TVEC Cohort Graduates from Cleveland State

TVEC Cohort Graduates from Cleveland State

Napierra Alexander
Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:00 AM
All, Press Releases, Community, Academics, Students

CLEVELAND, Tenn. - What started as a new way to look at education six years ago, has now generated the third group of graduates from the Tennessee Valley Early College (TVEC) at Cleveland State Community College.

The TVEC at Cleveland State is a partnership program between the college and local school systems designed to allow students to pursue college credit at the same time they are earning a high school diploma. This goal is achieved by engaging students in a rigorous high school curriculum tied to the incentive of earning college credit during their freshman and sophomore years and of taking traditional college courses on CSCC’s campus during their junior and senior years.

“The Tennessee Valley Early College Class of 2022 has been through a variety of challenges and not only found a way to persevere, but to use lessons learned as a foundation for lifelong learning,” stated Kelli Roach, Director of Admissions and Records at CSCC. “This special group of students has unique college goals and career plans that will greatly benefit the world in new ways. They deserve to be celebrated for achieving their goal of graduating with an associate degree at the same time they are graduating high school. To say I am proud of these students is an understatement because their grit also evokes encouragement for well-rounded individuals in society and gratitude that I was able to learn alongside them. Congratulations Class of 2022 - you have earned it!”

The value of early college programs at improving student learning is supported by national research which has shown that students engaged in this model of instruction are significantly more likely to earn college degrees than other students while at the same time accruing less educational debt and having the opportunity to begin their careers early (thus having the opportunity for higher lifetime earnings).

“It seems like yesterday that I was negotiating to start the Tennessee Valley Early College as part of our Community First Strategic Plan,” stated Dr. Bill Seymour, CSCC President. “Now, we have our largest enrollment with students from three high schools. Those graduating in this cohort have put themselves two years ahead of their peers.  TVEC serves as an accelerator that puts our students at great advantage in their educational and career pursuits.”

Cleveland State would like to recognize the members of the third graduating class of Tennessee Valley Early College who have now completed all requirements for their associate degrees:

Emma Ratcliff from Cleveland High School, will graduate from the TVEC program with a University Parallel, Associate of Science degree. She plans to attend Tennessee Wesleyan to receive a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Special Education, then go on to receive a master's degree in Leadership. After college, she would like to teach second grade students. 

Faith Griffin was homeschooled and will graduate from the TVEC program with a University Parallel, Associate of Science degree. She loves to educate and service others to enhance their beauty. After graduating from Cleveland State, she plans to attend Chattanooga College's Medical Esthetician Program. 

Gavin McCray from Cleveland High School, will graduate from the TVEC program with a University Parallel, Associate of Science degree. He will be attending the University of Tennessee Chattanooga (UTC) for nursing. After graduation, he’s thinking of a career in nursing or as a commercial airline pilot.


Jeremiah Ippolito from Cleveland High School, will graduate from the TVEC program with a University Parallel, Associate of Science degree. He wants to major in Chemical Engineering at UTC. Eventually, he potentially wants to work in the pharmaceutical field.


Jonathan Heralus from Cleveland High School, will graduate from the TVEC program with a University Parallel, Associate of Science degree. He has committed to playing football at the University of Cumberlands and majoring in exercise science. Heralus loves helping people and is passionate about making them feel better however he can. He plans to work hard enough to get into the NFL, and then become a physical therapist.


Malaquias Rivera from Cleveland High School, will graduate from the TVEC program with a University Parallel, Associate of Science degree. He plans to get a bachelor’s in Political Science, then go to law school. After law school, Rivera wants to join the Marine Corps to become a JAG, practice military law until contract is up, and then join the USMC Reserves. He plans to practice law in the civilian world, but also in the military.


Sarah Freeman from Cleveland High School, will graduate from the TVEC program with a University Parallel, Associate of Science degree. She will be attending UTC to major in Nursing. After graduation, she hopes to work at a hospital and specialize in pediatric oncology.


Sarah Lamberth from Cleveland High School, will graduate from the TVEC program with a University Parallel, Associate of Science degree. She will be attending the University of Memphis to obtain a doctorate in Psychology. Lamberth’s desire is to go into the research field to find groundbreaking information in human psychology. 


Victoria Norris from Cleveland High School, will graduate from the TVEC program with a University Parallel, Associate of Science degree. She wants to pursue a career in cosmetology. After her cosmetology career, Norris wants to return to school to become a dialectical behavior therapist.

For more information on the Tennessee Valley Early College Program, contact the Early College Office at earlycollege@clevelandstatecc.edu. For more information on Cleveland State Community College, visit the website at clevelandstatecc.edu or email clscc_info@clevelandstatecc.edu. If you are interested in applying, visit mycs.cc/applynow. Students are currently enrolled online and on-campus through the CSCC main campus in Cleveland, Tennessee, as well as CSCC’s Athens Center in Athens, Tennessee and Monroe County Center in Vonore, Tennessee.

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