Dancers will be showing off their Motown moves for this year’s “Dancing for Scholarships” event happening Thursday, October 17.
“Dancing for Scholarships” is an annual event hosted by the Enterprise State Community College Foundation that showcases the talents of Wiregrass pros and stars. Last year, the event helped raise over $60,000 in funds used to for ESCC Foundation scholarships. Currently, scholarships offered through the ESCC Foundation total around $100,000.
This year, six area stars and their dancing partners will compete for either the People’s Choice or Judge’s Choice Trophies. Stars this year are:
Eddie Byrd, marketing and community outreach director at Murphy Family Restaurants, dancing with Teniyah Ginyard, dance instructor for Enterprise School of Dance
Clair Goodson, ESCC Softball Coach, dancing with Jackson Kelley, equipment sales
B.T. Hinson, principal of Geneva Regional Career Technical Center (G-TECH), Haley Crosby, first grade teacher at Rucker Boulevard Elementary School
Mary Merritt, real estate agent for ICISIC, dancing with Rodrick Caldwell, coordinator of Coffee County Family Service and Fatherhood Initiative
Ali Qualls, marketing director at Mitchell Automotive Group, dancing with Josh Byal, general manager for Sam Boswell Honda
Michael Walters, deputy operations officer and county engineer for Coffee County, dancing with Brandi Waid, English teacher at Enterprise High School
Ticket sales for “Dancing for Scholarships” opened on September 6. Early Bird price is $60 until Sept. 16. Starting Sept. 17, tickets will be $75. Tickets can be purchased online at fundraiser.support/DFS2024 and must be purchased in advance.
Table sponsorships are also available. These can be purchased at fundraiser.support/DFS2024 or by contacting Natalie Bradley at (334) 347-2623 ext. 2992 or nbradley@escc.edu.
Doors will open Oct. 17 at 6:00 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6:15 p.m., and the competition will start at 7 p.m.
Enterprise State Community College and the Enterprise State Community College Foundation formally announced the “Our Community, Our Future” capital campaign during an event on August 15, which has raised almost $2.4 million in community commitments to provide a state-of-the-art training facility for future healthcare workers.
The campaign, which began in September 2023, has the College and the Foundation thrilled to announce a capital campaign fundraising goal of $2.775 million. Funds from the campaign will go toward renovations of ESCC’s Snuggs Hall.
The estimated $6.5 million renovation project will allow Snuggs Hall to house the College’s Allied Health Sciences programs. ESCC offers Medical Assistant Technology (MAT), which began in 2018, and Emergency Medical Services/Paramedic, which started in 2020, as well as several nursing program tracks. The Practical Nursing (PN) program began in 2022, and the first class of the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program started classes on August 19.
Dr. Sam Sawyer, co-chair of the capital campaign, stated that there was a need to fill critical healthcare worker roles locally. He also shared personal stories about how important it could be to take care of those within the community you come from as a medical professional.
“I’m deep-rooted here,” Sawyer said. “I grew up in New Brockton. I was born in the hospital that I practiced in for 38 years. I came back to Enterprise in 1986, and that’s the only place I ever practiced. Sufficed to say, I’m very invested in this area, and I’m very invested in the medical community here.
“I want to thank all the donors, and I want to thank all the folks that have volunteered to help run this campaign,” he said. “Our goal, $2.775 million, I think it’s achievable.”
ESCC PN graduate and current ADN student Savannah Webb spoke to eventgoers about the impact ESCC had on her education and training. She called Enterprise State a “catalyst for development and support.”
“Our College provides a diverse array of programs that cater to the needs and ambitions of our community members,” she said. “Pursuing a degree in healthcare is a very rigorous process. The people you have surrounding you and supporting you are critical to your success. They always say you can’t do life alone, and I wholeheartedly agree. You need a village. I honestly don’t know if I would be standing here today without ESCC’s nursing program and their faculty. This is my village, and I am so extremely humbled and proud to be a part of it.”
ESCC President Danny Long stated that schematics for the renovations are already being reviewed, and work on the project should begin after the completion of the Performing Arts Center.
“We’re different,” Long said to campaign supporters during the event. “Enterprise State is different. We’re going to do things differently. We’re going to treat our business and industry partners as true partners. We’re going to treat every student that walks through that door as an opportunity. We give hope.
“We’ve been committed to this [capital campaign] project from day one, and I just want to say thank you. Thank you for your support. We’ve got another $400,000 to go to reach our new goal, and I know we’re going to get there.”
In a video announcing the campaign to the public, Long calls for continued support to the College through the “Our Community, Our Future” campaign.
“For almost 60 years, Enterprise State Community College has been committed to developing tomorrow’s leaders, while our community has supported us in developing a legacy of excellence,” he says. “Enterprise State Community College and the Enterprise State Community College Foundation is partnering together on a capital campaign that will support and help train the healthcare workers of tomorrow. Just as you have done for the last 60 years, we are asking for your support in this capital campaign, ‘Our Community, Our Future.’”
For more information on the “Our Community, Our Future” capital campaign or to learn how to provide support, email nbradley@escc.edu.
Ethan Wessel is joining the athletic department at Enterprise State Community College as the new men’s golf coach.
Wessel has a 20-year history in the golf business, with personal experience as a coach and player. According to Wessel, he completed four years playing golf at the high school level before competing for multiple championship-winning teams at the Division III collegiate level in Minnesota.
After college, he competed in several Wisconsin PGA Section events before his move to Enterprise. He has also led individual golf lessons and coaching since 2012.
“We’re excited to have Ethan join us here at Enterprise State,” Athletic Director Jeremaine Williams said. “He has a strong background in the sport, and I think he’s going to help this team continue to grow and be successful.”
The ESCC Men’s Golf Team officially started competing in the 2021-22 academic year under the helm of Coach Scott Stephens. During the 2023-24 year, the men’s golf team placed 7th in the NJCAA Division I Men’s Golf District Championships, with player Nick Cook taking home the individual championship for South District. The team then participated in the NJCAA Division I National Championships, held in New Mexico on May 14, 2024. “I am confident that we will continue to build off the success that was created by Coach Scott Stephens and give this team an opportunity to compete for a state championship,” he said, stating he also hopes to work on team-building efforts as well. “Even though golf is primarily played as an individual sport, it is my intention to create countless team-building activities both on and off the golf course. Most importantly, I hope I can lead by example as we collectively aim to shape model citizens for this great community.”
Construction of two new facilities on the Enterprise State Community College campus will affect student parking availability for the fall semester, which starts on August 19.
Parking will be available in Parking Lot A, located beside Talmadge Hall, and Parking Lot D behind Forrester Hall.
Students can access Parking Lot A through the main entrance from Plaza Drive. Students are not allowed to park in marked faculty and visitor spots. Parking Lot D can be accessed from the campus’ rear entrance, located off George Wallace Drive. Parking spots are also located along the drive from the rear entrance leading to Parking Lot D.
All overflow parking will be available in the green area above the College’s track. This can also be accessed off George Wallace Drive before reaching ESCC’s rear entrance.
Students are not allowed to park in the main circle drive in front of Wallace Administrative Building or in the city pickleball courts located next to campus.
Parking decals are required to park on campus during the academic year. Parking decals are free to students, who can receive decals for up to five vehicles. The Student Vehicle Registration form can be completed at escc.edu/campus-police. Decals must be picked up at the Campus Police Office in Wallace Administrative Building.
Failure to park in designated parking areas or have a parking decal on the designated vehicle can result in a ticket/parking fine. For more information on traffic and parking procedures and other safety procedures, visit escc.edu/campus-police.
A new articulation agreement between Enterprise State Community College and Troy University will create a pipeline for Mechatronics students to transfer credits toward a bachelor’s degree.
“We are excited to facilitate a pathway for students seeking to earn the bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering Technology,” Dr. Kerry Palmer, senior vice chancellor for academics, said in a release from the university. “Troy University is committed to preparing students for in-demand jobs. This pathway helps us achieve that goal.”
“I certainly appreciate our relationship with Troy University,” ESCC President Danny Long said. “Many of our students attend Troy after they complete classes with us, and we are excited to offer another path to our students for them to take that next step toward a bachelor’s degree.”
Through the agreement, ESCC Mechatronics students will be able to transfer up to 64 semester hours toward Troy University’s Electronics Engineering Technology bachelor’s degree, which combines theory with hands-on experience through lab experiments that focus on electrical circuits and devices, robotics, automation, and more.
ESCC’s Mechatronics program provides a variety of paths for individuals to receive skills training in electronics, motors, automation, robotics, and other advanced manufacturing processes. These paths include a two-year degree program, six short-term certificates and 51 industrial certification training courses that meet national skill standards.
“There is a need for trained workers in this field,” Mechatronics Instructor Aubri Hanson said. “We’ve been able to offer the training people need to have great careers in this industry, and I’m happy that our students will have this opportunity to continue their education and training close to home at Troy University.”
For the 2023-24 academic year, Hanson and her instructional team have served 476 students through the program, with 41 of the students graduating with the one of the program’s certificates and associate degree. Additionally, 1,375 industry certifications were issued to students over the academic year.
To learn more about the mechatronics program, visit escc.edu/mechatronics. Registration is also open for fall classes. Apply to join the mechatronics program at escc.edu/apply.
GENEVA, Ala. (WDHN)—Rural communities face certain health disparities, but local students might be the answer to bridging those divides.
A new partnership announced today between Wiregrass Medical Center in Geneva, Enterprise State Community College, and the Geneva Regional Career Technical Center (GTECH) will provide hands-on training for dual-enrolled high school students and college students.
“We are really excited about partnering with Enterprise State Community College,” says Tammy McDaniels, Wiregrass Medical Center Quality Director.”We are excited about getting nursing students in here.”
The job-readiness program comes as a result of a $1.2 million grant from the Alabama Centers for Rural Healthcare Opportunity Grant Program. It comes following college system and legislative support.
That money will go toward renovating hospital spaces, and securing training supplies, paying staff, and building the program, which will start in the fall.
The funding and partnership come at a time, when, officials say, rural communities continue to be plagued by certain health disparities.
These include hospital closures, less providers, and less general healthcare options. It also comes as Geneva County looks for healthcare workers.
“While the challenges associated with providing rural healthcare are undeniable, at Enterprise State Community College, we believe that there are opportunities associated with those challenges,” says Dr. Anna Head, ESCC Dean of Instruction.
But with this new program, officials hope not only to bridge health disparities, but also to keep students in Geneva and the Wiregrass.
They also hope to unlock students’ potential.
Geneva County Schools Assistant Superintendent Ralph Riley says, “This program that is coming about us, it is going to give our students the opportunity to get real-life training and be marketable and the opportunity to stay in Geneva County, to not have to look for jobs outside of Geneva County.”
ENTERPRISE — An “apiary” is a place where bees are kept, and Enterprise State Community College can now add that designation to its resume.
ESCC is now home of the State Apiary Unit Diagnostic Lab where students gain hands-on practical experience performing diagnostic and research techniques through a partnership with Auburn University College of Agriculture, the Auburn University Bee Lab, and the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries.
“The agricultural scientist does the work that makes the world work,” said Ed Howard, ESCC Math Instructor and Division Chair, as he and ESCC Biology Instructor Ashley Snellgrove met with representatives from the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries and Master Beekeeper Richard Woodham to talk about the progress of the new research lab on the campus in Enterprise.
Bee populations have been on a decline and researchers have scrambled to discover the cause, Woodham said. “If bees were to die out completely, one-third of our food supply would be lost.”
A queen bee lays between 1,500 and 2,000 eggs every day in her hive which can hold as many as 60,000 bees. With varroa mite infestation common, developing one super hive per site risks loss of all bees if infestation occurs, explained Britteny Allen, ADAI Apiary Inspector Supervisor. “Where several colonies face the same environment, healthy colonies can be bred to produce progressively stronger bees.”
Woodham said the bee could be the second insect to have a positive economic impact on the Wiregrass area, the first being the boll weevil, which prompted farmers to switch from growing cotton to growing peanuts. While peanuts don’t have to be pollinated to produce, other fruits and vegetables do, he said. The quality and output of cotton can also be improved through bee pollination.
Woodham worked with the Enterprise City Council to formulate an ordinance allowing beekeeping inside city limits and he initiated contact with Howard about the feasibility of adding bees to the curriculum at ESCC.
“We met with Richard Woodham and things took off from there,” Howard said. Howard said he and Snellgrove had a shared commitment to bringing the academic classroom into real world experiences for their students. “We recognized that the challenges of agricultural scientists demand rigorous academic training coupled with relevant practical experience,” he said. “At ESCC we provide the first two years of a world-class transferable education and our partnership with AUCOA allows students that are academically successful in our agricultural programs the ability to transfer all course credits earned here directly to Auburn University.”
“I can truly say that this is the best thing that has happened in my life in education,” said ESCC Sophomore Carolina Rodriguez about her experience in the apiary lab and her plan to transfer to AU to major in wildlife ecology and management. “I had no idea that I was interested in bees, but I definitely know now that I want to continue.”
Howard said the college is working to develop a Division of Agricultural Sciences. “Our real objective is that we want to see our first student from ESCC get their PhD from Auburn,” added Woodham. “We will not consider that we have experienced a suc- cess until that happens in some agricultural science.”
Parking procedures for Enterprise State Community College’s 2024 graduation ceremony will be similar to last year’s procedures, thanks to continuing construction of a new Performing Arts Center and other facility work on the ESCC campus, with some changes.
Graduation will be held on the green in front of Wallace Administration Building on May 9. That day, Parking Lot D (behind Forrester Hall and beside Lolley Gymnasium) will be open only to students for parking. All students will be asked to arrive on campus prior to graduation services by 3:30 pm. Students are asked to report to Boll Weevil Central (located in Snuggs Hall) once they arrive on campus. After checking in at BWC, students are welcome to have their photo taken by the College’s photographer at the William “Bo” Weevil statue at the front of the campus from 3:30-5pm.
Friends, family, other spectators and overflow student parking will be located in the Crossroads Community Church (Old College Cinema) Parking Lot across the street from campus and the ESCC baseball/softball complex on George Wallace Drive. Additional overflow parking will be located at Brookwood Elementary School.
Buses will be running to each location every 15 minutes to pick up visitors. Bus drop off and pick up on campus will be located at the track behind Lolley Gymnasium. The last bus will run at approximately 5:45pm for visitor pickup.
Campus police officers and college CERT members will be on scene at all off-site parking locations during the ceremony. All buses will also be available immediately after the ceremony to return visitors to their vehicles.
Handicap parking and parking for special guests will be in Parking Lot A (next to Talmadge Hall). Faculty and staff will park in the green above the track off George Wallace Drive.
Graduation services will begin at 6 p.m. under the oaks in front of Wallace Administration Building on May 9. The ceremony will also be streamed live on the Enterprise State Community College Facebook page.
For more information about ESCC Graduation Services, visit escc.edu/graduation.
Enterprise State Community College, in conjunction with Southeast AlabamaWorks, will host career fairs on both campuses to connect job seekers with local employers.
The events will be held on March 6 from 9-11 a.m. on the Enterprise campus in the Student Center MPR and from 1-3p.m. in the Brown Building Hangar at the Alabama Aviation College campus in Ozark.
Local companies looking to hire employees are invited to attend the two career fairs. Businesses interested in attending can register at escc.edu/careerfair24. Interested businesses can register for one or both events. There is no cost to participate.
ESCC/AAC students and members of the community are also invited to attend the event. Visitors attending the career fair are encouraged to have copies of their updated resume ready to present to employers. Visitors do not need to register to attend.
Enterprise State Community College sophomore Brooklyn O’Neal was crowned the 2024 Homecoming Queen on Thursday, Feb. 1, during halftime of the men’s basketball game against Lurleen B. Wallace Community College.
O’Neal was nominated to the Homecoming court by the ESCC Lady Weevils Softball Team. She was escorted by her father, Michael O’Neal, during the event.
O’Neal is a graduate of Wakulla High School in Crawfordville, FL. She is currently a sophomore at ESCC. After graduation, O’Neal plans to transfer to the University of Alabama at Birmingham to pursue pre-dentistry. In addition to her time on the ball field, O’Neal is also an active member of the National Society of Leadership and Success.
All members of the 2024 Homecoming Court were sophomore Madison Bradshaw, O’Neal, sophomore Elizabeth Joreski, sophomore Julianna Singley, sophomore Taylor Revels, sophomore Jaylin Vera, sophomore Allanah Drake, sophomore Abby Layton, sophomore Brooke Bynum and sophomore Grace Clima.
Enterprise State Community College offers excellent academic, technical, and workforce training programs in order to prepare students for jobs that are in demand! Our faculty and staff are committed to the educational success of all ESCC students!
