Pellissippi State Foundation, Alumni & Friends

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Outgoing Board Members! 🌟

Thank you for your service Anita Lane, David Luhn, Reed Mullins, Derwin Hagood, and Andy White. Collectively, you have served 30 years! Andy White gets credit for the majority of them.

We want to extend our deepest gratitude for your unwavering dedication, visionary leadership, and countless contributions to our organization. Your commitment and passion have been instrumental in our success. You've not only helped shape our present but also paved the way for a brighter future. 🌟

While we'll miss your presence during board meetings, we know we will continue you to see you at College and Foundation events. You will always be a part of the Pellissippi State family.

We celebrated our Legacy Society members with a luncheon at Bella in Maryville. Missy Johnson, Pellissippi State alumna, shared her message of how her Pellissippi State connections have led her to leave a legacy of community. Consider joining Pellissippi State’s Legacy Society. It’s so simple! See our Legacy Donor Statement of Intent at https://loom.ly/biSWBoo or email us at [email protected] for more information.

📣 Attention Pellissippi State Community College Students!

🔔 Just a quick reminder to apply for scholarships for the 2024-2025 academic year! Hundreds of need-based scholarships are up for grabs each year. 💰 Best of all, the application takes just 5 minutes! ⏳

How to Apply:

1. Visit: https://pstcc.academicworks.com/users/sign_in
2. Sign in using your myPellissippi username and password
3. Complete your application – it's super easy

🌟 Don't forget to have a reference's name and email address ready.

📅 Deadline: July 1!

Questions? Shoot an email to [email protected] or call 865-694-6528 for help! Don't wait – get it done today! 🎓

After high school, Annie Coffin was still trying to decide what she wanted to do career-wise. She did know that a large college didn’t interest her and states that music was an important part of her life. In fact, Annie says that she wanted to be the “next Amy Grant.” Pellissippi State Community College checked the boxes: small class sizes and a great music program. As an added bonus, Pellisisppi State was affordable.

While at Pellissippi State, Annie says that her advisor, who also taught English, helped her get into several classes. She also had fond memories of her history teacher who “made history fun and kept the students engaged.” Annie recalls that this history teacher was also in a Zale’s commercial.

Annie explained how she would come to campus “full of espressos.” A biology classmate had opened a coffee shop with his father. Annie ended up working there mornings from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m., after which she would come to class. She also served as a work study in the music department and for the bookstore. Annie says these were great experiences and she was able to use the pay from these jobs to cover her tuition. She did leave time for music and was in the Pellissippi State ensemble. She was a worship leader during her college days and did so for 20 years. In addition, she was in a band for a while. Annie even auditioned for American Idol while a student at the College.

Annie is the HR Staffing Manager for Edfinancial Services. She oversees recruiting, onboarding, the orientation team and the security clearance team. Her Associate’s Degree in education has come full circle, as part of her job also includes educating college students in paying loans.

Andrea Wood found herself in stressful circumstances. She was a single mother and working at a local restaurant when her benefits were suddenly cut. Raising a child with one income and not knowing what that income will be makes for a difficult situation. Something had to change. This is when Andrea decided to enroll at Pellissippi State Community College.

Over the course of 3 ½ years, Andrea went to school full-time with no breaks. She took 12 hours every spring and fall and 9 hours every summer. This was accomplished while also working two to three part-time jobs. In addition, Andrea found time to be involved while at Pellissippi State. She served as a work study in the math department and was a student ambassador. She was even on the Dean’s list for two semesters. Over the course of the next three years, Andrea went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree, again without taking breaks in between semesters.

Andrea says that she “absolutely loves” Pellissippi State and that the College will always hold a special place in her heart. When asked to describe a memorable experience at the college, she replied “everything” was memorable. In spite of being a non-traditional student, a single parent, and dealing with some other limitations, Andrea said that the teachers at Pellissippi made sure that she had everything needed to be successful. While trying to figure out what to do professionally, Carolyn Carson, retired Director of Placement assisted Andrea with her resume and sending it out to various companies. Andrea tells others that if they are thinking about going to college, start at Pellissippi State.

Today, Andrea is the Assistant Office Manager with Apex Bank. Just a sampling of her job duties includes opening accounts, helping clients with any issues regarding their accounts, and going out in the community. According to Andrea, “Apex Bank is very much community-oriented.”

Thank you to our sponsors Flatrock Motorsports Park, Norm Naylor and Ann Naylor, and Lynne and David Blair for helping our amazing Pellissippi State Formula SAE make it to Formula SAE Michigan!

Thank you to our incredible partner Arconic Tennessee Operations Foundation for your support of STEM Day for 700 middle school students in Blount County! Not only did Arconic provide funding, but they volunteered to support the event. What an incredible day to inspire middle school students to think about their future, career opportunities, and Pellissippi State. We hope to see these students in dual enrollment classes in a few years. Thanks to all of the volunteers that made this event possible.

Pierce Lamacchia’s first experience with Pellissippi State Community College came as a dual enrollment student. In reality, this was his first experience in a classroom, as he was home schooled. He appreciated the community feel of the College and found it easy to meet people and make new friends. In fact, Pierce said he would just “hang out” at the College because he so much enjoyed this new experience. He found the College to be supportive towards the success of its students. Affordability was also a plus, as Pierce worked his way through college.

Speech with Professor Anita Maddox was Pierce’s favorite class. While he was giving a speech, he mispronounced a word that caused the class to erupt with laughter. However, because Pierce recovered from his mistake so well, he received an A. He credits this incident for making him more relaxed when giving a speech.

Today, Pierce is the owner of K Brew, a company he and his brother started in 2013. Pierce says he always had an entrepreneurial inclination and began working at the age of 12. So, it’s only natural that he would one day own his own company. The first K Brew was a small coffee bar with only 10 seats. The menu was limited, serving only coffee, espresso and biscotti. It was crowded from day one. In early 2016, K Brew moved into its new home at 1138 N. Broadway. The company has been growing since its inception. K Brew’s second location opened in 2019 in the West Hills neighborhood of Knoxville, adding freshly baked bagels to the menu. That same year a third location was opened through a partnership with a new Hilton hotel in the heart of downtown Knoxville. In the year 2020, K Brew launched its own coffee roastery and began to roast all the coffee served in its stores. A fourth location was opened in 2021 in the Bluegrass community. To date, K Brew now boasts four stores, a bakery, coffee roaster, and nearly 100 employees.

Congratulations to our Pellissippi State Class of 2024 Graduates! 🎓 Several of our community friends joined us at Saturday morning commencement, including Foundation Board of Trustees member Rosa Mar and Board Emeritus member Don Shell. We’re grateful to alumna Ruthie Lyons for sharing her story and giving an inspiring alumni charge. We look forward to seeing how these new grads change the world! 🌎

Congratulations to our Pellissippi State Class of 2024 Graduates! There was a lot of energy and excitement at our Friday evening commencement, with Regent Danni Varlan as speaker. We’re thankful to have alumna Roben Richmond deliver the alumni charge and share her words of wisdom. State Representative Elaine Davis, we appreciate you joining us to send off this vibrant class!

18 days and counting until the Pellissippi State Formula SAE leaves for Formula SAE Competition at Michigan International Speedway. Today, we held a send-off celebration for team members and their families, alumni, and sponsors. Special thanks to Flatrock Motorsports Park, Ann and Norm Naylor, and Lynne and David Blair. Good luck, team! pellissippimotorsports

🌟Attention Pellissippi State Community College Students!🌟

Don't miss out on scholarship opportunities for the 2024-2025 academic year! Need-based scholarships are available, and it only takes 5 minutes to complete your application!

How to Apply:
1. Visit: https://pstcc.academicworks.com/users/sign_in
2. Sign in using your myPellissippi username and password
3. Complete your application – it's quick and easy!

🌟 Remember to include a reference's name and email address to complete your application.

📅 Deadline: July 1st

Got questions? Reach out to us at [email protected] or 865-694-6528 for assistance!

Eight years after graduating with a B.A. in Business & Marketing from Maryville College, Missy Johnson found herself with a “deep longing for something creative.” She finally decided to use her people skills and artistic gifts to pursue a dream of becoming an interior designer. Missy reached out to Dr. Margaret Ann Jeffries, Dean of Engineering and Media Technologies at Pellissippi State Community College and immediately enrolled in the Interior Design program where she earned an A.A. in Interior Design Technology.

When fondly recalling her days at Pellissippi State, two professors made a lasting impact on her. Jean Berger taught hand drafting and Studio classes. According to Missy, she was very tough with high expectations. Missy quickly learned “you are a professional, working for a client, there is no room for error.” Second is Dr. Margaret Ann Jeffries whom Missy describes as “a powerhouse hero.” Her passion and knowledge were so contagious, she drove you to be the best version of yourself as a designer. She was like a great coach who knew how to get the best out of all her players. “I still want to make her proud, even after these many years,” Missy laughs.

Missy’s 25-year career in the design and commercial furniture industry, has landed her at three furniture dealerships, an interior design firm, and a design-build construction company. Today, she is the Director of Business Development & Showroom Manager at NOI - Nashville Office Interiors (NOI) where she leverages relationships with the A&D community and end-users, to bring in new business to the Knoxville and Chattanooga markets. She believes that all her years in the industry have culminated in this role at NOI - “for me, this the perfect blend of relationships, furniture, design, and marketing – all the things I love.”

While continuing to work full-time, Missy founded Kingdom Design Ministries 2008, a nonprofit organization that does makeovers and home renovations for children who have experienced devastation. She sees this as a great way to integrate Interior Design into her Christian Faith. “The whole point of design is to give people healthy spaces in which they can thrive. The Makeovers and Home Renovations are the Platform that allows KDM to give the family this free gift of Love to help their child move, play, learn, and heal in their own home." Dr. Margaret Ann Jeffries served as a mentor to Missy while developing this nonprofit and recruited Missy to serve on Pellissippi State’s Advisory Board for the Interior Design Department where she is currently in her 12th year of service.

As if this isn’t a great career in and of itself, Missy has recently started MK Designs, an interior design and home organization company that helps people reclaim the love of their home. When your home is cluttered and in disarray, so is your mind. People today lead very busy lives, and this is a way to reduce anxiety and improve the harmony your home should provide.

In her free time, Missy loves traveling and making memories with her two teenagers.

Today, the Foundation celebrated the generosity of faculty and staff giving. For the month of March, employees were challenged to "Find their Why" to give and pool their resources to help students and the College succeed. Donations and pledges totaling $91,284 were received by 264 employees, an increase of $7,693 from last year. Berry Shumpert, Judy Sichler, and Candace Wilson served as our campaign chairs.

The Foundation recognized departments with the highest percentages of giving, including:

Small Department (1-20 employees): Applications Programming Support
Medium Department (21-40 employees): Mathematics
Large Department (61-60 employees): Natural & Behavioral Sciences

Thank you to the businesses that provided prizes to motivate our employees to give. Today's grand prize was a Loco Precision Griddle and Griddle Burger kit donated by the Home Depot at Schaad Road.

We are still overcome with gratitude from last week’s 2024 Pellissippi Strong Luncheon! Thank you to everyone who joined us to support Pellissippi State students. Congratulations again to alumni Regina Jennings and Nicholas Galloway on their awards. We appreciate UT Medical Center's Dr. Keith Gray for sharing his wisdom, to WATE Tearsa Smith for hosting, and to FirstBank for supporting us as presenting sponsor. It was a fantastic community celebration and we couldn’t do it without each of you!

THIS WEEKEND! For festival info, visit www.siptn.com/the-foothills - Enter code PSCC15 for $15 off general admission tickets!

Sip The Foothills Wine Festival

Thank you WATE Tearsa Smith and WATE 6 On Your Side for serving as our media sponsor for the Pellissippi Strong Luncheon. We are so proud of this partnership.

Pellissippi Strong Luncheon Tuesday afternoon, Pellissippi State Community College hosted its annual alumni appreciation luncheon at the Airport Hilton in Alcoa.Stay informed about what...

Tennessee Promise had just begun when Abbey Becker looked into options for continuing her education post high school. After weighing her options and talking with students she already knew at Pellissippi State Community College, she decided that “it just made sense to go to Pellissippi State as the next step of my academic career.”

Interesting fact – one of Abbey’s English teachers at Pellissippi State was also a former high school English teacher. This was unknown to her until she walked into the classroom on the first day of class. Coming from a small high school, this greatly helped with her transition to college.

Abbey was heavily involved during her time at Pellissippi State. This included Secretary of Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society and captain of the Club Soccer Team. Abbey didn’t hesitate to volunteer when an opportunity presented itself. Abbey says that being involved worked for her. It has been good training for her current job. She also participated in the study abroad program, which enabled her to study in Germany.

This dedication to volunteerism has continued. During Abbey’s youth she played basketball with the Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley. Today, she is an assistant coach to her former coach at the same organization. She also volunteers yearly with the Fantasy of Trees, benefiting East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

Abbey is the Communications and Marketing Specialist at ORISE (Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education)/Outreach Engagement STEM Workforce Development. ORISE is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) asset, connects college students, recent graduates, postdocs, and faculty to STEM internship and fellowship programs at a variety of research facilities, including those managed for DOE and 25+ other federal agencies. These programs are key to the recruitment and preparation of the next generation of our nation’s scientific workforce.

According to Abbey, “Pellissippi State has been a great pathway.” She believes that Pellissippi State provided her the tools and opportunities to become successful in her education and her career. After her graduation from Pellissippi State, she continued her undergraduate studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and most recently obtained an MBA through Lincoln Memorial University. She credits Pellissippi State for igniting her passion for learning and professional development.

We're grateful to Supporting Sponsors Carrie Poteat - Realty Executives Associates, Regions Bank, UCOR, and The Wakefield Corporation, for giving to help our students. We are proud to have you as part of the Pellissippi Strong Luncheon!

A big thank you to Leadership Knoxville, Pinnacle Financial Partners, and The it Company as Supporting Sponsors of the Pellissippi Strong Luncheon. We are grateful for your generosity!

Today we give appreciation to CNS Y-12 National Security Complex, ICC International, and Knoxville Utilities Board as Pellissippi Strong Luncheon Supporting Sponsors! Your contributions impact our students each day.

The Sip TN Foothills Wine Festival will be held at the Pellissippi State Blount County Campus on April 6, 2024. For festival info, visit www.siptn.com/the-foothills - Limited time discount for our alumni and friends - Enter code PSCC15 for $15 off general admission tickets!

We are grateful to Boston Government Services, Butch Peccolo and David Martin, and Chris Chandler and Rachel Zizka, as Supporting Sponsors of the Pellissippi Strong Luncheon. Thank you for all you do to support our students!

Thank you to faculty/staff, retirees, and foundation board members for dropping by during the Foundation Open House this week. You inspired us with your "why" to give. Why do you support Pellissippi State? Tell us in the comments.

Thank you to Arconic Tennessee Operations, BarberMcMurry Architects, and BESCO, Supporting Sponsors of the Pellissippi Strong Luncheon. Your generosity serves our students everyday!

What does one do when faced with unexpected life changes? The answer for Julie Coulombe is you go back to school. But first, the back story. Julie transferred to Knoxville, Tennessee from Vermont because the company she had previously worked for as an accountant was opening a plant in Tennessee. Because she was able to work from home for a while, she decided to travel the country. Julie had a plan - live in a different Airbnb every three months. She would work during the day and go sightseeing evenings and weekends. Because of this, Julie was able to see many national parks. To date, Julie states that she has visited 40 out of 63 national parks. According to Julie, the more she went to these parks, the more she was "taken by science and geology." In fact, she even sometimes wished she had been a scientist.

Then life happens and Julie found herself laid off. She saw this as a sign to return to school. She made a phone call to a four-year university and asked "how do I make this work" - meaning a career change into the science field, more specifically geology. They recommended that she enroll at Pellissippi State Community College because all her classes would transfer. Julie said she "signed up that week." She has since earned a Bachelor's Degree in Geology/Earth Science and a Master's Degree, in addition to her Associate's degree in Geology/Earth Science.

Today, Julie is an adjunct professor of Geology at Pellissippi State Community College. She considers Pellissippi State professor, Dr. Kathleen Affholter a mentor. She credits Dr. Affholter with inspiring her to be a teacher. Julie enjoyed the “vibe” of community college and knew that if she ever did become a teacher, she wanted to teach at a community college. According to Julie, this job feels like a “home coming, like it was just meant to be.”

Congratulations to Nick Galloway, Class of 2021, who will receive the Pellissippi State Community College Peggy Wilson Volunteer Alumni Award, presented by Clayton, at the Pellissippi Strong Luncheon. Learn more about Nick and his volunteer service at https://loom.ly/KO4dzqA. Get tickets at www.pstcc.edu/foundation/luncheon to celebrate Nick on April 2!

Congratulations to Regina Jennings, Class of 1983, who will receive the Pellissippi State Community College Distinguished Alumni Award, presented by FirstBank, at the Pellissippi Strong Luncheon! Learn more about Regina at https://loom.ly/lx3vGYI and plan to celebrate her with us on April 2.

Join us today for the Foundation Open House! Stop by anytime between 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. to see our "Find Your Why" wall. Register for door prize. Refreshments will be served all day.

We're thrilled to have Clayton back this year as our Peggy Wilson Volunteer Alumni Award Sponsor, encouraging service beyond ourselves. Clayton is opening doors to a better life. Discover affordable homes built for you at www.claytonhomes.com