Wallace State Celebrates Class of 2026

HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Wallace State Community College celebrated the Class of 2026 with two graduation ceremonies where around 800 graduates walked across the stage in Traditions Bank Arena at Tom Drake Coliseum. For the 2025-2026 academic year, over 1,650 students earned more than 2,800 degrees and certificates.

During both ceremonies for Academic and Applied Technology and Health Sciences, Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Karolewics asked graduates who have secured a job in their field or who are planning to transfer to stand, with a majority of them coming to their feet. 

“Over the next few weeks and months, more than 90 percent of our graduates will be employed. Many others will be transferring to a university to continue their studies toward a bachelor’s degree and beyond,” Karolewics said. 

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

Special awards were presented to students from each division. 

The Presidential Award for Academic Excellence went to Jillian Rush, Music Education.

The Presidential Award for Applied Technology Excellence was awarded to Britney Spears, Salon and Spa Management. 

The Presidential Award for Health Science Excellence was presented to Frances Grace Phillips, Nursing.

During each ceremony, Karolewics spotlighted students “who remind us of what excellence truly looks like — not just in achievement, but in character, discipline, perseverance and purpose.”

 

Academic and Applied Technology Graduates

Jacob and Jeanine Viola

Siblings Jacob and Jeanine Viola graduated together in the Class of 2026, Jacob with a degree in Music Education and Jeanine with a degree in Culinary Arts. Jacob is a gifted vocalist and virtuoso who will transfer to a four-year university to pursue a career is a music director and composer. This year, he has written three pieces of music for the Wallace State Concert Choir to perform. 

Jeanine’s creativity lends itself to cooking and wants a career that combine her passion for cooking with the chance to give others the opportunity to connect over a shared meal. She is considering furthering her education in hospitality management and plans to open her own micro-bakery. 

 

Britney Spears

Britney Spears is graduating with a Salon and Spa Management degree just weeks after winning a gold medal at the Alabama SkillsUSA competition. Walking across the stage is another win for Spears, who dealt with personal struggles that complicated her path. The birth of her second son was a catalyst, bringing on her decision to seek help and, eventually, enroll in college. 

“Today, Britney stands as a reminder that your past does not define you—your choices do,” Karolewics said. “That setbacks do not disqualify you—they prepare you. And that no matter how difficult the climb may seem, progress is always possible when you take the next step.”

 

Sydney West

As a teen-age mother, Sydney West thought college was out of the question for her, but with encouragement from others put her on her path to the Business Management degree she received. That didn’t come without a lot of dedication and sacrifice. As a resident of Moulton, getting to classes meant early mornings and long drives. But she excelled, maintaining a 3.523 GPA.

West credits her husband and mother for the support they provided and the guidance of her instructors with her ability to complete the program. Her long-term goal is to build a career in banking or human resources. 

 

Malachi Chamblee

Chamblee graduated with a degree in General Studios and plans to pursue a career in teaching, in part o honor his mother who passed away when he was four years old. 

Life after her death was not easy. After what he describes as a carousel of homes for he and his half-brother, he was eventually taken in and adopted by his grandparents. Unfortunately, he and his brother were separated. Music, he said, helped him relieve feelings of isolation and he found he has a knack for supporting others. Chamblee was named the Student Support Services Student of the Year.

 

George Limberakis

Limberakis graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice, a vocation he found through scuba diving. A decorated combat veteran, Limberakis took up scuba diving as a way to manage PTSD. That hobby became a passion, and he found his way into the world of public safety diving and underwater criminal investigation. He plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree and possibly a master’s degree. 

 

Amanda Kilgo

Amadna Kilgo faced the unimaginable loss of her daughter Lexie 10 years ago, and at the time had no thoughts about going to college. That was something her daughter had dreamed of doing before her life was cut short due to a rare cancer. 

But that changed while she was working as a substitute teacher and a she encountered a child whose mother was not a permanent figure in her life who asked if she could call Kilgo mommy. That led her to realize she could have an impact on the lives of youngsters and she enrolled at Wallace State. She plans to further her education at Athens Statue University and plans to teach children in kindergarten through third grade. 

Health Science Graduates

Alecia Cruse

Alecia Cruse also suffered the loss of a child when her 10th child was stillborn. The care and comfort she received brought back a long-held dream to become a nurse. When she asked her family if pursuing that dream was realistic, they only asked her, ‘Why can’t you?’”

With her family’s support, Cruse applied to Wallace State’s Nursing program and will soon realize her lifelong dream of becoming nurse.

 

Bryanna Mullins

Mullins showed great determination to make she graduated from Wallace State’s Dental Hygiene program on time. Shortly before receiving her acceptance letter, her fiancé learned he would need a kidney transplant, and she became one of his main caregivers while he was taking dialysis treatments. When his father was approved as his donor, she took on more responsibility while both father and son recovered. 

Through it all, Mullins was determined to stay in the program and finish on time. With support of her instructors, she was able to come in a little late or stay later to complete exams and labs. The only day she missed class was on the day of her fiance’s transplant surgery and she completed the program on time. She and her fiancé plan to marry in October. 

 

Kayleigh Lee

Lee graduated with a degree in nursing, calling on strength she said runs in her family. She recalls her grandmother who left legally blind after an operation who rarely asked for help and lived independently for many years. Lee faced her health battles that led to numerous surgeries, including open heart surgery when she was 19.

It was at that time that she felt the call to be a nurse after the nurses she had showed her the impact they have on patients every single day. Lee applied to the Nursing program just three weeks after her surgery. While at Wallace State she earned certification as a practical nurse and is working on a med-surg floor. Her goal is to become a cardiac ICU nurse.

 

Mark and Elizabeth Fisher

Husband and wife Mark and Elizabeth Fisher graduated from Wallace State about 10 years ago as reparatory therapists. They proudly worked in the field since that time, including during the Covid-19 pandemic when respiratory therapists played crucial roles in patient care. Both felt the call to grow in another direction and took advantage of Wallace State’s mobility track, that allowed them to complete the nursing program. 

As respiratory therapists, they said they say the differences nurses made every day and they are looking forward to that new role where they can care for the whole person. 

 

Shameria Wells

Shameria Wells is another nursing graduate who was inspired to become a nurse by the care she received from nurses. But her situation was a little unique. She was diagnosed with a form of pediatric cancer as an adult and was treated alongside other children.

Her hope is to work in areas such as pediatrics, neurology, oncology or critical care and to be a nurse who has attentive, compassionate and supportive as those who cared for her. 

 

Tina Phan

Phan was also influenced to be a nurse by seeing how nurses helped her grandmother during her battle with cancer. She saw the difference a nurse can make not just medically, but emotionally and spiritually. 

After working in the healthcare filed for several years, Phan decided to become a nurse herself. She plans to become a cardiac nurse practitioner.

The Wallace State Concert Band and Concert Choir performed at both graduation ceremonies and Vella Richter sang the National Anthem at each. Wallace State SGA President Blaire Drummond delivered the invocation at the ceremony for Academic and Applied Technology graduates, while Wallace State Homecoming Queen Kayle Moore delivered invocation at the Health Science graduation. 

Registration for the summer and fall semesters is underway, with summer classes begin May 26 and fall classes begin Aug. 17. Visit www.wallacestate.edu for more information or call 256.352.8236 or email lioncentral@wallacestate.edu. 

Videos from each ceremony can be found at the links belowl.

Academic and Technical Programs

https://www.youtube.com/live/Ot3dU_9TNZo?si=OeM9PkebBe6WRBPC

 

Health Programs

https://www.youtube.com/live/Ah1bIXiTrnI?si=uKTnrHOJdGv62VfW

 

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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.