Different Paths, One Goal: Southwest Tennessee Community College Graduates Change Course and Find New Purpose

From starting a career in biotech to returning to college after a decade, Kennedy Pettet and LeGerald Collier have reimagined their careers and are now advancing their passions by pursuing four-year degrees.

For more information, contact Diana Fedinec, Southwest Tennessee Community College Director of Public Relations and Media, at 901-333-4247 or dfedinec@southwest.tn.edu.

(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) - Southwest Tennessee Community College’s 2025 Commencement will celebrate graduates whose paths often reflect reinvention and reimagining what is possible. Kennedy Pettet began a career in biotechnology before graduating and LeGerald Collier returned to college after a decade, proving that success comes from the ability to change direction, embrace new interests, and pursue your passion with purpose. Both are continuing their education, transferring to four-year universities to earn bachelor’s degrees and take their careers to the next level.

Kennedy Pettet, 22, a Collierville High School graduate and Tennessee Promise scholar, enrolled at Southwest in 2021 to study dental hygiene. But a discovery of the college’s forensic science and biotechnology programs—sparked by her love of true crime and investigative science—changed her direction and ultimately her future. She will graduate with an associate degree in biotechnology and is already advancing her academic and career goals through a transfer to the University of Memphis, where she is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in general biology with plans to work in forensics.

While at Southwest, Pettit earned a highly competitive internship with Charles River Laboratories, standing out as the only associate degree student selected from more than 200 applicants from four-year institutions. She completed 250 hours of training and was hired in January 2024 as a bio-manufacturing technician I, where she now earns $52,000 a year—launching a well-paying career before graduating.

“Southwest gave me more than just knowledge—it gave me confidence and direction,” Pettet said. “The hands-on lab experience, the support from faculty, and the opportunity to intern at Charles River showed me what I was capable of. I found my passion and started my career before graduation.”

Pettet was also recognized with the Biotechnology Department’s Academic Excellence and Leadership Award. As she continues her studies at the University of Memphis, her goal is to build a meaningful career in forensic science rooted in the scientific foundation and professional experiences she gained at Southwest.

That same determination to change course and pursue a new calling is echoed in the journey of 32-year-old LeGerald Collier, who is also using his associate degree as a launching pad to a four-year degree in psychology and communications.

A 2010 graduate of Central High School, Collier originally intended to become a military police officer. When that path did not materialize, he enrolled at Southwest in 2013 to study criminal justice. After three semesters, however, a car accident left him without transportation and forced him to step away from college to work full-time.

During his time away, Collier found new purpose through community service and mentoring at a charter school. These experiences sparked a passion for psychology and helping others. He returned to Southwest in 2023 as a Tennessee Reconnect scholarship recipient shifting his focus to psychology after a transformative classroom experience and a professor who deepened his interest in the connection between mind and body.

Collier will graduate with an associate degree in psychology and will transfer to the University of Memphis in the fall as a junior— with all of his credits transferring. His long-term goal is to earn a doctorate and become a teacher or advisor to support and guide others. He will be the first in his family to earn a college degree—a milestone that inspired his mother to return to school to pursue nursing.

“Southwest helped me return to college and navigate the system as an older student,” Collier said. “I found a community of acceptance, built friendships, and had mentors who really cared about my success. I’m proud of who I have become.”

Pettet and Collier will be among 1,295 candidates in the Class of 2025 as the college confers 1,312 associate degrees and certificates during its commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 15, at 7 p.m. at the Landers Center, 4560 Venture Drive, Southaven, Mississippi.

The event will be livestreamed on Facebook @SouthwestTN and available for on-demand viewing on the college’s YouTube channel.

*Interviews available with the student. Please contact Southwest’s Office of Marketing and Communications at 901-333-4247.

Memphis Mayor Paul Young will deliver the 2025 commencement address. The ceremony will be livestreamed on the college’s Facebook page at @SouthwestTN and made available for on-demand viewing on Southwest’s YouTube channel.

For More Information:

• Commencement details: https://southwest.tn.edu/graduation/index.php