Wallace State’s ‘2+2’ poultry science receives donation from American Proteins, Inc.

HANCEVILLE, ALA. – American Proteins, Inc. in Hanceville recently donated a check worth $4,667 to Wallace State Community College’s ‘2+2’ Poultry Science program through a grant from the U.S. Poultry Foundation.
Students enrolled in the ‘2+2’ program complete their freshman and sophomore years of college at Wallace State and then transfer to Auburn University for their junior and senior years, culminating with a bachelor’s degree in poultry science.
“We are proud we can supply money to promote the ‘2+2’ program, especially through the poultry science department. The association between Wallace State and Auburn University is a great situation not only for the colleges, but for the students in Wallace State’s service area and throughout the state,” said Fred Cespedes, a retired vice president of American Proteins and a Wallace State Future Foundation Board member who was instrumental in spearheading the partnership between the colleges. “We certainly appreciate to be associated with this fantastic program and to help promote these colleges.”
“This is a great example of meaningful public-private partnerships that accomplish great results,” said Dr. Vicki Karolewics, Wallace State President. “American Proteins is an industry leader by stepping up and investing in developing the kinds of employees it needs in the future.”
Wallace State became the first college within the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) to partner with Auburn for the ‘2+2’ program, joining forces in June 2013.
While at Wallace State, students complete core curriculum during their first two years and also take an introductory agriculture course, which is streamed live from Auburn. The courses at Wallace State are administered under the Horticulture/Agricultural Production program.
Wallace State plans to use the donation for state and region-wide advertising and for program recruiting.
“We hope this helps attract more students to our program. Since we’ve started the program, we’ve had a gradual increase in enrollment each semester,” said Wallace State’s Anthony Hilliard, the college’s Horticulture/Agricultural Production department head. “I’ve received calls from students all across the state about this ‘2+2’ program. The interest in it seems to be growing.”
The poultry industry in Alabama generates more than $3.1 billion each year and accounts for more than 65 percent of the state’s annual farming revenues.
Cullman County, where Wallace State is located, is among the top poultry-producing counties in the state.
Scholarships are available to poultry science students at both Wallace State and Auburn, including the Fred and Holly Cespedes Endowed Scholarship Fund, which is available to Wallace State students studying agriculture, horticulture production, poultry science or a related field.
For more information about Wallace State, visit wallacestate.edu.
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Russell Moore
Staff Writer
Wallace State Community College
P.O. Box 2000, Hanceville, AL 35077
1-866-350-9722    256-352-8443 direct
Russell.Moore@wallacestate.edu
Visit us online at www.wallacestate.edu
 
Kristen Holmes
Communications & Marketing Director
Wallace State Community College
801 Main Street NW | Hanceville, AL 35077
E-mail: kristen.holmes@wallacestate.edu
Office: 256.352.8118 | Cell: 256.339.2519 | Toll Free: 866.350.9722
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