Martha Burchell named Wallace State’s 2014 Overall Outstanding Alumni of the Year during annual Fall Convocation

HANCEVILLE, ALA. –  Martha Burchell couldn’t hold back the tears Tuesday when she was named Wallace State’s 2014 Outstanding Alumni of the Year.
Burchell, who attended Wallace State in the early 1990’s, was recognized as the overall alumni winner during the 10^th annual banquet, which was held at the new School of Nursing and Center for Science. The Outstanding Alumni banquet preceded the college’s annual Fall Convocation, which is the official kick off of a new academic year for Wallace State faculty and staff.
Burchell moved to Cullman in 1979 as a single mother of two sons and without a job. After a brief stint working at a mill, she became office manager at a bank.While in the banking industry, Burchell’s entrepreneurial nature began to blossom before she moved on to a job working for State Farm insurance.
Wallace State became a fixture in Burchell’s life when she quickly realized she needed to pursue college classes in order to one day fulfill her dream of owning her own insurance agency.
Burchell hasn’t missed a beat since. She completed her degree in 1994 and opened the Martha Burchell Nationwide Agency in 1998. Since that time, Burchell has been awarded the Alabama Nationwide Service Award, the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year Award and is also in the Top 10 Nationwide Agencies in the state.
“I don’t know if I’ve been touched by something as powerful as I have today (Tuesday) by receiving this recognition. For me to be honored by this community where I have served and worked is something I never expected to have,” Burchell said. “I’m so proud of Wallace State because when I hear about people coming here and going to school, I know they are going to get a great education. I know they are taking a step towards a better future, which it definitely did for me. To be recognized for doing something that comes natural is a great thing. I’m so happy.”
Additional Wallace State alumni were recognized at the breakfast.
Christy Turner was named the Academic Division Outstanding Alumni recipient. Turner earned two degrees from Wallace State, the first coming as an Occupational Therapy Assistant in 1996. She also has an associate in science degree. After working as an OTA for several years, Turner decided to pursue other options and now serves as the Special Events and Programs Director for the Cullman City Parks and Recreation Department. During her tenure, Turner has organized and overseen events like Rock the South, Cluck-N-Brew Festival, Kamp Cullman, the Couch to 5K running class, the Archery Shooters Pro/Am Tournament, the Frosty 5K run and the Polar Bear Plunge. She also wrote the application that awarded Cullman the National Parks and Recreation Association Gold Medal Award—the first in Alabama.
Javier Morales and Amy Smith were each named Outstanding Allied Health and Nursing Alumni. Morales earned an associate degree in Human Services at Wallace State. Morales went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree at Athens State, a master’s degree in bilingual education from Texas A&M and is now a PhD candidate. Morales is currently a grant writer at Northwest Vista College in San Antonio, Texas. He has worked for more than 20 years to enhance the lives of migrant farm workers and their children in various capacities including grant writer, program director, parent educator, farm worker advocate and as the first Hispanic radio DJ for education development in Alabama.
Smith is a 1995 Wallace State graduate with an associate in applied science degree from the Physical Therapy Assistant program. Smith added a bachelor’s degree after leaving Wallace State and has served in numerous professional leadership roles with the Alabama State Board of Physical Therapy, the American Physical Therapy Association, the PTA Career Pathways Taskforce and as the Alabama PTA Representative at Large.
Sunshine Smith-Wynn is the winner of the Workforce and Applied Technologies Division Outstanding Alumni Award. Smith-Wynn is a master cosmetologist and owner of Wynn Spa in Cullman, opening doors to cancer patients free of charge in honor of her mother. She assists these customers with hair, eyebrows, eyelashes and make-up after they lose their natural hair to cancer treatments. Smith is always very enthusiastic to provide donations with fundraisers and benefits at Wallace State and assists with the annual Wallace State pageant.
Joseph Nabors earned the Promising Alumni Award, bestowed upon a recent Wallace State graduate who demonstrates resounding success within five years of degree completion. Nabors graduated cum laude in 2009 from Wallace State in the Auto Manufacturing Technology program and quickly began working at Cullman Automation. He soon progressed to performing design-level engineering and program and has travelled extensively, installing equipment and training clients. Nabors now works at Cash Acme in the manufacturing engineering area. He also assists Wallace State by collaborating with professors to ensure that instruction is current with industry standards and volunteers evenings to familiarize faculty and students with new equipment and methods.
Workforce and Applied Technologies Alumni Division
Kevin Farnsworth is a 2011 Wallace State graduate in the Heating and Air Conditioning/Refrigeration (HVAC) Department. During his time in the program, Farnsworth was on the President’s or Dean’s Lists each semester and completed his Wallace State career with a 3.95 GPA. He currently serves as a member of the Wallace State HVAC Advisory Committee.
Dorothy O’Bara is a 2003 graduate of Wallace State, completing the Equestrian and Horsemanship program while also earning her associate in science degree. Upon leaving Wallace State, O’Bara obtained a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from UAB and master’s degree in special education. O’Bara currently works with the Jefferson County Board of Education at the Burkett Center and developed the new Beginnings Program for at-risk, special education students. O’Bara also serves as a part-time instructor in the Ready to Work program at Wallace State.
Outstanding Allied Health and Nursing Alumni Division
Randa Duke graduated from Wallace State in 2006 after completing her Licensed Practical Nursing certification and an associate degree in nursing through the mobility program. After graduating from Wallace State, Duke began her career at Cullman Regional Medical Center. She then went on to complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Jacksonville State and a master’s in nursing at UAH. In March 2012, Duke became a certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner at CMRC.
Crystal Hyatt Gersh is a graduate of the Wallace State Medical Assisting program and currently works at UAB Hospital. She is active in professional organizations like AAMA, ASMA and her local chapter of medical assistants.
Academic Division Outstanding Alumni
Donnie Dooley studied Athletic Training at Wallace State and volunteered each year for the Special Olympics on campus. After leaving Wallace State, Dooley transferred to West Alabama, where he majored in Athletic Training and Physical Education, earning both a bachelor’s and master’s in that concentration. While at West Alabama, Dooley served as a full-time athletic trainer for the football, basketball, rodeo, cross country, cheerleading and baseball teams.
Carol Leighanne Hart-Soden, a native of Holly Pond, is an Academic Alumni. After completing her studies at Wallace State, Hart-Soden transferred to UAH, earning her communications degree. She then obtained her master’s degree at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She is currently the Director of Community Services of the West Clinic in Memphis. Her professional affiliations have included the American Cancer Society, LEDIC Management Group, PROMOUS Hotel Corporation, University of Memphis and the Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce.
Megan Short Harris received an associate of science degree in general studies as well as a degree in paralegal studies. Harris is now an office manager within the Baptist Health Systems. She has participated in and supported the ASPCA, St. Jude’s and the American Heart Association.
Promising Alumni
Kyle Johnson graduated from Wallace State in 2011. Johnson, a Cullman native, is now attending Life University, enrolled in the Chiropractic program of study.
Amy Long graduated in 2010 from the Health Information Technology program. Long has made a huge contribution to the Baptist Health System and serves as a mentor to Wallace State students.
Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Karolewics followed the Outstanding Alumni ceremony with her annual state of the college address. Initiatives such as Learning Communities, the Common Read, Career and Success Coaching for students, and the college’s Quality Enhancement Plan, which is focused in part on e-portfolios and an important element in the college’s upcoming SACSCOC reaffirmation of accreditation, were discussed.
Wallace State’s latest batch of Leadership Wallace State graduates were also recognized, adding to the college’s goal to cultivate leaders in programs and departments all across campus. The 2013-14 Leadership Wallace State group was made up of Kristi Bain, Emily Boaz, Nicole Dame, Russell Gann, Teresa Gibbs, Julia Grimes, Brian Hall, Matt Ingram, Kim Kahler, Allen Keener, Jennifer Twitty, Linda Wesley, Beth Williams, Jonathan Cole and Jennifer Helton.
Wallace State is committed to learning that transforms lives and communities. In support of this mission, Wallace State is committed to student success through: a student centered, innovative, engaging and supportive learning environment; providing teaching excellence that inspires a quest for lifelong learning; respect for uniqueness and diversity; strategic partnerships that advance community, workforce and economic development; cultural enrichment of its communities; and accountability and integrity.
Wallace State is an Achieving the Dream institution, and has been ranked among the top community colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute and Community College Week.
For the sixth consecutive year, Wallace State employees and students are participating in a campus-wide initiative, called the Common Read project. This year’s selection is “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green. The book was captured on film this summer as a major motion picture. It spent multiple weeks atop the New York Times best-seller list and has been acclaimed as one of the top books of the year.  As part of the Common Read, Wallace State will welcome Wayne and Lori Earl on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 9:30 a.m. in the Betty Leeth Haynes Theatre. Wayne and Lori Earl are the parents of the late Esther Earl, who inspired “The Fault in Our Stars.”
Wallace State athletics won state championships in volleyball, men’s basketball and golf last season and had an individual national champion in golfer Cooper Brown. Wallace State is less than two years removed from the softball team earning the college’s seventh NJCAA Division I national championship. The five-time defending state champion volleyball team, coached by Randy Daniel, opens its 2014 season on Aug. 22.
Fall semester orientation classes began Thursday for incoming freshmen and all other Wallace State classes begin on Monday, Aug. 18. Late registration continues until Wednesday, Aug. 20.
For more information about Wallace State, visit wallacestate.edu.
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