April is Community College month and an opportunity to celebrate the impact community colleges have throughout the United States Wallace state is proud to be one of over 1,000 community colleges nationwide that has the privilege of serving its local community
Thank you for recognizing the significance of Wallace State to this community Whether you are a graduate of the college, hire our alumni, participate in our workforce training, or support the college in any capacity, we appreciate your dedication to our continued success
“Wallace State's mission is to provide education that transforms lives and communities Our employer partnerships are instrumental to realizing success, because they help us to align our programs to labor market demands, ultimately leading to good jobs that pay living wages The optimal success is economic and social mobility for all of our students ”
SUMMER ‘25
AutoCAD
CDL
CPR
Digital Literacy
Forklift Operator
Medical Terminology
Medication Assistant
Pharmacy Technician
Phlebotomy
Barista
CDL
Carpentry Helper
Community Health Worker
Customer Service
Electrical Helper
Fiber Optics Technician
Food & Beverage
Heavy Equipment Operator
Hotel Operations
Landscaping & Nursery
Land Survey Assistant
Meat Cutter
Mental Health Worker
Nursing Support Technician
Local Employers Praise Wallace State’s Workforce Training Impact Employer Voices on EITP
“The Injection Mold Repair training has been excellent so far by offering different perspectives and techniques while aligning with our overall tool safety and quality strategies The flexibility that the grant funds provided was key to getting our team members into this training without taking the immediate financial hit
This is such a great model for our company and another example of Wallace State providing growth opportunities for members of our community Thank you!”
“Wallace State has been a valuable partner in supporting our workforce development efforts The customized training and flexibility provided through the EIPT grant have allowed us to invest in meaningful, skill-based learning for our team Having a strong local partner in education has played a key role in strengthening our workforce, and we greatly appreciate the ongoing support and shared commitment to our success ”
Companies like Royal Technology and REHAU are seeing real results thanks to Wallace State’s customized training and flexible support through the EITP grant. From Injection Mold Repair to skill-based team development, local industry leaders say the college’s workforce programs are strengthening safety, quality, and long-term success while making professional growth more accessible than ever
INDUSTRY COMES TO WSCC
Wallace State's Center for Career & Workforce Development hosts monthly meet & greets for industries to connect with our students. This event is free of charge and each employer will have access to a recruiting table as well as allotted presentation time.
Dates: June 2 & July 8
Time: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: JBC Lobby & Auditorium
Stephanie Lara Legacy Scholarship
Stephanie Lara was the first female student to graduate from the North Central Alabama FAME program at Wallace State earning an Associate’s degree in Electronics Technology while completing 2 years of hands-on experience in the manufacturing industry. As a result of her commitment to excellence at school and on-the-job, Stephanie received a full-time position at her sponsoring company Y-tec Keylex Toyotetsu Alabama (YKTA) upon completion of the program.
Stephanie was tragically killed in an automobile accident on January 3, 2025, leaving behind loving family and friends. In a collaboration with YKTA, Stephanie’s family, and the Wallace State Future Foundation, the Stephanie Lara Legacy Scholarship has been established in her memory.
“The Stephanie Lara Scholarship allows us to honor Stephanie’s legacy and recognize such an extraordinary team member who embodied hard work, resilience, and dedication,” said Shawn Merritt, YKTA Training Specialist. “Being both a female maintenance technician and an immigrant, she broke barriers and inspired everyone around her. This scholarship not only keeps her spirit alive it also creates new opportunities for others who, like her, are pursuing their dreams. It also reflects our company ’ s commitment to diversity, equity, and investing in the future of our workforce.”
The Stephanie Lara Legacy Scholarship honors a trailblazing FAME graduate whose resilience and determination continue to inspire.
YKTA is a proud industry partner of the Wallace State FAME program, helping students gain classroom instruction and paid, handson experience carrying forward the spirit of excellence that Stephanie Lara embodied.
Stephanie Lara Legacy Scholarship
Stephanie’s mother, Maria, shared the following – thoughts she felt Stephanie would want to tell future recipients of the scholarship:
“In these last couple of years of my life, I loved God even more It gave me the opportunity to see the great sacrifice my parents made to give me the opportunity to study and go to college. I promised myself to try even harder every day for that sole reason Wallace State was my trampoline in my life I found amazing professors who taught me well, friends who have stuck with me to the end, and an amazing staff who helped me achieve my goals YKTA is an amazing company, and I cannot thank them enough for giving me the opportunity to work for them even though I was a woman. The believed in me, trusted me and helped me achieve goals I couldn’t imagine reaching, but the best part about them was the fact they made me feel like family, and I was loved by them With great pride I can say thank you for what you have done for me I love them all I always enjoyed helping others with a big smile even if I was sad, in pain, or even those restless nights Now you have the opportunity to feel what I felt, and to achieve the dreams you want Please try hard and never stop smiling and enjoy life just like I was able to achieve ”
"It is incredibly meaningful when businesses choose to honor individuals by investing in the futures of students. Partnering with companies like YKTA, especially on a scholarship that celebrates the life and legacy of Stephanie Lara, is a powerful reminder of how personal loss can be transformed into lasting impact Working with YKTA and Shawn Merritt has been a wonderful experience one marked by compassion, dedication, and a shared commitment to making a difference in students’ lives We are honored to help carry Stephanie’s memory forward through this scholarship "
Now, others can follow the path she helped pave.
Her story continues through every student this scholarship supports.
2025 Annual Career Fairs
In February and March, the Center for Career and Workforce Development hosted another very successful round of career fairs This year we had more employers and students attend than in the past 5 years, and many of those employers were new connections for Wallace State. We were extremely excited to have employer sponsors for the first time Thank you to our sponsors - Trane, Birmingham Water Works, and Greenawalt Hospitality, who donated Rock the South tickets to one of our lucky students in attendance
“Thank you for investing time into Wallace State students and providing a variety of exciting career pathways! Your willingness to engage with our students compliments the high-quality education they are receiving at Wallace State ”
Thank you to our Powerful Partners!
We’re grateful for the support of our incredible industry and community partners who continue to invest in education, workforce development, and the future of our students.
Blount County Board of Education
Brasfield & Gorrie
Cullman Savings Bank
Huntsville Hospital Health Systems
LP Building Solutions
Marshall Medical Center
Morgan County Commission
NAFCO
Redstone Federal Credit Union
RE Garrison Trucking
REHAU Automotive, LLC
Slim Chickens Cullman
St. John and Associates
Traditions Bank
YKTA
“We enjoy and appreciate this program and the savings it can offer our employees. I particularly value the fact that it can be applied to their family members which is a wonderful benefit for them. We have only been a part of this program for a few months and have already had around 25 people take advantage of it! We are grateful for this opportunity to partner with Wallace State ”
Wallace State Named Aspen Rising Star
Wallace State Community College has been recognized as a Rising Star by the Aspen Institute at the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence ceremony, earning a $100,000 award for significant improvements in student outcomes. This marks the first time a college from the Alabama Community College System has been named a finalist for the prestigious prize
Wallace State’s three-year graduation rate is 51%, surpassing the national average of 35% The college also boasts a persistence rate of 85% a transfer success rate of 78%, and employment and licensure rates exceeding 90% These achievements reflect Wallace State’s commitment to preparing students for in-demand careers in sectors such as welding, healthcare, manufacturing, and trucking
Read the full article here: https://www wallacestate edu/news/2025/04/17/aspen rising star html
“This honor only provides more incentive for us to continue to work to improve our student outcomes and make sure we offer only the best to our students and community ”
