Stories @ TCAT

Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Northwest proudly celebrated its third merged graduation ceremony on Thursday, December 11, at Ripley High School in Ripley, Tennessee. Doors opened at 5:00 p.m., and the ceremony began at 5:30 p.m., marking a significant milestone for graduates who successfully completed the required hours for their programs.

Vice President of Student Affairs, Ms. Amanda Heath, opened the ceremony with a warm welcome to graduates, their families, friends, faculty, and staff. TCAT Northwest honored 228 graduates during this special occasion. Dr. Youlanda Jones, President of TCAT Northwest, greeted attendees with heartfelt remarks, followed by an inspiring address from Mr. Matt Marshall, President and CEO of United Way. His message encouraged graduates to become leaders who make a positive impact in their communities, state, and beyond.

Diplomas were presented by Dr. Youlanda Jones, Ms. Amanda Heath, Dr. Jamie Frakes, and Ms. Erika Smith, along with the faculty. Dr. Jones concluded the ceremony by celebrating the students' accomplishments and making closing remarks.

This year’s graduation ceremony was dedicated to the memory of Mr. William Plunk, who served as the Evening Industrial Maintenance Mechatronics instructor at the Newbern campus for six years. Mr. Plunk was a devoted educator who inspired countless students to achieve their goals in industrial maintenance and mechatronics.

In addition to our adult graduates, TCAT Northwest proudly recognized two high school students who completed the dual enrollment programs: Cruz Martinez, Building Construction Technology, and Christopher Vanderpluym, Welding. Their accomplishments reflect TCAT Northwest’s commitment to serving our high school dual enrollment students and community.