HANCEVILLE, Ala. – The Wallace State Community College Future Foundation recently hosted its 14th annual Scholarship Celebration Brunch, recognizing the generosity of its donors and celebrating the achievement of Wallace State’s students. The event included the announcement of more than $500,000 in scholarships for the 2026–2027 academic year.
During the event, held in the Traditions Bank Arena of the Tom Drake Coliseum, it was announced that scholarships would benefit more than 270 students. Scholarship recipients were seated alongside the donors, Wallace State faculty and staff, and members of the Future Foundation Board of Directors, whose support helped make their educational goals possible.
“Each student recognized today represents a unique journey, one that begins or continues here at Wallace State because someone believed in them enough to invest in their future,” said Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Karolewics. “This celebration is as much about student success as it is about expressing gratitude to the donors, partners and advocates who make that success possible.”
Established in 2004, the Wallace State Future Foundation has grown steadily in both reach and impact. From awarding fewer than 50 scholarships of $500 each in its early years, the Foundation now awards scholarships averaging $2,000 or more to over 350 students annually.
Suzanne Harbin, vice president for advancement & innovation, highlighted the program’s growth and the life-changing role scholarships play in student persistence and completion.
“For many of our students, a scholarship isn’t simply helpful; it’s the difference between continuing and stopping,” Harbin said. “It represents opportunity, encouragement and the knowledge that someone believes in them.”
This year’s celebration included the announcement of 17 new scholarships established this year, including both annual and endowed funds. Several of the new endowments were established in memory of loved ones, ensuring their legacies will continue through educational opportunity for generations to come.
As part of the brunch program, attendees heard personal reflections from both scholarship recipients and donors, a longstanding tradition of the event.
Pamela Tidmore, a Future Foundation scholar and May graduate of Wallace State’s Nursing program, shared her powerful journey of perseverance. A first-generation college student, Tidmore described balancing family responsibilities, returning to school after multiple life challenges and how scholarship support allowed her to complete her nearly 30-year journey toward becoming a registered nurse.
“The weight of worry was lifted the moment I learned I had received a scholarship,” Tidmore said. “Because of the generosity of our donors, the trajectory of my life and my family’s future has been forever changed.”
Jayleigh Tawbush, a Wallace State alumna, former Lion Leader and current Coordinator with University Programs at The University of Alabama, also shared remarks during the celebration.
“For students in this room, this is an incredible time to be at Wallace State,” Tawbush said. “And for our donors, you are investing in students that will be directly impacted by the amazing work that is being done here at Wallace State. It is so exciting to see all the amazing things happening here and to see the hard work come into fruition.”
The donor message was delivered by Lauren Wilson, director of the Oneonta Instructional Site & Dual Enrollment, who shared the deeply personal story behind an endowed scholarship established in memory of her daughter, Kylie Wilson, a Wallace State student and Future Foundation scholar who passed away in 2023.
“Out of profound loss, our family wanted to create something lasting, something that would help students pursue their dreams,” Wilson said. “This scholarship is a way to honor Kylie’s life while giving hope to others.”
The event concluded with expressions of appreciation for the Wallace State faculty, staff, Alumni Association Lion Leaders and Foundation Board members whose efforts support the scholarship program throughout the year.
“To our donors, your generosity truly changes lives,” Harbin said. “And to our students, we cannot wait to see all that you will accomplish.”
For more information about the Wallace State Future Foundation, available scholarships or giving opportunities, visit www.wsccfuturefoundation.org or call 256-352-8144.
