HANCEVILLE, Ala. – Chibueze “Chi” Meremetoh is a proud alumnus of Wallace State Community College, where he earned his associate degree in nursing while simultaneously earning his bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) through Wallace State’s joint enrollment option.
His journey to Wallace State began with a search for a nursing program that would allow him to earn his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in less than two years. He was considering another college before a campus visit to Wallace State changed his path.
Meremetoh’s first time in Alabama was for a Wallace State Nursing orientation session. After catching a flight from Queens, New York, to Chattanooga, he embarked on a series of bus rides that took him through Atlanta and Birmingham before finishing his trip with an Uber ride to the campus of Wallace State. Nursing staff even helped him get back to Birmingham after the session was over. Despite logistical hurdles that left him arriving four hours later than planned, he was warmly greeted by the faculty, and he quickly immersed himself in the program.
“Ultimately, the kindness and excellence that I experienced during my Wallace visit sealed the deal,” Meremetoh said. “The organization, resources and sheer support was unmatched.”
Meremetoh entered the program in 2022, receiving a scholarship from the Wallace State Future Foundation to assist him with the financial costs. Despite a busy nursing school schedule, he found time to attend campus devotions held at the Lady Lions dorm on Mondays.
“These Bible studies encouraged me and comforted me with the fact that there we various youth of the same faith looking to grow in the Lord,” Meremetoh said.
He completed his education in 2024, earning both an associate degree from WSCC and a bachelor’s degree from UAB. He said the connections and fellowships he built with his classmates and faculty continue to this today, and he holds a special place in his heart for Nursing Department Chair Deborah “Pepper” Hoover.
“From the time I saw her on the joint enrollment Zoom information session to the moment she saw me in person after a crazy commute from NYC at orientation till now, she has been a great encourager and help in any way she can,” Meremetoh said. “She has been an example of a servant leader.”
Meremetoh said his time at Wallace State taught him the value of diligent studying, research, and discipline. He credits the program for shaping him into the nurse he is today.
“I was blessed to be around great peers, diligent instructors and supportive faculty whose greatest goal is to help others be their best,” he said.
He said the most beneficial aspect of attending Wallace State was the community and support he received.
“There were times where I experienced financial hardship but there were always people and resources willing to support me and help me finish what I started,” Meremetoh said.
Today, Meremetoh works at UAB Hospital and is paying this support forward as he continues to apply the lessons and values he learned at Wallace State.
