Stories @ TCAT

Dr. Flora Tydings, chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents, made her first visit to the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Elizabethton on Oct. 17.

College President Dean Blevins conducted a tour of classrooms and shop areas for Tydings and Kim McCormick, TBR vice chancellor for external affairs, who accompanied the chancellor on the three-hour visit.

Blevins is pictured as he explains to Tydings components of NC3 certification. TCAT Elizabethton is a designated regional NC3 training center, one of four in the U.S.

For the past several years, TCAT Elizabethton has had a program completion, job placement and licensure passage rate in the 90 percentile range.

Tydings also spoke with numerous students, faculty and staff to get their opinion on needed expansion of buildings, classrooms and equipment to meet a growing student demand for job training.

She spoke to Michael Lewis of Butler, Tennessee, located adjacent to Watauga Lake, who is enrolled in the diesel power equipment training program. The two met in the NC3 classroom where Lewis was studying for an NC3 certification exam.

Tydings also visited briefly with Luis Freguso of Johnson City, who was studying Adminstrative Office Technology. She asked Freguso if he was enjoying the program, to which he replied, yes.

Tydings also met Kacie Hauldren, director of the practical nursing program, who complimented Hauldren for the licensure passage rate of students to become a Licensed Practical Nurse.

Practical nursing classes are offered at the TCAT Elizabethton Main Campus, beginning in May and September each year, and on the ETSU at Kingsport Campus at Allandale, 1501 University Blvd., Kingsport, beginning in January.

For additional information, visit www.tcatelizabethton.edu or telephone 423-543-0070.