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Tennessee College of Applied Technology Morristown held its Spring 2026 Graduation ceremony Monday evening, April 20, at Manley Baptist Church in Morristown. 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.

TCAT-Morristown 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. 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.

“The National Technical Honor Society is a distinguished organization dedicated to recognizing academic excellence and exemplary character among students in career and technical education,” Cox said. “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, Cox recognized the participants who recently competed at the 2026 SkillsUSA Tennessee State Leadership and Skills Conference in Chattanooga. More than 3,000 high school and postsecondary students competed in industry-specific contests.

“The delegation representing TCAT Morristown earned 20 medals: eight gold, five silver, and seven bronze. We are extremely proud of their accomplishments,” Cox said.

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 Artificial Intelligence 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.

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.

“What is being built here in Morristown matters not just to this county or this region, but far beyond it,” Jonga said. “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.

“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,” Jonga said.

“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,” he said. “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, Jonga encouraged graduates to celebrate the night 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 and 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 and Elizabeth (E.J.) 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 and Christopher Williams.

Building Construction Technology

Jaden Henry.

Collision Repair

Technology

Franqui Diaz Morales, Ryan Emery and 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 and Jessie Ward.

Computer Information Technology

Tyler Brown-Mosher, Miles Flath, Colby Gray, James Groce, Trenton Harris, Nolan Kinnaman, Daniel Reed, Nox Reyes, Thomas Seemuth and 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 and Makayla Ward.

Digital Graphic Design

Isaac DeBord.

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 and 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 Quillen, 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 and Cody York.

Industrial Maintenance

Jeffrey Beach, Dylan Bibbins, Henry Bird, Conner Britton, Joshua Collins, Vincent Cook, Jase Dalton, Caleb Davis, Joshua Davis, Issiah 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 Younk, and Tanner Yount.

Machine Tool

Technology

Camile Davis, Moriah Davis, Brady Ford, Nicholas Leffew, William Kirkpatrick, Michael Shockley and Micheal Zachary.

Pipefitting and

Plumbing Technology

Morgan Cornelius, Ezekiel Johnson, Robert Matyk, Damreus Nunley, David Taylor and 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 and 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 and 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 Holland, 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 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 and Jaycob Young.