] herd Jackson Alexander Martin sumacumlade [Applause] Joshua Daniel Ray Christopher Leonard [Applause] Canon Trisha an Roberts Taylor Nicole Oni Summa [Applause] kumlade Ella Juliet white Magna kumlade Nathaniel Wayne Meyers kumlade Noah Spencer Kingsley Magna [Applause] kumlade aaya Dean Davenport Katherine Michelle hasin sumacumlade Ariana Michelle armore Lucas Lorenzo Brown [Applause] Jr Alex Wade Driscoll Summa [Applause] kumlade Grant Thomas Nord Christopher a brown Elliot Grace Jo [Applause] kumlade Tess Elizabeth [Music] [Applause] little Samuel Elijah Hammond kumlade harlon Anderson Woodard [Music] [Applause] [Music] Elliot bellnap Magna [Applause] kumlade Ramy alamed sumacumlade [Applause] Elijah Matthew Holden Summa kumlade [Applause] Madison Brook Try [Applause] kumlade Ariana Monae Eon [Applause] kumlade Cassandra Diane [Music] Russell Matthew [Applause] Kilgore Nathan Poland [Applause] kumlade Gavin Reese [Applause] PR michen Marie Smith [Applause] kumlade Brooklyn Abigail [Music] headed demetrian Andrew schisler Cole Evans Morgan Addie Elise [Music] halom via Ray hobby Magna Kum Carissa an mton Magna [Music] kumlati Noel a kumla Haley Amanda Holland Magna kumlati Melissa Selena [Music] Co Lee Andrew Melton Magna [Music] kumlati Andrew Cheryl goel sumacum l Tabitha and gross [Applause] [Music] kumot Stephanie Joy doson summum Addison Grace broom sumacum Joshua Mel [Music] clay Jacob Russell [Applause] Moore man Cheyenne Brinkley Magna kumlati Sarah Bren connley kumlati Brook Lauren Wingfield sumacum Christopher Allen Green [Applause] Caitlyn Grace [Applause] King Aaron Dale Schultz sumacum [Music] [Applause] Lotti John Albert gvan [Applause] II Isaac David guiani kumlati [Music] [Applause] James reyce Smith [Applause] kumot Edward Kenneth [Applause] Moore Katie Susanna Clemens summum Denise Paige Pridmore Magna [Applause] kumlati Stephanie SU [Music] Payton Lee D [Applause] kumot celinda chenel Boyd Kiera desay Williams [Applause] kumla take Taylor Leanne [Applause] [Music] Petty harlon Bolton Magna [Music] [Applause] kumlati Jonathan Boyce Westbrooks Suma cumladi Robert Anderson [Applause] hunsucker Zachary Alexander Clark Summa kumlati a fion Marquez [Applause] Horton Aaron Lamont Brown Jr summum lad [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Sarah Emily Glenn cumladi [Applause] Noah Evan [Music] [Applause] Parton Zack liaran [Applause] kumlati Alexis Raven kid Carmela plat Sanchez Magna kumlati [Applause] Natalie May Wilkinson Kylie Jade Brady Magna [Applause] kumlati Patrick Robert Syler Ryan Scott Dunn Summa cumladi [Applause] Nicollet Renee [Music] [Applause] Holmes Felicia Darice [Applause] Blackman Tyrone E Smith Jr [Applause] kumlati Annabelle Noel Campbell kumlati [Applause] Sydney Brienne [Applause] Lee Shiloh Grace [Applause] [Music] lower Paris Mariah [Applause] Nash Julio Jimenez Ruiz Carter Jackson [Music] Miller Elizabeth Ashley Bennett Nick [Applause] struk Cody Campbell McCoy Magna [Applause] kumlati Audrey Elizabeth Oria summum [Applause] Haley Kiera [Applause] mangram narice Antoine Pitman Braden Alexander [Applause] Dodd meline Michelle Morris Magna Kum [Music] Bry Samantha quinell [Applause] kumla Aliyah Cera Wilkerson Suma [Music] [Applause] kumlati Sandra Lynn Lewis Magna [Applause] kumlati Amon Isaac Blake Carter Ashley donise [Applause] [Music] aklin John Owen Wright kumot Madison Beasley Poe kumot McKenzie Lynn Roberts kumot [Applause] Stephanie sedeno [Music] Vega Chloe Atkins Magna [Applause] cumlat T Shayla Len [Applause] Smith tala self Michael David Baron Magna [Music] cuml James David Wilson summum Benjamin Jackson BS [Applause] sumacum Arturo Garcia chilel summum Brody Cole Burgess Magna kumlati Katie Danielle mlan [Music] kumot Leilani Gabrielle [Applause] ryau will you please join me and one more round of applause for the class of [Applause] [Music] 2024 thank you all once again for being here and I'd like to share a few requests before we dismiss this Gathering everyone graduates and guests please exit through the doors uh the front doors here at the gym graduates we will not be marching out so in a moment you'll be free to join your friends and family uh you're welcome to spend a few moments in this room taking pictures uh on the stage but we also want to invite you to a reception that's happening in the student center to celebrate your graduation there will be plenty of food and drinks there and also a photo booth so at this time this concludes our 2024 commencement [Applause] w e