JELLICO, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF)- On Friday, State Representative Dennis Powers, spoke to the 2025 Jellico High School Graduating Class.  Powers spoke about persistence and told his personal story of how he went to college, dropped out at one point, but went back and finished getting his degree in night school in Business Administration at the University of Tennessee.

State Representative Dennis Powers (left) with TCAT Jacksboro Counselor Camilla Gambrel and standout Jellico High School student Michael Hackler is on his way to TCAT after graduation.

The State Representative also told the story of Jimmy Valvano, or Jimmy V, the former coach of North Carolina State, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and how his message to “Don’t Give Up, Don’t Ever Give Up” sticks with him every day.

He told the graduates to remember that high school is not the “end” and encouraged them to never give up in getting a post-graduate education, either at our TCAT, Community College or a four-year University.  “It is something you need in today’s job market and something no one can ever take from you,” said Powers. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-05/19/2025-6AM-PHOTOS SUBMITTED)

Related