Jacob Mooneyham – Mechatronics
Jacob Mooneyham enrolled in dual enrollment classes in high school through the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Athens and Cleveland State Community College.
A Cleveland native, Jacob returned to college as an adult with the Tennessee Reconnect scholarship, a last-dollar scholarship that covers the tuition and most fees for adults who are 23 years and older who have not completed a degree.
Now majoring in Mechatronics at Cleveland State, he plans to continue to a four-year institution after earning his associate degree. He hopes to pursue a career in robotics with a long-term goal of becoming an aerospace engineer.
“Cleveland State is helping define my tomorrow by giving me a clear path forward,” Jacob said. “Before, I felt lost and didn’t know what I would do. Now, I feel like I have a clear path forward; I’m setting goals realistically, and I feel like I can achieve them.”
Francisco Tellez Salamanca - Graphic Design
Francisco Tellez Salamanca enrolled at Cleveland State Community College as a Tennessee Promise student after graduating from high school. He is involved in campus activities and serves as the president of the Multicultural Club.
After earning his associate degree, Francisco plans to transfer to a four-year institution and then begin a career in graphic design and logo creation.
He said, “It was an easy transition out of high school. Everyone is nice, and the teachers are very passionate about what they do, which makes it easier to learn. Cleveland State is defining my tomorrow by giving me the basics in graphic design which will lead to the career I want to enjoy in the future.”
Walker Hicks - Electrical Engineering
A Tennessee Promise student, Walker Hicks enrolled at Cleveland State Community College after graduating from high school. He chose to pursue electrical engineering after gaining hands-on experience as an intern with a utility company.
Walker plans to transfer to a four-year institution after earning his associate degree in May, where he will continue to study electrical engineering. His goal is to build a career in power distribution with a utility or energy company.
“My favorite part of Cleveland State is the teachers,” he said. “Every professor is very engaged and willing to help. If I don’t understand a concept or need help with homework or labs, they are willing to meet with me as soon as they can and stay as long as needed to ensure I fully understand. Cleveland State is helping me define my tomorrow by preparing me for further education and my future career.”
Jasmine McGowan – Allied Health / Pre-Nursing Major
After staying at home to raise her children, Jasmine McGowan started college to follow in the footsteps of her grandmother, mother and sister. She is majoring in Allied Health/Pre-Nursing at Cleveland State Community College to pursue a career in nursing.
Jasmine says that the best thing about coming back as an adult student is the community of students and teachers.
“My experience has been great; everybody works together to help each other. There are lectures online to help us with studying, and it’s been a great process as far as learning the materials. The teachers are here to help too; I think that is one of the best parts of Cleveland State. They really do want us to thrive and do well in the paths we choose.”
“Cleveland State is helping me define my tomorrow by giving me the foundation and helping me set goals on my journey to nursing. It is also giving me a community of not only teachers but other students who are on the same path. It’s really been enjoyable and a great process.”
Jaxyn-Meadow Hawn - Criminal Justice Major
Jaxyn-Meadow Hawn will graduate from Cleveland State Community College in May with an associate degree, just one year after completing high school. She entered the college with 36 credits earned through dual enrollment.
“I chose to take a lot of dual enrollment classes in high school because I knew it would help with time management and discipline, so I wouldn’t be so overwhelmed when I started college.”
After graduation, Hawn will transfer to the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga to work on her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, followed by law school with the goal of becoming an attorney.
“There is a lot of support here; it’s a great steppingstone. Cleveland State is helping me define my tomorrow. It’s not just about earning credits - it’s about building momentum and taking control of my future.”
Matt Pankey – Pre-Health Alum
Matt Pankey came to Cleveland State as an honors student after high school. He attended the college tuition-free with the TN Promise scholarship.
He knew that he wanted a career in healthcare, so he majored in pre-physical therapy. He earned his associate degree at Cleveland State then transferred to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. He worked for the health department for a year during the Covid pandemic, then worked at the college as a lab tech for three years.
While working at the health department, he saw physician assistants (PAs) operating and working in clinical settings; he liked the general nature of the PA role switching from infectious disease one day to emergency medicine the next day. Now, he is pursuing his master’s degree to become a PA.
Pankey credits the one-on-one guidance from his instructors and the math and science classes at Cleveland State for preparing him for the academic rigor of his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
“The faculty and staff at Cleveland State have this family mentality that we all want each other to succeed. In the healthcare realm and industry, where we are working with patients who don’t always have the best outcomes, I think that teamwork mentality that Cleveland State provided for me as a student has carried on into my working profession.”
Stacy Tate – EMS alum
After suffering an industrial accident while working at a factory, Stacy Tate decided to pursue a career in Emergency Medical Services (EMS). As one of the first people in her family to attend college, Tate chose to enroll in the EMS program at Cleveland State.
“Everybody was kind and gracious to me as an adult going into school so late in life. I was out of my depth; they were using words that I didn’t know. It was a whole new jargon. I didn’t come from a family where everybody went to school, so I didn’t understand what FAFSA meant or was. I didn’t know the simplest terms. Everyone was so helpful here.”
Tate earned her EMT Basic, Advanced EMT and Paramedic certificates at Cleveland State and then earned her associates degree from the college. She worked for 911 services in Monroe County for five years and served as a travel paramedic in Louisiana. Now, she is the EMS Lab Tech at the college.
Her goal is to teach EMS so that she can make a greater impact and touch more lives, turning her negative into a bigger positive.
“Cleveland State has helped me Define My Tomorrow by giving me the training and resources that I need and the mentorships that I need from the instructors to keep on pushing forward and advancing my career in EMS.”
Michael Darity – Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries (FWF) Alum
Michael Darity grew up wanting to be a zoologist or a marine biologist. He started and dropped out of Cleveland State twice after high school. The third time he had a son and was focused.
“I wanted to show him (my son) that there is more to life than just hanging out and partying and doing stuff that is not important to our future. I wanted to show him and pave the way for my children. There is no dream too big or too small; if you want something, you can go out and get it.”
The Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries professor encouraged Darity to join the Student Wildlife Society at the college and network to make connections. He attended a conference and was offered an internship which led to a full-time career.
After earning his associate degree in 2019, he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and then a master’s degree at Unity Environmental University. Now, Darity is a Wildlife Specialist for the USDA Wildlife Services.
“I owe it all to this school, and I owe it all to the instructors at this school especially the instructor of the wildlife program. I give a lot of kudos to him and this program that he built. If it wasn’t for this program, I don’t know where I would be in life. I am very thankful for Cleveland State. If I can tell any student to come here, I would choose this school over any other school. I take pride in being an alum here.”
Kenny Aguiar – Law Enforcement Training Academy student
Pursuing a law enforcement career has been a lifelong goal for Kenny Aguiar. His father was a deputy sheriff for 25 years. After September 11, 2001, Aguiar joined the United States Army and served our country for 17 years including time in the Middle East and in the Pacific before retiring.
He joined the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office and started the Law Enforcement Training Academy this year. He says, “This program is tying it all together and giving me a whole mess of tools to throw in my toolbox. So, when I do go back to work, I can bring these lessons to the streets and be a more productive and more professional police officer.”
“Cleveland State is helping me to Define My Tomorrow by allowing me to achieve the goal that I’ve had for most of my life, and that is being able to be a deputy here in Bradley County.”
Mariah Posey – Medical Assisting
Mariah Posey needed to find a career path that would broaden her opportunities and work for her family. At the age of 31, she returned to college and started the Medical Assisting program. She will earn a certificate later this year, then an associates degree at the end of the year.
Mariah is the president of the Medical Assisting Student Association. The club participates in community service projects such as gathering hats for patients with cancer and cleaning at the Ronald McDonald House.
“Cleveland State has Defined My Tomorrow by giving me the opportunity to be in this program. I feel like I am prepared to be in the working world now because of what I’ve learned here, because of my advisors, because of my teacher.”
“It’s worth it to come back. If you want to get anywhere in your career, come back to college, come to Cleveland State. They are not going to leave you alone; you are going to be able to have somebody hold your hand every step of the way. Any questions you have, there is somebody here to answer. You can do it, and Cleveland State is the answer.”
April Zaragoza Mireles – Electrical Engineering Technology
April Zaragoza Mireles started at Cleveland State Community College as a business major. After a few classes, she realized that this was not the field for her. Thinking her only option was to drop out of college, her father encouraged her to try electrical engineering classes. Now, she has earned her degree and will pursue a career in the manufacturing industry.
“If I didn’t come to Cleveland State, I don’t think that I would have ever gone down this path through the electrical engineering technology major. I am thankful that I came down this path because it is something different that I have never done before. Without coming to Cleveland State and switching my major, I would have never known that I actually liked something like this.”
Her advice for students, “You can always switch majors. It is never too late to switch even if you think you are behind. I thought I was behind, but I am not. Everybody goes on their own path, and you are not behind.”
Per Selander – Graphic Design
Graphic Design major, Per Selander chose Cleveland State Community College because he wanted to stay close to home. He hopes to design merchandise for musicians and bands such as album covers, t-shirts and sticker designs.
He joined the Speech and Debate Team at the college to practice public speaking and learn skills of logic and reasoning. After working his first year as a maintenance intern, he worked as the Speech and Debate Team Assistant this year.
“I’ve met so many friends through Speech and Debate, not just here at Cleveland State. It’s a great way to meet new people and find common ground. As much as argumentation is about being divisive and polarizing, you really find common ground with your opponent outside of the rounds, and that’s a great thing.”
“Cleveland State is helping me reach into the future and Define My Tomorrow by giving me the skills to succeed in graphic design as well as in public speaking and in logic and reasoning. It’s giving me great friendships and great relationships.”
Cliff Howard | Advance Business Program | Graduate
Cliff Howard graduated from the Advance Business program in December. The general manager for a collision center, he has four young daughters. The flexible schedule and mostly online classes were helpful for him.
“As soon as I got that degree, I got a raise from the company that I was working for. In turn, that has opened the door for opportunities for growth inside the company.”
“It was hard to do, because anybody that wants to go back to school in the middle of your career – you are kind of crazy, but it is going to help you in the long run for not only you but your family. I wanted to go back to school so that later on my girls could all look back and say ‘Daddy did it.’”
Ashley Sanchez | Early Childhood Education | Graduate
Ashley Sanchez always knew that she wanted to do something with children, so she discovered the Early Childhood Education program at Cleveland State after high school.
“I was that student who was a little intimidated by the big college experience; I didn’t want a dorm. Working and earning money was very important to me while attending school. Cleveland State just seemed to check all the things on my list of what I wanted in the flexible schedule, and the small campus size had a very approachable feel to it.”
Sanchez went on to earn her bachelor’s degree. She has worked in the classroom and in community mental health arenas; now, she works to support early educators enhancing quality and advocating for best practices.
“I was very thankful to have not just professors but mentors; they left a lasting impact on me. It wasn’t just a job to them, they really embodied advocating for young children and their families.”
Roy Thomason, Jr. | Advance Business Graduate
Roy Thomason, Jr. decided to enroll in the Advance Business program at Cleveland State while he was working as the Road Superintendent in Polk County. The evening classes allowed him to continue working and take classes at night.
Starting later in life, he wanted to inspire his sons to earn their degrees. All three of his sons have attended Cleveland State as well.
“It’s all entwined – taking the courses in the business area have weaved into my life to enable me to be more professional, more equipped, a more knowledgeable person. It strengthened me in moving forward for my job and career and my life. I am able to use those skills in my everyday life. It has given me more confidence to do my job.”
Arthel Clark. | HVAC Alum
Arthel Clark of Cleveland started the HVAC program at Cleveland State while has was working as an electrician; he was married with three children so the opportunity for night classes made a difference to him.
“Having a background in electrical really pushed me forward into HVAC and understanding it. Once I took the class it taught me the functionality of the unit and how it operates. It gave me enough confidence so that when I went to a unit, I understand it and could start fixing it. I started an HVAC company, and it worked out great.”
Holly Delaney | Advance Business Graduate
Holly Delaney, sales manager for a manufacturing company, completed the Advanced Business program in 2019, earning her associate degree from Cleveland State Community College.
Holly has worked full time at her current company for nine years. The company encouraged her to get a degree. “I heard about the Advance Business degree and jumped on it right away. It was just too good of an opportunity for me to pass up. I was able to complete it in 18 months. The professors here were amazing.”
“Cleveland State Advanced Business program helped me define my tomorrow by allowing me to be one of the first in my family to get an associate degree and graduate college. It also helped me by advancing my career, by being promoted within the workforce and just in general by being able to do all this while working full time, being a mother, and also being a volunteer within my community.”
Matthew Dionisio | Cyber Defense Major
Growing up with a passion for technology, Matthew Dionisio is a cyber defense major in the Computer Information Technology (CIT) program at Cleveland State Community College.
Matthew interns in the Tech Solutions lab every week. Tech Solutions is a student-operated tech support center that provides free service and support to the community.
“Most of my major has been online which is super convenient to be able to work at it at any time. My professors have been amazing and quick to respond to emails. I can come any time into Tech Solutions and work with other students who are doing the same classes as me.”
The CIT program “gives me a sense of confidence. It really puts my passion in front of me, and that’s what I think defining my tomorrow is - every day coming in here and doing my absolute best and learning, whether it is a very small piece of information or something huge. No matter what, it is helping me clear the picture for a better tomorrow.”
Ashley Musikar | Social Work Major
After graduating high school, Ashley Musikar attended a four-year college, but that wasn’t the right fit for her. A few years after becoming a mother, Musikar wanted her daughter to understand the importance of education, and she wanted to be more fulfilled. Musikar discovered the social work program at Cleveland State and met with Ms. Jana Pankey, the social work program director.
“I wanted to help people. I wanted to learn more about the different ways that I could make an impact on the community and even the country as a whole. I found out from Ms. Pankey that there were lots of avenues that social workers can take; they are not limited to just one aspect or career path. It is all encompassing, so I felt that social work was what I needed to do to empower myself to help others.”
“Cleveland State was a very welcoming environment. Being an adult student, I was nervous at first thinking everyone would be younger than me. But, there is a really diverse population here. I didn’t feel any differently. I felt very welcome.”
Now, Musikar works for a local agency as a team lead supervisor. She plans to get her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work and become a licensed clinical social worker.
“Being at Cleveland State has helped me define my tomorrow by giving me that foundation and having such a great community aspect to make it feel as though I really can accomplish anything I want to do.”
Nicole McCraw | Social Work Graduate
Nicole McCraw got married right after high school and had two children. Once her children started school, McCraw decided it was time to go to college. Working at a local seminary surrounded by pastors and counselors, they encouraged her to pursue a career in social work. She enrolled in the social work program at Cleveland State, and now, McCraw is a mental health therapist in local school systems working with children in pre-K to 5th grades.
“Cleveland State gave me the foundation and really prepared me to move on to the next step. I had lots of encouragement from professors to keep going and not stop. Now, I have my masters in social work and still think back to those times that really did prepare me for my future.”
“The social work program is probably the best; I absolutely loved it. It teaches you more about yourself than you will ever want to know sometimes, but it is good because you need that going into this role.”
Caleb Chapman | Business Major
Business major, Caleb Chapman, is a basketball player and a work study student in the Enrollment Services Center on campus. He plans to transfer to a four-year college and continue playing basketball.
“When you first come to college, you don’t think the professors will help you as much as your high school teachers. When I first came to Cleveland State, everybody helped me out. When basketball got hard, they were always there to help me.”
“It’s not what I expected when I first got here. I thought that I would only talk to my teammates. As an athlete, that’s who we are around 95% of the day. Once I realized that different people can help me in different ways and love me for who I am, it doesn't matter if they played sports or not or if they coached or not.”
“I just want to say for all the future students that come here, don’t just go to class and go home. Try to make friends and try to talk to your advisor as much as you can. Just keep pushing and don’t quit.”
Bridget Mull | LMSW-Social Work Graduate
Bridget Mull is a licensed medical social worker from Turtletown, Tennessee. After graduating from Copper Basin High School, she attended Cleveland State along with many of her friends from high school. Majoring in social work, she enjoyed the close-knit college and friendly supportive instructors.
“Cleveland State taught me how to talk to people and have not just sympathy but empathy as well. Building relationships and working with all different kinds of people was something Ms. Pankey (Social Work Program Coordinator) really drove into us. Everyone is different, and we are all dealing with different struggles. That’s what I’ve always wanted to do is just help people get through whatever struggle they may be dealing with. Now, I am in hospice, and I help people go through the most difficult times in their life. I try to be there as much as I can and make it as peaceful and comfortable as possible. Cleveland State really helped me become the person that can do that for them.”
Ireland Robinson-Johnson | Forestry, Wildlife & Fisheries Major
Wildlife Fisheries major and TN Promise student, Ireland Robinson-Johnson, is a sophomore at Cleveland State and a member of The Student Wildlife Society. “The Wildlife Society is helping me develop my passion because it is pushing me over my limits. I’m succeeding in things I never thought I could do.”
“I define my tomorrow by doing an online vet tech program after graduating from Cleveland State. I love animals, and I want to work with animals in a vet’s office or in the forest. My dream is to work with mountain lions. It will take a lot of work and determination, but I hope to do that one day.”
Ryan Payne | Mechatronics Major
Mechatronics major, Ryan Payne, grew up taking apart his mother’s vacuum cleaner. His brother-in-law convinced him to look into the program at Cleveland State. “I love this program. I love hands-on; I need to learn by getting my hands dirty. Every day we are doing something; we’re not just sitting and reading books. I’m doing experiments and labs every day.”
“I love problem solving. I love finding the issue and finding the solution for it. After graduation, I would like to work in maintenance then get another degree and work in management.”
“I didn’t really have a direction; all I knew is that I didn’t want to continue doing what I was doing forever. I wanted something more. Cleveland State has definitely been able to give me that opportunity and show me that there are opportunities out there and really help me define my tomorrow.
Mary Tom Jenkins & Jeff Cocks| Business Owners and Alumni
Small business owners and Cleveland State alumni, Jeff and Mary Tom Cocks, met while students at Cleveland State. Mary Tom is from Englewood in McMinn County, and Jeff is from Cleveland. Mary Tom enrolled at Cleveland State with several friends after high school. She said, “I needed those two years to grow up.”
Jeff attended a four-year university out-of-state after high school. “I really wasn’t ready for college at that time. I had friends here, so I transferred to Cleveland State; it allowed me to reset and get focused. After two years at Cleveland State, we both transferred to UT together.”
“Mary Tom and I both own three different businesses. We have an IT business that we’ve operated for a long time; we have a retail store in Cleveland called MacPC Market. Our newest venture is a digital marketing business, Magnify Marketing Agency. I still go back to the marketing classes that I had right here at Cleveland State; those are the things that helped define the future that we’ve had.”
“If you are like me, and your story is a little different - maybe you did go to school and you weren’t ready and life happened and you were not able to get that degree. Tennessee has a wonderful program called TN Reconnect. You can come to Cleveland State virtually tuition free and get that certification or get that degree. It is geared for working adults. I think it is one of the best kept secrets in higher education in Tennessee and in Cleveland. I want people to pursue that because it is never too late to define your tomorrow, and you can do that here.”
Edgar Rivera | Mechanical Engineering Student
Born and raised in California, Edgar Rivera moved to the south with his mother. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves in 2018 and started working in a carpet mill in Dalton, Georgia. “I was getting tired, and I felt like I was failing. My mother said, ‘Why don’t you go to college to be an engineer like you wanted to do?’ I applied to Cleveland State and a week or two later, I got a letter with my next steps. I thought it was going to be a hassle, but it wasn’t difficult. When I first walked in the building, I was nervous and scared, but my advisor was all smiles and excited.”
“Being a first-generation student and being the oldest of four siblings by many years, I just feel like I need to set an example. I want to be a role model for them. Cleveland State has allowed me to take those first steps to getting a PhD in engineering, and that is what I want to do to define my tomorrow.”
Gabriela Padron | 2023 Social Work Graduate
Gabriela Padron graduated from Cleveland State in 2023 with an associate degree in social work. While in high school, she knew Cleveland State was the best option for her after learning about the TN Promise scholarship. “I started as a nursing major. After a year, I felt that really wasn’t my path. People at the college helped me make a decision and change my focus to social work. It was an easy process, and I am really happy where I am.”
“I built lots of connections in the social work program, and I really got to know my teacher. That all helped with the transfer process. Now, I’m a junior at UTC. I hope to get my bachelor’s degree and master’s degree.”
“I define my tomorrow as becoming a licensed social worker, hopefully working with families in the Hispanic community. My focus is kids, so I want to help as many kids as I can. I am thankful to Cleveland State for helping me along the way.”
