Javier Irizarry’s journey began with his birth in Puerto Rico 47 years ago. He immigrated to the U.S. and settled in Tennessee in 1989. The birth of his two sons and subsequent divorce in 1991 made him realize that minimum wages would not be sufficient for a family of three. Javier checked into local universities but found them unaffordable and therefore a very real obstacle to getting ahead. When a good friend suggested technical education as an option, Javier found Chattanooga State.
As a single father of two who graduated from Chattanooga State in 1996 with a degree in licensed practical nursing, Irizarry, now a grandfather, is back to earn a second degree through Chattanooga State’s Industrial Electricity program.
His hard work, determination and work ethic made Javier’s instructor and others take notice. As a result, Irizarry was nominated and selected as 2014 Outstanding Student of the Year (OSY) at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) at Chattanooga State.
According to Richard Claburn, senior instructor of industrial maintenance, Javier is never absent and he works like he is on a mission. “I expect great things from him; Javier has some very good goals,” shares Claburn.
With an established career as an LPN for the past 18 years, Javier found that many of his homebound elderly patients required home repairs, but without funds to make the repairs or to hire professionals, Irizarry also became known as a “fix-all” handyman. His decision to return to Chattanooga State has to do with those patients. “My dream is to establish a home service business targeted mostly to the elderly, and those less financially able, so they can enjoy the benefits of owning a safe, carefree home,” states Irizarry.
His desire to be a licensed professional originated from those experiences with his patients. “I will finally be able to provide services that I can back up with true knowledge, a license, and the hands on experience,” says Irizarry proudly. “It is my hope that when I walk across that stage in 2015 for the second time (in my life) that my children and grandchildren also will be encouraged to get their degrees,” he shares.
In addition to Mr. Irizarry, three other students were nominated by his or her instructor – Mr. Raymond Crenshaw (massage therapy) nominated by Ms. Renee Richardson; Mr. Daniel Mendoza (evening air conditioning) nominated by Mr. Houston Graham; and Ms. Renae Miller (evening cosmetology) nominated by Ms. Rebecca Stewart. According to the panel of judges, all four students were excellent nominees and any one of them would have represented the TCAT well.
For more information about the Tennessee College of Applied Technology, visit http://www.chattanoogastate.edu/tcat.