Fall 2025 Commencement: Mikayla Brown Scores Big at Tri-C

Mikayla Brown's journey to college volleyball didn't follow the path she expected. Growing up in Castalia, a small, rural town in North Central Ohio, she didn't envision attending an urban community college in Cleveland.

However, an unexpected call from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C^®) volleyball coach Tionne El-Amin changed everything.

"Coach T. reached out to me, and I thought, 'Why would I come an hour and a half away to go to a community college when there are two that are about 20 minutes from my house?'" Brown said. "But she convinced me, and I came here and loved it."

Brown will earn two Associate of Arts degrees from Tri-C in under two years, having earned college credits through the College Credit Plus program.

Brown will graduate Magna Cum Laude from the School of Business, Legal Professions and Hospitality and the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences when the College celebrates Commencement on Dec. 11 at the Wolstein Center.

She will continue her academic and athletic career at Ohio Christian University and plans to pursue a career in accounting.

"Managing both online and in-person classes really helped me succeed," Brown said. "And through athletics, coming to practice every day, competing and pushing myself to become better has prepared me for the next step in my education."

What made you choose Tri-C?
I've played volleyball basically my whole life. I started in first grade and loved it and kept working toward playing in college. So, Coach T. made that happen, and I just love the girls. They've become my best friends. 

Describe your Tri-C experience. Has a specific person, class or event played a role in your success?
Tri-C has been very welcoming. Making a big change from rural to city life is something that I had to get very used to, but the College has helped a lot, and the coaches and my teammates have been very supportive.

Do you have any pearls of wisdom to share with students?
Some of the classes are smaller, so you feel like you can have a personal connection with the instructor.

Tri-C will celebrate the academic achievements of its newest graduates during Commencement on Dec. 11 at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland. Check our News and Events page leading up to the event for more highlights from the Class of 2025.

December 08, 2025

By Anthony Moujaes, 216-987-3068 or anthony.moujaes@tri-c.edu