(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - July 16, 2014) - - - Columbia State Community College softball players Mandy Bunnell, Becca Curtis, Ashley Price and Carmen Whitfield graduated this spring and have plans in place for a bright future.

Bunnell is a graduate of Priceville High School in Decatur, Ala. Earning an Associate degree, her achievements at Columbia State also include being a TCCAA Distinguished Scholar-Athlete, making the dean's list and being a member of the 2^nd team all-conference as well as the all-tournament team in 2013. In the fall, Bunnell will continue her education Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Ala.

Loretto High School graduate, Curtis earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in information systems technology with a medical office technology option. During her time at Columbia State, Curtis was on the dean's list, served as team captain and was a member of the 2013 all-conference regular season and all-conference tournament.

Curtis has good memories of time with her teammates, "outfield handshakes and making life-long friends." She said looks forward to joining Columbia's medical workforce.

Price is a graduate of Sparkman High School in Harvest, Ala. Earning a general transfer Associate degree, she took courses to prepare her for her interests in the nursing and sociology fields. An outstanding student, Price was a member of the honors society, Phi Theta Kappa, made both the dean's list and the president's list, was a TCCAA Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and was a member of the 1^st team all-conference. She plans to attend the University of North Alabama in the fall.

"I have been very blessed to have had the opportunity to be a Lady Charger and have wonderful teammates to make this year very memorable," Price said.

A graduate of Lawrence County High School, Whitfield earned an Associate degree from Columbia State, majoring in education. Her current plans include becoming a high school history or physical education teacher and coach. Whitfield will be joining teammate, Price, at the University of North Alabama to continue her education. She said one of her best memories of playing college softball was hitting her first walk-off homerun in a game against Motlow State Community College.

"I have made some of the best friendships I could ever ask for and friendships that will last a lifetime," Whitfield said. "I also want to thank my coaches for never giving up on us and pushing us to our limits and getting us to where we are today."

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, one of the largest higher education systems in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.

Tennessee's Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. We offer associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tncommunitycolleges.org.

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