Stories @ TCAT

Tennessee College of Applied Technology Morristown held its Spring 2026 Graduation ceremony Monday evening, April 20, 2026, at 7 p.m., at Manley Baptist Church in Morristown, Tennessee. Graduates who completed their training this term as well as those who completed in Fall 2025 and wished to return participated in this event, in which more than 300 awards were conferred.

President Susanne Cox welcomed those in attendance and led the students in a round of applause in appreciation of family and friends who supported the graduates while they were in school. President Cox recognized staff and faculty and described them stating, “They exemplify excellence in their respective fields and are committed to sharing their knowledge and expertise to effectively prepare students for the workforce.”

These students have been busy learning their technical skills, and many of them earned membership in the National Technical Honor Society along the way. Cox commented, “The National Technical Honor Society is a distinguished organization dedicated to recognizing academic excellence and exemplary character among students in career and technical education. Graduates who earn this designation have demonstrated outstanding academic performance, exceptional attendance, and the professional qualities essential for workforce success. In recognition of this achievement, honorees are presented with silver stoles to commemorate this significant accomplishment.”

In addition, President Cox recognized the participants who recently competed at the 2026 SkillsUSA Tennessee State Leadership and Skills Conference in Chattanooga, TN.  More than 3,000 high school and postsecondary students competed in industry-specific contests. She shared, “The delegation representing TCAT Morristown earned 20 medals: eight gold, five silver, and seven bronze. We are extremely proud of their accomplishments!”

Simba Jonga, Founder and CEO of Laborup, delivered the keynote address. Laborup is a company that was born out of a vision to bridge the gap between skilled industrial workers and ambitious manufacturing companies. Their mission is to empower America's most critical workforce and ambitious industrial companies by providing software that uses AI to transform how manufacturers hire, connecting companies with vetted, skilled workers faster and more efficiently than ever before. Their software helps to streamline the hiring process so that manufacturers can fill critical roles, keep production on track, and strengthen the workforce.

Mr. Jonga shared how Morristown is fortunate to have TCAT Morristown to provide state-of-the-art training as well as global manufacturers in the area. He stated, “What is being built here in Morristown matters not just to this county or this region, but far beyond it. The economy and industry built here reach across the country and across the world.” He also commended the graduates for choosing skills training at TCAT Morristown. He contended, “A lot of people still do not fully understand how much of America depends on skilled workers. They see the finished product but not necessarily the people behind it. They see the building but not the hands that built it. They see the machine running but not the technician who keeps it running. But the truth is simple: this country runs because of people like you.”

He encouraged those in attendance, “That kind of skill is becoming more valuable, not less. Right now, everybody is talking about AI, automation, software, and what the future is going to look like. There is a lot of noise and a lot of fear in those conversations. People wonder what happens to jobs, what happens to work, and what happens to the people trying to build a life?” He stressed his belief that, “AI is not replacing people who know how to do real things. If anything, it is putting even more of a premium on real skills. Because everything cannot be automated. You cannot automate someone who knows when a machine does not sound right. You cannot automate someone who can diagnose a problem under pressure, fix something that matters, or take responsibility when something goes wrong. You cannot automate experience, judgment, accountability, or pride in your work.”

In closing, Mr. Jonga encouraged graduates to celebrate tonight because they earned it but to also remember, “This is not the end of something. This is the beginning. The beginning of the reputation you will build, the life you will shape, and the man or woman you will become. If you stay grounded, work hard, keep learning, and take pride in your craft, you are going to be more than fine. You are going to build something worth being proud of for yourself, for your family, for this community, and for this country.”

The following students earned awards in their respective programs:

Administrative Office Technology
Crystal Adkins
Jamie Bussell
Joanna Elliott
Yesenia Flores
Abbie Heaps
William Titus Phillips
Janet Roberts
Kristie Snyder
Richard Woods

Automotive Technology
Jaylen Talley Arwood
Michael Ashley
R. Ryan Bagent
Alex Blanton
X. Devin Clymer
Donovan Coakley
Dallas Cotter
Damian Crusenberry
Kiersten Dunn
Elijah East
Bryson Helton
Eryn Christa Hodges
Holdan Holt
Jake Huskey
Thomas McCall
Emmanuel McKoy
D. Katie McSpadden
JunSung Montanaro
Johan Pacheco-Huerta
Tyler Ramsey
Wyatt Whisenhunt
Elizabeth (EJ) Young

Aviation Maintenance Technology
Aiden Bassitt
Brayden Bentley
Christian Bielefeld
Domonic Burry
Schaun Carter
Connor Colgan
Isaac Evans
Brian Ganzevoort
Devin Harwell
Ezequiel Hidrogo
Zackery Lawson
Adam Lefevers
Darian Marshall
Jacob Melton
Mem-Toj Moua
Chandler Nahrstedt
Justin Robinson
Samuel Seibel
Gary Sprouse
Mandi Thomasson
Robert Throckmorton
Lawrence White
Christopher Williams                                                    

Building Construction Technology
Jaden Henry

Collision Repair Technology
Franqui Diaz Morales
Ryan Emery
Joshua Leinenweaver

Computer Aided Design Technology
Tyler Boyle
Daelin Brown
Troy Eubank
Elizabeth Fields
Jayden Freshour
Brennan Hobbs
Esteban Martin Indaburo Trujillo
Leo Kimball
Craig Lovin
Katelyn Maples
Matthew Kelly McMeans
John Moran
Ayesha Mowell
Lesley Plate Ronning
Jessie Ward                                                                        

Computer Information Technology
Tyler Brown-Mosher
Miles Flath
Colby Gray
James Groce
Trenton Harris
Nolan Kinnaman
Daniel Reed
Nox Reyes
Thomas Seemuth
Jason Teaster                                                                   

Cosmetology
Jasmine Beaty
Nicole Bradley
Heather Bramlett
Lily Ann Jasmine Burke
Hannah Dickenson
Heidi Harmon
Cora Lawson
Molly Mae Livingston
Savannah Breeze Millette
Mallory Mowell
Makira Mullins
Jasmine Ramos
Layla Gail Ridley
Tiera Taylor
Makayla Ward                                                                   

Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology
Levi Barrett
Alyssa Carroll
Evan Cook
Dustin Davis
Ava Jamaye Freeman
Dakota Eugene Haynes
Joshua Eugean Langley
Peyton Ryan Murrell
Peyton Conley Dean Raines
Taylor Rouse
Garrett Daniel Seal
Mason Skeens
Trinady Seth Swiney
Daylon Carter Talley
Landon Chase Vannatter
Aiden Whaley                                                                   

Industrial Electricity
Derek Adams
Sean Brewer
Cameron Brown
Chris Butler
Pablo Chavez Espino
William Coito
Omar De Jesus-Santiago
Tristian Ellison
Thomas Greene
Grant Holt
Chris Janosik
Jacob Lane
Justin Lawson
Jerry Martin
Hayden McGuire
Kelly Millagan
Zachary Moore
Evan Morris
Chase Muehling
Joshua Murphy
Maxwell Murphy
Jose Ortiz Gutierrez
Caleb Osburn
Harold John Quillen
Jonatan Ramos-Hernandez
Juan Ramos Ugalde
Luis Rios-Pascual
Aidan Roberson
Oscar Santiago
Anthony Taylor
Drake Ward
William Watson
Toby Willard
Lucas Williams
Kenneth Wilson
Jacob Winstead
Joey Wintz
Cody York                                                                        

Industrial Maintenance
Jeffrey Beach
Dylan Bibbins
Henry Bird
Conner Britton
Joshua Collins
Vincent Cook
Jase Dalton
Caleb Davis
Joshua Davis
Isaiah Dean
Christian Dye
Lakkin France
Remington Fugate
Jared Hernandez
Camdyn Holt
Chase Hoskins
Christopher Janosik
Austin Johnson
Jeremiah Johnson
David King
Joshua Laws
Terry Lewis
Moises Lopez Mendez
Kohen Marshall
Michael Matthews
Zach May
Mason Mefford
Jayden Mondragon
Otis Mowell
Micah Murphy
Hunter Norton
James Purkey
Jonathon Rainbolt
Christopher Rank
Elmer Ortez Roblero
Heather Roberts
Derek Seal
Aaron (Quade) Trent
Levi Trent
Baron Vicars
David Wilkinson
Brandon Williamson
Reginald Woodruff
Allen Wright
David Young
Brendan Young
Tanner Yount                                                                  

Machine Tool Technology
Camille Davis
Moriah Davis
Brady Ford
Nicholas Leffew
William Kirkpatrick
Michael Shockley
Micheal Zachary                                                             

Pipefitting and Plumbing Technology
Morgan Cornelius
Ezekiel Johnson
Robert Matyk
Damreus Nunley
David Taylor
Jimmy Velasquez                                                            

Practical Nursing
Jasmaine Adams
Tabatha Arnwine
Shauntella Bailey
Brooke Banks
Christina Barnes
Shelby Barton
Summer Belcher
Chelsie Bowlin
Abbigale Coleman
Leticia Corona
Kaylee Cress
Logan Edmonds
Breanna Ellison
Jacqlyn Evans
Stefani Floyd
Samantha Gibson
Victoria Graves
Derby Griffin
Wendy Huerta-Tellez
Job Jones
Cassie Kerley
Gracey Kincaid
Emily Ledford
Latecia Masingo
Kaylee Mize
Ashley Nande
Deanna Patterson
Jasmine Putney
Amanda Purkey
Audrina Ratliff
Akera Romack
Hannah Rompa
Alexa Rossignol
Nikita Thompson
Maria Torquemada
Kennedy Wallen
Joshua Watson
Sydney Watson
Keysa Williams
Jennifer Woodby
Patricia Wyer
Shannon Young                                                               

Truck Driving
Charles Belcher
Jordan Browning
Ronnie Christian
James Church
Landon Davis
Nathan Dishner
Nicholas Dosier
Hunter Evans
Ronnie Foshee
Brandon Goodell
Mason Harris
Charles Hensley
Austin Jennings
Joseph King
Timothy Laliberte
Dakota Leach
Trevor Malone
Devon McAllister
Anthony Moorman
Cody Mota
Frank Perez
Randall Ramsey
Dave Reaser
Anthony Ritz
Matthew Rutledge
Justin Shannon
Cody Smith
Dillon Spears
Bevan Varney
Monica Ward                                                                    

Welding
Jonah Anderson
Atley Antrican
Nicholas Boone
Joshua Brock
Gema Brooks
Kobee Brooks
Victor Brooks
Jackson Bryant
Nick Buzzo
Chris Cain
Devon Cantrell
Savannah Collis
Alex De Leon
Nathanial Dixon
Peyton Estepp
Alexandria Everhart
Lindsey Flores
Moriah Fornof
Natalie Greene
Jeri Hammons
Fisher Hollan
Brittney Hughes
Holden Johnson
Kristen Johnson
Caden Lane
Nathan Liptac
Alyson Mantooth
Dakota Mantooth
Clay Messer
Cole Milligan
Allan Moss
Waylon Neeley
Ira Norton
Robert Oldham
Jenri Perez
Nicholas Phillips
Elie Quinton
Aiden Rennie
Heather Roberts
Ethan Spiegel
Harley Stallard
Jonathan Susalla
Anthony Velasquez
Nick Walton
Hayley White
Connelly Wilson
Mason Winsor
Jaycob Young