Alumni Highlights

The Ogilvie Family

A L a s t i n g L e g a c y o f C o l u m b i a S t a t e S u c c e s s

For Makayla Ogilvie, currently a nursing student at Columbia State, the growing pains of higher education were quelled by her tightknit family. She hails from a long line of Chargers: her father Trent, mother Yolanda and sister Tre’yana.

“I chose Columbia State because I wanted to take advantage of the privilege of education without the financial baggage that it often comes with, ” Makayla said. “It allowed me to stay close to home to smoothly transition from high school to college without the extra pressures of a new living environment. ”

Patriarch of the Ogilvie family, Trent worked at Columbia State as a media technician before attending to earn an associate degree in mass communication in 2002. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in management and human relations from Trevecca Nazarene University and an Executive Master’s Business Administration degree from Bethel University. Today, he serves as the executive director/CEO at the Columbia Housing and Redevelopment Corporation.

“Columbia State prepared me to meet the challenges in life by providing a highly rewarding educational experience, ” Trent said of his time as a Charger. “The faculty cared about my success and worked to ensure that students learned, achieved, and benefited from an engaging curriculum. ”

For Yolanda, currently the testing coordinator at Columbia State’s Williamson Campus, Columbia State was the springboard for her as a first-generation college student.

“I chose Columbia State because... It allowed me to stay close to home to smoothly transition from high school to college without the extra pressures of a new living environment. ”

-Makayla Ogilvie

Yolanda earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in office administration in 1999 before continuing her education at Trevecca Nazarene University for a Bachelor of Arts degree in management and human relations in 2005. In 2018, she earned a Master of Professional Studies degree in strategic leadership at Austin Peay State University.

“Columbia State helped me to learn time management, motivation skills, selfdiscipline, and how to handle unexpected challenges, ” Yolanda said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to have started my college education as a first-generation student here. The faculty and staff made me feel like they cared and wanted me to be successful in life. ”

Tre’yana, the eldest daughter, graduated from Columbia State in 2017 with a general transfer/university parallel Associate of Art degree in English before completing her bachelor’s in political science at Middle Tennessee State University in 2020. Today, she’s back at Columbia State as the enrollment services customer service clerk while she also works on completing her master’s degree in public administration from Trevecca Nazarene University.

“Attending Columbia State gave me an opportunity to go to college while also living at home, ” Tre’yana said. “During my time at Columbia State, I was able to meet new people along my journey and experience college life. ”

Tre'yana's main goal is to eventually become a professor at a college or university, and she fondly remembers the professors that impacted her at Columbia State.

"Having professors that wanted to see me succeed pushed me to continue my education, ” she said. “I am thankful for my time at Columbia State because I was given the necessary tools to be able to rise to the challenges of life. ” Following in her family’s footsteps, Makayla anticipates graduating from Columbia State in spring of 2023. She plans on continuing her education at Austin Peay State University and dreams of a career either as an NICU nurse or a home health nurse. She believes that she will carry the lifelong connections she has made at Columbia State for the rest of her life.

“I think it is a great college for anyone who wants to take advantage of a local educational resource, ” Makayla said. “It is a college for everyone, no matter where you are or how much you have, there is a place for you. ”

“Columbia State is a great asset to our community by preparing students to enter the workforce or continue their educational advancement, ” Trent said. “Learning is a lifelong process and the knowledge gained at Columbia State prepares you to succeed. ”

Standing (left to right): Makayla Ogilvie, Tre'yana Ogilvie and Yolanda Ogilvie. Sitting: Trent Ogilvie.

COLLEEN CONWAY-EDWARDS

Enjoying her roles as a geriatric primary care physician and a mother to four children in upstate New York, Colleen ConwayEdwards is living the life she envisioned when she began her journey as a nursing student at Columbia State.

Colleen graduated from Columbia State in 2014 with an Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing. She was highly involved during her time as a Charger, participating in the President’s Leadership Society, the Gay-Straight Alliance, the Student Nurses’ Association, Student Government Association and Phi Theta Kappa. She was also presented with the 2014 Jo L. Hutton Outstanding Student Award, which is the highest honor given to a student of the college. “At Columbia State, I learned the foundational skills I needed to successfully complete the ASN-MSN program at Vanderbilt, ” she said. “Caring, dedicated and experienced faculty and staff supported my development as a student. ”

Determined to work for a hospital system as a geriatric PCP, which she now does, Colleen continued her education at Vanderbilt University where she earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in nursing. She credits Columbia State with the integral education on which she has achieved her successful career.

“I hope to continue to provide quality care to my patients for the remainder of my career, as well as help advance the position through leadership and mentoring new nurse practitioners, ” she said.

" T H A N K S T O C O L U M B I A S T A T E , I ’ V E B E E N A B L E T O A T T A I N M Y P E R S O N A L A N D C A R E E R G O A L S A N D H A V E F I N A L L Y M A D E I T T O W H E R E I W A N T T O B E I N L I F E .

Colleen Conway-Edwards

As a wife and mother to two children, Gayle Mathis loved working as a substitute teacher, but earning a degree to become a full-time teacher seemed daunting. When Columbia State created a partnership with Middle Tennessee State University for the 2+2 Program, she had many people in her family, school system and community that encouraged her to take the leap to her dream of becoming a middle school English teacher.

“Because the 2+2 students spent so much time on the Columbia State campus, the faculty shared teaching ideas and often materials if they knew what we aspired to teach, ” Mathis said. “Therefore, I felt prepared to teach any subject I would be assigned. The Columbia State community of learners and teachers enriched my life. ”

During her time at Columbia State, Gayle was president of Gamma Beta Phi and the Student Teacher Education Association. She also was a campus tour guide, a cultural arts performer and the 1993 Jo L. Hutton Outstanding Student Award recipient.

When she completed her Associate and Bachelor of Science degrees in education, she returned to Hickman County Middle School—where she had been a substitute teacher—as a seventh grade English Language Arts teacher.

“Columbia State prepared me for my lifelong career as a middle school teacher, ”

she said.

“I was beyond blessed to have Dr. Gabrielle Hubert as my advisor and later a friend for life. She and Bea Curry, associate professor of English, took me under their wings and helped me soar. The entire college community of faculty and staff were accessible and approachable if I had questions or concerns.

GAYLE MATHIS

Gayle Mathis

She has continued to thrive in the classroom, filling other roles such as response to intervention for grades six through eight, eighth grade math interventionist, remote online math teaching and filling in for an eighth grade English Language Arts teacher.

Mathis was named HCMS Teacher of the Year three years, Grades 5-8 Hickman County Teacher of the Year once and Hickman County Teacher of the Year once. Among her countless accolades, she spoke at Columbia State’s Commencement in 1993 and returned to speak again in 2005. She has served on both the Alumni Association Board and the Foundation Board of Directors. Additionally, she was honored as the 2010 Alumnus of the Year.

“This is my twenty-eighth year in the classroom, ” Mathis said of her fulfilling career. “Not only have I worked with students in my county, but I have also had opportunities to serve my educational region and state. I have had the privilege of meeting and talking with all of our college’s presidents: Dr. Pryor, Dr. Sands, Dr. Hawkins and Dr. Smith. I consider myself a lifelong Columbia State ambassador. ”