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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, \u201cLance 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\u2019s the first to volunteer and the last one to leave each day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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, \u201cWhile 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe exposure to all the possibilities from learning technical skills to networking with like-minded people within our particular field is unparalleled, in my opinion,\u201d Paschal said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the new TCAT-Shelbyville nears completion, Paschal said, \u201cI\u2019m 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. \u201cGreat 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n TCAT Shelbyville strives to stay in tune with \u2014 or ahead of \u2014 the learning curve of innovation. For those interested in enrolling, Paschal said, \u201cI believe skills can be learned, but it\u2019s those who take certain values seriously alongside a purpose, who excel. Integrity, discipline, and creativity are big for me. As long as you\u2019re doing what you love to do, the interests of what you\u2019re passionate about will inevitably push you to new and greater limits for yourself and for the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI see myself contributing to an \u2018engine\u2019 on a daily basis. The \u2018engine\u2019 being a company that I really enjoy working for. And, since I love racing and making things go fast\u2026 maybe I\u2019ll 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\u2019ve helped, and that I helped those who have helped me along the way as well. May the cup of our creativity and collaborations overflow!\u201d GN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information on TCAT, visit www.tcatshelbyville.edu.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":24198,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/shelbyville\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/09\/2-4-1024x683.jpg\")