{"id":65954,"date":"2025-03-05T07:37:23","date_gmt":"2025-03-05T12:37:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/?p=65954"},"modified":"2025-03-05T07:37:26","modified_gmt":"2025-03-05T12:37:26","slug":"building-a-future-from-hospitality-to-high-tech-at-utc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/03\/building-a-future-from-hospitality-to-high-tech-at-utc\/","title":{"rendered":"Building a future from hospitality to high tech at UTC"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Cecily

Cecily Holland crossed the McKenzie Arena stage Dec. 14, 2024, receiving a Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Technology in Cybersecurity degree. Photo by Angela Foster.<\/p><\/div>\n

At 28, Cecily Holland didn\u2019t take the standard route into tech\u2014she designed her own.<\/p>\n

A December 2024 graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga\u2019s Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Technology in Cybersecurity program (BAS-IT CyS<\/a><\/strong>), Holland\u2019s transition from restaurants to IT shows what\u2019s possible with persistence and adaptability.<\/p>\n

\u201cI spent years developing leadership and communication skills working in restaurants, but I realized I needed something more technical to really feel fulfilled,\u201d Holland said.<\/p>\n

Holland built a decade-long career managing restaurants and thrived on creating exceptional experiences for guests and employees. But she wasn\u2019t content with operational mastery; she wanted to build systems, not just manage them.<\/p>\n

The turning point came when her oldest daughter turned 1. Holland decided it was time to pursue a new direction and enrolled at Chattanooga State Community College.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt ChattState, I had to relearn how to struggle,\u201d she said. Balancing calculus, physics and computer architecture while raising two young daughters wasn\u2019t easy. \u201cYou can\u2019t let not knowing something stop you. Math taught me how to keep showing up. Even getting an error message to change is progress.\u201d<\/p>\n

Transferring to UTC pushed Holland even harder, with the BAS-IT CyS program\u2019s accelerated format and demanding coursework testing her limits.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was one of the toughest things I\u2019ve ever done,\u201d she said. \u201cBalancing a full class load, a yearlong internship and parenting meant there were no easy days.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the program\u2019s blend of technical training, communication and teamwork aligned with her vision for success and offered both practical skills and industry-ready experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an industry full of people who know they can figure things out,\u201d she said. \u201cYou have to be comfortable with new territory and constant learning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Holland\u2019s internship at Future Capital, a Chattanooga-based investment firm, put her on the front lines of software engineering. She learned confidence comes not from knowing everything but from believing you can learn anything.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe internship experience is critical because it allows students to see how classroom concepts apply in real-world scenarios,\u201d said Dr. Chang Phuong, the BAS-IT CyS program\u2019s director and a lecturer in the UTC College of Engineering and Computer Science. \u201cCecily\u2019s path shows how those experiences can inspire further academic pursuits and contribute to the local tech community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Persistence became her approach.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes, you just keep doing it wrong until you do it right once\u2014and then you keep doing it right. Showing up every day is what matters,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

While many BAS-IT graduates head straight into the workforce, Holland enrolled in UTC\u2019s master\u2019s in computer science program and is pursuing the applied capstone track to build both her resume and academic credentials. She\u2019s also working as a teaching assistant, using the skills she learned from her internship to help students connect classroom concepts to real-world applications.<\/p>\n

Inspired by her husband\u2019s work with UTC Facilities Planning and Management, Holland earned a Harris Chair innovation mini-grant through the MOCS Innovate Grant Program to develop an application for tracking and managing UTC\u2019s campus tree maintenance. She recently showcased her project at a UTC researchers meet-up, where she shared insights on her work\u2014and engaged with faculty and researchers focused on innovation.<\/p>\n

Her passion extends into Chattanooga\u2019s broader tech community. She volunteers with ChaTech, helping organize events like \u201cSTEM for Her\u201d to introduce girls to science, technology, engineering and math. Her outreach earned her ChaTech\u2019s Emerging Tech Student Award at the 2024 TechX Awards.<\/p>\n

\u201cCecily\u2019s journey with ChaTech has been nothing short of inspiring,\u201d ChaTech Executive Director Austin Corcoran said. \u201cShe first connected with us as a volunteer at Scenic City Summit 2024 and immediately embraced our mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe quickly became a driving force within the ChaTech Women\u2019s Committee. Her passion for technology, mentorship and community engagement makes her a valued member of Chattanooga\u2019s tech community. We can\u2019t wait to see where her career takes her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Holland isn\u2019t in a rush. She\u2019s still shaping what comes next, but her priorities are clear: continue learning, teaching and building her resume.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t need to know everything on day one,\u201d she said. \u201cConfidence comes from showing up, trying and figuring it out as you go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/h4>\n

College of Engineering and Computer Science<\/a><\/p>\n

Bachelor of Applied Science: Information Technology in Cybersecurity<\/a><\/p>\n

BAS-IT CyS<\/a><\/p>\n

ChaTech partnership elevates UTC cybersecurity program to new heights<\/a><\/p>\n

UTC launches BAS-IT Cybersecurity degree<\/a><\/p>\n

Visit UTC<\/a><\/p>\n

How to apply<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A December 2024 graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga\u2019s Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Technology in Cybersecurity program (BAS-IT CyS), Cecily Holland\u2019s transition from restaurants to IT shows what\u2019s possible with persistence and adaptability.<\/p>\n

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