Tiger Stories

Aslynn Price is graduating! She came to Chattanooga State Community College after a really challenging childhood, and she's found a supportive home on campus where she can make an impact on the lives of others. She works with Tammy McDonough in the Student Support Center, which you can get more information about here: http://library.chattanoogastate.edu/ssc

Aslynn is currently president of the Psychology Club. You can see their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/798661767176341/

In this episode, she talks about her admiration of Dr. Donna Beegle, who came to our campus in January. You can find out more about Dr. Beegle's work here: https://www.combarriers.com/

If you'd like to share YOUR Tiger Story, reach out! We're at [email protected].

Access a transcript of this episode here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H6m5v_8OCNXweinHdgOLZyc2HfwLnWjM/view?usp=sharing

Mary Ann Smith is currently studying abroad in London in her final semester at Chattanooga State; she will graduate in May with her paralegal degree, and she's already working in the field. As a participant of ChattState's honors program, Global Scholars, Mary Ann has been able to access smaller classes and develop meaningful relationships with her professors. In this episode, she talks about coming back to college at the age of 52 and finding out that she is defined by more than just what's happened to her in the past.

Mary Ann is a student using the Tennessee Reconnect program's funding; if you'd like to learn more about that, check out this web site: https://tnreconnect.gov/

If you're curious about our honors program, find out more here: https://www.chattanoogastate.edu/global-scholars

To find out more about the Paralegal Studies program, visit https://www.chattanoogastate.edu/paralegal-studies-aas.

If you'd like to share YOUR Tiger Story, reach out! We're at [email protected].

Access a transcript of this episode here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XOm5d_9ucmIkOd2qTJciAZuaMPhuJR7g/view?usp=sharing

In this special live episode of Tiger Stories, we revisit some of our guests from the first 17 episodes and hear what they've been up to since we talked on the podcast. We also bring in a few special surprise guests, to get a real feel for the relationships that form at Chattanooga State between students and their faculty and staff mentors and friends.

Featured in this episode are:

* Warner, episode 10: https://soundcloud.com/user-78586431/episode-10-destiny-warner-nick-jung

* Kimberly Merfert, episode 7: https://soundcloud.com/user-78586431/episode-10-destiny-warner-nick-jung

* Tyler Gentile, episode 2: https://soundcloud.com/user-78586431/episode-2-tyler-gentile

* Taylor Kennedy, episode 15: https://soundcloud.com/user-78586431/episode-15-taylor-kennedy

* Gabby Eilf, episode 1: https://soundcloud.com/user-78586431/episode-1-gabby-eilf

* Lauren Pearce, episode 16: https://soundcloud.com/user-78586431/episode-16-lauren-pearce

* Taylor Kline, episode 3: https://soundcloud.com/user-78586431/episode-1-gabby-eilf

* Katrina Griffin, episode 12: https://soundcloud.com/user-78586431/episode-1-gabby-eilf

If you'd like to share YOUR Tiger Story, reach out! We're at [email protected].

Access a transcript here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17PWw3ZFSYZj19fQ4N9ulBfUW6rc3N1j_/view?usp=sharing

Amanda Witt is a communications major who dreams of going into radio production or voice work after completing her college degree. She talks about coming to ChattState as a Tennessee Reconnect student -- after trying to come to college many times before.

If you'd like to share YOUR Tiger Story, reach out! We're at [email protected].

View the transcript of this podcast here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bfxVD3qbH8zIVWqn3qyBXARvwNMk5d84/view?usp=sharing

Oscar Cruz is enrolled in the TCAT Medical Assisting program, where he's learning how to work in a supportive role in medical facilities, including clinics and hospitals. Oscar describes what motivated him to seek this training; when a family member went to the hospital but couldn't get documents translated into Spanish, he realized he could help fill a vital role for people like his family. In a short time, he's become a campus leader in SkillsUSA and is learning to be humble about what he doesn't know ... because when you know where your knowledge gaps are, you can work to fill them.

The Medical Assisting program can be completed in one year; find out more here: https://www.chattanoogastate.edu/medical-assisting

If you'd like to share YOUR Tiger Story, reach out! We're at [email protected].

View the transcript of this podcast here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GZ7kJ7LRcTD7BxvAGAwUdgyVxOLVyu5u/view?usp=sharing

Lauren Pearce is enrolled in the TCAT Computer Support Technician program, where she's learning the ins and outs of computer / tech support -- both software and hardware. In this episode, she talks about how she decided to pursue this program and what her experience has been like so far.

The CST program can be completed in one year; find out more here: https://www.chattanoogastate.edu/computer-support-technician

If you'd like to share YOUR Tiger Story, reach out! We're at [email protected].

View the transcript of this podcast here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Huui8pvg95j7iWnUXO26BgC9bW09g8Bf/view?usp=sharing

Taylor Kennedy attended Chattanooga State as a student, earning her associate's degree and working in the recruitment office. She later moved into the Enrollment Services Center, where she currently helps students get into classes. In this episode, she chats with Professor Nick Mansito (English) about her experiences as a student AND as a staff member.

If you'd like to share YOUR Tiger Story, reach out! We're at [email protected].

View the transcript of this podcast here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/124TFjLlrE9yQ1mwLVifGkVGzWdtW14ox/view?usp=sharing

During our Late Night at the Library, we had a pop-up podcast 'studio' to talk to students who came by to work on papers and projects, get some free food and drinks and prizes, and try to finish their semester strong! In this special episode, we talk to a number of students for a few minutes about what they're working on, what it's like to be a student at Chattanooga State, and what advice they'd give others.

Students we talked to in this episode include: Jarraud Ezell, Grayson Davis, Zach Wallace, Braxton Mahr, David Brown, Shelby Bryant, Jay, Tater, and Alana. We also asked librarian Andrea Kincaid to pop by at the end to tell us about what the night is all about and how many people attended in Fall 2019 (a record-breaking 205 students!!!!! wowzers!!!)

Thanks to everyone who helped make this pop-up podcast episode happen!

If you'd like to share YOUR Tiger Story, reach out! We're at [email protected].

View the transcript for this episode here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16jK1mvubcKEQKiRhsyx1rhF28am2SAQa/view?usp=sharing

Tae Wilmoth is a Collegiate High student at ChattState and is currently in his junior year of high school, while simultaneously working toward an Associate's degree. As an Asian American and a student who identifies as a transgender male, Tae was used to feeling like an outsider before he came to ChattState. Tae says that, in addition to finding a welcoming community, strong relationships with his teachers (especially the Symphonic Band director Prof. Hartline), coming to ChattState has given him more freedom ... and responsibility, too. Now that he feels like he's found his place on campus, Tae says he's motivated to ensure other students to find confidence in themselves and in exploring who they are. Tae's advice to future (or current) students: Don't be afraid to ask for help!

Tae's bravery and honesty in this episode humbled the hosts, Liz Norell and Nick Mansito. We hope you'll enjoy hearing Tae's story, too. If you'd like to share YOUR Tiger Story, reach out! We're at [email protected].

View the transcript of this episode here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hRPN0kPZ5hJtF-Y3U0SKQ63oZVlF-S3R/view?usp=sharing

As Chattanooga State's 2020 SOAR Student Excellence Award nominee (and winner of the East Tennessee regional competition, Katrina Griffin is a great example of what the Tennessee Reconnect program has enabled for students in the state. As a mom and an adult who has had her fair share of life challenges, Katrina heard a commercial on the radio two years ago promoting the then-soon-to-launch TN Reconnect initiative, which would pay tuition for adult learners without a post-secondary credential. She was so excited to have a chance to come to college that her husband encouraged her to start even before the program launched. After succeeding in a continuing education math course, she walked into her first credit-bearing college class nervous about being older than everyone else in the room. Her success since then is entirely attributable to her fierce tenacity and desire to make the most of the opportunity to get a college education. Now in her final semester at ChattState, Katrina reflects on what getting her associate's degree means to her, where she plans to go next, and how mental illness has become a central part of her success story.

To read more about Katrina, check out her Adult Success Story: https://www.chattanoogastate.edu/adult-success-stories

We are confident Katrina will wow the statewide judges when she travels to Nashville in March 2020 to compete for Community College SOAR Student Excellence Award; she has certainly wowed us!

Want to be a part of Tiger Stories? Do you have feedback for us? Get in touch! Email [email protected].

Tiger Stories is a part of the Belonging Matters initiative at Chattanooga State. For more on this initiative, including other podcast episodes and transcripts, visit www.chattanoogastate.edu/belongingmatters.