Part Of The Foundation: The Cantrell Legacy at CSCC

Wednesday, December 18, 2019 12:00 AM
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Cantrell Family Legacy Seen In Foundation Of New Facility

Cleveland businessman and Cleveland State Community College (CSCC) alum Jonathan Cantrell is literally paving the way for his Alma Mater’s future. His company, Caldwell Paving Company, put the first work in this month on the construction of the new Health and Science Center opening at CSCC in 2021.

“It is very surreal to be a part of this project,” said Cantrell, President and Owner of Caldwell Paving Company. “I grew up around Cleveland State my entire life. And now, the opportunity to play a role in the first new building they’ve had since the school was constructed in the late ‘60s is humbling. Considering my father’s legacy there, it is an honor to be working on this project.”

Cantrell’s father, John, was a popular business faculty member for more than 30 years at Cleveland State Community College. During his time at CSCC, Cantrell played basketball for the Cougars and graduated from the college with an Associate’s Degree in Science in 1997.

Now giving back to the Cougar Nation, Cantrell serves as a member of the CSCC Foundation Board of Trustees and loves the work of giving scholarships to deserving students. “The Cantrell family has been part of the Cleveland State community for decades,” said Dr. Bill Seymour, CSCC President. “With their long history of community involvement and connection to the school, it was special to see the Caldwell Paving equipment show up on our build site and put the first shovels in the ground.”

During the initial phase of work at the Health and Science Center, Caldwell Paving Company is tasked with providing a complete site demolition and development package. This starts with clearing and grubbing, excavation, and subgrade preparation. They will also provide the storm utilities for the job site, as well as asphalt paving/striping services.

Scheduled to open during the Spring of 2021, the Health and Science Center will be a 53,000 square-foot structure that offers students a unique environment to study and practice their skills.

In addition to general classrooms, student study spaces, and faculty offices, the state-of-the-art facility will feature a 2,400 square-foot multipurpose room with flexible seating for large lectures or campus and community events. Simulation laboratories and technology innovations will allow future nurses, medical assistants, EMT/paramedics and others to practice in environments that mimic those they’ll find on the job.

With so much packed into a single building, the Health Science Center will be a one-stop shop for local residents who are looking to enter or enhance a health and sciences-related career.

“Our students will be able to join the workforce one step ahead, thanks to this new building and the skills that will be learned there,” said Alisha Fox, Cleveland State Community College Vice President of Finance and Operations and Capital Project Manager. “It is important to provide students with not only textbook educations but also real world experiences. This state-of-the-art facility with simulation labs and technology innovations will allow Cleveland State students to develop both.”

The new Health and Science Center will be located directly across Adkisson Drive from the college’s current Administration Building, the former site of one of Cleveland State’s student parking lots. Additional parking is now also being constructed on campus to help replace the parking spots going away due to the construction.

To learn more about the Health and Science Center, contact Cleveland State Community College at 423.472.7141 or visit the college online at ClevelandStateCC.edu. Registration is now underway for all CSCC classes on-campus and online for Spring 2020.

CSCC is the College System of Tennessee’s College of the Year for 2019. The local institution received the Statewide Outstanding Achievement Recognition, or SOAR, Award after being named the College of the Year honor during an awards ceremony last March. The College System of Tennessee is the state’s largest public higher education system, with 13 community colleges, 27 colleges of applied technology and the online TN eCampus serving more than 110,000 students.