South College Pathways: Inspiring Futures

Before earning her associate degree at South College, Chaquita previously completed a Certified Nursing Assistant program and a degree in general studies from another institution. When Chaquitta decided to continue her education in nursing, finding a school with online learning options was essential—especially as a single mother of two young daughters and an active duty soldier in the US Army.

“At the time, I was only looking for online courses,” she says. “I loved that South College offered 10-week courses with no break, so I could stay focused and finish the prerequisites I needed.”

While she was a student, Chaquitta’s instructors challenged and pushed her to do her best, especially her Anatomy and Physiology teacher. “He didn’t pass out any grades, and I truly feel like I earned all four of the A’s I received in his class. He is a certified medical doctor, and it was such a joy to have him.”

Despite her busy schedule with work, family, and school, Chaquitta’s hard work placed her on either the Dean’s List or the President’s List throughout her time at South College.

After finishing her associate degree, Chaquitta was deployed overseas for nine months. When she returns, she plans to resume her studies and earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. “I have now completed all of the courses that I need to apply to the upper-level division of the nursing program,” she says. “I’m ready to take the next step to becoming a registered nurse.”

“An MSN with a Concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner is a well-rounded degree,” he says. “I needed a dynamic degree that not only shaped me as an independent provider but also exposed me to the business and legal components of healthcare.”

Kenneth initially started an MSN program at another university. However, he struggled with the lack of assistance, feedback, and direction in the program. After one semester, he transferred to South College based on the recommendation of a friend.

“The structure at South College was more aligned with my learning needs, leading to my success within the program,” he says. “With South College, you not only get the academic experience but also a holistic experience. From admissions to my professors, each team member was responsive, encouraging, and motivating.”

Today, Kenneth is a Health Center Group Manager and Nurse Practitioner at Progressive Health in Tennessee. There, he manages patient cases with a focus on cost and quality of care. He also coordinates communication across sites, works with vendors and consultants, and helps create standard operating procedures along with various project plans, timelines, and budgets.

Kenneth is also part of the National Society of Leadership and Success, the Association of Occupational Health Nurses, and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Kenneth is a committed believer in lifelong learning. Beyond his MSN from South College, he holds ASN, RN-BSN, and MBA degrees. He’s also working on a Six Sigma Green Belt. In the future, he plans to take the Certified Case Manager and the Certified Associate in Project Management exams as well.

It seems like this South College graduate is not slowing down anytime soon—and that his impact on the healthcare field and his patients is bound to keep growing!

Brittany enjoyed her time as a nursing student at South College, especially in the courses and labs that gave her hands-on experience. Her clinicals and preceptors were some of the main highlights of the program. She also deeply appreciated the ongoing support of her instructors.

“I felt like I could go to any of my professors for help and they would take time out of their day to help me,” she says. “I attended many sessions outside of class just to get a subject down. The one-on-one learning was a big hit for me.”

After graduating, Brittany moved across the state to Nashville, where she now works as a Registered Nurse at Saint Thomas Midtown Surgery Center. She provides patient care, helps with surgery preparation, supplies, and documentation, and advocates for surgery patients.

Being a full-time student in the Associate of Science in Radiography program while working full-time wasn’t easy. Still, Josh persisted with the help and encouragement of those around him. “Returning to school was one of the hardest things I have done. I was either in class, clinic, work, or doing homework,” he recalls. “I thankfully had dedicated professors and a supportive wife to help me through.”

After graduating, Josh got a job at the hospital that had been his favorite clinical site during the program. Eventually, he met the doctor whose private practice Josh now works for as an X-ray technologist. In this role, he provides quality imaging while operating a C-arm to aid the doctor in pain management. He also keeps the procedure room stocked and clean, updates patient charts with current images, and provides care to X-ray patients. “This has been the best job I have ever had,” Josh says.

Kaleb’s passion for the field stems in part from his own time as an athlete. “My love for working out and exploring how the body moves and heals naturally aligned with the challenges and rewards of physical therapy,” he says. “The profession offers the perfect combination of intellectual rigor, problem-solving, and the opportunity to help others overcome obstacles and rediscover their strength, both physically and mentally.”

Today, Kaleb is an American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Board-Certified Sports Clinical Specialist. Other certifications include Emergency Response for the Athlete, Basic Life Support, Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach, Champion Performance Therapy and Training Specialist, and Level 1 Dry Needling. He is also a featured speaker at the 2025 Elite Rehab Football Conference.

“South College prepared me for success in my career by providing an exceptional learning environment led by passionate and knowledgeable professors who left a lasting impression on me. Their dedication to the field and commitment to fostering growth in their students inspired me to strive for excellence,” he says. “Additionally, the program’s accelerated two-year format, compared to the traditional three years, was an incredible opportunity to fast-track my career without compromising the depth or rigor of my training.”

Lily first worked at the hospital in acute care as a South College student while doing her level II fieldwork. For Lily, the time spent in the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program at South College was a pivotal part of her life. “The teachers and members of my cohort instantly felt like family and were always there to support me,” she says. “I saw myself grow into the person I’ve always wanted to be.”

While in the program, Lily was president of the Student Occupational Therapy Assistant (SOTA) club. Along with her peers, she volunteered at numerous organizations working with the patient populations OTAs provide care for. In the classroom and outside of it, Lily always felt at home in the OTA program.

“Faculty and staff at South College were so kind, welcoming, and warm. My instructors were wonderful. They pushed me to think outside the box, get out of my comfort zone, and develop leadership skills that have carried over in my career. I’m so thankful for each of them!” she says. “They were and still are some of my greatest cheerleaders.”

Today, Lily is thankful for how much she enjoys her work and how rewarding it is to support the therapy team. “I’ve always wanted to help people, but I just needed to find in what capacity,” she says. “This is, without a doubt, where I’m supposed to be!”

“From my first interaction with the school, it was clear that I wasn’t just another number. I was seen, heard, and genuinely supported. That personal connection made all the difference,” says Kimberly. “I built close relationships with many of my instructors, and I’m grateful to still stay connected with many of them.”

In 2020, Kimberly completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, graduating at the top of her class and landing a role at a Level 2 trauma center after passing her NCLEX exam. There, she cared for people with high-risk pregnancies and honed her skills as a labor and delivery nurse, finding immense joy and purpose even on the toughest days.

“South College not only laid the groundwork for my success but also helped me step into my calling with clarity and purpose,” she says. “The program helped me connect the dots between foundational nursing knowledge and real-world application, equipping me with the confidence to excel in my field.”

After two years, Kimberly decided to expand her horizons by traveling as a nurse. Most recently, she has joined an OBGYN office to continue growing her knowledge of women’s health.

Outside of nursing, Kimberly is active in her church and leads a Christian women’s group. She is also the founder of Knitted in Love Co. This business supports families through childbirth education classes and curated baby shower baskets. “It’s my mission to create a space where expectant parents feel seen, heard, and prepared as they step into this transformative season of life,” she says.

“I decided to become a PT when I was 12 years old,” she shares. “I was very active in sports and riding horses, and I suffered an injury when thrown from a horse. I then went to PT myself and decided that is what I wanted to do.”

Other than physical therapy, the only career Madison ever considered was hospice nursing after having two family members who received hospice care. “Though hospice and home health are very different, they have many similarities. I feel as if watching those nurses provide care in their homes, also pushed me to the home health setting,” she says.

Before attending South College, Madison received an associate degree in health and human performance and a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology. She chose the South College Knoxville PT program largely because of its hybrid format. “This was so beneficial for me and my soon-to-be family to be able to work on my degree from home and then travel to labs,” she says.

Madison was also attracted to the quality of the Physical Therapy program and its focus on new models and methods of improving patient care. ”South pushed us to be the very best in the field,” she says. “I always describe South’s faculty as heavy hitters. We had highly recognized leaders in the PT world pouring their knowledge and skill into us. We couldn’t have been any luckier!”

“I have always been partial to caring for and treating people in a rural community setting,” she says. “I really love what I do. It’s crazy at times, but I have learned so much this past year working. I feel like I learn something new each day.”

In addition to working at the clinic, Isabella gives back through events like the city’s One Day of Hope. “It’s a day where the community comes together to give free groceries, clothes, medical care, and dental and vision screenings,” she explains.

Before enrolling in the School of Physician Assistant Studies at South College, Isabella earned an undergraduate degree in kinesiology. She also worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) to gain experience in healthcare. As a PA, Isabella now diagnoses and treats chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, anxiety disorder, ADHD, and depression. She also cares for basic urgent needs, such as urinary tract infections, kidney stones, lacerations, bronchitis, pneumonia, and orthopedic strains or sprains.

“I got a great education at South. All my professors were amazing. They genuinely cared for all of us and wanted to see us succeed,” she says. “I was absolutely prepared for clinicals, and I was able to get great rotations that prepared me for the working field. I was able to adapt and work independently pretty quickly.”