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TCAT Dickson Spring Graduates Advised to Stay True
By Janine Wine
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
TCAT Dickson
Dickson, TN: Tennessee College of Applied Technology Dickson President, Laura Travis, conferred fifty-eight diplomas and technical certificates during the Dickson campuses spring commencement April 9. Graduates represented nine counties in Tennessee and Kentucky earning credentials in twelve TCAT Dickson programs from either the main or advanced manufacturing campuses.
Dickson’s Archibold Marowa provided the commencement address. Marowa gave graduates and their families a glimpse into his life growing up in Harare, Zimbabwe, citing stories from his youth. One of the stories Marowa shared was wanting to play football (soccer in the United States) with his friends as soon as he had finished dinner one evening. When he asked his mother if he could go play, she said, “No” and instead asked him to do the dishes.
Marowa described his disappointed younger self as hurriedly doing the dishes so he could go out and play. When he finished, he asked his mother if he could go with his friends pointing out he had completed the chore. Again, his mother said, “No,” and asked him to do the same dishes a second time. When he completed the dishes the second time, he asked his mother if he could go with his friends to play football. Again, to his surprise, she said “No,” and asked him to do the same dishes a third time.
When Marowa completed the task the third time his mother explained her reasoning for making him repeat the chore was to make him see he needed to have the right attitude even in the smallest of things and that with the right attitude you can overcome life’s challenges.
Marowa encouraged the graduates, “To make quality and quantity time to know who you are so when someone overlooks you, you know who you are, you know your value and what you stand for. Remember your value and stay true to who you are.”
Graduates who had earned third party certifications in addition to their TCAT diplomas and certificates were recognized by technical program. Those recognized were Matthew Lindsey from the Machine Tool Technology Program; Timothy England, Anna Grace Leatherwood, Samuel Leatherwood, and David Resendiz from the Mechatronics Program; Brinkley George, Joshua Isbell, Josephy Myers, William Powers, Triston Simms, and Jason Yates from the Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Program.
Graduates carrying banners during the processional were also recognized for having earned the highest grade point averages in their career clusters and student organizations. Banner carriers were Jobeth Peeler – National Technical Honor Society, Anna Grace Leatherwood – Skills USA, Triston Simms – Construction, Cheyanne Owens – Health Science, Madison Ross – Human Services, Justus Bertoni – Manufacturing, Edward Denham – Transportation, and Rhea Jordan – Visual Arts.
Graduates who had been inducted into the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) also received special recognition for their achievements. To gain entrance into the NTHS chapter, a student must demonstrate an “A” average, be present for at least 95 percent of their total scheduled hours and be nominated by their instructor. Those inducted into the NTHS included: Matthew Lindsey –from the Machine Tool Technology Program; and Jaychelle Bethel, Aly Bull, and Jobeth Peeler all from the Practical Nursing Program.
Creek Wood High School JROTC Color Guard presented the colors for the ceremony. Welding Technology graduate Justus Bertoni lead the American Pledge and Cosmetology graduate Heather Green provided special music.
Degrees and awards were conferred upon Jacob Bates in Building Construction Technology; Jacob Fish, Brinkley George, Joshua Isbell, Joseph Myers, William Powers, Triston Simms, Colten Lee Smith, Jason Yates in Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration; Anashain Averitte, Holly Cassata, Destiny Gaither, Shania McEachern, Bella Ortiz, Cheyanne Owens, Leila Richards, Azriel Sciarra, Karlie Stinson, Haley Williams in Dental Assisting; Jaychelle Bethel, Aly Bull, Lauren Burkett, Leah Cornell, Trista Dunn, Da’Leila Ladd, Alexis Lampley, Emmi Mangrum, Ansley McCoy, Jobeth Peeler, Kalista Springer, Alexis Wright, and Kierra Wyatt in Practical Nursing; Josey Boyd, Olivia Cheeves, Briona Coffey, Jennifer Contreras, Sydnei Cox, Anastasia Fish, Hannah Gable, Hayley Gilbert, Heather Green, Emma McAlister, Madison Ross, and Kaitlyn York in Cosmetology; Matthew Lindsey in Machine Tool Technology; Timothy England, Anna Grace Leatherwood, Samuel Leatherwood, and David Resendiz in Mechatronics; Justus Bertoni, Logan Manners, Corben Robertson, and Copeland Thrasher in Welding Technology; Jacob Bates, J.J. Coleman, Edward Denham, Gavin Dennis, and Luke Linville in Diesel Powered Equipment Technology; and Rhea Jordan in Digital Graphic Design.
TCAT Dickson is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution, is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, and complies with non-discrimination laws: Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, and ADA. Located on Highway 46 in Dickson, the technical training college also has extension campuses in Clarksville, and Franklin. Additional information about the school is located at www.TCATDickson.edu.
