51视频

Hands-on learning helps 51视频graduate build a future in engineering

Brianna Farmer began her educational journey at 51视频 while still in high school.

Farmer became a college student while still attending Apostolic Christian School in Knoxville, through dual-enrollment courses at Pellissippi State. The experience ultimately made her transition from high school to college easier.

“It was really easy once I got started; just getting used to the classes and the courseload,” Farmer said. “All the professors were very helpful and understanding that I was in high school. The process was just super simple.”

She ended up continuing her college career at Pellissippi after graduating high school because of its proximity to home, Farmer said.  Fast forward, and she was one of more than 800 students to graduate from Pellissippi this spring.

Farmer, discovered an affinity for STEM subjects in high school, and studied Mechanical Engineering Technology. Her first machine-shop class was an eye-opening experience.

If Farmer had any questions or needed reassurance, her professors were there to help her succeed and see how a project could grow from start to finish.

“It was just really cool going through and learning all the different techniques and the instruments that are involved – the tooling and everything else like that,” she said. “I liked the hands-on experience and getting to practice with it.”

As part of her capstone project, Farmer and her classmates provided work instructions for a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM), to help other students benefit from the state-of-the-art precision equipment and advanced software.

DENSO Manufacturing, Mitutoyo America, the Gauge Shop and Cherokee Millwright donated the CMM and installed the machine in the Mechanical Engineering Department.

Farmer was one of two students who received advanced training on the machine and showcased their skills for faculty and representatives of the companies who provided at a fall 2025 event. The presentation offered Farmer the opportunity to see how the CMM is incorporated into the industry and to interact with those working in the field she plans to enter. 

After earning her degree from Pellissippi State, Farmer plans to complete her bachelor’s degree at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and possibly go into supply chain management.

Her advice to incoming and current students is simply to “ask questions.” Professors are more than willing to impart their wisdom, Farmer said.

“If you're having any doubts or anything, just give it a try,” she said. “Everything's up in the air when you're first starting out. If you plan to go into this, just have an open mind.”

“All the effort that you put in and all the hard work that you're going through and all the stress that you feel – it eventually will turn into something,” she said. “It's definitely worth it in the end.”