Cleveland State Community College and Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) recently awarded the MTSU True Blue Scholarship to two Cleveland State students. Liliana Almaraz and Sofia Rodriguez have accepted admissions to MTSU and will transfer this fall.
Over 20% of students transfer to four-year universities from Cleveland State. The college has
articulation agreements with several universities including MTSU. These agreements allow for a
smooth transition for students with associate degrees to move seamlessly to the four-year
universities.
"Cleveland State is grateful for the continued partnership with MTSU,” said Dr. Corey Campbell, Vice President of Academic Affairs. “The True Blue scholarship allows students an opportunity to continue their education with added financial resources while pursuing a baccalaureate degree. This partnership showcases the value of transfer pathways and articulations for interested Cleveland State students to easily transfer to partnering four-year universities."
Almaraz and Rodriguez are both Tennessee Promise students, attending Cleveland State tuition
free after high school. Originally from California, Almaraz moved to Bradley County with her family when she was in elementary school. As a teenager, she enjoyed helping her father pick out colors as he renovated houses; this inspired her interest in interior design. Almaraz will transfer to MTSU and major in interior architecture as she prepares for a career as an interior designer.
Almaraz said, “At first, I wasn’t sure if interior design was really something I wanted to do, so it
was a better option to come to Cleveland State with the TN Promise scholarship and stay closer
to my family.” Almaraz, a Cleveland High School graduate, participates in the Multicultural Club and the Leo Club at the college. She also works in the Office of Student Engagement for ten hours a week as a Work Study Student.
“Liliana is a dedicated student, and her assistance is greatly appreciated in our office,” said Carolina Roman, Student Engagement Coordinator. “She is kind and a wonderful person with a bright future ahead of her.”
“I’ve had a lot of help from the people that I’ve worked with here; they are amazing,” said Almaraz. “I am scared because I’m not going to know anyone at MTSU, but I am definitely excited too because it is a new chapter; it’s a new place. Sometimes, scary decisions are the best things that you can do.”
Also from California, Rodriguez and her family moved to Monroe County four years ago. She
attended Cross Creek Christian School in Sweetwater and took dual enrollment classes at the
college. She plans to major in finance at MTSU with a concentration in real estate; she hopes to
work in real estate investment or financial planning.
Rodriguez took classes at the McMinn Higher Education Center (MHEC) in Athens during her
first year. She joined the Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) where she served as a club officer
and went on two mission trips with the group to Portland, Oregon, and Argentina.
In her final year at the college, Rodriguez has taken classes on the Cleveland campus. She works
as a writing tutor in the Tutoring and Learning Center on campus. She said, “Students can come in with any type of writing assignment; it doesn’t have to be just for English classes. I can give advice or proofread. The work depends on the student. If someone comes in without a start on their essay, then I can help them determine a structure to take. If someone comes in with a well-formulated paper, then I can get into the nitty-gritty of grammar and word choice.”
Dr. Brian Gerber, Professor of Communication, said, “Sofia went above and beyond in my fundamentals of communication course. She delivered some of the best speeches I have ever
heard in my teaching career, and she was the epitome of academic excellence.”
“I didn’t know what I wanted to major in, so I thought it was a smart idea to start close to home,”
said Rodriguez. “I’m excited about my degree, and I am grateful that I can transfer into MTSU.
The most rewarding part of Cleveland State has been the community that I have built here in so
many different aspects - like the BCM, the Tutoring Center, and the MHEC campus. It is the
people that I have gotten to meet.”