HANCEVILLE, Ala. – More than 150 Wallace State Community College students were inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) during the 2025–2026 academic year, marking a milestone in their leadership and personal development journeys.
“Each student member here has gained meaningful leadership insight and perspective through the steps leading to induction,” said Kristen Holmes, vice president for students. “Along the way, you made commitments — to yourselves, to one another and to your communities — to create positive change.”
NSLS is a national organization that provides a comprehensive leadership program designed to foster personal growth, career success and community engagement. The Wallace State chapter supports these goals through service projects each year. Most recently, members partnered with the Cullman County Animal Shelter by delivering donated supplies and spending time caring for the animals.
The induction ceremony featured guest speakers Drew Morton, a success advisor at Wallace State, and Jacob Chaviers, president of the Wallace State NSLS chapter.
Morton encouraged students to take responsibility for their goals and outcomes.
“Taking responsibility means to own what your next step is going to be and take charge of what end result you want to achieve,” Morton said. “Despite the cards you have been dealt, despite the pain you might have brought on yourself by bad decisions, it means to take charge of the end result you want to achieve.”
He emphasized the importance of perseverance, accountability and avoiding the temptation to blame others or choose the easiest path.
Chaviers shared how his own college experience has been shaped by learning from mistakes and embracing hard work.
“Through making mistakes and doing hard work…I truly learned, and Mrs. (Karen) Downs helped me grow as a person and as a leader,” Chaviers said.
He also highlighted the determination of fellow NSLS member Jennifer Couch, who continued meeting her academic and leadership commitments while recovering from openheart surgery.
“Even though she just got through surgery, she went through and finished her essays and did all of her homework on time and went to the training despite her health,” Chaviers said. “She did not make excuses.”
Students inducted into Wallace State’s chapter of the NSLS includes:
Alabaster: Alecia Cruse
Altoona: Amanda Hammond, Tonya Lithgow, Fabian Zavala
Arab: Max Cooper, Brittany Mote
Arley: Amy Farmer
Ashville: Kristi Hale
Athens: Jessica Spears
Baileyton: Caden Maddox
Bessemer: Toccara Corgin
Birmingham: Rolonda Burks, Ariel Ernest, Brittany Givan, Rakell Mahogany, Kariana McAdoo, LaDarius Williams, Lashunta Wilson
Blountsville: Katelyn Hopson, John Pullins, Misty Wadsworth, Hannah Washburn
Boaz: Jayden Johnson
Bremen: Isabelle Howell
Cherokee: Libby Collum
Childersburg: Heavenly Lawson
Cleveland: Ellee Culpepper, Mariana Tafolla
Cordova: George Limberakis, Katrina Thompson
Crane Hill: Tiffany Haynes, Kayla Keeton
Cullman: Thatcher Armstrong, Dalton Bryan, Morgon Burdeshaw, Collin Cooner, Aubrey Corry, Reagan Duke, Jacob Fales, Illora Goodwin, Jacy Guthrie, Sophia Helms, Zoe Hudson, Reese Hutson, Joel Jr Jasso-Robledo, Juliaunna Koloski, Ann Marie Land, Brayden McKinney, Hannah McKoy, Tallulah Nassetta, Ella Payne, Emmaline Powell, Eduardo Rodriguez Rodriguez, Owen Rust, Leslie Sanchez, Mason Shelton, Quinn Teichmiller, Zander Veal
Danville: Charlie Jones
Decatur: Alexus Howlet
Eva: Alodie Hill
Fairfield: Ashley Boyd
Falkville: Hailey Carrington, Kaylie Curvin, Peyton DeFoor, Tiffany Fagan, Christian Lamar
Florence: Dani Gilliam, Tyrekia Pride
Fort Payne: Daniella Castillo
Fultondale: Kayla Speights
Gardendale: Michael Jones, Jenny Kennedy, Avery Tipler
Guntersville: Emily Frazier, Eunice Wambura
Gurley: Mary Key
Haleyville: Cadence Rivera
Hanceville: Elizabeth Brooks, Gracie Collins, Cheryl Gill, Ashlynn Massey, Emma McMahan, McKenzlie Myers, Devan Ponder, Paige Trent
Hartselle: Molly Cowart, Ellie Merrell, Kristina Moore
Harvest: Erica Johnson, Priscila Pulido
Hayden: Destinee Byrd, Caylee Grace Chappell, Reagan Lumpkin, Joshua Mauldin, Jordan Mayo, Caitlin Pritchett, Lyla Quinn, Emma Stewart
Helena: Courtney Brown, Alexandra Maddox
Holly Pond: Jose Aguilar, Neida Kimberly Bamaca Ambrocio, Tessa Jones, Amelia Pamplin
Hoover: Niyjah Tate
Horton: Claire Maze, Emily Phillips
Hueytown: Daniel Clark
Huntsville: Bethany Abbott, Sydney Gurley, Teagen Harmon, Blanca Pahua-Pio
Jack: Carlee McAllister
Jasper: Krista Atkins, Savanna Estes
Jemison: Jocelyn Guadalupe
Laceys Spring: Estefani Garcia
Lincoln: Kedrick Tamauze Carmichael
Logan: Tammy Aderhold, Jessie Knott, Hailey Pike, Lane Shedd
Madison: Sawyer Griffin
Millport: Shae Slane
Moody: Gabrielle Holloman
Morris: Samuel Myers, Kynsey Register, Samuel Sansing
Moulton: Sydney West
Mount Olive: Hannah Courington, Memphis Stephens, Lillian Woodard
Odenville: Sania Peterson
Oneonta: Joshua Arreguin, Abril Arriaga, Adriana Chacon, Caroline Chacon, Angelica Maria Gaspar Juan, Divani Guerrero, Jackson Gunn, Armando Nunez, Maria Zavala Gonzalez
Pinson: Arieona Rosebud
Rainbow City: Lorie-Brooke Kilgore
Russellville: Cassandra Patrick
Somerville: Matthew Garner, Cade Mims
Toney: Anthoney Turner
Trafford: Kaitlyn Allegood, Alyssa Moody
Trussville: Kellyn Cox, Maleah Mitchell
Vinemont: Addison Adcock, Brayden Cullifer, Annaliese Dunn, Nolan Dyer, Bryant Eastman, Brayden Johnson, Zoey McMahon, Kylie Raney, Zeke Spradlin, Arianna Turbeville
Warrior: Savannah Pritchet, Mary Schifanella, Aaliyah Watkins
Woodstock: Amileah Flannagan
Belden, Miss.: Brookelyn Morgan
Amarillo, Texas: Camdyn Clifton
Troiisdorf-Sieglar, Germany: Artur Beifuss
