HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Pearl River Community College student Micah Patterson’s ultimate ambition is to start his own heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) business.
It has actually taken the 28-year-old Patterson a long time to fully appreciate the importance of education, as well as setting up some goals in his life.
He was born in Slidell, La., spent part of his life in north Mississippi, moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina and eventually got his high school diploma from Camp Shelby.
After what he describes as some dead-end jobs, he joined the Navy in 2013 where he spent four years, including two deployments to Bahrain where he was a coxswain on some security boats. That’s when he met Megan, who was also in the Navy.
They got married and both got out of the service at the same time in California, where he did some contract work. Patterson became homesick and moved back home. He had his eye on getting into an HVAC program and that’s when Pearl River Community College came into play.
“Basically, I learned about the program at Pearl River and (instructor) Tommy Broom through word of mouth,” said Patterson. “It has been a great experience for me honestly. I can see the end goal in sight.
“Now when I come to school, there is not a single reason I do not want to be here. I have made some good friends, it’s good comraderie among the students. Even though I am one of the older students here, my experience has been great. This program has everything I need as far as how the work will be out in the field.”
Broom has certainly found Patterson to be a model student in the HVAC program.
“He is one of those students that you don’t have to wonder if he is going to have his assignments done,” said Broom. “When he comes through the door of the classroom, he is ready to learn. He works well with the others students.
“I have chosen Micah to go to the SKILLS USA competition this your to represent Pearl River Community College. There’s no doubt in my mind, Micah will accomplish great things in his future. It has been a blessing to work with Micah. He is an encourager.”
Micah and Megan have been married for seven years now. She is a Phi Theta Kappa student at PRCC. They are expecting their first child in September.
“She is majoring in accounting and business management, so she will be the face of our business in the future,” said Patterson, who will graduate from Pearl River Community College this May with an Associate in Applied Science degree in HVAC.
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Pearl River Community College offers equal education and employment opportunities. The College does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, veteran status, or disability. For inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies or to request accommodations, special assistance, or alternate format publication please contact Tonia M. Seal, Director of Admissions and Records/ ADA/Civil Rights Coordinator at P.O. Box 5559, Poplarville, MS 39470 or 601-403-1060 or Maghan James, Assistant Vice President of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator at P.O. Box 5805, Poplarville, MS 39470 or 601-403-1132.
