Stories @ TCAT

Tennessee’s community and technical colleges honored veterans – including students, faculty, staff and alumni – in Veterans Day activities on campuses statewide on Veterans Day.

As part of those ceremonies, a veteran at each college was also awarded the Chancellor’s Commendation for Military Veterans, a special recognition launched in 2020 by Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Flora W. Tydings.

Out of many entries, local instructor Jonathan Mehr was awarded the Chancellor’s Commendation for Military Veterans at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Crump. He received his commemorative coin award plus a framed letter of nomination denoting his qualifications and numerous contributions as an instructor and Veteran. Mehr was nominated by co-workers. One wrote, “Jon has consistently prioritized student success, providing personalized support, mentorship, and innovative teaching methods that enhance the learning…Despite facing personal challenges, Jon has shown tremendous courage and perseverance, using his experiences to inspire others and advocate for resilience in the face of adversity.”

While today's ceremonies recognized and honored ALL veterans, the Chancellor’s Commendation is conferred based on nominations by each college’s president. Nominees may be a student, member of the faculty and staff, an alumnus of the college or a member of the community who are veterans or active-service members and exemplify characteristics of service, honor, courage, commitment, and integrity.

There are 40 Chancellor’s Commendation honorees for 2024 – one at each of the system’s 13 community colleges and 24 Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology and the Tennessee Board of Regents system office. This year, Pellissippi State Community College awarded three Chancellor’s Commendations in celebration of the college’s 50th anniversary.

Listed below by college, the 40 include 17 students and 23 faculty and staff members. The Commendation is represented by a specially designed challenge coin. Challenge coins have a long tradition in all military branches, where they are awarded by commanders and signify special achievement, excellence, hard work, unit pride, and respect. 

“Our college communities are strengthened by the veterans and active-duty personnel on campus. The experiences and perspectives they bring are an important part of the broad diversity of people and backgrounds on our campuses that benefits everyone,” Dr. Tydings said.

“We are committed wholeheartedly to serving our veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard members, reserve members, military spouses and children. It’s a privilege to honor them, not only on Veterans Day but all year.”

That commitment includes a range of benefits and services for veterans and their families, including:

All 13 community colleges and 24 TCATs are approved for veteran educational benefits and work closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs and state approving agencies to ensure that students benefits are used appropriately.
Eligible military spouses may use the MyCAA (My Career Advancement Account) scholarship at all our TBR institutions. We participate in Skillbridge programs for transitioning service members.
In addition, all 13 community colleges and 13 TCATs have achieved VETS Campus certification by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission by meeting additional criteria for excellence standards and compliance for our military-affiliated community. The remaining 11 TCATs are working to earn the certification.

The 2024 Chancellor’s Commendation for Military Veterans honorees and their military branches are:

COMMUNITY COLLEGES:

Chattanooga State: Malcolm Kennemore, Faculty, Navy Reserve
Cleveland State: Gregory Edwards, Faculty, Air Force
Columbia State:  Kelvin Webster, Campus Support Specialist/Academic Advisor, Air Force
Dyersburg State: Paul Rhodes, Director of Information Technology, Navy
Jackson State: Dr. Andrew Kelley, Faculty, Army
Motlow State: Walter Torres, Student, Army
Nashville State: James Shrum, Communications Services Director, Navy
Northeast State: Chad Bailey, Chief Financial Officer, Marines
Pellissippi State: Calvin McDaniel III, Student, Marines; Larry Bates, Chief Information Officer, Air Force; Ron Bridges, Faculty, Army
Roane State: Joshua Ayden Havener, Student, Navy
Southwest Tennessee: John Brassel, Faculty, Army
Volunteer State: Tristan Gomez, Veterans Services Staff, Army
Walters State: Kimberly Ferguson, Student, Navy

TENNESSEE COLLEGES OF APPLIED TECHNOLOGY:

TCAT Athens: Jill Yates, Student Engagement Coordinator, Air Force
TCAT Chattanooga: Melvin Rhodes, Faculty, Marines
TCAT Crump: Jonathan Mehr, Faculty, Navy
TCAT Dickson: Carlos Felix, Faculty, Army
TCAT Elizabethton: Steve Sweet, Site Coordinator, Marines
TCAT Harriman: Dakota Shaw, Student, Army
TCAT Hartsville: Glenn Wilson, Student, Army National Guard
TCAT Henry/Carroll: Dan Walcott, Student, Marine Reserves
TCAT Hohenwald: Jeremiah Biehl, Faculty, Navy
TCAT Jacksboro: Debbie Faulkner, Faculty, Army
TCAT Jackson: Brian Matthews, Student, Air Force
TCAT Knoxville: Stephen Kronk, Faculty, Army
TCAT Livingston: Joshua Brown, Student, Army
TCAT McKenzie: Lewis King, Student, Navy
TCAT McMinnville: Elijah Nash, Faculty, Air Force
TCAT Memphis: Ocie Duckworth Sr., Faculty, Navy
TCAT Morristown: Joshua Kesler, Student, Army
TCAT Murfreesboro: Larry Gill, Faculty, Navy
TCAT Nashville: Brandon Hollandsworth, Faculty, Air Force
TCAT Northwest: John Newcomb, Student, Navy
TCAT Oneida/Huntsville: Richard Haley, Student, Air Force
TCAT Pulaski: Tyler Whitaker, Student, Marines
TCAT Shelbyville: Jessica Blevins, Student, Navy
TCAT Upper Cumberland: James Davenport, Student, Army