Landon Thomas

Virtual School

Landon is a Freshman in Maureen Clark’s Computer Science ​Foundations class. He has been competing in the 2023-2024 ​Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Competition. Landon’s application ​project, “Learning Computers on the Spectrum”, is designed to ​help students with varying needs learn computer components ​and computer functions. Landon was originally a Tennessee state ​finalist and winner of at $2,500 prize pack. We have just been ​notified he has won the Tennessee State Competition and $12,000 ​worth of Samsung technology! He is now competing to become ​one of 10 National Finalists.

Abby DeMaria

Hunter Middle School

Harrison Bay Learning Community

Abby won 1st place in the Annual Poster Contest at the District Level, for ​all of Chattanooga! Her entry will go on to represent our school at the ​STATE LEVEL! A print of Abby's entry is on display in the main hallway ​gallery at Hunter Middle School. This year's contest theme, again, is ​"Dare to Dream". Abby says, “My painting was of a key hole because it ​shows what the world could be, compared to the world we live in now. It ​also shows what the world could be like if we all worked together. I ​wanted to represent what my vision of the world is like and what it can ​be.” Hunter Middle School Art Teacher, Kent Peggram, says, “Almost ​every day, Abby comes to the classroom with a resilient dedication to ​learning and deepening her understanding of both compositional and ​conceptual creativity. She openly helps students around her, after ​making sure she has submitted her best work. Abby is not afraid to ask ​questions or seek critique. She understands the value of study and ​practice, as well as empathetic support for students who may need ​assistance. Abby actively works with special needs students, offering ​patient support.”

Alexa Rodriguez Artega

East Ridge High School

Missionary Ridge Learning Community

Alexa wants to be the boss! She grew up with several family ​members working in construction and running their own ​construction businesses. She’s seen the results of dedicated work ​from a young age, her dad built her bedroom and fixes everything ​around the house which sparked her interest in being able to do ​those things herself. At the Construction Career Center this year, ​she’s in the first-year class in which students get an overview of ​each facet of building construction, soft skills lessons on how to ​work with others and how to be a good employee and coworker, ​and a strong background in how to safely work in the field. Alexa ​plans to use this knowledge to be a good manager or business ​owner – she ultimately wants to work in the office, but she wants ​to have the skills to work alongside her future employees and ​hold them to high standards!

Jun Park

Chattanooga High School Center for ​Creative Arts (CCA)

Rock Point Learning Community

Jun has attended CCA since the sixth grade as a strings major. Although Jun ​has always given the impression that he is an ordinary, carefree, fun-loving ​young man, there is much more to him than meets the eye. Jun has a drive to ​excel that is far beyond ordinary.

Jun's parents raised him with a deep understanding of the value of education ​and the importance of taking advantage of every opportunity available to him. ​When he was an eighth-grade student, he did a study abroad semester in ​Ecuador, very unusual for such a young student. In high school he maintained ​a near perfect GPA and focused himself on his future goal of a future career in ​Computer Science. In addition to his extracurricular commitment to his chosen ​instrumental major, Jun spent his spare time on all things computer science, ​coding, and web development. His junior year in high school, Jun applied to ​participate in QuestBridge Prep Scholars, a competitive college preparation ​intensive for high achieving students. He was accepted to the program and ​learned everything he could about the college application process, and about ​the QuestBridge Match Scholarship Program, a highly competitive program ​providing students with a four-year full ride to participating QuestBridge ​partner schools.

Jun's hard work and focus on his goals paid off for him and his family when he ​was selected as a finalist and matched with Oberlin College in Ohio.

Ava Myhan

Collegiate High School

Workforce Development and College Schools

Learning Community

Ava has taken advantage of all Collegiate and its partnership with Chattanooga State has to offer. She is graduating a year early with both her high school diploma and an Associate’s Degree. Ava is currently the Chief Justice of the Student Government Association for Chattanooga State and is the Secretary for the Rocket Club. She represented Chattanooga State at the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature as a lobbyist and where she was nominated as TSAC student representative. In her years at Collegiate she has also served on the Advisory Council, represented Chattanooga State at the Scopes Trial, has worked at the coffee shop on campus, is a math tutor and has completed over 1200 hours of volunteer service. She exemplifies the well rounded student who has made the most of the opportunities available to her.

Ta’Sean Honeysucker

Chattanooga High School Center for ​Creative Arts (CCA)

Rock Point Learning Community

Ta’Sean Honeysucker is a true success story, and a testament to the ​importance arts education plays in a student’s life. Currently a junior, ​Ta’Sean is a dance major at CCA. While his talent is obvious the moment ​you see him perform, the creativity, ingenuity, and determination that ​comes from within is something that makes Ta’Sean truly unique, ​inspiring, and resolute. Ta’Sean has worked with perseverance and drive ​to overcome many obstacles that most teens do not encounter, and has ​consistently done so with grace and maturity. For example, despite ​losing both his stepfather and mother in the same year, he was able to ​use his creativity to channel that experience into a poignant, beautiful ​piece of choreography that he dedicated to his mother. Later that same ​year, he auditioned, was selected, and was able to participate in a ​summer ballet intensive at the prestigious Houston Ballet, one of many ​summer intensive programs that offered him a position. Since then, he ​has consistently continued to choreograph, to perform, and to inspire ​others, while also remaining kind and supportive to his fellow dancers.

Eder Garduna (left) & Marvin ​Bautista (right)

East Ridge High School

Missionary Ridge Learning Community

Edder and Marvin are friends from East Ridge HS. They both have been students in HCDE since Elementary School. They enrolled in the Construction Career Center last year in the first class the program was offered. They are now in their second year at the CCC. They are both straight-A students in the Construction classes they have taken. Eder is friendly, hard-working, confident, and likes what he is studying. He wanted to be a framing contractor when he first arrived, but he has become interested in learning all he can about Plumbing, Electrical Wiring, HVAC, and Heavy Equipment operation as well. He now realizes he has what it takes to be a project manager shortly, with additional study and on-the-job experience. Fortunately for both, our dual enrollment program with Chattanooga State Community College will provide them with an Associate Degree in Construction Technology if they attend for one more semester after HS graduation. Not only are they graduating from HS with real trade skills, but they also will have a chance to get a college degree by attending our post-secondary program for only one semester! Marvin is also friendly & hard working. He is a "thinker " with a flair for design. He discovered while attending the Construction Career Center that he enjoys drawing blueprints and working with CAD software. He bought a new high-powered computer, and his teacher gave him access to his personal CAD software (legally) so he could do high-end designs/blueprints at home. His teacher gives him assignments to draw, pushing him to do harder and harder things. Marvin wants to become an Architect. His teacher at CCC believes he has what it takes.

Gracie (left) and Steaven ​(right) Rogers

Harrison Bay Future Ready Center

Workforce Development and College Schools Learning Community

Gracie and Steaven Rogers are shining examples of what happens when students ​discover their true passions. As freshmen, the Roger’s Twins desired an environment ​that would challenge them to grow and thrive. Gracie is the younger, quieter, and more ​reserved of the two, and she knew she wanted to become an engineer. Steaven, the ​older sibling, was unsure of what pathway he would take. “My sister and I couldn’t be ​more opposite,” Steaven said, “but we’ve both had a good experience at Harrison Bay.”

Gracie is the lead designer in the student enterprise, Dimensional Printing. Her ​leadership has led to an expansion of the program and its capabilities. While in the ​Work Based Learning program, she has become a shift leader supervising other ​employees. Gracie is heavily involved in Skills USA and is a 2x Gold Medalist in ​Engineering Technology with projects supported by NASA and Rubbermaid. She has ​earned the SolidWorks industry certification, and is attempting the SolidWorks ​Professional Certification this semester. She plans to use the TN Promise program and ​matriculate to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville to pursue a career in mechanical ​engineering.

Steaven has earned one industry certification and is currently working on two others. ​He will have earned half of his NCCER certification while still in high school. He plans to ​apprentice at Miller Industries, a Harrison Bay FRC partner while continuing post-​secondary training. “I’ve taught both of these students, and I have been rewarded ​seeing two different students thrive,” noted Angela Hudson, sophomore and senior ​English teacher. “This program offers so many ways for students to explore and find ​their passion. I’m so happy to be part of it.”

Jessica Rocha

STEM School

Workforce Development and College Schools Learning Community

Jessica Rocha Rocha, a junior whose journey through academia is nothing short of ​inspiring. From her early days in high school at STEM School Chattanooga, to her ​current role as a digital fabrication intern at the Global Center for Digital Innovation ​(GCDI) and a school culture leader, Jessica has consistently demonstrated exceptional ​leadership and a passion for innovation. Jessica's academic journey began with a ​profound interest in technology and its potential to drive positive change. As a ​student, Jessica not only excelled academically, she implemented initiatives to foster ​a more inclusive and supportive school environment. Her proficiency in digital ​fabrication opened doors to exciting opportunities, both within and outside the ​academic realm. Jessica became a go-to resource for her peers and teachers, sharing ​her knowledge and passion for technology. She assisted teachers from across the ​county and students in accomplishing projects and accessing digital fabrication. She ​collaborated on innovative projects, pushing the boundaries of what could be ​achieved through digital fabrication. She championed diversity and inclusion, ​organizing events that celebrated the unique talents and backgrounds of her fellow ​students. She helped design a sensory motor skills gym and toys for children at the ​Siskin Center. Today, Jessica stands as a testament to the power of combining ​leadership, innovation, and a genuine commitment to positive change. Her journey ​from a high school student with a passion for technology to a digital fabrication ​specialist and school culture leader serves as an inspiration to those who aspire to ​make a meaningful impact in their academic and professional pursuits. As Jessica ​continues to evolve in her leadership, she remains dedicated to pushing boundaries, ​fostering a positive school culture, and empowering others to embrace their ​potential.

Morgan Wyatt

University High

Workforce Development and College SchoolsLearning Community

Wyatt is a junior thriving in the University High program at UTC. A ​year ago, Morgan Wyatt knew she wanted to go to college and ​pursue a career in the medical field. The problem was that Wyatt, ​then a Chattanooga area high school sophomore, was wrestling with ​the secondary school experience. It wasn’t exactly her thing, she says.

“I was actually considering homeschooling for the rest of high school ​so that I could just get it over with. It just wasn’t fitting for me and I ​didn’t really enjoy school. Around that time, University High was ​introduced. Once I heard about this, I was, like, ‘I have to get in.’”

This academic year, Wyatt and 55 other high school juniors are part of ​the initial cohort of students attending University High, a ​collaboration of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and ​Hamilton County Schools.

Jaeda Jackson

East Hamilton High School

Harrison Bay Learning Community

Jaeda is an outstanding senior leader at East Hamilton. She serves as ​the yearbook Editor in Chief for the second year in a row, as well as ​the Executive Producer for our Otis in the A.M. AV production of our ​morning announcements. She is president of the Peer Ambassadors ​Club, a student leader with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and a ​member of the National Honor Society. This past summer she ​participated in Governor's School for humanities at the University of ​Tennessee, Martin, creating lifelong friendships and goals/aspirations ​to continue in the field. She has been accepted to and plans to attend ​Middle Tennessee State University in the fall of 2024.

MarQuisean Slaughter

Tyner Academy

Missionary Ridge Learning Community

MarQuisean is a proud member of the class of 2024. He enrolled with the Graduation Success Program during his junior year with the goal of getting on track for graduation. He recently met that goal as he completed his final course. MarQuisean reports that the non-traditional environment offered by GSP allowed him to focus on academics with fewer distractions and more one on one support from teachers. He plans to pursue an education in music and business.

Brentlea Rodgers

Sale Creek High School

North River Learning Community

Brentlea is a half-day student at Early Tech at Sequoyah and Sale Creek Middle High School. Brentlea is an exceptional young lady in our TCAT Cosmetology. One of the things that makes Brentlea unique is that not only is she smart and a talented Cosmetology student, she is a skilled fisherman! She has represented Sale Creek in many tournaments over the past two years and competed in the High School National Bassmasters Tournament.

Kenaysha Hall

Brainerd High School

MidTown Learning Community

Kenaysha is a part of our Legacybox Academy and likes the ability ​to work at her own pace on her academics and earn a paycheck ​for her work in the receiving department. She says she really ​enjoys the cooking classes and the workshops on money ​management. Kenaysha is very dependable and easy to work ​with. She really likes the people she works with and is always ​willing to help when needed. Kenaysha is saving her paycheck to ​purchase a car.

Harrison Stoll

East Hamilton High School

Harrison Bay Learning Community

Harrison was homeschooled before coming to EHHS halfway through ​his sophomore year. His mom says he is thriving here at EHHS. He has ​only played trumpet for a few years—none in middle school grades -- ​but recently made All-State, ranking 4th in the East TN Region. He now ​plans to major in music.

Jonathan Short

Central High School

Harrison Bay Learning Community

Sofia Kim

Collegiate High School

Workforce Development and College Schools ​Learning Community