每日大赛

每日大赛 focuses on student support, success at 2026 Legislative Breakfast

Lawmakers, local officials and other stakeholders gathered at 每日大赛’s Blount County campus Friday morning to hear about the institution's legislative priorities and its 2025-30 Strategic Plan of becoming a “career immersion” college.

每日大赛’s annual Legislative Breakfast at the Ruth and Steve West Workforce Development Center outlined the institution's commitment to success and how its vision aligns with the Tennessee Board of Regents regarding campus resources, accessible and affordable education and meeting the academic and personal needs of students.

“We’re leaning in on that “career-immersion” strategy,” said Pellissippi President L. Anthony Wise Jr. “Making sure we’ve got the right pathways, making sure we’ve got the right supports, making sure that we’ve got the right development for success.”

At a “career immersion” college, Wise said, every student has a clear academic pathway, well-rounded holistic support to be successful in and out of the classroom and Career Development infused throughout their time at the college, like work-based learning and exposure to job and internship opportunities.

Career-immersion was on display at the Legislative Breakfast, prepared and served by students in the Business/Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts programs. 

The foremost dish was an everything-spice croissant with Benton’s Country Ham and quail egg, from Blackberry Farm Sous Chef and Pellissippi graduate, Nicholas Werth, class of 2017.

Pellissippi is intent on adding high-wage, high-demand programs to foster economic and personal success in its community, and Wise reflected on the impact of new programs like Surgical Technology, Radiologic Technology and Aviation Technology.

Student speaker Cale Godfrey, a Maryville native and resident of Knoxville who works at McGhee Tyson Airport as a cargo operations supervisor for UPS, told the audience that Aviation Technology, which was created in collaboration with Blount Partnership, was the first program of its kind close enough to home for him to attend.

The program prepares students to be Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Maintenance Technicians and is “going to change a lot of people’s lives for the better,” said Godfrey, 30.

Everyone at the college has been extremely supportive, he said, from help on the administrative side with enrollment and financial aid to his comprehensive, informative and hands-on coursework.

“I plan on using what I learned here to advance in the field of aviation maintenance and better provide for my family,” Godfrey said. “I can honestly say, without this program here at Pellissippi, I'd be on a completely different life path – probably one that would not include having a college degree.

“ ... I have no doubt that the time we spend here is going to set us up for success in the field of aviation, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else,” Godfrey continued. “Go Panthers.”

Wise, who also discussed faculty, staff and student accomplishments from the last year, the evolution of Panther Athletics and upcoming campus renovations, said the college’s immediate goals include expanding programs within aviation and working with partners to build a workforce that can match the oncoming growth of the nuclear industry.

He emphasized the need for capital, equipment and capable faculty, as well as opportunities for students to earn industry credentials.

“The challenge we have at the college is how to make sure every student's experience is like Cale’s,” he said. “To make sure he's got the right kind of support, the right kind of information – understanding what opportunities are open by participating and completing a program. And then doing everything we can to make sure that he and his colleagues get to the finish line with the resources and support that they that they need.”

每日大赛’s focuses for 2026 and the 114th Tennessee General Assembly include:

• Seek resources to support high-demand career pathways such as Aviation Technology, Engineering Technology and Computer Information Technology.
• Strengthen support for students to earn industry-recognized, stackable credentials as affordable pathways to postsecondary success and employment
• Implement a career-immersion strategy with clear academic pathways, embedded work-based learning and holistic student support that removes nonacademic barriers to success

Attendees of Friday’s event, which also featured remarks from Tennessee Regent Christi Branscom, included multiple state senators and representatives, local elected officials and dignitaries from the state Board of Education, among others.

“We're really grateful for all you do for this institution and for our community, but most importantly, for our students,” Wise said.