Latest news with #GadsdenState
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Gadsden State signs second cohort for machining apprenticeship program
GADSDEN — Gadsden State Community College hosted a signing event May 15 to welcome 15 students into the second cohort of the Consortium of Machining Education Training, or CoMeT, a hybrid apprenticeship program that combines classroom instruction with paid work experience. The program, launched in 2023, was developed by Gadsden State employees to meet growing workforce demands in the machining industry. Students in the CoMeT program attend classes two days a week and work with industry partners three days a week. Participants are paid at least $15 per hour throughout the five-semester program and will graduate with an Associate in Applied Science in Precision Machining. 'CoMeT Signing Day is a celebration of students taking their first steps into careers that matter,' said Andy Robertson, dean of Workforce Development. 'Our industry partners are investing in the future of advanced manufacturing. This program bridges education and employment in a powerful way.' The signing event was held at the Beck Conference Center at Wallace Drive Campus in Gadsden. 'With CoMeT, our precision machining students gain hands-on experience while completing their education,' Robertson said. 'It's more than a job. It's a launchpad into a skilled and essential career and Signing Day marks the beginning of that journey.' CoMeT is offered at the Precision Machining Building on the Ayers Campus and in the Advanced Manufacturing Center on the East Broad Campus. Instructors Daniel Anderson and Peyton Amberson oversee the program, which includes 1,776 hours of work-based learning and five major projects. The 15 students signed with 11 industry partners: — Carmin Industries – Matthew Usry of Gadsden — Gadsden Tool Inc. – William Bryan of Sardis — Honda Manufacturing of Alabama – Ciandra Lebel of Gadsden and James Solley of Lincoln — Kobay South – Andrew Amos of Hokes Bluff and Destiny Griffey of Anniston — M&H Valve – Dashawn Kirby-Barnes of Weaver and Kendal McCants of Gadsden — Parker Hannifin – Cashus Hannah of Hokes Bluff — Prince Metal – Cody Campbell of Boaz and Riley Venable of Birmingham — Soteria – Tristian Page of Wellington — Stamped Products – William Houser of Boaz — Unipres – Gabriel Williams of Anniston More information about the program is available at
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Gadsden State students earn scholarships to four-year universities
GADSDEN — Gadsden State Community College students are making strides toward their academic future by earning scholarships to transfer to four-year universities across Alabama. These scholarships recognize students' academic excellence and leadership potential. In total, over $650,000 in two-year scholarships were awarded by five Alabama universities. Jacksonville State University awarded many two-year scholarships ranging in value from $3,000 to $21,180 over a two-year period for a total of $293,500. Awardees by scholarship include: — Presidential Scholarship ($21,180): Eleaxus Pettus — Achievement Transfer Scholarship ($12,000): Austin Bates, Jaylyn Minshew, Jessica Lammonds, Lexus Fall, Angela Dummar, Jaci Cash, Tabatha Steed, Lillian McDill, Jade Swinford, Rebecca Prestridge, Brittany White, Tiffany Savin, Barbara Montejo, Angelica Auden Ruiz, Jon Denney, Thomas Jackson, Johnathon Isbell, Mary Engle, Sarah Ford, Inez Martin, Krystal Cochran, Ella Hines, Lauren Bowles, Heath Stinson, Jaxson Sizemore, Hayleigh Perez, Ella Garmany, Emily Roe, Collins Davis and Hadie Negrete — Academic Transfer Scholarship ($6,000): Alexander Greenwood, Drue Walker, Jadyn Foster, Dakota McClellan, Alexa Compton, Khalil Khmila, Sam Timmons, William Lockmiller — Opportunity Transfer Scholarship ($4,000): Raegan McClendon, McKinley Wilson, Chloe Stephens, Michael Wilson, Alyssa Logan, Mattie Payne, Madison Hay, Jacob Rhinehart, Stephanie Maldonado,, Jackeline Rodriguez, Ava Dodd, Kara Grace, Reagan Sanders, Allie Wiggins, Emily Perez, Leah Campbell, Caitlyn Laughlin, Gwenivere Perry, Monica Burns, Elvia Cerrato-Ramirez, Cassidy Portwood, Halee Keener, Jazmyne Gregory, Kennadi Johnson, Luke Joplin, Kelsey Gibbins, Lillyan Jordan, Malaina Ellen, Tyler Doggrell, John Parrish, Sara Carlisle, Crimson Colbert, Emalee Morrison, Levi Long, Jenah Goosby, Lauren Boyd, Ella Walker, Gracie Smith and Kaylee Green — Gamecock Transfer Scholarship ($2,000): Makayla Wink, Harrison Burke, Julian Graziano, Carnecia Carter, Ella Clifton, Austyn Patterson, Miraha Thomas, Emily Fowler, J'Una Rollins and Hannah Mitchell — Spring Supplemental Transfer Scholarship ($1,500): Noah Barnes The University of Alabama at Birmingham awarded $208,500 in scholarships to Gadsden State students. The top scholarship — the Presidential Scholarship — worth $12,000 was awarded to three students: Lilly Rebarchik, Macey Johnson and Charles McIntire. — $3,000 scholarships: Deonna Sumpter, Tabitha Collins, McKinley Wilson, Jonathan Baggett, Hunter Hanners, Daniel Brown, Emily Perez, Dalton Chestnut, Rachel Bonnett, Jazmyne Gregory, Christopher McNeill, Reagan Mehta, Preslee Blackwell, Jonathan Baggett, Briteon Husk, Stephanie Maldonado, Derek Schmitz, Ainsley Rodgers and Kryston Barton — $4,000 scholarships: Reagan Mehta, McKinley Wilson, Preslee Blackwell, Briteon Husk, Zachary Scott, Hunter Hanners, Emily Perez, Stephanie Maldonado, Dalton Chestnut, Kaylee Green, Derek Schmitz, Chandler Evetts, William Brown, Rachel Bonnett, Joseph Brown, Lillian McDill, James Ingle, Ainsley Rodgers, Hung Mai, Christopher McNeill and Johnathon Isbell — $2,000 scholarships: Deonna Sumpter, Jonathan Baggett, Delaney Gilliland, Walker Thomas, Davian Turner and Ryan Kelly — $1,500 scholarship: William Brown — $500 scholarships: Hunter Hanners, Kaylee Green, Chandler Evetts, William Brown, Rachel Bonnett and Ainsley Rodgers The University of Alabama awarded 15 scholarships to Gadsden State students, including the full-tuition Alabama Community College Presidential Transfer Scholarship to Ellen Malaina and McKinley Kay. Other scholarship winners include: — Community College Merit Scholarship: Preslee Blackwell and Lillian McDill — Roll Tide Transfer Scholarships: Joseph Brown, Crimson Colbert, Mason Freeman, Michael Hoppenjans, Stephanie Maldonado, Emily Perez, Karl Ragland and Samantha-Lynn Thomas — Alabama Transfer Scholarship: Zachary Scott — Alabama's Promise Scholarship: Gracie Smith — UA Transfer Excellence Scholarships: Dalton Chestnut and Emma Croy Other institutions providing transfer scholarships are the University of Alabama at Huntsville and Athens State University. Sarah Daniel and Briteon Husk earned the Super Scholar Transfer Scholarship worth $3,000 to UAH, and the Transfer Merit Scholarship worth $1,500 went to Bryan Barrientos. Athens State University awarded six students with $2,000 transfer scholarships. Awardees include April Davis, Emma Earl, Matthew Fleming, Amy Glover, Justin Morris and Lane Self.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
35 students receive GED or high school diplomas at Gadsden State ceremony
GADSDEN — Thirty-five students earned their GED or high school diplomas during Gadsden State Community College's 2025 Adult Education Graduation Ceremony, held May 1 at Beck Gymnasium on the Wallace Drive Campus. 'Congratulations, graduates,' said Hollie Patterson, director of Adult Education Services. 'You have made the first step in your journey. We want to watch you fly. Enjoy, celebrate and plan your next steps.' Candida Pedro Aguirre, one of the graduates, was awarded a scholarship worth more than $2,100 to Gadsden State. A married mother of three, Aguirre dropped out of high school but pursued her diploma to set an example for her children. A native Spanish speaker who translates for her Guatemalan parents, she plans to become a professional translator. All graduates are eligible for one free class at Gadsden State. Fifteen students earned their GED, which required passing tests in language arts, math, science and social studies. Most utilized the college's free GED preparation courses offered in Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne and Etowah counties. GED recipients included Alex Carson, Clayton Chapman, Mary Cote, Brandon Evans, James Floyd, Lonna Holloway, Jade Holloway, Magen Johnson, Miguel Martinez, Ava Miller, Logan Rosado, Stuart Stanley, Anthony Wallace, Christine Wyatt and Ranie Zvodar. Twenty additional graduates earned high school diplomas through the Non-traditional High School Diploma Option, a program offered in partnership with the Alabama Community College System and the Alabama State Department of Education. The HSDO allows adults who previously earned partial high school credit or were unable to pass graduation exams to complete their diplomas. Those receiving high school diplomas were Daisy Watts, Luna Wallen, Santanner Walker, Triston Taylor, Derrick Taylor, Chelsie Loveless Storey, Jessica Roberts, Ryan Pierce, Candida Pedro Aguirre, Lucas Ledbetter, LaTiffani Knight, Billy Manning Hunt, Kristy Hicks, Bessie Hatcher, Ava Fronek, Rodreka Croft, Micki Chambless, Magen Carroll, Byron Tasheem and Christina Aguilar. Graduates James Floyd, Luna Wallen and Magen Carroll delivered remarks during the ceremony. Dr. Alan Cosby served as the keynote speaker, and Dr. Tera Simmons, executive vice president of Gadsden State, awarded diplomas. 'This is the beginning of a new day for you and your families,' Simmons said. 'You have overcome obstacles and difficulties to come to this defining moment — your graduation. Continue to move forward. Continue to dream. I'm confident that with your hard work, you will achieve your goals.'
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gadsden State offers state's only civil engineering tech program among community colleges
GADSDEN — Gadsden State Community College is the only community college in Alabama offering a Civil Engineering Technology Program. The program aims to provide hands-on training in design, surveying and infrastructure inspection, according to a news release. 'The Civil Engineering Technology Program is perfect for students who want to go straight into the workforce or transfer to a four-year university,' said instructor Marshall Bailey. 'We focus on the training and skills that employers are looking for right now.' Housed on the East Broad Campus in Gadsden, the program prepares students for careers in AutoCAD design, surveying and construction applications. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, civil engineering technologists and technicians with an associate degree earn a median annual salary of $60,700. Students can pursue an Associate in Applied Science degree, which includes 15 general education credit hours and 61 technical hours. The college also offers a certificate option with 44 credit hours and a short-term certificate requiring 26 hours focused entirely on technical instruction. 'Our graduates are well-prepared for positions like field survey technicians, CAD technicians and construction inspectors,' Bailey said. 'Or, they can transfer to a bachelor's degree program in civil engineering.' Bailey, a summa cum laude graduate of the same program he now leads, joined the Gadsden State faculty in 2019. Since then, he has helped grow enrollment by more than 150 percent. 'Gadsden State gave me the foundation I needed academically and professionally,' he said. 'The faculty believed in me and gave me the skills I use every day in my career. Now, I have the honor of doing the same for my students.' The program is also open to high school students through Gadsden State's dual enrollment program. Eligible students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA, be a sophomore, junior or senior and receive approval from a school counselor or administrator. 'Dual enrollment is a fantastic opportunity for students to get a head start on a meaningful, high-paying career,' Bailey said. 'We're seeing more high school students take advantage of this program every year.' Bailey encourages students interested in high-demand technical careers to consider the program. 'This is a smart first step for students who are hands-on learners and want a career that makes a real-world impact,' he said. 'Civil engineering touches every part of our daily lives, from roads and bridges to buildings and utilities. If you want to help build the future, be a civil engineer.' More information about the program is available at Details about the dual enrollment program can be found at
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Steven Folks, former city manager, enters Anniston mayoral race
ANNISTON — After three decades of dedicated service to the city of Anniston, Steven Folks is ready to step into a new role: mayor. The longtime city employee and former city manager officially announced his candidacy Friday morning during a Facebook Live broadcast, making him the fourth candidate in the race for the city's top elected position. 'I think the city is headed in the right direction,' Folks said. 'And I've been a servant for 51 years—21 years in the Army, 30 years with the city—and the direction the city is going, I think it just excites me and incites me to just continue to be a part of this.' Folks, 69, wrapped up his tenure as city manager Thursday, ending a chapter that saw significant development, collaboration and revitalization efforts throughout Anniston. Born in Aiken, South Carolina, Folks joined the Army during his senior year in high school and later earned degrees from Gadsden State and Jacksonville State University. He began working for the City of Anniston as a temporary employee and rose through the ranks, eventually becoming city manager—without ever having held elected office. Now, he's vying for the mayoral seat, joining Kevin Cheatwood, Ciara Smith, and Ben Little on the ballot. Throughout his announcement, Folks emphasized his deep connection to the city and his desire to bring continuity and collaboration to city government. While Folks didn't pinpoint a single issue he would tackle first if elected, he stressed the importance of staying the course with the city's established roadmap. 'Our comprehensive plan is working. It's a roadmap,' he said. 'The progress of Main Street, the things that we're talking about with McClellan are exciting. Regional Medical Center is headed in the right direction. At the end of this year, we'll be doing something with the master plan for the airport.' Folks said he hopes to bring stability and a sense of shared purpose to the mayor's office, leaning into partnerships and regionalism. 'Working with our partners to the south and to the north… working with the county—those things are key,' he said. During his time as city manager, Folks helped lead several major projects. He described the development process with a mindset he adopted from his military days. 'In the Army, I learned that when you have a project you have to ask yourself three questions: how do I attain this? Then how do I maintain this? Then how do I sustain this?' he said. 'There's no need to embark on any new project if you can't answer those three questions.' Among his proudest accomplishments, Folks cited the city's 2022 comprehensive plan, the revitalization of Main Street, partnerships with health clinics like St. Michael's, infrastructure improvements, and a $2 million street paving initiative that began in 2019. He also highlighted successful collaborations with organizations such as Main Street Alabama, Jacksonville State University and various nonprofits that supported underserved populations. 'The key things, like St. Michael's Clinic, I think that has been a big issue, because, again, that's helping the most valuable resource we have, which is our people,' Folks said. Projects like the transformation of McClellan, the new City Market, and the development of the Fire Training Center also top the list of city achievements under his leadership. 'We're talking about the transition of McClellan to the city of Anniston,' he said. 'That could not have been done without our legislative delegation and also the county and the city working together in unison.' Folks also pointed to the soon-to-open extension of the Chief Ladiga Trail and the newly restored City Hall as significant milestones for the city—projects that combine economic potential with deep historical roots. 'When you get in [City Hall], the history that we have saved… I don't think there's anything like this,' he said, referencing the building's previous life as a post office and federal courthouse. 'Just think about the federal cases that've been held here.' For Folks, Anniston's story is one of resilience. He sees the community's ability to overcome obstacles—from the Monsanto controversy to the closure of Fort McClellan to the COVID-19 pandemic—as a defining characteristic of the city he has come to love. Folks addressed the naysayers who paint the city with a negative brush. 'We don't have time to spend a whole lot of energy on negativity,' Folks said. 'What I think we need to do is be patient, be persistent and have a brighter vision.' Reflecting on his own journey, Folks drew parallels between his military service and his municipal career. In both, he said, he started at the bottom and worked his way up. 'I started off as a private, and I retired as a sergeant first class,' Folks said. 'The positions I had were always ahead of that, because I served as a drill sergeant, a senior drill sergeant, a platoon sergeant, a battalion sergeant, and also as a First Sergeant. The same thing, starting in the city of Anniston—I started off as a temporary employee without any benefits, and I rose to where I am right now.' He emphasized the importance of seeing the city as a whole—beyond neighborhoods and districts—and working together for a common purpose. 'I always felt that no matter spending my time in Carver Center, it was never about Carver Center,' he said. 'It was all about one Parks and Rec field being one for one common goal, to be successful as a whole.' Folks is a father of three sons—one of whom is deceased—and has nine grandchildren, whom he calls the light of his life. As he begins this next chapter, he does so with the same servant's heart that guided him for 51 years. 'I tell everybody, my love and my passion for Anniston — I came here and I became a part of Anniston,' he said.
