HANCEVILLE — More than 100 students in grades six through nine from area high schools visited the campus of Wallace State Community College on Thursday, April 24, so they can start giving serious thought about their college education.
The TRIO Talent Search program welcomed sixth through eighth graders in the program’s Academic Achievers program and ninth graders in the College Prep program.
During the day, the students were treated to a performance of the Fine Arts program’s “Revolution: A Musical Celebration of The Beatles,” tours of four college programs and a pizza lunch. During lunch, several students were presented with awards.
“This is my favorite part of the day,” Kristi Nyquist, director of Wallace State’s Talent Search program, told the students as they gathered on the 12th floor of the James C. Bailey Center. The goal of the Talent Search program, she explained, is to help more students pursue a college education.
Toward that goal, the students visiting Wallace State on Thursday were divided into four groups, with the students choosing in which groups they wanted to be included. Two groups toured the Nursing and Machining programs and the other two toured Cosmetology and the Advanced Visualization Center.
“I had an amazing time touring Wallace State,” said Jerrica Vincent, who was among a group of ninth graders from Good Hope High School. “I liked being able to go into the rooms in nursing and be able to explore everything.”
Though she plans to major in business, Jerrica said she was still interested in seeing the nursing school, where she witnessed the nursing students perform a simulation.
Jerrica’s classmate, Abby Burnette, does want to go into nursing and loved seeing the students working on the simulation mannequins.
Anita Richter, who brought the students from Good Hope, said the day was a great opportunity for her students and the others in attendance. Being freshmen in high school, the students may not realize that making a decision about college is close at hand for them. Seeing the options open to them at Wallace State, she said, is a great opportunity for them.
Students receiving awards at TRIO Day included:
From Falkville: Best Attitude, Stephanie Vazquez and Ayla Turner; Most improved, Heather Brown and Abigail Chaney.
From Holly Pond: Best Attitude and Most Improved, Robert Raspberry.
From Hanceville: Best Attitude, Erika Moctezuma and Kenzie Jones; Most Improved, Hannah Cooke and Brandi Dingler.
For more information about Wallace State’s Talent Search program, call Kristi Nyquist at 245.352.8208 or visit www.wallacestate.edu/Trio/Talent-Search.
