{"id":5888,"date":"2026-04-29T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/?p=5888"},"modified":"2026-04-28T23:09:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T03:09:06","slug":"dont-be-afraid-to-say-yes-community-college-student-of-the-year-louis-rey-valenzuela","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/2026\/04\/29\/dont-be-afraid-to-say-yes-community-college-student-of-the-year-louis-rey-valenzuela\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t Be Afraid to Say Yes. Community College Student of the Year: Louis Rey Valenzuela."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
By John Medina, Staff Writer and Rebecka Jones, Staff Writer
<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\""TBR"
Valenzuela holding State Champion banner from Skills USA | Louis Rey Valenzuela<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Background<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since 2019, the Tennessee Board of Regents has held the annual Statewide Outstanding Achievement Recognition (SOAR) Awards. The event is held to celebrate and recognize outstanding faculty, staff, and students across Tennessee. This year, Pellissippi State Community College\u2019s very own Louis Rey Valenzuela has been appointed as Community College Student of the Year. This achievement is a giant win not only for Louis but for Pellissippi State as a whole. The category considers students and faculty from all around Tennessee, so to see a fellow Pellissippi State student receive recognition on a statewide level is pretty incredible. Louis had also previously been in the workforce for 10 years before deciding to pursue Electrical Engineering Technology here at Pellissippi State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We at Imaginary Gardens<\/em> reached out to Louis for a virtual interview to get a better background on how he was chosen as student of the year, tips for new students at Pellissippi State, his thought process while on his Pellissippi State journey, and more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Louis\u2019 Student of the Year Application Process<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When asked about how he found out about this opportunity and what the application process for Student of the Year looked like for him, Louis responded that he is currently the Chapter President for Skills USA, meaning he is the top student leader representing in-state community colleges for an organization that empowers career-focused leaders. Due to his advocacy for student success and inspirational story, Dean Loveday contacted him about applying for the SOAR award for Tennessee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His drive for student advocacy developed from the Pellissippi State Foundation. Without the scholarships this organization provided, Louis would not be in school. Henceforth, he became a big proponent for ensuring students have access to scholarships and other opportunities the community college gives, such as the Student Opportunity Fund.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI never want people to feel they don\u2019t have an opportunity to be successful,\u201d Louis says. \u201c[SOAR] gives me the opportunity to\u2026talk about Pellissippi State, talk about the foundation, talk about the good things that we\u2019re doing here at our college. Why am I not going to take the opportunity?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The application process for SOAR included making a resume, writing a two-page essay, and having prep interviews with Dean Loveday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the questions Louis was asked during his interview with the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) included questions such as \u201cWhat would you tell me to encourage me to go to a TCAT or community college,\u201d and \u201cHow would you approach a need that you would love for TBR to address?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response to the latter, Louis said he would love for TBR to address adult learners or single parents who need access to childcare to continue going to school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was also asked what the missions of TBR and community college were, to which he mentioned career immersive learning, or allowing students to do things in practice rather than only on paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeing [in] electrical engineering technology\u2026I have my resistors,\u201d Louis explained, \u201cGetting those opportunities to actually do the stuff that I\u2019m learning helped me feel successful in that kind of career role that I\u2019m going into.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, Pellissippi State does a good job giving students opportunities to try things before they really sink their teeth into it, as Louis put it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saying \u201cYes\u201d to Opportunities<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Louis then gave his advice to students who come from a difficult background, specifically how they could build up the courage to do things wholeheartedly rather than halfway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be afraid when a yes comes your way,\u201d he replied, \u201cSometimes taking those leaps, saying yes to a random email\u2026 it can change your life, can change the trajectory of how you interact with a college\u2026 how you interact with people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His advice stemmed from his desire to help his immigrant parents when they could not buy appetizers in a restaurant, while everyone else could. He had the mindset that if he had his own money, he could get the appetizer. Henceforth, he works hard to give himself and the people he loves the opportunity to have what they want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even when people could face failure when working to achieve a goal, Louis still encourages them to take that leap and say yes to the opportunity. Even when there could be someone better suited to that position, Louis says their high performance means nothing if they aren\u2019t consistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019d rather have [a consistent person] over the person who thinks he knows it all,\u201d he said, \u201cPeople sometimes forget those aspects and [are] like, \u2018Well, I\u2019m not this person.\u2019 Well, you don\u2019t have to be. Just be consistent. Just do you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Louis adds that when you do what you need to do, people will notice you. Even when you are not as talented as someone in a similar role, you are doing what is required, and people will see your consistency and admire it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Louis
Valenzuela giving his Student of the Year recognition speech at the SOAR conference | Louis Rey Valenzuela
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Getting Involved<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Louis was asked how students could get connected with peers and advisors who can help them power through these rough moments in college and in life. In response, he explained how he was facing layoffs at work and was terrified of what would happen next. He wanted a job in electrical engineering, but he needed a degree for it. Thus, he searched up electrical engineering, and Pellissippi State popped up; from there, he quickly got connected with an academic advisor and registered for classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During finals week of fall 2023, Louis was working when he got a call from his wife saying there was a mass on their unborn daughter\u2019s heart. As a result, Louis had to contact his professors and ask to take his finals earlier so he could tend to this family emergency. Thankfully, the professors were gracious and allowed him to take the finals early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After having to transfer his daughter to a Children\u2019s Hospital in Philadelphia, where she would undergo night tests and MRIs, Louis began to question what the medical debt would look like or if his insurance would approve it. Even then, he and his wife just trusted the process, and thankfully, the surgery was successful, but his wife had to stay in Philadelphia for three months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Louis was going back and forth between Tennessee and Philadelphia to work, take care of his oldest child at home, and tend to his wife in the hospital. On top of that, he was working seventy hours a week. Fortunately, the Ronald McDonald House, a charity for families with harmed children, helped Louis and his family pay for the surgeries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, during March of 2024, he contacted the alumni director of the scholarship program, Executive Women\u2019s International of Knoxville, explaining his situation and how he would like to go back to school. From there, he got connected to the Pellissippi Foundation scholarship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Louis made it known how serious he was about school, so he got an email from Dr. Sharon Couch about the Pellissippi Leadership Institute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe was a ball of energy,\u201d Louis describes Dr. Couch, \u201cShe is amazing and\u2026a great advisor. And they needed a treasurer for [the] student government.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As treasurer, he helped clubs grow, even helping Imaginary Gardens<\/em> when it was being brought back to Pellissippi State as an organization. He was involved in Spring Flings and Fall Fests, ensuring all the clubs knew where he was, where to find him, and helping them plug into the college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Louis was also heavily involved in Skills USA. Going to Atlanta as a Chapter President, he met state officers at the conference there. He then ran for state officer and was chosen for his high scores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it were not for the obstacles he faced with his family\u2019s medical emergency while trying to balance school and a job, he doesn\u2019t think he would have achieved as much. Now, he puts himself in the shoes of college students and helps them push through the pain and obstacles that come with college and personal life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot all trauma is the same trauma, and that\u2019s okay. But, at the end of the day, what can I do to make sure I ease someone else\u2019s burden?\u201d is Louis\u2019 mindset when approaching other students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In saying that, Louis encouraged students to get in touch with the tutoring center, to email professors, and take advantage of the counseling at Pellissippi State. They are easy to get in contact with, and just like him, they are here to help students be successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Louis\u2019 Shoutouts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We took note of how Louis gave thanks to Dean Loveday and Dr. Couch in his SOAR article for helping him achieve success, so we asked about other professors who helped him throughout his journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Valenzuela
Valenzuela with Vice President Johnson, Vice President Toon, and Dr. Couch |
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

He mentioned that the program director for electrical engineering technology, Christy Leech, gave him insight into wiring diagrams that gave him career immersion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, his biggest shoutout is to Dr. Rushton Johnson, the Vice President of Student Affairs. He met Johnson at a career carnival and told him about his nerves surrounding going back to school. Johnson looked at him and said something that stuck with Louis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe thing that makes Pellissippi [State] special is not that we have all the bells and whistles. It\u2019s that, if you need something, say something. You have all of these people that are in your corner that want to see you successful.\u201d Louis recounts Johnson\u2019s words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Career Launchpads<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Louis\u2019 statement from the SOAR article says that community colleges are not backup plans but instead launchpads. Louis said that the statement in the article came from a panic attack he had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was in the car with Dr. Couch, on the way to his second interview for SOAR. He asked why he was chosen, because there were plenty of people better than him. Dr. Couch told him that he was there because of all his hard work, to which he expressed his thankfulness for the community and technical colleges, because even in the darkest moments of his life, Pellissippi State gave him clarity for the job he wanted to pursue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c[Life] is not sunshine and rainbows, and that\u2019s okay,\u201d Louis says, \u201cI think that\u2019s what makes us stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community College Over Universities<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When asked what he would say to students who feel discouraged starting community college versus a four-year university, Louis states,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can never be mad when you save money,\u201d Louis continues, \u201cYou\u2019re spending less money for the same type of education.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who attend community colleges have more financial advantages because they earn their associate\u2019s degree without being $50,000 in debt from university classes. Furthermore, community colleges have smaller classes rather than the huge lecture halls at universities. More intimate environments allow students to easily get in contact with their professors one-on-one without having to wait behind 200 students who also need help. They also allow for a thriving community because people are closer in a smaller setting, versus having to get to know the hundreds of other students in their class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUniversities are amazing,\u201d Louis says, \u201cBut at the end of the day, they don\u2019t pay your bills.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Valenzuela\u2019s Closing Statements<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the interview was wrapping up, we expressed gratitude to Louis, thanking him for the interview opportunity and for sharing his journey with us. He shared a final anecdote that really warmed our hearts here at Imaginary Gardens<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He expressed: \u201cYou guys matter. Imaginary Gardens<\/em> matters\u2026 Having student representation, whether it\u2019s to talk about things we love or things that are on our mind, it is always going to be something that I’m going to advocate for. So of course, I would like to throw everything to the side to make sure that you guys get that opportunity. One hundred percent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our staff writers, Rebecka and John, would like to extend one final thank you to Louis for having a chat with us and giving us the opportunity to share his Pellissippi State journey. This would not have been possible without your swift communication and not being afraid when a yes came your way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\""Louis
Valenzuela being named student of the year community colleges with Regent Reynolds | Louis Rey Valenzuela
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pellissippi State Community College has so many stories filling the hallways of each campus, and no, we’re not just talking about the library. Each individual student has their own lives, reasons for attending, passions, friendships, career dreams, etc. So to see someone like Louis, a father who was in the workforce for 10 years before deciding to pursue higher education at Pellissippi State, get recognized in a state-wide competition is pretty incredible and puts a lot into perspective. Life has its ups and downs. The fact that Louis has been able to persist through times of hardship in his life and turn them positive is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through getting involved in college, communicating with professors, and not backing down from a new experience, Louis has been able to pave his own way and has been recognized for his work and perseverance. So when an opportunity flies across your desk or email, don\u2019t fold under the pressure; face it head-on. You never know where it may lead you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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