Clayton Wilmore
For Clayton Elton Wilmore, choosing Tennessee Tech wasn't just about pursuing a degree—it was about continuing a family tradition. As a legacy student whose parents and extended family are Tennessee Tech alumni, Wilmore's decision to attend the university allowed him to experience firsthand the stories and memories his family had shared with him over the years.
“It instills a sense of pride,” he said, “to think that I’m continuing on with what
my forefathers have done, and also … bring back stuff that I've acquired at Tech,
and put it in our big scrapbook and everything, and show the memories that they had,
and also the memories that I now have.”
He became a biology major with a concentration in health sciences and a focus in optometry.
The health sciences program at Tennessee Tech offers a comprehensive curriculum that prepares students for various medical professions. Students take courses such as anatomy, biochemistry, cellular biology and organic chemistry, with emphasis on hands-on learning.
“For example, in microbiology, we did a lot related to plating bacteria: seeing how the different colonies form on the surface of the plates and things like that, and also trying your best not to gag because they smell pretty bad,” he laughed.
For Wilmore, the transition from high school to college-level coursework required developing new study habits and learning strategies. Despite being a straight-A student in high school, he quickly realized that success at Tennessee Tech demanded a more rigorous approach to studying. The program has taught him not just facts and figures, but how to connect complex concepts across different areas of study. He thanked Kathryn Rust, one of his chemistry instructors, for helping him with his academic success strategies.
“I didn’t have a very good background in chemistry when I left high school,” he said. “She pushed me to understand what to do and taught me how to study. She’s been a good mentor for me.”
Beyond academics, Wilmore also embraced campus. He particularly enjoys university concerts, where students can vote on performing artists, and the annual Lighting the Quad—a tradition he describes as a "pivotal moment that everyone at Tech should experience at least once."
For future students considering a career in health sciences, Wilmore says he wholeheartedly recommends the program.
"If you have an interest in health, being a doctor, or just anything health-wise, I really recommend this major. All of the advisors for this major and everyone involved with it are medically minded... they understand the ins and outs of things. Tech just keeps getting better,” he added. “It’s an outstanding school, and I can’t recommend it enough.”