Scholarship celebration marks beginning of 20th anniversary of foundation

Published 1:27 pm Saturday, May 4, 2024

The Wallace State Community College Future Foundation kicked off its 20th anniversary celebrating scholarship recipients and their donors at its recent scholarship celebration.

The annual event is an opportunity for the students to meet and thank their donors and for the donors to meet the students benefitting from their gift to the Future Foundation.

Current and former scholarship recipients shared how the Foundation and Wallace State changed their lives.

Vickie Westbrook will graduate debt free May 10 with a degree from the Wallace State Horticulture program.

“It took me 27 years to get here,” Westbrook said of her educational journey that included dropping out of school at 16, getting her GED and previously starting and stopping college classes. “Statistically, I shouldn’t be here, but because of the donors and the Future Foundation I’m here living my dream.”

“I am forever grateful to the Foundation and donors that give so much more than just their money and each one of the faculty and staff at Wallace State,” said Paul Knetter a 2018 graduate.

During the celebration, Hanceville Mayor Jimmy Sawyer presented a proclamation claiming April as Community College Month in the city.

“I’m proud to have not just one of the best community colleges in the state of Alabama, but to have the best community college right here in our own community,” Sawyer said.

The Future Foundation was founded in 2004 as part of the college’s vision to become a world class, nationally recognized and technologically advanced learning college serving the educational, cultural and social needs of the community. Today, the Future Foundation’s total assets are more than $8 million, supporting around 200 named scholarships, many of those endowed scholarships that will last in perpetuity. In 2023, the Foundation awarded more than $312,000 while distributing almost 450 scholarships.