Photo Caption (Hillary Allen): Spring 2016 commencement speaker, Hillary Allen.

(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - April 26, 2016) - - - Columbia State Community College will celebrate its spring 2016 commencement with some extra pomp and circumstance to mark the college's 50^th Anniversary year. The ceremony will take place May 7 at 10 a.m. in the Webster Athletic Center and feature graduating student, Hillary G. Allen as the commencement speaker.

"Hillary is an outstanding student," said Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president. "She has accomplished so much in her time her at Columbia State, and I believe she will continue to accomplish her goals and achieve her dreams as she continues her education and forges ahead into her career and future endeavors."

A spring 2016 Summa Cum Laude graduate of Columbia State Community College, Allen is earning her general transfer Associate of Science degree and has big plans for the future. She will be transferring to Lipscomb University in the fall, where she will major in computer engineering with an emphasis in information security. She ultimately plans to attend law school at Stanford University and become a patent attorney.

While at Columbia State, Allen has achieved a long list of accomplishments that have helped her hone her leadership skills and grow as an individual. She served as president of the Tennessee region for Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for two-year colleges, while concurrently serving as chapter president of Beta Kappa Theta, Columbia State's chapter of PTK.

"Hillary is an amazing student who is not afraid to take on ambitious leadership roles," said Mandy Carter-Lowe, Columbia State associate professor of biology and PTK adviser. "Through her involvement with Phi Theta Kappa as the chapter president and the Tennessee regional president, she has motivated other students at our college and throughout the state to reach beyond mediocrity and to make the most of their college experience by becoming campus leaders and service-oriented citizens."

Allen is also a President's Leadership Society graduate, a tutor in the Teaching and Learning Center, and Student Government Association vice president.

During her time at Columbia State, Allen has worked on multiple special projects, including hosting a College Success Seminar for PTK; the 50^th Kick-Off Bash with SGA; heavily promoted the TLC; and focused on college completion and enrollment while regional president for PTK.

Allen is also a Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise scholarship recipient, a NASA STEM Grant recipient, and one of eight Lipscomb University Trustee Scholars.

Allen is a graduate of Brentwood High School and currently resides in Williamson County.

The Webster Athletic Center is on the Columbia Campus, located at 1665 Hampshire Pike. Plan to arrive early as seating is limited. Overflow seating will be directed to the Ledbetter Auditorium, located in the Frank G. Clement Building.

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.