Wallace State (Photo from Facebook)
HANCEVILLE, Ala. — More than 30 graduates of the Wallace State Community College Adult Education program walked across the stage Thursday, June 3, to mark their success of receiving their GED. There were around 80 students who earned their GED or high school diploma through the Adult Education program at Wallace State during the 2020-2021 academic year.
While most commonly known for helping students obtain their GED, the Adult Education program also helps students earn their high school diploma and provides classes that offer credentials which can be used for employment.
“The Adult Education program is not only for those without their high school diploma, but also serves adults who need to improve their skills and abilities to be successful in the completion of their chosen program,” said Suzanne Harbin, vice president for advancement and innovation.
The GED is offered to students who dropped out of school before completing required credits needed to graduate. Classes are offered in person, online and at community sites. Vouchers are offered to students completing classes that will pay for the GED exam. Upon receiving their GED, the students receive a 3-credit-hour scholarship to Wallace State.
The high school diploma credential is for students who completed credits needed to graduate but did not pass the high school exit exam. The Adult Education program helps them prepare for and administers the necessary assessments to receive their high school diploma.
The Adult Education program also offers classes that let students earn credentials they can use in the workforce. The program is currently partnering with the Medical Laboratory Technician program to offer the Medical Lab Assistant certificate in two semesters. Medical lab assistants often work in doctors’ offices and urgent care facilities and are responsible for completing waived testing. Waived testing includes pregnancy tests and tests for flu, strep, etc.
The Adult Education program also offers classes in Manufacturing Skill Standards Council, Phlebotomy, OSHA, WorkKeys Certification, Ready to Work and more. Plans are in the works to offer classes for Certified Nursing Assistant.
Skylar Bolton earned her GED and CNA certification last year after years of starting and stopping her efforts. “I’m so thankful for the Wallace State Adult Education program,” she said at the time. “They’ve encouraged me every step of the way, even when I wasn’t receptive. The teachers and staff are top-notch, and they do all they can to help you succeed.”
Adult Education’s efforts to assist students like Bolton fall in line with Gov. Kay Ivey’s Success Plus Initiative. The Success Plus Initiative addresses Alabama’s increasing need for workers with certificates, credentials or degrees in addition to a high school diploma. By 2025, Alabama will need to add 500,000 high-skilled employees to the workforce in order to fill existing industry’s labor needs and compete for new businesses, according to a report produced by the Alabama Workforce Council’s Statewide Educational Attainment Committee.
For more information about Wallace State’s Adult Education program visit www.wallacestate.edu/adulted, call 256-352-8078 or email adulteducation@wallacestate.edu.
HANCEVILLE, Ala. — The Wallace State Community College Future Foundation is accepting applications for scholarships to be distributed for the 2022-2023 Academic Year beginning in the fall 2022 semester.
The Future Foundation lists more than 150 scholarships for Wallace State students. Some scholarships are geared to specific programs or divisions while others are more general and open to most of the student population. During the 2021-2022 academic year, the Future Foundation awarded 212 students more than $347,000 in scholarship funds.
Suzanne Harbin, vice president of Advancement and Innovation at Wallace State, has seen first-hand how these scholarships and assistance from the Future Foundation have helped students achieve their goal of earning a college degree or certificate.
“In some cases, the need may represent a small amount of money, but to them, that amount is the difference between earning a degree or not, a degree that can help them earn a better paying job and improving their lives and their family situation,” Harbin said. Some of the scholarships may help take care of simple needs such as food and fuel, while others may cover tuition, books, supplies and even certification exams.
These scholarships can also help fill a gap for students who may not qualify for Pell grants, but still struggle to pay for college expenses.
Current high school seniors who will be attending Wallace State next fall and current Wallace State students who will be returning in the fall are eligible to apply for the Future Foundation Scholarships. Students must have applied to the college and have been accepted and have a student number and a Wallace State email address. They should have also completed the 2022-2023 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.
Requirements vary depending on the specific scholarship. These scholarships can be combined with other Future Foundation scholarships, with institutional scholarships, federal student aid and with outside scholarship awards.
The deadline to apply for Future Foundation scholarships is March 4. Visit https://wallacestate.academicworks.com/ to view the scholarships offered by the Wallace State Future Foundation and to complete the application.
Apart from the Foundation, applications are also being accepted for scholarships offered by the college, with a Feb. 15 deadline to apply. Visit https://www.wallacestate.edu/financial-aid/wscc-scholarships to see the list of these scholarships and to submit the application.
