Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, fourth from left, appeared to be in his element last Wednesday at Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Hohenwald as instructor Shirley Brown Harrison shared lessons her students in the electro-mechanical department are learning. Student Isaiah Hanvy, second from left, explained operations to Wayne County School Director Marlon Davis. Also pictured, TCAT President Kelli Kea-Carroll, State Senator Dr Joey Hensley and Sheriff Dwayne Kilpatrick, far right. Governor Lee was in Hohenwald to announce that the school would be awarded a $1 million GIVE (Governor's Investment in Vocational Education) grant authorized by the Tennessee Legislature. Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Flora Tydings addressed the packed crowd, thanking the governor and the Legislature for the funding. Local mayors and dignitaries from Lewis and surrounding counties were in attendance. Bill Lee's family business is the Lee Company, a plumbing and electrical company and he worked as a young man as a mechanic's helper.
Machine Tool Technology Instructor Kevin Hinson crafted a personalized meat tenderizer tool for Governor Bill Lee which was presented by President Kelli Kea Carroll Wednesday. Governor Lee expressed appreciation for the gift adding with a smile, "I might not have said, it, but I'm also in the beef cattle business." Chancellor Flora Tydings and Executive Director of Tennessee Higher Education Commission Mike Krause were seated right.
"It was a great honor to host Governor Lee, locally on campus, for his official announcement of the GIVE Grant Award to the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Hohenwald and even more significant to receive funding of the one-million dollar award to assist the Tennessee college in furthering the technical education opportunities of our south central area students and employers," President Kelli Kea-Carroll stated.
Tennessee's 50th governor, Bill Lee, made technical education a priority as soon as he took office.
"The majority of the funding, approximately $750,000, was proposed to purchase equipment, to include assisting both Perry County and Wayne County Schools (which were identified as "Distressed" Counties) with an implementation of a Business/Entrepreneur Center within the high schools, fund student certification, support several slots of work-based learning with area employers and fully fund the implementation of an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Program," President Kea-Carroll continued.
"The GIVE Grant Funding will improve and enhance the offerings of Tennessee College of Applied Technology Hohenwald in numerous ways that we would never be able to afford otherwise. GIVE (Governor's Investment in Vocational Education) is a wonderful opportunity for TCAT Hohenwald that we are just pleased to be a part of," President Kea-Carroll added.
It was a year ago this month that Governor Lee was inaugurated as our fiftieth governor. In just a little over two weeks he made good on a campaign promise to expand career and technical education. His first legislative initiative, the GIVE act, expanded vocational and technical offerings for our state remarked Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Flora Tydings.
"We need to have a greater base of education around trades. This stuff that's happening right here, you students, the future that I see standing in this room, this is what I love about as much as anything in my job," Governor Lee commented.
"I was particularly happy when Governor Lee stepped back up to the podium to compliment the Tennessee College on our 92 percent completion rate," President Kea-Carroll commented this week.
To the future, Governor Lee stated during an interview following the announcement, "We will assess all these grants after a couple of years as we are doing 25 of these across the state and that will give us data and insight on where to go next."
"Funding for dual enrollment was doubled last year under this GIVE act and so these grants are a piece of it, but the real effort is made in increasing the number of students that are in dual enrollment, specifically targeting vocational technical careers. So twice as many students can get college credit in their high schools."
To strengthen the initiative, "We are going to pull together high school counselors and introduce them to the concept of dual credit for vocational courses so they can direct more children who are skilled in this way into this career path or opportunity path," Governor Lee added.
"One thing that's so intriguing about these CTE curriculum programs is it's things kids like to do. So they like to go to school and they like being in high school, if they can get to go to classes where they are hands-on doing things they enjoy, that leads to post secondary attainment."
"Anytime you get kids to learn, we are opening up their opportunities for success," Governor Lee concluded.
Students Randy Duncan and Chris Kelley greeted the governor upon his arrival. Workforce Partners for TCAT Hohenwald are South Central Development District (Jerry Mansfield), Southern Middle TN Workforce Board Area 6 & 10, Perry County and Wayne County Schools, as well as industry partners: Todd McCaig of NYX, Phillip Tatum of Perry County Medical Center, John McDonald of 4 Mac, Jerry Hollis of Hassle and Hughes, Eddie Berry of Tennessee Valley Electric, Bill Burks of TFT, Cathy Odom of HCTec, Bert Moore of Oliver Technologies, and Mark Only of Bates Acquisition.
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