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McKENZIE (April 24) — The Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Henry/Carroll at McKenzie held spring commencement Thursday afternoon at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
The spring class included 29 graduates, of which 21 were present for the ceremony. They entered to the traditional "Pomp and Circumstance".
An invocation was given by Darrell Pittman, HVAC/R instructor.
TCAT Henry/Carroll SkillsUSA Student President Brantley Nanney welcomed all and spoke about the busy and successful year TCAT students (in particular the SkillsUSA competitive team) had had.
TCAT Henry/Carroll President John Penn Ridgeway introduced the keynote speaker, Michael Culley, owner of Culley Mechanical Services in Paris.
Culley said, in part, "As I stand here looking at all of you—welders, mechanics, machinists, HVAC technicians, computer technicians, office administrators and more—I don't just see graduates. I see the backbone of America's future. I see the builders, the problem-solvers, the hands that will shape communities and keep our world running.
"You have chosen a path that is both honorable and essential. You are entering fields that are not only in high demand but are also the very foundation of our daily lives. The roads we drive on, the homes we live in, the power that lights our cities, the machines that keep industries moving—these things exist because of skilled tradespeople like you."
He challenged the graduates with using their skills not just to make a living, "but to make a difference."
President Ridgeway, with Student Services Counselor Brittany Twilbeck and program instructors, presented the graduates and conferred their diplomas.
The graduates exited in a traditional recessional, then joined their families and TCAT staff for refreshments.
Graduates included:
Administrative Office Technology - Dana Burns, Chelsea Caldwell, Shaquise Long and Kaitlin Wales
Automotive Technology - Tyler Biggers, Heather Kliuienko, Christopher Knott, Collin Varnum, Cole Wilson and Braxton Wright
HVAC/R - Brady Archie, William Roberts and Aidan Sisemore
Industrial Maintenance Integrated Automation - Samuel Hagan, Thomas Harcleroad, William Parham and Domonic Polman
Information Technology Systems Management - Ian Barker, Noah Pigue, Adam Riley, Zachary Stephens and Curtis Swafford
Welding Technology (McKenzie) - Adam Ezell, Anthony Hunt, Charles Jennings, Jacob Johnson and Byron Sanford
Welding Technology (Dresden) - Brantley Ricketts and Silas Smith
