How Chattanooga Football Club is celebrating Chattanooga State Community College students

Woman wearing graduation cap reading "I didn't give up"

Meet 2 adult Chattanooga State Community College students who went back to school + thrived | Photo via ChattState

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As we re-emerge from a year of isolation, what better time to celebrate the value of community? Chattanooga State Community College is doing that via a new partnership with Chattanooga Football Club, telling the stories of its students during 7 matches this season. ⚽

Meet the first 2 ChattState students to be spotlighted: Deborah Hale + Zennia Nemith.

Meet Deborah Hale:

  • Featured at CFC’s May 29 game, Deborah was awarded the Statewide Outstanding Achievement & Recognition (SOAR) Student of the Year.
  • The mother of 4 children returned to college after 32 years to pursue a degree in Early Childhood Education.
  • She is a 4.0 student + finds time to participate in campus activities, including Phi Theta Kappa, Spire Honor Society for Non-Traditional Students, and the C.AD.R.E. Adult Student Club.
  • #FeelGood: Deborah inspired her daughter Emmaline to enroll at Chattanooga State last fall.
  • Read Deborah’s full story here.

Meet Zennia Nesmith:

  • Featured at CFC’s June 19 game, Zennia has excelled academically with a 4.0 GPA + made the Dean’s List this spring. 
  • She was recognized for her outstanding achievements at the Hats Off to Excellence awards ceremony on April 29, 2021, also receiving the Outstanding Services to Student Government Association Award and the Psychology Club Officer Service Award. 
  • Like Deborah, Zennia is a member of the C.AD.R.E. Adult Student Club — she’s also President of both the Psychology Club + the Social Justice Club.
Selfie of Zennia Nesmith

Zennia Nesmith | Photo provided by ChattState

Want to keep the inspo going? Meet more adults who have gone back to school and thrived.

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