Wallace State Community College student delegation attends ACCS Legislative Leadership Day in Montgomery
CONTACT: Russell Moore, Communications and Marketing, Wallace State Community College, 256.352.8443, russell.moore@wallacestate.edu
Wallace State students at ACCS Leadership breakfast: Attending the breakfast were, front row, from left, students Ryan Hale and Adam Hale, both of Vinemont, Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Hawsey, State Representative David Standridge, R-Hayden, student Taylor Quick of Cullman, student Kelsie Morgan of Cullman and student Levi Ponder of Falkville, back row, from left, student Bradley Osborne of Arab, State Representative Mac Buttram, R-Cullman, student Seth Fuller of Cullman and Wallace State Enrollment Specialist Tad Parker.
HANCEVILLE – The student body of Wallace State Community College in Hanceville was well represented at the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) Legislative Leadership Day held recently in Montgomery.
Members of Wallace State’s Student Government Association (SGA) and Fast Track Academy participated in the Legislative Day, which began with a breakfast, giving state legislators an opportunity to mingle with students and college employees from their respective areas, and concluded with Governor Robert Bentley serving as the keynote speaker.
Adam Hale of Vinemont, Taylor Quick of Cullman, Levi Ponder of Falkville, Ryan Hale of Vinemont, Seth Fuller of Cullman, Bradley Osborne of Arab and Kelsie Morgan of Cullman made up Wallace State’s student contingent in Montgomery.
“It was a great learning experience for all of us and gave us chance to bond better as a group. We got to spend time with people who some of us aspire to be like one day,” said Quick, Wallace State’s SGA Vice President. “Wallace State was recognized many times throughout the breakfast, so that made us proud, and I felt we received more attention from out state representatives than some of the other colleges did.”
State representatives David Standridge, R-Hayden, a Wallace State graduate, and Mac Buttram, R-Cullman, attended the event and socialized with the Wallace State students throughout the breakfast.
“Our students were very eager to attend the event and represented Wallace State very, very well. We were recognized by both the chancellor and governor, and that was exciting for all of us,” said Wallace State’s Enrollment Specialist Tad Parker, who joined the students on the trip. “Some of them had never been to Montgomery, so it was a good opportunity for them to learn more about the state government as well as the community college system. It was a good, educational experience for all of us.”
ACCS Chancellor Mark Heinrich addressed the assembly before Bentley and highlighted compelling student success stories from many of the colleges represented. Heinrich praised Quick for her leadership efforts at Wallace State, pointing out that she earned a Student Excellence scholarship upon joining the college and has continued to pile up academic achievements, earning recognition on the Dean’s List and being inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa and Sigma Kappa Delta Honor Societies. In addition to serving as SGA Vice President, Quick is president of the Wallace State Republicans Club and was named the Wallace State Homecoming Queen in February.
Governor Bentley’s address wrapped up the breakfast, commending all of the students for their dedication to education and their respective colleges. Bentley also discussed particular initiatives among the community college system and specifically identified Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Hawsey and the college for its new “green” business incubator program. He ended the speech by signing a proclamation designating April as Community College Month.
After the breakfast, Wallace State’s students visited the Capitol and observed Senate and House of Representatives sessions.
“It was a wonderful trip. Our representatives were very interested in our courses of study and what our goals are in life. The experience should definitely help us want to become better students and leaders,” Quick said.
For more information about Wallace State, visit wallacestate.edu.
Wallace State students outside the state Capitol are front row, from left, Kelsie Morgan of Cullman and Taylor Quick of Cullman, middle row, from left, Adam Hale of Vinemont and Levi Ponder of Falkville and back row, from left, Ryan Hale of Vinemont, Seth Fuller of Cullman and Bradley Osborne of Arab.
______________________________
Kristen Holmes
Director, Communications & Marketing
Wallace State Community College
P.O. Box 2000, Hanceville, AL 35077
1-866-350-9722 256-352-8118 direct
256-352-8314 fax 256-339-2519 cell
Visit us online at www.wallacestate.edu