For someone who wants to teach middle school history, Rebecca Duhamel is already on the right track.
Not only will Duhamel graduate from Pellissippi State Community College on Friday with her Associate of Science in History, “she has a knack for helping her peers understand and appreciate history and its importance in our lives today,” said Assistant Professor Leslie A. Coffman, who has had Duhamel for two U.S. history courses.
“Her written academic scholarship stands out, but it is through verbal discussion in the last semester that I have seen the promise of what makes a great historian,” Coffman said. “Becca is not only knowledgeable, but she lifts up those around her.”
Duhamel started Pellissippi State full time in fall 2022 after taking some dual enrollment courses her senior year at Knoxville Catholic High School. She enjoyed her Pellissippi State classes, she said, but her decision to start her collegiate journey at Pellissippi State came down to more than that.
“I saw Pellissippi State as a place where the professors cared about their students and their success, which I really value in a school,” she said.
Duhamel was not disappointed. Her professors have helped guide her on what to expect in her courses and have inspired her to pursue her bachelor’s degree, she said. Duhamel will transfer to the University of Knoxville this spring, where she plans to major in history and minor in secondary education and religious studies.
“I want to teach middle school history and eventually go to grad school to pursue a master’s or doctorate to teach at universities,” Duhamel said.
Professors aren’t the only ones Duhamel could turn to during her time at Pellissippi State, however. Her parents have been “a huge support” to her, and Duhamel also took advantage of some of the free support services Pellissippi State offers all its students.
“What has really helped me grow is the Counseling Center, which has had a positive impact on my life,” Duhamel said.
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