Wallace State receives $2.5M for renovation, construction projects

Published 3:06 pm Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Wallace State Community College is the recipient of $2.5 million from the state legislature that will help pay for renovations to two buildings and assist with construction of another.

“We are grateful to the Alabama Legislature, and especially Senator Garlan Gudger, Jr., for securing these funds that will help us refresh and modernize our facilities,” Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Karolewics said in a press release.

A portion of the monies will cover renovations to the student center and the Wellness Center, both more than 30-years-old and heavily used by Wallace State students and the community.

The student center was built in 1980 and currently houses the Betty Leeth Haynes Theatre, Wally’s Grill, Lions’ Kitchen food pantry, Campus Ministries and more. The theatre, where many college and community programs are held, recently received lighting and air conditioning upgrades and new seating was added within the last few years. The Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees approved the naming of the Student Center as the Garlan E. Gudger, Sr. Student Center in 2020, in honor of the college’s first dean of students. A portrait of Gudger was unveiled in 2023, along with updates to the student center lobby.

The Wellness Center was built in 1992, the same year as the Tom Drake Coliseum. It houses a fitness center and weight room, two practices gyms, the Dan York Practice Facility for the golf team, WaLLi classrooms and more.

According to a press release from Wallace State, funds will also be used to aid in the construction of a new Advanced Machining and Manufacturing building.

“That building will house the Machine Tool Technology program and is one of three new buildings to be constructed on the northeastern corner of the campus, replacing a number of the college’s original or early buildings from the late 1960s and early 1970s. A STEM Gateway building will house classes for first-year students such as mathematics, English, history, etc., as well as a digital learning center and the Culinary Arts program and café. A new facility for Advanced Automotive Services will also be built, with areas dedicated to electric vehicle repair,” the press release stated.