Wallace State employees treated to keynote speaker Dr. Walter Bumphus of AACC during Fall Convocation

HANCEVILLE, ALA. – Wallace State Community College’s employees officially kicked off the 2016-17 academic year Monday by attending Fall Convocation at the School of Nursing and Center for Science.
Wallace State was honored to have Dr. Walter G. Bumphus, President and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges, serve as the Convocation’s keynote speaker.
“I want to salute you for a lot of things you are doing very, very well at Wallace State. The work you are doing with student success and completion is on par with any other college in the country. You have so much to be proud of,” Bumphus said.
Before joining the AACC, Bumphus served as a professor in the Community College Leadership Program and as chair of the Department of Educational Administration at the University of Texas at Austin and as president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) from 2001 to 2007. He was later appointed the President Emeritus of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. He also served as president of Brookhaven College in the Dallas County Community College District.
Wallace State was selected last fall as one of only 30 colleges in the nation to participate in the inaugural Pathways Project led by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The project guides students from enrollment to completion, pinpointing specific academic pathways to pursue.
“Wallace State was in the top tier of the colleges that applied for the Pathways Project. It’s an amazing project and truly is the next evolution of what’s happening with student success and completion within community colleges. It’s taking things to a different level, and we are seeing some wonderful results across the country,” Bumphus said.
There are 1,108 community colleges across the United States, serving 12.3 million students.
Bumphus said community colleges should have prominent roles in workforce training and economic development and commended Wallace State for its work in both areas. Bumphus also discussed the positive impact of America’s College Promise across other states and how community colleges continue to be the most affordable option for students.
Some challenges for the system discussed by Bumphus included improving student completion, addressing safety and security on campuses, not becoming comfortable with the status quo, working to find more funding and incorporating apprenticeships, among other areas.
“I think we have some of the best jobs in America. We have a great opportunity to change lives and impact communities. Everyone here has a great job because you get a chance every day to make magic happen for a lot of people,” Bumphus said.
Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Karolewics, who has led the college since 2003, followed Bumphus with her annual State of the College presentation.
Select Wallace State employees were recognized for various achievements.
Mary Crosby of the Wallace State Café was named the college’s Employee of the Year, while Bruce Tenison, the Director of E-Learning and Technology, was recognized as the Innovator of the Year.
Wallace State’s latest Leadership Wallace State graduates were also recognized, adding to the college’s goal to cultivate leaders in programs and departments all across campus. The 2015-16 Leadership Wallace State group consisted of Jason Bynum, Randy Hammond, Marcie Hill, Lane Hollis-Waller, Misty Kennedy, Matthew McCrickard, Aaron Nichols, Disha Patel, Gena Rice and Lance Yoshioka.
Wallace State’s FOCUS (Follow One Course Until Successful) members over the past year were Valetta Baker, Belinda Calvert, Tonda Carter, Eddie Castleberry, Hallie Drake Christensen, Gail Crutchfield, Karen Downs, Russell Gann, Natalie Godwin, Julie Grimes, Mattie Hudson, Chris Lambert, Savannah Mann, Matthew McCrickard, Anita Monk, Shelia Parker, Allison Robertson, Rachel Roper, Bess Ryan, John Smith, Kathryn Wilkins, Sarah Yarbrough and Lance Yoshioka.
Wallace State’s fall semester classes begin Wednesday. Late registration resumes until Tuesday, Aug. 23.
For more information about Wallace State, visit www.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
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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