<p><strong>SPRING HILL —</strong> Nicholas Herrud, a 2017 Columbia State alumnus and Tennessee Promise graduate, credits the college with providing the foundational guidance and personal connections that launched him toward a Fulbright scholarship and doctoral studies at Notre Dame.</p><p>As the first in his family to attend college, Herrud navigated the transition from high school to higher education at Columbia State, where he discovered that true academic success requires engagement beyond earning grades. "By showing me that you only get out of something what you put into it, especially in a class, even if you get an 'A,' it doesn't necessarily mean you get everything that that class has to offer," Herrud reflected. He credited retired professor Dr. James Senefeld with helping him understand the value of exploring new areas of study, including history.</p><p>Herrud's trajectory from Middle Tennessee to Eastern Europe exemplifies how community colleges can serve as launching pads for first-generation college students. "Success is not a path you walk alone," Herrud noted, underscoring the importance of mentorship and institutional support in shaping educational outcomes.</p>