Wallace State Celebrates the Class of 2025

Hanceville, Ala. — Wallace State Community College celebrated commencement exercises on Friday, May 9, where around 600 students walked across the stage in two ceremonies for the Academic and Applied Technology programs and the Health Science programs. More than 2,000 degrees and certificates will be awarded to the Class of 2025, including more than 1,000 in the Spring 2025 semester.

Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Karolewics congratulated all the graduates and at both ceremonies asked those who already had a job in their field or offers of unemployment upon graduation to stand. Dozens of students stood in both instances, spotlighting the impact Wallace State has on not only lives of students but the local and state economy.

“We are an engine of prosperity for students, communities and the state at large,” Dr. Karolewics said. “These students represent the fulfillment of the American Dream and the community college promise that provides life-changing careers, family-sustaining wages and social and economic mobility that impacts generations. 

“Over the next few weeks and months, more than 90 percent of our graduates will be employed,” she continued. “Many others will be transferring to a university to continue their studies toward a bachelor’s degree and beyond. Fifty-nine of these graduates are getting a head start through dual enrollment that enabled them to graduate from college and high school simultaneously.”

During the ceremonies, awards were presented to students from the Academic, Applied Technology and Health Science programs.

General Studies major Kimberly Wilt was recognized with the 2025 Presidential Award for Academic Excellence.

Jared Smith from the Machine Tool Technology/CNC program received the 2025 Presidential Award for Applied Technology Excellence.

Nursing graduate LaPorsha Foster was named the winner of the 2025 Presidential Award for Health Science Excellence.

As is tradition during Wallace State commencements, several students are spotlighted at each ceremony to share the stories of their community college experience.

From the Academic/Applied Technology program the following students were spotlighted.

Carrington Chambers, Welding

Chambers enrolled Wallace State’s Welding program at the age of 18, despite the nervousness of being one of only a few women in the program and anxiousness of the idea of college after being diagnosed with dyslexia during her junior year of high school.

With the support of advisors and instructors, Chambers graduates with a 3.49 GPA and a love of learning. Her dream job is to be a travel welder.

Beth Roberts, General Studies – Music Education

Roberts returned to college as an adult, juggling school, marriage and two children, one of whom has special needs. She joined the Wallace State Concert Choir, traveling to Washington, DC for the very first time and performed in the nation’s capitol. She also started as Marmee March in the Wallace State Theatre’s production of Little Women: the Musical.

She graduated with an associate degree in Music Education and plans to transfer to UAB on a fine and performing arts scholarship in the fall to pursue her dream of teaching music.

Leslie Rushing, Salon and Spa Management

When Leslie Rushing returned to Wallace State to start classes in the Salon and Spa Management program, she realized it had been exactly 20 years since she first came to Wallace State as a student. That first time was cut short when she had her first child. Two decades later, she had three children. The oldest was now an alum of Wallace State and her youngest was starting kindergarten.

While at Wallace State, Rushing participated in the SkillsUSA competitions. She won a silver medal at the state competition in 2024 and claiming a gold medal this year. She will compete in June at the National SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta. She plans to open her own business, The Beauty Barn, in Crane Hill.

Zachariah Beauregard, General Studies

When Beauregard’s family moved to Alabama from Tennessee three years ago, it was a difficult time. He wasn’t sure how to navigate starting over in a new place as a senior in high school. One thing he was sure of was he wanted to go to an affordable college in his area and he chose Wallace State.

He found a support system and participated in several clubs and organizations and walked on to the championship cross country team. He also served as a public announcer for Lions athletics, including baseball, basketball, softball and volleyball.

Beauregard plans to transfer to the University of North Alabama to study engineering.

Antaneisha Prince, Forensic Psychology

Prince first started taking classes at Wallace State 10 years ago alongside her mother. Her mother enrolled in the Health Information Technology program while Prince started working toward entering the Nursing program. While her mother completed her degree, Prince found that nursing wasn’t a good fit for her, so she stopped out.

She returned in 2024 to purse a degree in Forensic Psychology, which was a perfect match for her interests and passion.

Prince already has several job opportunities and has been contacted by dozens of four-year universities encouraging her to continue her education to the baccalaureate level.

Will Hawkins, Machine Tool Technology

Along with being a full-time student and being employed full-time, Hawkins also served as an ambassador for Wallace State. He chose to follow in his father’s footsteps by enrolling in the Machine Tool Technology program.

Hawkins was a featured participant in the Aspen panel, which resulted in Wallace State being recognized by the Aspen Institute as one of the top three community colleges in the nation. He was also named the Machine Tool Technology program award winner at Honors Night.

Hawkins plans to transfer to the University of Alabama to major in Mechanical Engineering.

Lily Hasting, General Studies

Hasting is a Fast Track student from Vinemont High School. At first, she said she was nervous about starting college as a junior high school, but she quickly found her footing and became involved in campus life. She joined multiple honor societies and clubs. Her leadership skills flourished, and she has grown in faith, strength and purpose.

Hasting will transfer to UAB in the fall to major in Neuroscience on premedical track. Her dream is to become a geriatric psychiatrist and one day serve in full-time medical missions.

LaPorsha Foster, Nursing

Foster has dreamed of becoming a nurse for more than 21 years and has finally made that dream come true. After starting college as a single mother who later assumed responsibility for a younger sibling, Foster was forced to pause her education to take care of her family.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Foster felt a renewed since of urgency to become a nurse. Taking advantage of a new partnership between Wallace State and UAB Hospital where she worked, Foster was able to attend nursing school. She was one of the first students to take classes at Wallace State’s Oneonta campus, completing her practical nursing certificate there before transferring to the Hanceville campus to complete her associate degree.

Yosell Zuniga, Child Development

Zuniga’s parents instilled in her and her siblings the importance of an education. After high school, she pursued nursing and medical assisting but when the pandemic struck, she, like many students, was adversely affected by the transition to virtual learning, which negatively affected her academic progress and caused her to stop out of college.

During her time away from college, she was offered a position as an ESL aid in Blount County’s high schools, a job she found very fulfilling. As a child who helped translate for her parents, she appreciated the chance to support students who faced similar challenges during their formative years.

Zuniga plans to attend Jacksonville State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in foreign language with a minor in secondary education.

Denise Castillo, Dental Hygiene

Castillo had been out of high school for seven years when she chose to enroll at Wallace State to pursue the Dental Hygiene degree. She was a single mother working as a dental assistant and was hesitant. Those worries were put to rest after meeting with her advisor who provided her with resources for academic success.

When her son was diagnosed with level 3 autism during her first semester in the Dental Hygiene program, her worries returned, but she was determined and knew if there was a will, there was a way.

She is grateful for the Dental Hygiene faculty who worked with her to provide her the flexibility she needed to ensure her son received the therapy he needed. 

She is currently working as an assistant dental hygienist but expects a promotion when she passes her licensure exam.

Tiffany Tate, Occupational Therapy Assistant

Tate chose the Occupational Therapy Assistant program after seeing first-hand how occupational therapy helped her son, who has ADHD. It inspired in her a desire to help other families walk the same road with support, dignity and hope.

The path was not an easy one. She faced a painful divorce during her first semester and a relapse of a chronic blood disease, which required frequent doctor visits and treatment.

Tate applies daily what she has learned in the OTA program to help her son navigate life and she looks forward to helping others. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA and as a member of the National Society for Leadership and Success.

Allison Willis, Radiation Therapy, and Kyle Willis, Respiratory Therapy

Siblings Allison and Kyle Willis both graduated from two different WSCC health science programs. Allison earned a degree in Radiation Therapy and Kyle earned a degree in Respiratory Therapy.

Kyle was the first to enroll at Wallace State. After working as a nurse assistant, he had wanted a different career and researched Respiratory Therapy by watching videos on YouTube.

Allison considered both Respiratory Therapy and Diagnostic Imaging before eventually choosing Radiation Therapy. While she at first thought treating cancer patients as a career would be a sad prospect, after completing clinicals and assisting in the treatment of patients, including children, she no longer feels that way. While there are somber moments, she has been inspired by the strength and courage exhibited by patients who must battle cancer and the families who battle alongside them.

Molly Lauderdale, Nursing

Nursing isn’t Lauderdale’s first career. She retired from the Marshall County School System after teaching sixth grade and counselling students. But it was her experience as a patient during a life-threatening medical crisis that she found her calling for a second career.

Lauderdale spent 51 days in ICU at Grandview Medical Center suffering from COVID and complications from surgery. Part of that time was in a medically induced coma. Both her kidneys and her lungs failed during that time. When she woke up, her arms were paralyzed. After being released from the hospital, she spent two weeks in rehab.

She was inspired by the nurses who cared for her and chose to pursue a second career in nursing. She currently works as license practical nurse at Marshall Medical Center and at age 50 is earning an associate degree in nursing to advance her career as a registered nurse.

Chelsea Mann, Respiratory Therapy

Mann’s healthcare journey began when her two younger boys were diagnosed with a rare disease in which they were treated with a ventilator. She learned how to care for them at home and through this experience realized the profound impact that respiratory therapy had on her children’s lives. She became inspired to become a respiratory therapist with the hope of working at Children’s Hospital.

As a single mother, Mann was only able to take one prerequisite class per semester. But she persevered and impressed faculty with her work ethic and positive attitude. As she graduates from the program, she realizes her dream as she will begin working for Children’s Hospital next month.

“Graduates, you are the future of our state, the workforce of the future,” Karolewics said. “As you embark on the next chapter of your life, may the education you have earned at Wallace State, one of the top community colleges in the nation, inspire you to be innovative, seek opportunity, and influence your world for the better. Continue to set your aspirations high and to be a role model to others.  On whatever scale you act, you have the power to make a difference.”

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About Wallace State

Wallace State Community College (Ala.), a member of the Alabama Community College System, is a comprehensive community college in north central Alabama offering more than 200 options in academic, health and technical programs of study leading to an associate degree, certificate or transfer, as well as workforce-credit training and adult education. An Achieving the Dream Leader College, nationally recognized by the Aspen Institute as a Rising Star for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, ranked by Southern Business and Development among the Top 3 institutions in the South for workforce development, named a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing and the National Security Administration, rated the Top Online Community College in Alabama, a Military Friendly Institution and an All-Steinway School, Wallace State is an outstanding place for students to pursue their education and career goals. Classes are offered online and on campus, day, evening and on weekends, with numerous start dates each year. Visit Wallace State’s beautiful main campus located on 300-acres in Hanceville, Ala., our satellite location in downtown Oneonta, Ala., find us online at www.wallacestate.edu, or call 256.352.8000.