[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 5661-5662]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    WALLACE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SELMA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Alabama (Ms. Sewell) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to a 
hidden jewel in Alabama's Seventh Congressional District: Wallace 
Community College Selma. Wallace Community College Selma is a stellar 
2-year institution that provides incredible educational opportunities 
to the students of Dallas County and across the Black Belt of Alabama.
  Now, more than ever, America needs greater innovation in our 
educational system to meet the demanding needs of tomorrow. Outstanding 
higher education institutes in the State of Alabama are producing some 
of our State's and our Nation's best and brightest who will lead us 
into the next era of American innovation.
  Wallace Community College Selma is leading that charge in my district 
through its dual enrollment program, which allows high school students 
to complete college courses and graduate with a high school diploma as 
well as an associate degree from this junior college.
  In 2008, Wallace Community College Selma graduated 31 students from 
the Selma Early College High School, which was the first of its kind on 
a college campus in the State of Alabama. The 2016 graduating class 
will include 22 dual enrollment students, including 20 students that 
participated in a special partnership with Tuskegee University.
  The Howard Hughes Medical Institute program with Tuskegee allowed 
Wallace Community College Selma to increase the participation of 
underrepresented minority students from Alabama's Black Belt counties 
in the important fields of science and research. This dual enrollment 
program with Tuskegee offers high school students an opportunity to 
take classes at Wallace Community College Selma as well as Tuskegee, 
and to graduate with their high school diploma as well as an associate 
degree in science.
  Mr. Speaker, the dual enrollment program at Wallace Community College 
Selma is accomplishing what it set out to do: to give Dallas County 
high school students a head start in college. The benefits of this 
important opportunity are immeasurable: cutting the cost and the time 
spent in college while providing high school students significant 
exposure to the types of classes and fields of interest that will give 
them an important advantage and jump start on their peers.
  Collaborations like these are so critically important to our youth 
gaining important and invaluable educational experience while obtaining 
college credit through dual enrollment. America must encourage more of 
these types of programs as we seek to lead the world in educating our 
people and attracting new generations of high-tech and high-paying 
jobs.
  As a Member of Congress for the Seventh Congressional District, I 
take great pride in working to offer solutions that will help lay the 
foundation for creating better paying jobs and for our educational 
system to thrive in the future. I am so proud to acknowledge today the 
tremendous efforts and the outstanding programs offered at Wallace 
Community College Selma which exemplify the invaluable role our 2-year 
colleges play in our communities.
  This college's leadership and innovation in creating a 21st century 
learning environment is to be commended--what a jewel to have serving 
the students of the Black Belt of Alabama. I am proud to represent them 
in my district and also to help encourage more students to participate 
in the dual enrollment program and Wallace Community College Selma.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend Dr. James Mitchell for his tremendous 
leadership as president of Wallace Community College Selma. I want to 
commend the faculty, administrators, and students of Wallace Community

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College Selma for being truly outstanding.
  This Friday, May 13, 2016, is graduation day at Wallace Community 
College Selma. I want to congratulate the entire class of 2016 and 
especially acknowledge the academic achievement of the 22 dual 
enrollment students who will receive a special congressional 
commendation on Friday. The names of these students will be listed in 
this Congressional Record.
  I would also like to acknowledge the tremendous efforts and the 
tremendous achievements of the Wallace students who participated in 
Alabama Skills USA:
  Alabama Skill USA winner Jonniece Collins won first place in masonry 
and, as such, was the first woman in the State of Alabama to win this 
honor.
  Other winners included Roderick Perkins, who won second place in 
masonry; Terrence Campbell, who won third place in masonry; and Francis 
Phillips, who won second place in cosmetology in the men's hair design 
competition.
  I want to also pay special tribute to the outstanding athletic 
achievements of Ki'Onna Likely, who was the 2015-2016 Alabama Community 
College Conference Player of the Year as well as NJCAA Second Team All-
American.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring all of the 
accomplishments of the outstanding students and graduates of Wallace 
Community College Selma and to praise the leadership of Dr. James 
Mitchell and the hardworking staff and faculty of Wallace Community 
College.
  Congratulations to the graduating class of 2016. I wish you all the 
very best in all of your future endeavors. We are counting on you to 
make a difference.

                          ____________________