Nifty nails

Allison Coffey, Charger Staff

Tiffany Dodson, a 2001-2002 Cookeville High School graduate, has yet to let her hearing disability to get in the way of her dream.

With a fascination for painting nails ever since she was little, she was able to turn that wonderful talent into a possible career choice.

Tiffany, deaf since her birth, finished first last year at Tennessee’s Skills USA-VICA competition and qualified for the national Skills-USA competition, where she finished in fifth place out of 100.

She is presently waiting to be accepted to Livingston so she can finish getting her hours. Then she’ll be able to go to any technology center that she would like to attend on a full scholarship.

Martha Dyer, her cosmetology teacher, said that being deaf might have helped Tiffany excel as much as she did. “She isn’t distracted by those around her and concentrates on what’s she’s doing. She’s great at doing nails; I know that she will do very well. I wish her the best of luck in everything that she does.”