StarrGrad of the Year 2024
Safe to say we haven't had a StarrGrad of the year since 2020 but Madison's has inspired and reminded me why I do what I do. To give hope and spread inspiration. Madison as done that in so many ways for her family and community and is continuing to do so today. We will be rooting from the sidelines, praying that she is successful in all her endeavors. I feel honored that she chose StarrGradz to help her celebrate this very special historic event. And so today marks another day in history that this young lady's story will be shared to inspire more young black girls! Please take a moment to read how amazing and talented she is. Share with your friends and family, she's truly a beautiful inspiration!
Madison Cothern is a UTC graduating senior who has completed her Bachelor's degree in two-and-a-half years.
At just 14 years of age, she started college coursework at Chattanooga State Collegiate High School and earned her Associate's degree at 17-years-old.
After taking 19 credit hours each semester at UTC, Cothern will be walking the stage to receive her diploma on May 4. Two days later on May 6, she will begin classes for her Master's degree.
"It feels amazing to be on the other side," Cothern said. "Starting my Master's on Monday and really focusing on what I truly want to study is so exciting."
For her Master's, Cothern said she will be studying intellectual history focusing on existentialism and historiography.
"That's what I'd like to focus on- especially from 1680 to 1900- that's my true passion," Cothern said.
Throughout Cothern's journey, she's received several awards and she said she is one of the youngest honorees for many of the honors societies she is a part of.
"I just received the Alpha Society award, which is the highest honors society at UTC," Cothern said. "I also just received the Think Achieve award which is very exciting."
All of this is something Cothern had to work for... perhaps a little harder than others.
"I'm deaf in my left ear. I actually started losing my hearing probably around the age of four or five, but it wasn't caught until I was six," Cothern said. "I just recently discovered that I'm starting to lose some hearing in my right ear due to years of overuse, so now I have to wear a hearing aid in the right (ear)."
She said this part of her identity has really shaped her in addition to being part of a minority.
"Being African American, you don't often see people that look like you doing the same thing. There's always that saying- 'the closer you get to the top, the less people look like you,'" Cothern said. "There's only seven people in secondary history education that are graduating. I'm the only girl, let alone, the only African American."
Cothern's mother, Chasney Zulueta, said she is incredibly proud of her daughter.
"She's so passionate, she's so humble, she's so driven," Zulueta said.
Zulueta said she is excited for the bright future her daughter has ahead.
"I'm so excited about her next chapter and where she ends up," Zulueta said. "She'll definitely do a lot of learning, and what's exciting to me is that she's going to bring it back, she's going to give it back and she's going to pour into our community."
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