Natale Mertens graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the fall 2025 commencement, joining her three sisters as UTC alumni. Photo by Angela Foster
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s fall commencement ceremonies were a time for families to celebrate their students’ hard work and accomplishments.
For the Mertens family from Nashville, it was a time to reflect on their family’s journey at UTC over the past decade.
On Dec. 13, Natale Mertens walked across the stage at McKenzie Arena to receive her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
With this achievement, Natale became the latest of the Mertens sisters—joining Kinsey, Claire and Ninah—to graduate from UTC.
Their mother, Amy, said UTC has been “a family college for us, even though my husband and I didn’t go here.”
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Amy Mertens, a 1992 University of Belmont graduate, recently retired from nursing. She said graduates with a UTC diploma have “street cred.”
“It’s the No. 1 program in Tennessee, which I was like, ‘Wow, that’s amazing.’ I’m a nurse and I didn’t realize it,” she said. “(Natale) got into UTC as a transfer, and there are about 40 in her class. It’s a small class. She has loved her nursing courses. It reinforced to her that nursing is what she’s meant to do.”
Natale started working at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville. Amy said this is through UTC’s reputation for producing the best nurses in the state.
While at a soccer game, Amy mentioned to an acquaintance that Natale was looking for a job while attending UTC. This acquaintance by chance, or as Amy would call it, “divine intervention,” had just started working at Saint Thomas.
“She was looking for something to do and this lady sitting next to me goes, ‘Send her my email. She’s where?’ Amy recalled. When she was told Natale was at UTC, “Oh yeah, send her my email. You have street cred when you have UTC on your diploma.
“(Natale) immediately went into the program and she hadn’t graduated. She hasn’t taken her NCLEX yet, but the passing rates on the NCLEX are sky high here.”
Starting her collegiate career at Columbia (Tennessee) State Community College to play soccer, Natale said she missed her twin sister, Ninah, who was already attending UTC.
Ninah graduated in May 2025 with a degree in psychology.
“It was hard to do when you’re away from your twin, your best friend,” Natale said. “But also, when I was doing research, it was and still is the No. 1 nursing school in Tennessee. I thought, ‘You know what? That sounds like a good fit for me. No. 1 nursing school and my siblings are there.’ It just worked perfectly.”
The Mertens sisters, from left to right: Ninah, Natale, Claire and Kinsey.
Reflecting on her journey at UTC, Natale explained that her academic experience taught both technical nursing knowledge and practical skills, building her professional confidence.
“I loved it,” she said. “It was honestly a great community and all the teachers were so helpful to me. They were really hammering it in our minds what to do in a hospital—how to take care of the patient. I feel that anywhere else, I wouldn’t feel as prepared with patient care overall.”
Kinsey started the Mertens tradition at UTC, graduating in 2017 with a degree in biology.
Initially prepared to attend UTC without an official tour, her mother insisted on an actual visit. That tour and the apartment-style dorms sealed the deal, according to Kinsey.
“I wanted to go to UTC because it had everything I was looking for: the right size, a great community feel, and the perfect distance from Nashville,” she said. “I could have my independence but still be close to home. I also love Chattanooga as a city because there’s always something to do.”
Kinsey said UTC prepared her to succeed in the workforce as she began her career as a pharmacist.
She also enjoyed watching her sisters do the same.
“As the oldest, it’s been amazing to watch my sisters follow in my footsteps but also find their own paths. Even though we shared the same school, each of our experiences was entirely our own, and I love that,” she said.
“The only thing I wish they could’ve experienced is Greek life because it played such a big role in my college journey. But I’m so proud of all of them and grateful that UTC is something we’ll always have in common.”
Natale echoed her sister’s experience.
“UTC as a community—everybody I met, especially as a transfer, it’s harder to make friends and communicate with others—but it was so welcoming,” she said. “Especially in the nursing school, for somebody who just transferred in, that was the biggest highlight.”
The Mertens also added to their family during the sisters’ time at UTC. Claire, a 2020 marketing graduate, met Blaine Davis while attending the University. The couple married in 2020.
Amy said from 2014 to 2021, she saw “more and more” students from Middle Tennessee attending UTC.
“I loved that cohesion,” she said. “We know the system. We know the area. We can figure out where to park without getting a ticket, hopefully. I love the campus security program. You have your own police force and that was huge for me as a mom with girls.
“I was thrilled that they have all the big sports teams—things they can do on the weekend. Watch the girls’ soccer team, watch basketball, go to football games, do homecoming, and take part in all these big school activities. It’s not so massive that they get lost, but it had everything all of my girls needed.”
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Photo gallery courtesy of Amy Mertens
