May 3, 2007

TRIO Day Celebrates Middle Schoolers' Successes



HANCEVILLE, AL-Students from six area middle schools were on the campus
of Wallace State Community College in Hanceville Wednesday for TRIO Day
and an Educational Talent Search awards program.



The TRIO Day event annually brings middle school students tutored by
Wallace State Educational Talent Search to campus for a day to celebrate
a year's worth of hard work and achievement.



Two students each from Cold Springs, Cullman, Falkville, Hanceville,
Priceville, and West Morgan were recognized for academic performance
with the Most Outstanding Student Award. Two from each school were
presented Best Attitude Awards for their disposition toward learning.



Award winners were:



Cold Springs

Most Outstanding Student: Jonathan Bentley and Jacob Murphy

Best Attitude: JoAsh Bentley and Allen Napier



Hanceville Middle

Most Outstanding Student: Tyler Isbell and Laura Cline

Best Attitude: Chris House and Megan Gramann



Cullman Middle

Most Outstanding Student: Braxton Johnson and Austin Steele

Best Attitude: Jordan Harbison and Daniel Sisk



Priceville

Most Outstanding Student: Jared Nichols and Madison Cooper

Best Attitude: Kayla Abner and Bethany Wilson



Falkville

Most Outstanding Student: Sarah Ayre and Leeann Lindsey

Best Attitude: Brittany Bell and Taylor Herchenhahn



West Morgan

Most Outstanding Student: Jacob Bobo and Kayla Templeton

Best Attitude: Scott Thompson and Lakon Johnson



The group was treated to a presentation by Ben Glenn, "The Chalk Guy."
Glenn is a motivational speaker who uses humor, music and chalk art to
inspire students to see the "uglies" in life as opportunities.

Ben Glenn "The Chalk Guy" performs art to music at the Wallace State
TRIO Day.

Lighthearted stories of his own school days and the learning
difficulties he faced had students laughing out loud. "The first time I
picked up chalk was in art in the 11th grade because I needed art to
graduate," he said.

He told students, "You have what it takes to overcome the obstacles life
throws you. Make good choices."

The Wallace State Jazz Band provided entertainment to open TRIO Day.
Pictured L-R: Aaron Laney of Arab, trumpet; Brett Alldredge of Cullman,
trombone; Jonathan Fox of Gardendale, tuba; Michael Clements of
Cleveland, banjo; Ryan Thompson of Cullman, saxophone; and Kelly
Canterbury of Piedmont, clarinet.

While at Wallace State, students also heard the Wallace State Dixieland
Band, toured the campus, and watched a performance of the Wallace State
cheerleaders.



Educational Talent Search is one of two U.S. Department of Education
funded TRIO programs operated by Wallace State. The tutoring and
mentoring arm of this program targets academically promising students
who have potential to be first generation college students beginning in
sixth grade.

TRIO Day: Students gather on lawn at the start of the day as Wallace
State President Vicki Hawsey greets Talent Search staff member Shelia
Mosley. Hawsey also provided the welcome to students in the Student
Center Auditorium.


Wallace State also oversees a Talent Search program for high school
students. Student Support Services, the other TRIO program on campus,
assists first generation college students with tutoring and counseling
once they are enrolled at Wallace State.



The Wallace State Talent Search Program is directed by Kristi Nyquist
and has served students in Cullman and surrounding counties since 1988.

1-6) Award Winners:



Cold Springs: Jacob Murphy, Most Outstanding; Jonathan Bentley, Most
Outstanding; JoAsh Bentley, Best Attitude; and Allen Napier, Best
Attitude.



Hanceville Middle: Chris House, Best Attitude; Tyler Isbel, Most
Outstanding; Megan Gramann, Best Attitude; and Laura Cline, Most
Outstanding.



Cullman Middle: Daniel Sisk, Best Attitude; Jordan Harbison, Best
Attitude; Braxton Johnson, Most Outstanding; and Austin Steele, Most
Outstanding.



Priceville: Madison Cooper, Most Outstanding; Jared Nichols, Most
Outstanding; Bethany Wilson, Best Attitude; and Kayla Abner, Best
Attitude.



Falkville: Sarah Ayre, Most Outstanding; Leeann Lindsey, Most
Outstanding; Brittany Bell, Best Attitude; and Taylor Herchenhahn, Best
Attitude.

West Morgan: Lakon Johnson, Best Attitude; Kayla Templeton, Most
Outstanding; Jacob Bobo, Most Outstanding; and Scott Thompson, Best
Attitude.

  Kristen Holmes
  Director, Communications and Marketing
  Wallace State Community College
  P.O. Box 2000
  Hanceville, AL 35077
  256/352-8118
  E-mail: Kristen.Holmes@WallaceState.edu