Wallace State Fast Track program helped Yancey York realize dream
HANCEVILLE, Ala. — When Yancey York graduated from Wallace State in 2013 with an Associate in Applied Science in Flight Technology, it was about a week before she graduated from Cullman Christian School. As a Fast Track student at Wallace State from 2012 to 2014, she was able to earn both college and high school credit.
“It really put me ahead of the typical timeline that college takes,” she said. “I was able to pursue my career a step ahead of the same people my age.
“The most rewarding thing about attending Wallace would have to be the fact that I graduated with my associates degree about one week prior to graduating high school,” she added. “I definitely felt accomplished at the time. But since then, my education that started at Wallace has allowed me to progress through my career towards my dream job.”
Since graduating from Wallace State, York has gone on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Science from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont., and is now a regional Airline Captain for PSA Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines. She is based out of Charlotte, N.C., and flies CRJ 700 and 900 aircraft. Two other Wallace State Flight Technology alumni, Aaron Mathis and Tanner Cail also fly for PSA.
York still lives in Cullman. She commutes each week to North Caroline to start her work trips.
“Each trip is usually 3-4 days long.,” she said. “In my off time I enjoy helping out on the family farm, spending time on Smith Lake with friends, my family and my black lab, Echo. My family and I also enjoy taking trips to much warmer places to go scuba diving in the summer months. In the colder months, we visit Montana and Texas to quail and pheasant hunt.”
This is one in a series of spotlights and events to be featured in April as Wallace State celebrates national Community College Month. Visit www.wscccalumni.org/ccmonth21 for more information.
Registration for Summer Semester also starts this month. Priority registration begins April 13. Summer semester features one 10-week term beginning May 26 and two 5-week terms, with classes offered on campus in Hanceville and Oneonta, online, day, evening and weekends. For more information about Wallace State, visit www.wallacestate.edu.