Tom Drake Coliseum at Wallace State Community College during the 2014 graduation ceremony.

The arena at Wallace State Community College’s Tom Drake Coliseum has been newly named Traditions Bank Arena, announced Wallace State President Vicki Karolewics last week.

On Wednesday, the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees approved the naming at its monthly board meeting.

“Traditions Bank has been a strong supporter of Wallace State, our students and our Future Foundation,” Karolewics said. “We are pleased to announce that the Traditions Bank Board of Directors has furthered their commitment to support scholarships for new and current Wallace State students through this significant naming opportunity,” Dr. Karolewics said at a recent WSCC Future Foundation event.

Tom Drake Coliseum, named after the longtime Cullman County attorney and legislator, was built in 1994.

The 5,080-seat arena, now called Traditions Bank Arena, is home to the Wallace State Lions men’s and women’s basketball, and volleyball teams. It has been the site of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Northwest Regional Basketball Tournament for more than 30 years, as well as high school basketball and cheerleading competitions, science fairs, recruiting, and other events. Each May, the Coliseum is filled with family and friends watching as graduating students from Cullman City and Cullman County schools cross the stage to mark their achievements.

More than 700 Wallace State students participated in Wallace State’s graduation at the arena in 2019 and a record number of certificate and degrees – more than 1,800 – were awarded.

“We believe that through investing in students’ education and producing successful graduates we change lives,” said Tim Compton, President of the Traditions Bank and of the Wallace State Future Foundation Board of Directors. “The Wallace State Future Foundation has been a great partner for Traditions’ philanthropy. We see our donations here having a lasting impact on the community.”

Two years ago the Dr. William F. Peinhardt Conference Center was named at Wallace State through a gift to the Future Foundation by Cullman Savings Bank in his honor. The Wallace State Future Foundation recently celebrated the achievement of a more than $10 million major gifts campaign. Over the last decade, the Future Foundation has provided more than $1.6 million to students in named, endowed and general scholarships as well as emergency assistance funds.

A naming ceremony for Traditions Bank Arena will be held at Wallace State later this year.