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Knoxville, Tn. (March. 9) — Tennessee College of Applied Technology Knoxville (TCAT Knoxville) was named the Technical College of the Year during the eighth annual Statewide Outstanding Achievement Recognition (SOAR) Awards, hosted by the Tennessee Board of Regents. The honor recognized exceptional achievement across Tennessee’s Colleges of Applied Technology and community colleges.
The SOAR Awards were presented during SOAR Week, a statewide celebration highlighting student success, leadership, military service and workforce achievement across the Tennessee Board of Regents system. The week culminated with the SOAR Awards Dinner, where the Chancellor announced the highly anticipated College of the Year awards, one for the community college system and one for the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology.
Chancellor Flora W. Tydings presented TCAT Knoxville with the College of the Year distinction in recognition of its outstanding instruction, strong student support services, impactful workforce development programs and meaningful industry partnerships that helped prepare students for high-demand careers across the region.
The recognition came during a year of significant transition for the college. TCAT Knoxville successfully navigated three major building projects and campus relocations while maintaining its focus on student success and workforce training.
“Despite the challenges that come with growth and change, our faculty, staff and students remained committed to our mission every single day,” said TCAT Knoxville President Kelli Chaney. “This award reflected the resilience, dedication and passion of the entire TCAT Knoxville community.”
President Chaney said the recognition belonged to the faculty and staff who supported students across all campuses and programs, as well as the industry partners who helped ensure graduates were prepared to meet the needs of Tennessee’s workforce.
In the weeks following the announcement, TCAT Knoxville has planned celebrations across its campuses to recognize the people who made the college’s mission possible.
“This achievement reflected the incredible work happening every day across our college,” President Chaney added. “We were proud to serve our students, our industry partners and our community, and remained committed to creating opportunities that change lives through career and technical education.”
For more information on the 2026 SOAR Awards, visit www.tbr.edu/external-affairs/soar
