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Ms. Hannah Rogers, an Alabama Aviation College student in Ozark, Alabama, is the recipient of the first annual Buzz Sawyer Memorial Scholarship. Jed Blackwell, President of the Aviation Council of Alabama Inc., and Jerry Cofield, Director of Albertville Regional Airport, presented the scholarship to Hannah on Wednesday, June 14, 2017, on behalf of the Aviation Council of Alabama.

The Aviation Council of Alabama Inc. is Alabama’s only statewide airport and aviation association which represents International, Air Carrier, General Aviation Airports, and Aviation Businesses, Economic Developers, Pilots, Aircraft Owners and Aviation Associations. The Aviation Council of Alabama is dedicated to continued improvement, development and advancements of airports and aviation throughout the state.

According to Mr. Blackwell, the memorial scholarship was formed to honor Mr. Buzz Sawyer, a longtime aviation enthusiast who helped run aviation throughout Alabama for well over 50 years and dedicated his life to aviation. The scholarship is awarded to high school and college-aged students in the State of Alabama who has plans to develop careers in aviation. The scholarship, valued at $1,500, is expected to be awarded annually to one high school senior or currently enrolled college student who has demonstrated an aptitude for – and has an interest in – pursuing aviation, or who is currently pursuing an aviation-related degree at an accredited college or university. Applicants are asked to submit a brief 250-word essay describing their goals, achievements thus far and need for financial assistance for the selection committee’s review.

“Ms. Rogers was a very worthy candidate based off the recommendations and the letters we received from the staff and friends (at Alabama Aviation College). Her essay provided her overall goals to help aviation in the state of Alabama following her graduation from Alabama Aviation College. We look forward to her graduating and fulfilling her goals in aviation,” Mr. Blackwell said.

Mr. Cofield offered additional support for the scholarship: “The Alabama Aviation Council wants to do everything we can to encourage the young people to step up and take the place of those people who are at retirement age in the aviation industry. Without young people like Ms. Rogers, the aviation industry is going to suffer in about five to ten years because there won’t be anyone to replace the retirees,” he said.

Hannah is a self-described “Daddy’s Girl” from Daleville, Alabama, and a graduate of Daleville High School, class of 2011. Hannah’s fond memories of tinkering around her father’s shop at a young age encouraged her to continue her mechanical work at a motorcycle shop throughout high school. Through the inspiration of her former supervisor and the pride of hearing an engine come back to life, she eventually sought out furthering her education as an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic.

Shortly following high school graduation, Hannah began working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) to support her son, Trenton, and herself, though she realized how much she truly missed mechanical work. Hannah then transferred to the Aviation Maintenance Technology program at the Alabama Aviation College in January 2017. Hannah’s primary objective was to prove to her son that, through hard work, any goal is achievable.

When asked about future employment, Ms. Rogers stated, “I would love to be employed with Gulfstream in Savannah, Georgia due to their class of work and the state of environment.”

Hannah’s advice for future students would be to “have a good support system and connect with fellow students and staff.”

“The support of everyone at Alabama Aviation College has greatly benefited my determination and education,” she said.

Hannah would like to credit Ms. Valeria Pryor for assistance in applying to the Alabama Aviation College and further assisting in the application process for the Aviation Council of Alabama scholarship.

Alabama Aviation College is a unit of Enterprise State Community College with campuses in Albertville, Andalusia, Mobile and Ozark. Each campus currently fulfills the Alabama Community College System’s mission for education and training which leads to high-wage, high-demand jobs in integral careers worldwide. Students can obtain Associate’s degrees and certificates through multiple programs at the college.

COLUMBIANA, ALA. – Enterprise State students Maggie Johnson, Kyle Kennington, Zahra Vance, and Matti Hines were chosen to represent the college last week at the Student Leadership Institute (SLI) hosted by the Alabama Community College System at the Alabama 4-H Center in Columbiana. The Student Leadership Institute is held every summer by the Alabama Deans of Student Affairs Association and invites student leaders to come and participate in a fun learning experience that encourages leadership skills and meeting other student leaders. Maggie, Kyle, Zahra, and Matti are active in many organizations on campus including the Student Government Association, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and ESCC Ambassadors.

The theme of this year’s event, which wrapped up Friday morning, was “Unmasking Leadership,” allowing approximately 200 students from Alabama’s community colleges to engage and interact with each other through multiple exercises and activities.

The SLI group focused on sessions dedicated to team development, networking practices, preparing to lead, learning about proper etiquette and pinpointing certain challenges students face on each campus, including discussions on how to better solve them.

“It’s awesome to be around people your age from other colleges and see the similarities you have with them. It’s a great networking opportunity, and it’s been nice to work as teams towards certain goals,” said Zahra, a sophomore at Enterprise State. “It’s a tremendous honor to represent Enterprise State. I love Enterprise State, and I’m thankful to be here.”

Zahra is a New Brockton High School graduate, Maggie graduated from Elba High School, Kyle and Matti both graduated from Enterprise High School.

Enterprise State Community College is a comprehensive community college which serves nearly 2,000 students annually between its Enterprise campus and the Alabama Aviation Colleges in Albertville, Andalusia, Mobile and Ozark. Each campus and sites currently fulfills the Alabama Community College System’s mission for education and training which leads to high-wage, high-demand jobs in integral careers worldwide. Students can obtain Associate’s degrees and certificates through multiple programs at the college.

CUTLINE: Left to right: Kyle Kennington, Maggie Johnson, Zahra Vance, and Matti Hines represent Enterprise State Community College at the Student Leadership Institute

Enterprise State Community College (ESCC) recently held graduation for students in the Adult Education Program. This graduation ceremony marked the first of its kind at ESCC, now that Alabama students who did not earn a diploma before exiting high school have the opportunity to go back and earn a high school diploma in adult education classrooms.

The program, referred to as the Alabama High School Diploma Options Program (HSDO), is for those who either dropped out of high school without earning the required number of credits or failed portions of the now-retired Alabama High School Graduation Exam. HSDO is offered through the Alabama Community College System in partnership with the Alabama State Department of Education and costs nothing for those enrolled. Students receive a traditional high school diploma from the last high school attended after completing the HSDO program.

More than 75 students have applied for the HSDO program at ESCC since the option became available last September, and 21 have since completed. One-hundred five (105) students earned a GED through ESCC over the last year.

For more information about the HSDO program or Adult Education services, contact the Adult Education Office at(334) 347-2623, ext. 2218.

ENTERPRISE – More than 20 participants of the Student Support Services program at Enterprise State Community College and the Alabama Aviation College in Ozark completed their degrees at the college this semester, beating odds which classified them as at-risk students for graduation.

The following participants obtained their degrees from ESCC in the Spring 2017 semester and/or participated in the college’s Spring Convocation on Thursday, May 11, 2017: Desiree Marie Bundy (AAS Office Administration-Health Information Technology); Kylee Ann Cox (AA Elementary or Early Childhood Education); Alexis Tyeshia Crawford (AAS Office Administration); Margaret Elizabeth Crowley (AS General Studies); Shawn L. Dutcher (AA Elementary or Early Childhood Education); JaBry Green (AA Graphic Design); Elizabeth Bailly Hall (AS General Studies); Ashley Morai Hampton (AS Biological Science); Avery S. Harrison (AA Elementary or Early Childhood Education); Nancy McGowan Hawthorne (AAS Business Administration-Accounting); Celene Nina Hernandez (AS General Studies-Criminal Justice); Lanita Hollinhead (AAS Airframe Technology); Melissa Howard (AA Graphic Design); Sarah Dawn Kelly (AS Pre-nursing); Odette K. LeDoux (AAS Office Administration-Health Information Technology); Dorinda Kaye Ross Lytle (AAS Business Administration-Management and Supervision); Angelica Mathes (AS General Studies); Kristy Dionne Mayo (AA Elementary or Early Childhood Education); Eli McGuire (AS Computer Science); Nathan Miller (AS General Studies); Saundra A. Rodgers (AS-Pre-nursing); Crisshada Lanae Rogers (AS Pre-nursing); and Ameche Threat (AAS Airframe Technology).

Several of the graduates intend to transfer to other colleges or universities to pursue additional degrees and certifications. Kristy Mayo, who received her GED through ESCC’s Adult Education program before graduating from the college with her AA degree, said she plans to transfer to Troy University to pursue her Bachelor’s degree in Education. Avery Harrison, who is transferring to Huntingdon College, also has plans to pursue a degree in education.

Student Support Services at Enterprise State Community College have existed as grant-funded, Department of Education TRIO programs since 1978, providing nearly 40 years of continuous service for students through academic advisement and tutoring; financial aid and economic literacy; transfer services; campus tours; exposure to cultural events; mentoring; and other individualized counseling needs.

Enterprise State Community College is a comprehensive community college which serves more than 2,800 students annually between its Enterprise campus and the Alabama Aviation Centers in Albertville, Andalusia, Mobile and Ozark. Each campus currently fulfills the Alabama Community College System’s mission for education and training which leads to high-wage, high-demand jobs in integral careers worldwide. Students can obtain Associate’s degrees and certificates through multiple programs at the college.

ENTERPRISE – The mission of Enterprise State Community College’s Student Support Services program is to effectively serve participants through valuable opportunities which promote academic, cultural and economic success.

Kristy Mayo, an ESCC non-traditional student who is expected to graduate this spring with an Associate of Arts degree in Elementary Education, is a primary example of how a college’s success is based on more than just its academics.

“You’ve got to have support, and I have that here,” said Mayo, who plans to transfer to Troy University in Fall 2017 to complete her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.

“I was off and on trying to go to school at other places until I came here and realized I had a support system. I have tutors like (fellow student) Macy McIntosh in SSS and I have instructors that are willing to take time to ensure I’m getting the best assistance that I can.”

Mayo is an Enterprise native who desired to go to college after high school but did not pass the graduation exam. After attempting GED courses in other programs and operating a home-based business alongside a retail job, Mayo said she decided to give GED courses at ESCC a chance in 2009 at the age of 23.

The decision proved a positive one for Mayo, who took her time to study and work over the next few years in order to obtain her GED in the fall of 2013. She enrolled at the college in the Associate degree program the following fall semester.

“I had people along the way who encouraged me and told me I could do it – that I could be that elementary school teach that I’ve always wanted to be since helping my aunt, who was a teacher, prepare her classroom every summer,” Mayo said.

Mayo said she wakes up every morning knowing she has a purpose and that the core skills she has gained in courses at the college will soon be a part of what she brings to an elementary classroom in her future career.

Her advice to other students, as well as prospective students, is to be patient with themselves but to aim to keep a goal in mind.

“I felt like going back to school at an older age wasn’t for me, but I took that step and am ending up right where I want to be. The hardest part is finding the right classes to take but an adviser can help you,” she said.

“The easiest part is studying and listening.”

SSS is a grant-funded, Department of Education TRIO program which provides academic assistance, career counseling, tutoring, and cultural activities to students who qualify for services.

Enterprise State Community College is a comprehensive community college which serves more than 2,800 students annually between its Enterprise campus and the Alabama Aviation Centers in Albertville, Andalusia, Mobile and Ozark. Each campus currently fulfills the Alabama Community College System’s mission for education and training which leads to high-wage, high-demand jobs in integral careers worldwide. Students can obtain Associate’s degrees and certificates through multiple programs at the college.

ENTERPRISE – Every year, faculty and staff of Enterprise State Community College nominate two students to serve on the All-Alabama Academic Team. The criteria for selection is to choose students who “excel academically; demonstrate intellectual rigor in their course of study; show academic growth and potential; and use their two-year college education to better themselves, their college and their communities.” All nominees are presented to the national Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society for final selection.

This year’s ESCC All-Alabama Academic students were Macy Anne McIntosh and Matthew Skinner.

Macy Anne McIntosh is native of Jack, AL and a 2015 graduate of Zion Chapel High School. Maci has earned a 3.96 GPA at Enterprise State while serving as a tutor, Phi Theta Kappa, W.O.W team member, and volunteer for Relay for Life. After graduating from ESCC she plans to transfer to Troy University where she plans to study Elementary Education.

Matthew Skinner is a native of Hartford, AL and a 2015 graduate of Geneva County High School.  Mathew currently boasts a 4.0 GPA at Enterprise State while serving as a W.O.W team member, SGA, Phi Theta Kappa, and Scholars Bowl. After graduating from ESCC, Matthew plans to transfer to Auburn University and major in Electrical Engineering. His goal is to become an engineer with Alabama Power.

On Thursday, April 13^th both students traveled to Hoover, AL where they will met with other nominees and receive a night’s stay at the Renaissance Ross Bridge Hotel and Spa. On Friday April 14^th, a special luncheon was held in their honor where they were recognized by the Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System, Mr. Jimmy Baker.  Each of them will also receive a $1,000 academic scholarship from the All-Alabama Academic Team Foundation.

Maci and Mathew were also recognized for their accomplishment during the Enterprise State Community College’s 44th Annual Honors Day program on April 11, 2017.

For more information about ESCC or apply for admission call 1-334-347-2623 or visit www.escc.edu.  Now is the time to enroll for both summer and fall semesters.

ENTERPRISE – Six area STARS will “dance the night away” in support of students at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 23, during the first Enterprise STARS Dancing for Scholarships event presented by the Enterprise State Community College Foundation at the Enterprise Civic Center.

Among the lineup is Michael Harrison, Director of Student Support Services at ESCC. He and his professional dance partner for the night, retired ESCC educator Sue Baum, will grace the stage with an exciting collaboration of entertaining dance moves as they compete for multiple titles while also raising money for ESCC Foundation scholarships.

“To have the chance to support opportunities for students in such a fun way is a really neat, and meaningful, concept,” said Harrison. “I’m looking forward to sharing the stage with several individuals from the local community who want ESCC’s tradition of community support to shine bright and creatively.”

Enterprise STARS Dancing for Scholarships is loosely modeled after ABC’s hit television series “Dancing with the Stars,” which features celebrity contestants who are paired with professional dancers to perform compilations that could win cash and the series’ coveted mirror ball trophy.

Titles in which local STARS will compete include Judge’s Favorite and the People’s Choice Award. Other contestants for the night include Troy Bradley, executive customer representative at Merck; Elizabeth Whitton, a first-grade teacher at Hillcrest Elementary School; Gwen Gilley, owner of Coldwell Banker; Meredith Hamilton; general manager at Mitchell Mazda Lincoln; and Addison Paul, owner of Yancey Parker’s.

Tickets to Enterprise STARS Dancing for Scholarships are $25 each and are available now at the ESCC business office. To make a separate donation in support of one of the STARS, contact Chellye Stump at 334-347-2623 ext. 2279 or cstump@escc.edu.

The ESCC Foundation is a separately incorporated 501(c)(3) organization from ESCC which was organized more than 30 years ago for stimulating voluntary private support to benefit the college. The Foundation’s efforts include soliciting cash, securities, real and intellectual property and other private resources to support ESCC, and acknowledging and stewarding gifts in accordance with donor intent and its fiduciary responsibilities.

Enterprise State Community College is a comprehensive community college which serves more than 2,800 students annually between its Enterprise campus and the Alabama Aviation Centers in Albertville, Andalusia, Mobile and Ozark. Each campus currently fulfills the Alabama Community College System’s mission for education and training which leads to high-wage, high-demand jobs in integral careers worldwide. Students can obtain Associate’s degrees and certificates through multiple programs at the college.

The Enterprise State Cerebral Weevils traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota for the NAQT Community College Championship Tournament – the national tournament for all two-year colleges from around the country.  The Weevils placed second in the sectional tournament in Birmingham in January 2017 to qualify for the event.  After a grueling two days of competition, the Weevils placed fourth in the nation with a record of 8-4.  This fourth-place finish earned the Cerebral Weevils an invitation to the ICT, a four-year college championship which will be held in Chicago, IL April 7-8, 2017.  In addition to the team’s overall finish, Mike Johnson, a member of the Cerebral Weevils, finished second in overall individual scoring in the event. He says this on the subject: “I didn’t expect too much coming in, but in this tournament, and in those past, I’ve managed to go and beat dozens of competitors with the help of my team. I’m impressed at our performances and I hope we can continue our success in the future.”

The team is excited for the opportunity of further competition and is diligently practicing facing teams such as Vanderbilt, Harvard, Columbia, NYC, Chicago, Duke, and others.

NAQT competition is an academic quiz bowl.  It showcases knowledge in the sciences, math, the arts, literature, current events, geography, history, and a host of other topics.  Students who participate must be able to quickly cycle through their entire breadth of knowledge to find answers to the questions before they are “buzzed out” by the other team.  This finish highlights the academic excellence that Enterprise State is known for.

The travel team for this national competition consisted of Matthew Skinner (captain), Jonathan Page, Shannon Lynch, Penny Steagall, Mike Johnson, and Chris Carter.  Other members of the Cerebral Weevils 2016-7 team are Zac Yohn and Ishmael James.  The sponsor is Kathy Pattie.

For more information please contact Kathy Pattie at 334-347-2623 x2249 or kpattie@escc.edu.

Cutline: Back Row from left to Right: Dr. Vicky Ohlson (Interim President of ESCC), Jonathan Page, Chris Carter, Zac Yohn, Ishmael James

Front Row from left to Right: Penny Steagall, Mike Johnson, Mathew Skinner, Shannon Lynch, Kathy Pattie (English Instructor)

Students of Enterprise State Community College’s first graduating class, the Class of 1967, relived some of their most memorable moments on the campus during a luncheon for their 50th Homecoming celebration on Monday, February 27, 2017. The luncheon was hosted by the College’s Interim President, Dr. Vicky Ohlson. In attendance were 12 graduates and five instructors from the inaugural class. Dr. Joseph Talmadge, who served as the Dean of the College from 1965 to 1981 and the President from 1981 to 1994, was the keynote speaker.

Dr. Talmadge regaled the crowd with stories of improbable success in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles during the College’s infancy. Dr. Talmadge credited the success of the College to the determination and creativity of the administration and faculty who could pull together and provide for the students using very limited resources. Dr. Kevin Ammons, Associate Dean of Students, followed Dr. Talmadge’s speech with a presentation on the birth and history of the college.

“It was incredible as an employee of the College and a former student to hear the stories of those first days. I think it’s a testament to the impact that a few competent, passionate people can have on a community and that legacy certainly lives on today at ESCC,” said Andrew Davis, Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning.

George Landingham, a member of the Class of 1967, said, “My wife and I …had not been back on the campus since we graduated 50 years ago and our memories were refreshed of the great time we spent there. It was wonderful seeing some old classmates and former faculty. It made me remember that Enterprise State Junior College gave me all the foundation I needed to go on to Auburn University and from there to a successful career. The College truly changed the course of my life.”

Roy and Beverly Powell, graduates of the Class of 1967 who are now married and live in Samson, said, “It was enjoyable to be back on campus and to see our classmates and several of the professors who were there. The College opening when it did was unbelievably good for all of us who were graduating from high school at that time. A lot of us probably would not have been able to have gone to a four-year school because of the cost in it. It was just a blessing to all of us to have such a wonderful experience with the amazing faculty that Dr. Talmadge had assembled. It wasn’t about the facilities, even though it was great to get into the new buildings there, because we even had a good time when we were in downtown Enterprise. It was hard at Auburn to get used to all the big classes. You’d go into a class and there’d be 300 people in there and we were used to 20 to 30. But I didn’t have any more of a problem adjusting to life at Auburn than students who had spent their first two years at Auburn.”

Dr. Ohlson said that having the first graduating class back on campus after 50 years was a wonderful experience and reminded her of how great an impact the College has on the lives of its students, giving them the opportunity for a first-class college education close to home and at a fraction of the cost for the same courses at a state university.  She said that she is looking forward to having the Class of 1967 back on campus for this year’s graduation ceremony, where one of their own, Bill Carr, an extremely successful local entrepreneur and CEO of the 21st largest CPA firm in the nation (Carr, Riggs and Ingram) will deliver the commencement address. This year’s homecoming events serve as a model for future years to come, as the College intends to continually include additional classes from the past a part of the homecoming and graduation festivities each year. An alumni organization is also in the works.

Anyone who attended ESCC in the past and who is interested in becoming part of the ESCC alumni organization should contact Andrew Davis at the College alumni@escc.edu or 334-347-2623, ext. 2309.

CUTLINE:

Back row left to right: Mr. Ronnie Donaldson, Dr. David Chalker, Dr. Joe Autrey, Mr. Donald Cope, Mr. George Landingham

Middle Row Left to Right: Mrs. Linda Frye, Mrs. Patsy Powell, Ms. Peggy Autrey, Mrs. Martha Thompson, Mr. Roy Powell, Mrs. Gloria Landingham

Front Row Left to Right: Dr. Joseph Talmadge, Mrs. Nancy Brunson, Mrs. Beverly Powell, Mrs. Charlotte Hatcher, Mr. Curtis Davis