Wallace State recognizes students at annual Honors Convocation

HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Wallace State Community College recognized hundreds of students on Tuesday, April 27, during its annual Honors Convocation. The Honors Convocation recognized the achievements of current students at Traditions Bank Arena in Tom Drake Coliseum.

“Wallace State’s student body is made up of about 5,500 students who collectively bring recognition to this college on a daily basis. We have outstanding music groups, athletic teams, SGA members, dedicated health students, PTK members, highly-skilled technical students, academic students, and talented club leaders that drive our programs,” said Dr. Vicki Karolewics, President of Wallace State.  “We are proud of all of our students and are delighted to have the opportunity to showcase them any chance we can.

“Although this event makes us proud, it is bittersweet,” Dr. Karolewics added. “We will be bidding farewell to most of these students soon as they will be graduating and pursuing other educational or career goals elsewhere.  We know that they are prepared for the transition to workplace or college as WSCC students perform exceedingly well upon transfer to Alabama’s public four-year institutions and are consistently requested in the job market due to their excellent training and work ethic.”

Among those honored was Lorri Eggink of Gardendale, the winner of the President’s Cup award. It is given annually to a student who exhibits leadership, involvement, an amazing work ethic, and overall achievement of educational success. Eggink is a widowed mother of three children, all of whom have various types of health issues that have developed within a single year. Despite everything she has been a leader in her class and managed to keep a 3.87 GPA while in the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Wallace State.

Other nominees were Katherine Greer Cunningham, a UAB/WSCC Joint Enrollment student; Camryn Dixon, a Culinary Arts student; and Katie Harris, an Occupational Therapy Assistant student.

Bryant Simmons of Hanceville was recognized as a Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship nominee.  The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation annually awards scholarships to deserving community college students based on their performance, nomination, and need.  The initiative, called the Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Program can provide awards of up to $40,000 with assistance for tuition, books, and housing. Finalists for the JKC award will be announced later this spring.

Simmons is a veteran, having served in the Marine Corp. He previously earned an associate degree in Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration at Wallace State before returning to enter the Forensic Psychology program. He has a 3.7 GPA and is a member of Sigma Kappa Delta.

All-Alabama Academic Team honors were bestowed upon Murl Sims of Danville and Alexis Williams of Hartselle. The All-USA Academic Team seeks to honor outstanding students from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines as representatives of all community college students.  The nomination is based on merit and is restricted to only two representatives from each community college in the country.

Sims is majoring in Engineering Technology with plans to attend The University of Alabama at Huntsville and pursue a bachelor’s degree in Structural Engineering.  He has a 3.7 GPA and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa.

Williams is majoring in General Studies with plans to attend the University of Alabama and earn a bachelor’s degree in Political Science.  Her goal is to become a Civil Rights Attorney. She has a 4.0 GPA and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa.

More than 100 students were recognized as Who’s Who recipients. The Who’s Who recognition program is a program that honors college students from across the nation who meet outstanding criteria and merit within the educational environment.

Who’s Who recipients included: Kiley Adams, Tessa Alvis, Jaynie Aman, Evan Anderson, Madison Anderson, Melissa Archer, Carli Jo Ashley , Tess Bailey, Peyton Baldwin, Grace Battles, Kheala Beck, Yeniveth Benitez, David Brewer, Jennifer Brooks, Mackenzie Brown, Tess Brown, Karah Brown, Candace Browning, Aimee Carroll, Gabriela Castillo-Huerta, Charis Childers, Ashton Clemmons, Lauren Cole, Shana Coover, Samantha Creamer, Allyson Cruz, Jenna Dawson, Isabella Deramus, Hannah Downs, Jesslyn Draper, Lorri Eggink, Michael Elston, Candice Fomby, Reagan Fulmer, Regan Fulmer, Kinsley Gardner, Christi Gillis, Emilee Goodwin, Camby Graves, Katherine Greer-Cunningham, Maleah Hallmark, Kayla Harless, Tonya Harpman, Rodney Harris, Kristen Hart (Rooker), Carlos Hernandez, Emmalie Holderfield, Caroline Hollingsworth, Eliza Hollingsworth, Leslie Hood. Benjamin Hunter. Melinda Isbell, Lexi Jackson, Johnathan Jenkins, Amanda Johnson, Kylie Junkin, Jitendra Kalariya, Grace Knetter, Daniel Knowlton, Joselin Lamora, Kela Lepre’, Peyton Linoley, Nathan MacDonald, Lisa Markey, Beverly Masters, Shanna Mathews, Colby Matthews, Kimberly McCool, Sydney McGregor, Melissa McLeroy, Jessica Miller, Macy Montgomery, Suni Murphey, Ashley Nall, Stacie Noble, Chandler Ogles, Andrea Orange, Adriana Ortiz Rodriguez, Noelia Palma, Courtney Patterson, Haley Pettit, Makayla Pharris, Ronda Posey, Annaya Quillin, Kimberly Rivas, Lauren Roberson, Jordan Roberts, Tanner Rowe, Christy Scott, Samantha Scruggs, Alandra Simrell, Victoria Smart, Ashley Smith, Breanna Smith, Tammy Smith, Lacy Springer, Leathel Stone, Brian Stroud, Jackeline Suarez, Kelli Sweet, Leah Tarvin, Dylan Teague Baileigh Terry, Harley Thomas, Jacob Tucker, Breanna Vann, Shiloh Walker, Angelina Wallis, Amber Walters, Zane Wells, Savannah White, Ethan Wideman, Maggie Williams, Trevor Williams, Kyra Willis, Mary Wolfe, Hudson Wood, Mary Katherine Woodard, Megan Worthington, Natalie Yanhko.

Leadership Recipients were recognized as students who have demonstrated scholastic excellence, as well as participation, leadership, service, and citizenship in their chosen field of study.

Leadership Award recipients included: Chandra Boozer, Medical Assistant; Carly Brady, Leadership- OTA; JaQuane Brown, Outstanding Work Study; Chloe Carter, Lion Leader; Noah Dia, Leadership- Lion Leader and NSLS; Tiffany Dowdy, Outstanding Work Study; Abbie Drake, Choir; Grace Drake, Singer; Olivia Eason, Outstanding Work Study; Lorri Eggink, Leadership- Student Physical Therapy; Sara Beth Eskew, SSS Student of the Year; Destiny Flowers, Outstanding Work Study; Victoria Frey, NSLS; Bailey Grant Leadership- Ambassador; Chrystelle Harris, NSLS; Jonathan Jenkins, NSLS; Lacey Johnson, Dance Club and Miss Wallace State; Grace Knetter, Rotaract; Shanna Matthews, KBD; John Matthews, NSLS; Bethany Sartain, NSLS; Haley Self-Tumlin Leadership-Phi Theta Kappa and Lion Leader; Meredith Short, Jazz Band; Grant Sikes, SGA; Amanda Threatt, NSLS; BreAnna Turner, Dance Club; Shiloh Walker, Concert Band; Natalie Yanhko, WSCC Saxophone Ensemble.

Awards were also presented to students who have achieved a 4.0 Grade Point Average (GPA). A 4.0 GPA means that a student made As in all courses attempted at the college throughout all semesters and has completed graduation requirements in fall 2020 or will do so during the spring or summer semester.

Students who achieved 4.0 GPA include: Brady Absher, Logan Ayers, Juliana Ballew, Rhonda Bishop, Connor Blanchard, Leah Borden, Hannah Boykin, Olivia Burleson, Kevin Butler, Aimee Carroll, Erin Chambliss, Annalyse Cole. Chandler Cole. Dawson Cole, Kristi Corbin, Katherine Cunningham, Noah Dia, Amber Dials, Abbie Drake, Logan Drake, Iva Duren, Logan Eady, Davis Falkner, Faith Ford, Haven Hall. Hannah Hancock, Kaitlin Harding. Tonya Hardman, Makayla Henderson, Kaitlyn Hill, Gunnar Hulebak, Oscar Jett, Jayda Jones, Grace Knetter, Gabrielle Legg, McKenzie Maddox, DeeMcCormick, Melissa McElroy, Texanna Moore, Bobby Morris, Anna Murphy, Chandler Ogles, Carrie Oliver, Kajal Patel, Haley Pettit, Juddson Raia, Harlee Reid, Rebecca Richardson, Zackary Rocca, Shelley Rowland, Bridget Savage, Victoria Smart, Breanna Smith, Christian Smith, Kevin Spencer, Lacy Springer, Summer Stines, Karla Stone, Rachel Swanson, Brittany Thompson, Josie Thompson, Kiera Thrasher, Breanna Vann, Amy Ward, Alexis Williams, Chanah Wolkow, Kyle Yarbrough, Xiaoli Young.

Four-year scholarship award recipients were recognized by the institutions they will be transferring to in the fall, including the University of Alabama at Huntsville, Jacksonville State University, Athens State University, the University of Alabama, and Auburn University.

Program award recipients in the Academic, Applied Technologies and Health Science divisions were recognized based on their nomination by faculty members.

Academic program award recipients include: Peyton Baldwin, Forensic Investigation; Stephanie Booth,Paralegal; Emilee Goodwin, Business – Transportation Management; Elizabeth Griffith, Dance; Grace Knetter, Entrepreneurship; Emrey McGill, Criminal Justice; Morgan Lane, Dance; Gabrielle Legg, Graphic Arts and Design; Whitney Maddux, Computer Science – Programming; Arturo Rico, Business Administration; Kimberly Rivas, Law Enforcement; Lacy Springer, Business Management; Abigail Talley, Business Office Management; Courtney Townson, Business Education- OAD.

Applied Technology program award recipients include: Stephen Eckerd, Flight Technology; Jacob McAffrey, Welding Technology; Jennifer McConnaughhay, Culinary Arts; Kyleigh Merring, Salon and Spa Management/Cosmetology; Hunter Miller, Automotive Service Technology; Josh Skinner, HVAC; Tyler Wallace, Engineering Technology.

Health Science program award recipients include: Evan Anderson, PTA; Destiny Flowers, Respiratory Therapy; Katie Harris, OTA; Ashley Head, Dental Hygiene; Allison Mayfield, Dental Assisting; Bridget Savage, Diagnostic Imaging; Samantha Scruggs, Medical Lab Technology; Victoria Smart, Nursing; Brittany Thompson, Pharmacy Technology; Karen Valadez, Health Information Technology, Medical Coding; Xiaoli Young, Child Development.

Students from the Mercedes-Benz Co-op program were also recognized. These students complete semester coursework at Wallace State during the Fall and Spring semesters and work full-time as apprentices at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance Alabama throughout two summer semesters, earning pay and college course credit simultaneously. Tuition assistance is also provided, and students are eligible for full-time employment with the company upon completion of the program.

Mercedes-Benz Co-op students include: Adam Carney, Ceana Compton, Dylan Krohe, Jorge Perez, Roberto Perez, Justin Reliford, Saul Sanchez, Steven Smith, Kade Thompkins, Rick Wilkerson.

The first graduating cohort of the NCAL FAME program was recognized. These students have pursued an associate degree in Electronics Technology while working in our local manufacturing industry. Additionally, these individuals have demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence and professionalism. All of the students have received full-time job offers from their sponsoring companies.

FAME students include: Hunter Byrams, Alan Castro, Ethan Hallmark, Stephanie Lara-Herrera, Jamie Marsh, Caleb Matzer, Nathan McKee, Zach Taylor, Francisco Tomas, Adrian White.

“This is one of our favorite events as we get to celebrate the successes of our students by showcasing their accomplishments,” said Dr. Ryan Smith, Vice President for Students. “Our students are so talented and deserve so many accolades and this afternoon is truly a special time to attempt to categorize these things in one afternoon.”

Wallace State Community College is part of the Alabama Community College System, offering degrees, certificates and short-term certificates in Academic, Applied Technology and Health Science programs. Registration for the Summer 2021 semester is underway for day, evening and weekend classes on campus at the Hanceville and/or Oneonta campus centers, as well as online. Summer classes start May 26 and July 6. Visit www.wallacestate.edu or call 256.352.8000 for more information.

Honors Convocation Video: https://youtu.be/WTfjhp4ofLk

Honors Convocation Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmVsd7Qm