THE TENNESSEE College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Higher Education Center at 2905 Highway 231 N. should be completed before the end of the year. The state financed this $45.4 million project through funding by the Tennessee General Assembly. Their contributions, combined with a team effort between the city of Shelbyville and Bedford County, which purchased the 20 acres, were an investment in our future workforce. The limited space at the current TCAT Shelbyville campus on Madison Street caused students to be added to a waiting list before registering for classes.
This first phase of the new campus includes two buildings: a two-story state-of-the- art academic building and a one-story industrial workshop building that wraps around a beautifully landscaped courtyard. The academic building will house classrooms, student services, administration offices, a multi-use atrium, and a commons area that will include dining options. The rear building is where hands-on learning will ignite the skills needed for students to thrive in a competitive workforce. Industrial and commercial degrees offered include welding, automotive technology, industrial maintenance, practical nursing, information technology, heating, ventilation, air conditioning/refrigeration, and many others.
Full-time classes are available, with several part-time courses offered in the evenings, allowing students of all ages to learn while they earn. High school students who receive approval from parents and school counselors can enroll in the dual enrollment program, allowing seniors to graduate with credits toward their prospective degrees. At the end of the last academic year, TCAT awarded diplomas to 326 students, and 89% of them found jobs in their fields of study; all graduated debt-free.
Though teachers encourage every student to dive in and do their very best, Lance Paschal, who is enrolled in the machine tool program, stands out. TCAT President Jimmy Wright said, “Lance Paschal is a remarkable young man. His leadership skills are truly impressive. He consistently supports his fellow students and takes on leadership roles when others are seeking help. He’s the first to volunteer and the last one to leave each day.”
Over the last five years, Paschal, who is a graduate of Community High School, has owned and operated a landscaping business. Racing, sports, and being outdoors fueled his soul for a while, but he longed to squeeze more out of life. In 2024, he enrolled in the welding program at TCAT in Franklin County. Paschal said, “While I was there, I worked alongside the machine shop and constantly found myself interested in what they were doing. I realized this field was something I definitely wanted to pursue.”
He originally planned to pursue a welding degree, but he was hooked after observing the machinists as they dreamed up projects and completed them. Mingling with other students and being exposed to what others were being taught in their fields was one of the greatest assets to him.
“The exposure to all the possibilities from learning technical skills to networking with like-minded people within our particular field is unparalleled, in my opinion,” Paschal said.
As the new TCAT-Shelbyville nears completion, Paschal said, “I’m most excited about all of the new toys! Of course, I mean the facilities and the machines. I believe fresh resources make a big difference in interest and innovation.”
Family is important to Paschal. He credits his dad, uncles, and cousins as being influential in his life. He also praises the leadership at TCAT Shelbyville. “Great leadership in someone comes from being a beacon of extra effort, integrity, and selflessness. I believe if someone is willing to go the extra mile day in and day out, do things with all their heart, and be a part of a team, and they always help the team, then they are definitely a leader. They can be a powerful force, especially when they know when to take a step forward and when to take a step back.”
TCAT Shelbyville strives to stay in tune with — or ahead of — the learning curve of innovation. For those interested in enrolling, Paschal said, “I believe skills can be learned, but it’s those who take certain values seriously alongside a purpose, who excel. Integrity, discipline, and creativity are big for me. As long as you’re doing what you love to do, the interests of what you’re passionate about will inevitably push you to new and greater limits for yourself and for the industry.”
Now that he has discovered his lifelong calling to become a machinist, his future is as bright as the steady blue flame illuminating the tip of his welding torch.
“I see myself contributing to an ‘engine’ on a daily basis. The ‘engine’ being a company that I really enjoy working for. And, since I love racing and making things go fast… maybe I’ll be working on actual engines. I would love to know that I had a positive impact on the industry somehow, and on those close to me whom I’ve helped, and that I helped those who have helped me along the way as well. May the cup of our creativity and collaborations overflow!” GN
For more information on TCAT, visit www.tcatshelbyville.edu.
