Tennessee Rehabilitation Center Celebrates New Graduates
NASHVILLE — Today more than 70 thoroughly trained and well-skilled Tennessee Rehabilitation Center Smyrna (TRC) students graduated from their respective training programs. TRC programs are specially designed to provide work and life skills training for people with disabilities including traumatic brain injuries, cognitive impairments and blindness.
Through classroom instruction and hands-on training in fields ranging from auto maintenance to business education to food service and building maintenance, the graduates have learned skills to prepare them for success in Tennessee’s job market.
Smyrna Mayor Mary Esther Reed provided the commencement address. Student speaker and graduate Andy Pena also shared the podium during the graduation program.
“TRC students are well positioned to make a significant contribution to Tennessee’s workforce,” said Tennessee Department of Human Services Commissioner Raquel Hatter. “DHS is proud to play a part in their lives and committed to assisting graduates reach their goals.”
“TRC students show an amazing amount of perseverance, drive and focus, that collectively, are sure to serve them well as employees,” said Assistant Commissioner of Rehabilitation Services Cherrell Campbell-Street.
The Tennessee Rehabilitation Center, one of only eight centers in the nation, is a state operated comprehensive rehabilitation facility. TRC provided vocational rehabilitation services to nearly 800 students in FY 2014 and has a graduation rate of 89 percent. Since opening its doors in 1977, the TRC has provided life and job skills training to approximately 34,000 Tennesseans living with disabilities.
Services are provided on campus and the majority of students live in residential units on the campus while receiving services. The TRC is located at 460 9th Ave. in Smyrna, just east of the Smyrna Airport near Sam Ridley Parkway. For more information on the center, please visit http://tn.gov/humanserv/rehab/trc.html or call (615) 459-6811.
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