From July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, Wallace State’s Adult Education program celebrated a milestone by serving more than 1,000 students and awarding more than 350 individual certifications and degrees. This includes non-traditional high school diploma and General Educational Development test graduates, short-term certifications through the Alabama Skills for Success program and those completing the Alabama Career Essentials program.

According to a press release from Wallace State Community College, the school’s Adult Education program has experienced a significant increase in enrollment levels and completion rates.

“The past year saw the highest enrollment in the program’s history, surpassing the next highest enrollment year in the last decade by 50 students. Additionally, the program celebrated 54 GED completions, more than any of the previous five years. This growth underscores the program’s expanding reach and impact within the community,” reads the statement.

The Adult Education program at Wallace State Community College is a nonprofit initiative dedicated to assisting individuals who have discontinued public education or did not receive a high school diploma. The program also caters to adults needing to improve academic skills for employment or college enrollment. Classes are offered free of charge on the Wallace State campus and at affiliated sites throughout Cullman, Blount, Morgan and Winston counties.

Patti Wilkins, Director of Wallace State’s Adult Education program, emphasized the comprehensive support provided to students. She described how the program addresses various needs to help individuals succeed.

“We serve a variety of demographics, including students who dropped out of high school due to difficult circumstances at home. We help individuals get their GED and teach English as a second language. We also provide short-term skills training, such as bulldozer and excavator operator certifications, and food and beverage certifications for those aiming to become restaurant managers. All of our services are offered at no cost. For programs like our bulldozer and skid steer classes, we cover the cost of required items like boots if individuals cannot afford them. In our CDL program, we help pay for permits and required drug testing fees for those who can’t afford them,” Wilkins said.

“Our goal is to remove barriers so individuals can get the training they need to secure better jobs and succeed in society. This year, we’ve served over 1,000 students, breaking our five-year record. Many of these students have completed Skills for Success courses, and about 90 percent of those students now have jobs. We are helping students who previously lacked the necessary skills to become employable, and our goal is to increase these numbers again this coming year. We also had the highest number of GEDs in many years, with 54 students receiving their GEDs during this program year. This means 54 individuals can now pursue better jobs, further training or college programs that were previously inaccessible without a GED,” Wilkins said.

The Adult Education program provides various educational opportunities, including GED courses and GED practice testing. The program offers an initiative called GED 4 Me! that allows students who are considering the pursuit of their GED a chance to explore the material and practice taking the test.

Additionally, through a partnership with the Alabama Community College System and the Alabama State Department of Education, the non-traditional High School Diploma Option is available for individuals 19 years and older through the Adult Education program.

Wallace State’s Adult Education program offers free English as a Second Language courses at three locations: Wallace State’s Hanceville Campus, Wallace State’s Oneonta Campus and the Link of Cullman. These free courses help non-native English speakers improve their language skills, facilitating better integration into the community and workforce.

“The Adult Education Program impacts our community by assisting people who did not complete high school, were homeschooled through a program that Alabama does not recognize, or individuals who want to improve their English language to have opportunities for better jobs. I would also like to add that we take individuals under our wing who might not fit society’s definition of ‘refined.’ This career field is more of a calling than a job, and it is very encouraging,” John Barnet, ESL Coordinator for the Adult Education program, said.