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Wallace State Community College President Dr. Vicki Karolewics presents a certificate to James W. Meherg about the formation of the James W. Meherg Endowed Scholarship.
YOUR STORIES. YOUR GIVING. YOUR IMPACT. A former educator was such an influence on others in his community that one of them has gone to the effort to create an endowed scholarship in his name. Johnny Albright has pledged a generous donation to the Wallace State Community College Future Foundation in order to establish the James W. Meherg Endowed Scholarship, in honor of the former principal of Fairview High School and what was then Baileyton Junior High. Albright pointed to the decades of service and support Meherg gave to the Fairview and Baileyton communities as an educator and as a positive role model for those whose lives he impacted over the years as his reason for making the donation in Meherg’s name.
With the donation, the James W. Meherg Endowed Scholarship will give students in the Fairview and Baileyton areas a step in the right direction in their education. The first two scholarships for one-year full tuition and fees will be awarded in the fall, said Suzanne Harbin, Director of Advancement at Wallace State. “The gift of a college education is one that transforms generations and families,” said Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Karolewics. “So, we are honored that Wallace State was chosen to be a recipient of an endowed scholarship in your honor. I just want to congratulate you on having made such an impact over all of your career that made someone want to commemorate your life in this way.” Meherg said he was speechless about the honor. “I’m not capable of expressing myself for something like that,” he said. “I never expected it. I thought Johnny was funning me for a long time.” Meherg was gifted with a key chain bearing his initials on one side and the name and the date of the scholarship’s creation on the other. “That scholarship will be the key to someone’s future,” Dr. Karolewics said as the key was presented.
DISCOVER PLANNED GIVING
What is planned giving? How can it benefit you?
Planned giving is a way for you to make a gift to your favorite charitable causes. The right planned gift can provide you and your loved ones with tax and income benefits. There are many reasons why a planned gift might make sense for you this year. Are you looking for a way to avoid capital gains tax on the sale of your home or investments? Are you thinking about how to build your income for retirement? Would you like to create an inheritance for your children and also help charity? Do you need a tax-efficient way to sell your business this year? Would you like to receive high fixed payments for life and even some taxfree income? If you answered yes to any of these questions, a planned gift can help you achieve your goals. To learn more about the benefits of planned giving, please contact us or visit our website.
www.wsccgiving.org Suzanne Harbin 256.352.8144 suzanne.harbin@wallacestate.edu
Thanks Team One Nissan Of Albertville! Wallace State Community College English instructor Cindy Smith, left, and President Dr. Vicki Karolewics, right, accept a $200 donation from Roosevelt Oliver of Team One Nissan of Albertville. The donation comes from the dealership’s Education Wins! program, which allows their customers to choose the recipient of the donation. Smith chose the Wallace State Future Foundation, with the money earmarked to help a Dual Enrollment student from Holly Pond High School, where Smith used to teach.
29% of $10 Million Goal
CAMPAIGN UPDATE
Campaign Funds Raised Progress By Campaign Contributions Cash Gifts 7% Pledged Gifts 24%
"We're writing the future one gift at a time" The Future Foundation is only six months into our major gifts campaign and have reached 29% of the goal. The Foundation and Campaign Leadership continue to meet with potential donors and share more about planned giving options. As we enter the 2017-2018 academic year, we look forward to increasing the number of scholarship opportunities and awards for students attending Wallace State. The Future Foundation looks forward to sharing updates about our donors, recipients and major gifts campaign progress over the coming months.
Planned Gifts 62%
Grants/State 7%
By the end of that year, Camardella knew he truly did want to be a nurse and that he wanted to use those skills at Hope House as much as he could. He applied to the Wallace State Nursing program and began looking for ways to fund his education. “I sometimes jokingly refer to myself as homeless and jobless,” he said. “I no longer own a home. I used to have a $50,000 car and now I have a $1,500 car. I have no assets to speak of and student loans that still need to be paid off. And you really can’t have a job when you’re in the nursing school.”
CAMARDELLA GRATEFUL FOR OPPORTUNITY PROVIDED BY FUTURE FOUNDATION BY: GAIL CRUCHFIELD
Tony Camardella would be described as a nontraditional student at Wallace State Community. In his mid-40s, he’s a couple of decades older than many of the other students in the college’s nursing program in which he’s enrolled. He’s already earned a bachelor’s degree and worked for years in food service sales before entering nursing school. He has two grown children, a son who is in the Naval Academy and a daughter who is a traveling health tech. A couple of years ago, Camardella was already thinking about making some changes. With the kids preparing to head out on their own, he and his wife were going to start downsizing. A fire at a neighbor’s house in Hayden taught them that the things we collect really don’t mean that much. They sold things they didn’t really need. “It just doesn’t really mean anything or make a difference,” he said. “And you can truly make a difference while you’re here if you’re not spending all of your time and effort focused on you and your collection of stuff.” He and his wife traveled to Honduras where they volunteered at an orphanage called Hope House. Then Camardella’s wife passed away in January 2014. He spent most of the remainder of that year at Hope House. He let go of all those belongings that didn’t mean very much. When he came back to the United States, he completed a fundraiser for the home, traveling by foot, bicycle or tricycle from Tennessee to Mobile on U.S. Highway 31 to raise awareness and money for Hope House.
He does have four jobs, but they’re not real jobs where they put you on a schedule and expect you to show up, he said. He cuts grass. He does plumbing work for his brother-in-law. He works one day a week at a doctor’s office and he serves summonses and subpoenas. The income from all of those combined doesn’t add up to very much. Because he’s already earned a bachelor’s degree, he doesn’t qualify for Pell Grant money. Luckily, Camardella found out about the Wallace State Future Foundation. The Future Foundation provides scholarships for Wallace State students in all programs and areas, including academic, health and technical. They also offer scholarships for Dual Enrollment students from area high schools and support the arts, community outreach, and faculty professional development. It is the scholarships they offer that interested Camardella. He applied for and received the Jim D. and Mattie Moody Nursing Scholarship to help pay for his education. The scholarship is one of the Future Foundation’s named scholarships and is named after the former owners of the Hanceville Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. “That truly made a difference,” Camardella said. “That first semester of nursing school was about $3,000 — the uniforms, the books, and all the costs — so not having to spend that money was just very, very helpful.” Camardella said he’s thankful the Foundation would provide a scholarship to someone like him, a nontraditional student. “I appreciate the fact that they would reach out to someone who’s not 18 years old and grew up in a house where their parents don’t support them,” he said. “There are many situations in life that could really use a helping hand.” He expressed his thanks to the Foundation and its supporters for providing him the opportunity to earn his degree so that he can help others.
STUDENT INVESTMENT LUNCHEON Join us on November 1, 2017 - Our Story Begins with YOU! The Wallace State Community College Future Foundation will host its 13th annual Student Investment Luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 1, at the Tom Drake Coliseum on the Hanceville campus. The luncheon is the largest fundraiser for the foundation, raising more than $200,000 last year in scholarship funds for students enrolled at Wallace State. More than 250 students benefited from those scholarships. The annual luncheon features a catered meal and silent and live auctions. The silent auction includes items for everyone, from homemade baked goods to art to trips and more. The live auction usually has some exciting items on the block, including tickets to the Iron Bowl, guns, jewelry and so much more. Viewing for the auction items will open at 10:30 a.m., with the silent auction held from 11 a.m. to noon, when the live auction will begin. Individual and table sponsorships are available. The Foundation welcomes donations of auction items, as well. Funds donated can be designated to go toward a specific fund or program. For information or to register for the luncheon, contact Suzanne Harbin or Cherie Smith in the Advancement Office at 256.352.8144 or 256.352.8046
Purchase your table or seat today www.wsccfuturefoundation.org/sil2017.
MEMORIALS AND HONORS Gifts Given /Jan 2017 - June 2017
American Classics Scholarship Fund Greg Brown Angela Joy Tidwell Memorial Endowed Scholarship Holli Adams Jackie Pass Nanci Tidwell B. Don Hale Endowed Scholarship Bill Floyd State Farm Companies Foundation Birmingham Fastener & Supply, Inc. Scholarship Birmingham Fastener & Supply Inc. Caretti Aviation Technology Scholarship Marsha Bradford Cullman-Jefferson Gas Scholarship Cullman Jefferson Gas Don and Judie Hubbard Endowed Scholarship Don Hubbard Dr. Joe Wayne and Mrs. Katherine Maddox Scholarship Melanie Maddox Floyd Lawson Scholarship Robert Finchum Grant Brown Memorial Endowed Scholarship Lee Weinman Grant Brown Memorial Fund Jacob Ross Harris Memorial Scholarship Missy Blaylock Ray Cook Tim Culpepper H. Harris Robert Harris Ginger Hicks Marlin Hollingsworth Charlotte Kress Lynwood Locke Christine Oleary Nava Parker Geraldine Sharpton Mark Whitten Computer Network, Inc John B. Crider, LLC Family Medical Clinic James D. Bagwell Scholarship James D. Bagwell James W. Meherg Endowed Scholarship John Albright Jim Walker Endowed Scholarship Joy Holmes Billy Jackson Sharron Keel Cindy Walker
John Connor Strickland Memorial Endowed Scholarship Alina Adams Isaac Allen Caroline Arnold Joyce Arnold Donna Attaway Erin Bailey Melany Bailey Brad Baker Danny Baker Jack Bardill Missy Blaylock Judy Bonds Holly Borden Gordon Boyd K Brown Dan Brunetti Stacey Brunner Julia Burton Herlin Callan Edward Carter Brittany Cash E Charlton Neal Charlton Jesse Childress David Connell Stuart Connell Kristin Cook Scott Cooley H. Copeland Susan Crane Clinton Creel Champ Crocker Anita Crumbley Wesley Dawsey Denise Dickinson Dylan DiGiovanni Baylee Dollar Patricia Dunn Kayla Farmer Pamela Farmer Joyce Finch Janie Flynn Christie Foust Alice Foxworth Mackenzie Frederick Bill Fulmer Vicki Gipson Derrick Glover Sherry Green
Jeffrey Hale Glenda Harbison Ed Hart Elijah Hart Jonathan Haynes Hannah Hays Jenifer Hays Todd Henderson Sarah Henry Stefanie Herfurth Evon Higdon Nikki Higdon Janela Hollis Lynne Huddleston Riley Huey Sadi Hulgan Joshalyn Hulsey Elizabeth Hunt Kenzie Jackson Ashley Jinright Donna Jones Kristopher Keller Sylvia Kennedy Virginia King Diane Lautenschlager Cindy Mallard Kristin Marcrum Kim Masters Molly McLeroy Blake McMahan Ben McNeal Stephen McNeal Jennifer Mcrea Wesley Meier Thomas Moss Rachel Mountz Stephanie Mullins Jess Murray Richard Neese Kaytlin Noles Amy Odell Jean Parker Candace Patterson Susan Peek Katie Peyton Elaine Phillips Mickey Phillips Aaron Pipes Charmion Potts Janey Ray John Richey Mason Roberts
Penny Rodgers Logan Sides Tim Sivley Victoria Skinner Cad Smallwood Laura Smallwood Brandon Smith Brian Smith Madison Smith Arleen Solisloya Deborah Spann Alice St. John Bryan Strevel Audrey Strickland Iryna Strickland J.R. Strickland Jill Strickland Johnnie Strickland Pat Strickland Walter Strickland Windy Strickland Hannah Stringer B.R. Tatum Amy Taylor Annelyn Veal David Veal Evelyn Veal Mary Veal Mary Veal Marie Walker Meagan Weaver Linda Wesley Joan Wood Michael Wren Alabama Safety Products, Inc. Boy Scouts of America Colene Circle United Methodist Women East Elementary Fidelis Sunday School Class First Community Bank Happy Homes Real Estate McLeroy Law Firm, LLC MGL, Inc. Monograms Plus Shirley Quattlebaum State Farm State Farm Companies Foundation Veal Convention Services, Inc. Kenny Smith Memorial Veterans Scholarship Daniel Lauderdale
Mary Ann Boike Nursing Scholarship Rita Dinkel Sonya Hembree Memorial Scholarship Glenda Watts State Farm Agencies Endowed Scholarship Shirley Quattlebaum Shirley Quattlebaum State Farm State Farm Companies Foundation Willam Sharpton Art Scholarship Betty Glasscock Mary Ann Kent Ann Sharpton Rebecca Sharpton Linda Wesley Peoples Bank of North Alabama Employee Gift Fund WSCC Alumni Scholarship Gloria Williams WSCC Bass Team Scholarship The Cotton Gin WSCC Dental Program Scholarship Robbin Leeth WSCC Health Program Scholarships Tanya Shearer WSCC International Studies Scholarship Kristen Holmes WSCC Nursing Program Scholarship Susan Copeland Ann Culpepper Jennifer Dunkle Deborah Hoover Jacqueline Hoover Karen Walton Karen Walton Diane Wilhite WSCC PTA/OTA Scholarship Alina Adams WSCC Sonography Summer Scholarship Donna Attaway Jamie Blackmon WSCC Sonography Club WSCC Student Support Services Scholarship Lisa Smith WSCC Welding Scholarship Jim Thompson
Your gift makes a difference! Thank you so much! A gift to to the Wallace State Future Foundation supports students who dream of going to college. Need a gift for someone who has everything? Give the gift that keeps on giving.
HOW TOGETHER WE PROVIDE SUPPORT WALLACE STATE FUTURE FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2016-2017 Mr. Jason Spann - President Ms. Leah Bolin - Vice President Mr. Bill St. John - Tresurer Mr. Tim Comptom Dr. TJ Franey Mr. Dale Greer Ms. Donna Guthrie Mr. Scotty Hooper Mr. Don Hubbard Mr. Billy Jackson Mr. Danny Kelly Mr. Layne Lowery Ms. Shirley Quattlebaum Mr. John Riley Mrs. Retha Tinney Dr. Lisa Weeks Mr. Jeb Williamson Dr. Vicki Karolewics - WSCC President Dr. Tomesa Smith - WSCC Executive Vice President Mr. Fred Cespedes - Board Member Emeritus Mrs. Betty Leeth Haynes - Board Member Emeritus
John and Jill Strickland, parents of Connor Strickland, at the Connor Strickland Memorial Color Run sponsored by the PTA Class of 2017. The proceeds from the run benefited the John "Connor" Strickland Memorial Scholarship Fund set up in love by friends and family to honor Connor's memory.
Post Office Box 568 - Hanceville, AL 35077 256.352.8144
WWW.WSCCFUTUREFOUNDATION.ORG