News You Can Use! February 14, 2017

Your story begins at Wallace State

Watch the newest video with current students and alumni who tell about their experiences at Wallace State Community College.

Student feedback sought regarding pell grants

Representatives from Alabama's community colleges will be meeting with our U.S. Senators and Representatives in Washington, D.C. soon to ask for reinstatement of Year Round (Summer) Pell Grants.

As you may know, Pell Grants are currently designed to cover full-time enrollment during 2 semesters per year. Reinstatement of Year Round (Summer) Pell (which was discontinued several years ago) would allow students to enroll continuously, full-time if they wish, all 3 semesters - during fall, spring and summer terms.

If you are a Pell Grant recipient, please let us know what a difference having Pell has made to you, your ability to attend college and to be successful. If you feel you would benefit from Year Round (Summer) Pell - whether it's the continuity of learning, the availability of required courses that are only offered certain semesters, the opportunity to finish sooner and start your career, or something else - please especially let us know that as well.

Here's how to participate:

1) Send comments by email - from a few lines to a few paragraphs - to [email protected]. Indicate "My Pell Story" in the subject line. Be sure to include your name, hometown, and major (if decided). Feel free to also include a photo.

2) Record your own video and send us a link - or post and tag #myPellstory @WallaceState

3) Schedule with our office to record your video testimonial - email [email protected] or call Jesse at x8361

Please be as concise as you can. Submissions are encouraged as soon as possible and no later than March 21.

Almost 70 percent of our students receive some sort of financial aid. Let us share your story with the decision makers in Washington, D.C.! There's power in numbers!

Student team claims victory over Faculty/Staff

The Student team was victorious in the Learning Communities Kickoff game versus Faculty and Staff, coming away with a 44-57 win.

Watch some of the highlights from last week's game.

AHSAA Northwest Regionals start Thursday

Wallace State will play host to the Alabama High School Athletic Association's Northwest Regional Basketball Tournament starting Thursday, Feb. 16 and continuing through Wednesday, Feb. 22 at Tom Drake Coliseum. Games start at 9 a.m. each day.

Students, faculty and staff should clearly display their parking decals during the tournaments so they can get through the parking booths that will be situated around campus. Parking fees are $5. Admission into the tournament is $8.

Please be patient and cautious of the extra traffic on campus.

During the tournament, Auxiliary staff will be working at the coliseum. This will mean the WSCC Bookstore will be minimally staff and the Wallace State Cafe in the School of Nursing and Center for Science will be closed. Please plan accordingly.

You may keep up with the tournament brackets and results on the AHSAA website.

Apply for UAB Presidential Scholarship by February 17

The University of Alabama at Birmingham will offer two outstanding Wallace State Community College students a UAB Presidential Scholarship, which will cover the cost of tuition and academic-related fees for four semesters beginning the 2017 Fall Semester.

The deadline to turn in the application packet to Wallace State's Financial Aid office Feb. 17. Visit the Other Scholarship Opportunities section of the Wallace State Financial Aid page for more information and to download the application.

In order to qualify the nominee must meet the following criteria:

The student must apply and be admitted to UAB by March 1st
The student must have earned as associate's degree at the end of the spring semester before the fall semester in which they enroll. (An official transcript must be provided, indicating graduation date.)
The student must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 (non-transferrable coursework will not be calculated in the GPA)
The student cannot have any 4-year institution credit (exception: courses taken while enrolled in high school)
The student cannot be a former degree-seeking student from UAB
The student must be an Alabama resident
The student must be willing to assist with transfer recruitment events and efforts as a transfer ambassador for UAB (estimate: 2-3 hours a week; event examples: tours, Community College visits, Transfer UBA Day)

The deadline for most general transfer scholarships are from January 1 through March 1. Click on the Other Scholarship Opportunities link above to view numerous scholarship opportunities

Meet artists at Feb. 16 opening reception for 'Out of the depths'

An opening reception will be held Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, at 7 p.m., at The Evelyn Burrow Museum for "Out of the depths," a collaborative collection featuring the photography of Fadi BouKaram and the abstract paintings of Joe Cory. The exhibition is presented by guest curator Canon Matt Schneider, a minister at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, as part of its Arts + Culture Series in community partnership with The Evelyn Burrow Museum.

The art on display represents the artists' views on current events in the Middle East, one from the perspective of someone who has a front-row seat to the ongoing refugee crisis and the other who has witnessed it from far way.

Feb. 16 deadline to apply to Mu Alpha Theta

The Mu Alpha Theta (MAT) chapter at Wallace State would like you to consider being a part of this mathematics honor society. This society honors people who have demonstrated excellence in both mathematics and overall scholarship. To qualify for MAT you must have completed math course equivalent to or higher than Math 112 with a GPA of a 3.0 in the qualifying math class(es) * PLEASE NOTE THAT MTH 090, 098, 100, 103, 231, AND 116 ARE NOT HIGHER THAN 112. Qualifying classes are the completion of MTH 110, 112, 113, 120, 125, 126, and 227, 237, 238, or 265.

To stay an active member you must participate in in a minimum of two MAT sponsored activities/projects per academic year. You can complete both in one semester or do one in two different semesters. We provide plenty of opportunities for you to meet this requirement.

If you meet the requirements and are interested in joining, please complete the attached application and turn it and the dues in to Mrs. Dana Adams (room 11) or Dr. Krystal Davis (front office) in the Math Building. The deadline to submit your application and dues is Thursday, February 16, 2017 by 2 pm.

If you have never been a member of MAT, a one-time fee of $50.00 is the only expense you will incur to become a member of Mu Alpha Theta. If you were/are a member of a high school MAT chapter, you will only have to pay $40 because $10 of your previous MAT dues is transferable. Your dues cover a lifetime membership. You will be provided with a membership certificate suitable for framing, a T-shirt, and recognition on your WSCC transcript. You will have the opportunity to be recognized at an induction ceremony. You will also be recognized in the WSCC graduation program as an MAT member and you can purchase MAT honors cord for graduation. The deadline to submit your application and dues is Thursday, February 16, 2017 by 2 pm.

Download Application

This App puts Blackboard, myWallaceState, directory, calendar and more at your fingertips

Everything you need to view your schedule, contact an instructor, find your way around campus and more are all at your fingertips with the Wallace State Community College app. Available for both Android and iPhones, the app provides quick access to Blackboard, myWallaceState, the events calendar and more.

Use the directory to contact faculty or staff by phone or email. Customize notifications you can receive about important events or news. Access your Lion Card to check balance or make deposits. Get information about course materials and more through the Bookstore link. Connect directly to Wallace State social media sites. Find the answers to the most frequently asked questions or pose a question of your own. Access your student email account.

Search Wallace State Community College in your app store to download the app and put it to use for you today.

Navigate Wallace State offers guidance, reminders

Never forget dates for registration again!

A new feature called Navigate Wallace State has been added to myWallaceState.

Students can use Navigate in making decisions about majors and scheduling. It also provides reminders for key academic events like registration and payment deadlines.

Go to myWallaceState and and look for Navigate Wallace State under the Student tab to see how Navigate Wallace State can help you!