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The Pioneer Press

Graduation brings a closing chapter and new beginnings

Graduation is an exciting time when students close one chapter in life and begin a new one. Vol State graduates have put in the work and passed the tests. No one did it for them, and they can be proud. This landmark in their lives demonstrates their ability to succeed. Each student can share stories of their struggles and how they persevered along the way.

A college education is much more than a path to a good career. Whether students are heading off to a four-year college or going into the workforce, the hope is that students will consider their college days as just the beginning of a lifetime of continued learning. Our society needs people who remain students of history and are well-informed of current events to critically think through today’s biased media narratives and social media hype.

New tree is dedicated to honors professors for a class project

By Gloria Cortes

A group from Volunteer State Community College’s Honors Leadership Development (HUM-275) course planted and dedicated a tree to class professors Nancy Blomgren and Julie Morgan for a project April 18.

The group members consisted of these Vol State students: Giulia Giordani, Tony Chioccio, Rachel Keyes, EJ Avery, Brianna Hogan, Esteban Sanchez, Lauren Buchanan, Gloria Cortes, Karla Majano, and Mindy Donsbach.

The class’ assignment was to make a positive, tangible, lasting (not necessarily permanent) mark on campus without using money.

Vol State Financial Aid director Sue Pedigo retires after 48 years

By Katelyn Marshall

Financial Aid Director Sue Pedigo is this week’s faculty spotlight.

Pedigo has been a charter member of the first employees at Vol State and has been in the Financial Aid office for the entire 48 years that she has been at Vol State.

Pedigo is a Vol State graduate. She is married, has two children and six grandchildren.

Vol State Students Win in Statewide Job Skills Competition Conference through SkillsUSA from

By Allyson Oakley

Students from Volunteer State Community College competed in the State Leadership and Skills Conference through SkillsUSA from March 31 – April 3.
The students competed at the local level, according to the SkillsUSA website. From there, students can advance to the state and national levels.

Cindy Thrasher, assistant professor of communication, was quoted in an email saying, “We are excited that our students have such a broad spectrum of areas of expertise. They competed not only in technical areas, but also in Leadership areas like Public Speaking and Interviewing.”

Overall, thirteen VSCC students competed, out of which 8 brought home medals.

Vol State to host tribute to Albert Brumley

By Katelyn Marshall

Volunteer State Community College will present a tribute concert for music composer Albert Brumley Tuesday, April 16 at 7-9 p.m., in the Wemyss Auditorium in Caudill Hall. The tribute is free and open to everyone. No tickets are required. Jackson Brumley, the son of Albert Brumley, will be a special guest.

Brumley was born in Spiro, Oklahoma in 1905, in what was then Oklahoma Territory. According to Jackson Brumley, at a young age Albert Brumley attended the Hartford School of Music and went on to teach music throughout the south.

Jackson Brumley said his father, Albert Brumley, first got the idea of what is perhaps his most famous song, “I’ll Fly Away,” while picking cotton in an Oklahoma cotton patch, and it was first published in 1932.

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