At Chattanooga State Community College, honors students don’t just study. They lead, collaborate, and shape the future. Now, those students have a new home designed to match their ambition. The college recently dedicated the Beacon Commons for Honors Excellence to provide a space for community and collaboration among students. 

This year marks the 40th anniversary of ChattState Honors, a program that offers students global perspectives through contextualized learning to unlock personal strengths. It also marks over a decade of collaboration between ChattState Honors and the Beacon Foundation, which has invested more than $1 million in student success and funded scholarships and opportunities for more than 1,100 honors students to date. 

During a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Beacon Commons for Honors Excellence on Thursday, October 2, ChattState President Dr. Rebecca Ashford thanked the Beacon Foundation Charitable Trust for its continued support of student excellence 

“For forty years, the honors program has shown that when students are supported and challenged, they rise to meet their goals,” Dr. Ashford said. “Thanks to the Beacon Foundation’s generosity, that spirit of excellence continues, ensuring that every honors student has the opportunity to thrive.” 

Creating a Home for Academic Excellence 

ChattState Honors offers students reduced class sizes, cultural enrichment, professional development, study abroad opportunities, and access to a dedicated community of scholars. Dr. Angie Wood, honors program director, said the Beacon Commons will support the College’s continued dedication to its students. 

“Today, as we dedicate the space, we celebrate not just bricks and mortar, but a space where curiosity, leadership, and collaboration thrive,” Dr. Wood said. “For the past 10 years, the Beacon Foundation's commitment has created opportunities, expanded horizons, and empowered countless students to reach their full potential." 

Student Voices: Family, Focus, and Opportunity  

Success is not measured in outcomes alone. Honors students say their connections to peers and mentors also help shape their college experience. 

“Coming here and being a part of the Honors Office has allowed me to make friends and meet professors like Dr. Wood, who completely changed my college experience. Without the scholarships and learning opportunities offered here, I would not have had the same college experience,” said Jordan Wells, an honors student and Beacon Scholar. “ChattState Honors and the Beacon Foundation have been genuinely life-changing.” 

Fellow Beacon Scholar Tabitha Cox shared a similar story of transformation: “I am an older, nontraditional student and a single mom of four,” she said. “Being in the Honors Program has completely changed my entire college experience. I never thought I would have a college experience like this—where I had community and the opportunity to go deeper into my studies in a rewarding and meaningful way.” 

A Lasting Partnership for Student Success 

Representing the Beacon Foundation, Elizabeth Smith said supporting ChattState students is central to the Foundation’s mission.  

“We are passionate about the need for access for those students who may have some barriers to education,” she said. “Let this dedication serve as a beacon of possibility, encouraging all who enter to believe in themselves and to recognize the support of the community that believes in their success.” 

She closed with a message of encouragement to students: “May dreams take place, may hope be fostered, and may every individual who walks through these doors feel empowered to pursue their aspirations with confidence.”  

The Beacon Commons for Honors Excellence now stands as both a tribute and a resource honoring over a decade of partnership between Chattanooga State and the Beacon Foundation while opening doors for the next generation of scholars to learn, lead, and thrive.