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HCC Holds 2008 Graduation Ceremonies

Haywood Community College awarded over 375 certificates, diplomas, and degrees at its double graduation ceremony last week. For one graduate, she will receive a college degree one night and her high school diploma the next. Megan Trasport started taking dual enrollment classes at HCC in 2006 while completing her high school diploma as a home schooled student. At HCC’s 2008 graduation ceremony, the 18 year-old received an Associate in Arts degree.

Through the dual enrollment classes, Trasport received college credit while still enrolled in high school. As a bonus, she saved money on tuition and received the college degree for only the cost of fees and textbooks. A great deal for parents and students alike.

Trasport plans to attend Mars Hill College in the fall. While unsure of her career goals at such a young age, she says attending HCC has sparked her interest in becoming an elementary school teacher.

“Attending HCC was a good opportunity for me,” she explains. “It made me a better student and more disciplined. And now I have my general education classes out of the way.”

Debra Keen has a different story to tell. The Mount Olive resident will receive her degree from HCC without ever stepping foot on the beautiful campus. Keen took all of her classes online and now has an Early Childhood Teacher Associate degree to show for it.

For Keen, the accomplishment is a great achievement. She overcame tremendous obstacles to complete the program in two years. Keen, mother of three, spends all of her time waiting on the beeper in her pocket to go off. When the beeper sounds, it means a double lung transplant for her oldest child who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis.

If that wasn’t enough of a hurdle, Keen also faced losing her husband, children’s father, and sole family provider while a student. Her husband had chemicals explode on him at work, leaving him hanging on for life at a burn center for eight months.

Online courses worked perfectly for Keen even before her husband’s accident but she knows she would have never been able to complete requirements while living in a hotel four days a week as he was recovering if she was enrolled in traditional classes.

“Had it not been for the instructors at HCC, I would have just quit,” Keen says. “They gave me courage when I had none. They are understanding and caring. You don’t get that every day. I also trusted in God and kept my mind busy.”

Keen’s son is her inspiration. Even with his medical condition, he received a bachelor’s degree and is now a student at Campbell Divinity School.

“If he could get a bachelor’s degree, I could get my associate,” Keen explains. “He is an example of how no one should ever give up.”

Keen plans to continue her education starting with classes this summer. Her goal is to work with children like her son who perform below grade level due to medical reasons. “I want to work with children who don’t think they can achieve.”

Online classes fit perfectly with Keen’s lifestyle and schedule. But she admits the classes are not tailored for everyone. “You have to be disciplined and not procrastinate. For me, I could go online when it didn’t take me away from my kids, like 11 o’clock at night.”

Fish and Wildlife graduate Max Cox knows how special it is to graduate with his class. Last semester as he was target shooting, the gun blew up in his face. His cheek was shattered, his eye socket was dislocated, he suffered a puncture wound to his shoulder, and his equilibrium was unbalanced. The accident left him unable to talk and even stand.

But through a lot of hard work and encouragement, Cox achieve his goal and will soon start a job at the University of Tennessee studying the effects of silvacultural practices on white tail deer and wild turkey.

Cox, a Tennessee resident, found out about HCC after his mom came on campus for a botanist meeting. On his first visit, he was impressed when he arrived on campus to see students outside surveying the land.

“What we learned in class, we use everyday in the field,” Cox said. “The instructors know what you’re going to need when you go to work. They are the best thing about HCC.”

As a student, Cox was involved in many activities. He was president of the archery club, a member of the Student Chapter of Society of American Foresters, vice president of the Wildlife Club, a member of woodsmen’s team and eco-team. He completed an internship with the US Fish and Wildlife Department at Mississippi Sand Hill Crane National Wildlife Refuge.

Through these activities, Cox made connections with potential employers, fellow professionals, and lifetime friends.

“Participating on these teams was very gratifying,” Cox said. “To go to these four year schools and win. You get as much education at HCC as you do at a four year school. And all these schools know HCC.”

HCC Medical Assisting graduate Michelle James shares her special night with her daughter Riley.

Cosmetology graduates Tonya Childers and Melissa Roberts are all smiles on their special day.

Natural Resource graduates gather for one last time as a group before embarking on their respective journeys. Many already have jobs like Max Cox (fourth from the right), who will begin work at the University of Tennessee studying the effects of silvacultural practices on white tail deer and wild turkey.

Faculty members applaud Network Administration & Support and Network Security graduate Andrew Mauldin at the 2008 HCC graduation ceremony.

Charles Honeycutt, HCC Forest Management Technology graduate, received the Outstanding Student Award for his program.

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