CULLMAN, Ala. – On Monday, April 12, 2021, Mayor Woody Jacobs officially proclaimed the month of April 2021 Community College Month in the City of Cullman. On hand from Wallace State Community College to receive the proclamation were Dr. Vicki Karolewics (President), Fast Track Academy Student Grant Sikes, and Student Ambassadors Preston Key, Marlen Leon, Bailey Grant, Ethan Wideman and Monzerrath Mondragon.
“I tell everyone how important Wallace State Community College is to Cullman,” said Mayor Jacobs. “All of their programs are excellent and they partner with local industries to offer specialized workforce training, cooperative education opportunities and apprenticeships – all of which are greatly beneficial to Cullman and Cullman County.”
Dr. Karolewics introduced the students who were present for the proclamation presentation, who then shared their ultimate career goals with the Mayor.
- Fast Track Academy student and Vice President of the WSCC SGA, Grant Sikes, a senior at West Point High School, plans to attend law school and then return to Cullman as a practicing attorney.
- Student Ambassador Preston Key from Hayden plans to pursue a career in civil engineering.
- Student Ambassador Bailey Grant from Hayden plans to major in senior education and become a math teacher.
- Student Ambassador Ethan Wideman from Curry plans to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy.
- Student Ambassador Marlen Leon from Gardendale plans to pursue a degree in engineering.
- Student Ambassador Monzerrath Mondragon from Locust Fork plans to pursue a degree in business management.
“I wish all of the students the very best as they pursue their educational and career goals, and I appreciate Dr. Karolewics’ visionary leadership. She has done great things for Wallace State,” said Mayor Jacobs. “It takes all of us working together!”
The proclamation presented by Mayor Jacobs reads as follows:
WHEREAS Wallace State has been recognized as a Caring Campus by the National Institute for Evidence-Based Change, with free supportive programs and services for students, including success advising, the Lions’ Kitchen food pantry, mental health counseling, a mother’s lounge, Veterans Corner and more, and;
WHEREAS Wallace State has repeatedly achieved the distinction as a Military Friendly® College and was ranked among the Top 3 colleges in the South for Workforce Development training by Southern Business and Development Magazine, and;
WHEREAS Wallace State was named a National League of Nursing Center for Excellence, the only community college in Alabama and one of only 15 colleges and universities in the U.S. to receive the distinction, and has been ranked the first choice among community colleges for students taking the ACT, and;
WHEREAS Wallace State was one of only two community colleges in the nation and one of just 180 institutions in the world to be designated an All-Steinway School. Wallace State’s student success rates are among the highest in the nation, with a completion agenda focused on helping students to Start Early, Start Right, Finish and Succeed. As a result, Wallace State’s programs report outstanding graduation, licensure and job placement rates, and;
WHEREAS Wallace State’s Future Foundation funds hundreds of scholarships that allow students to achieve success at Wallace State. Also, Wallace State maintains a growing Fast Track Academy and dual enrollment program for motivated high school students, including a Fast Track for Industry program and a Fine and Performing Arts Academy, giving high school students the education and training needed to further their academic studies or enter the workforce, and;
WHEREAS Wallace State continues to expand its online degree offerings, aggressively pursuing new programs and partnerships to create efficiencies for students such as Joint Admission agreements with UAB and UAH, which join other such agreements. Their connection with businesses and industries has resulted in the development of apprenticeships, internships and stackable credentials, providing students with proven job-ready skills throughout the curriculum, and;
WHEREAS Wallace State provides cultural enrichment to its communities through fine and performing arts events, museum exhibitions, film screenings, lectures, international opportunities and the Common Read program. Wallace State is also home to championship athletics, and notable alumni include PGA golfers, major league baseball players, professional musicians, humanitarians, chief meteorologists, rocket scientists, business owners, healthcare heroes, educators, frontline and supply line workers, public servants and more, and;
WHEREAS Wallace State remains steadfastly committed to excellence which transforms lives and communities. In its more than 50-year history, the College has benefited countless individuals seeking to improve their lives and the lives of their families through education.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Woody Jacobs, as Mayor and on behalf of the city council and our citizens, do hereby proclaim April 2021 COMMUNITY COLLEGE MONTH in the City of Cullman and commend Wallace State Community College for providing world-class educational opportunities that transform lives and communities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the City of Cullman to be affixed on this, the 12th day of April, 2021. /s/ Woody Jacobs, Mayor
