Over 4,000 eighth grade students from Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, and Pickens counties attended this fun, educational, and hands-experience. Hosted in cooperation with West Alabama Works, Region 3 Workforce Development Council, and the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, this career expo allowed students to become familiar with area career opportunities.

The first “Worlds of Work” (WOW) career experience will be held at Shelton State Community College (9500 Old Greensboro Road in Tuscaloosa) on October 8-9. More than 4,000 eighth grade students from Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar and Pickens counties are scheduled to attend. High School students and their parents or guardians are invited and encouraged to attend October 8 from 2-5 p.m.

Students will take part in a fun, educational and hands-on experience they will not soon forget! The expo is a way for students to become familiar with a broad overview of high demand, high wage career opportunities available in the area and to create awareness about exciting career options among students and educators while addressing workforce needs in this region. Industry sectors to be represented are: Agriculture, Construction, Energy/Utilities, Engineering/Environment, Healthcare, Hospitality/Tourism, Manufacturing/Auto/Logistics, Public Safety and Transportation.

Worlds of Work has received overwhelming support from the business community, participating as Sponsors and Exhibitors. This expo is a project of West Alabama Works, Region 3 Workforce Development Council and The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.

To raise money for student scholarships, the Shelton State Foundation hosted the Big Doe Hunt. Competitors supported the Foundation through participation in the hunt, while corporate and local sponsors provide support through donations.

The Shelton State Community College Foundation concluded its 2015 Big Doe Hunt on Monday, February 1, with a reception honoring the scholarship fundraiser’s winners. Grand prize winner, Hayden Kelly, and second place winner, Robert Amason, were honored alongside project organizers and donors.

The proceeds of the 2015 Big Doe Hunt benefitted the Shelton State Foundation, and involvement was wide-reaching. Competitors supported the Foundation by purchasing a ticket to participate in the hunt, while corporate and local sponsors provided support through donations.

Bev Leigh, one of the project’s coordinators, gave credit to all. “The public perception of young people pursuing and achieving a degree is powerful. Once we made contact with potential donors and told them the proceeds of this fundraiser would fund scholarships for deserving students who might not otherwise be able to go on to higher education, we did not have a single declination.”

Shannon Chandler, Shelton State’s Director of Development, echoed Leigh’s praise. “The outpouring of support from our community and sponsors was overwhelming. The funds raised through this event will provide opportunities for numerous students. We are proud of the way this paralleled the mission of the Foundation.”

The Shelton State Foundation provides scholarships for deserving students and financial support for the College. Plans are currently underway for future fundraising projects to promote academic and institutional priorities.

Shelton State Community College’s chapter of Collegiate 100 was established as an SSCC student organization in partnership with sister organizations at the University of Alabama and Stillman College. One-on-one mentoring through college allows the program to support the initiatives set forth by the 100 Way Across a Lifetime organization. The chapter hosted events for local youth as well as on-campus events for Black History Month.

Shelton State Community College’s (SSCC) chapter of Collegiate 100 recently hosted chapter members from the University of Alabama and Stillman College. Members met to discuss opportunities for college recruitment and retention and to determine options for community outreach.

Membership into the Collegiate 100 is drawn primarily from African-American male and female college students through chapters on university campuses across the United States. The primary purpose of the Collegiate 100 is to provide an avenue for chapters of 100 Black Men of America, Inc. to continue their one-on-one mentoring program for students as they matriculate from high school to college. The program supports the initiatives set forth by the 100 Way Across a Lifetime organization.

The Collegiate 100 has an important role to play on college campuses. The effective execution of this role requires each chapter to be a responsible, productive, and cooperative segment of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. as well as their college community.

“There are very few 100 chapters that even sponsor three Collegiate 100 chapters. To have them all together doing something speaks volumes about our commitment to mentoring at the collegiate level,” said Dr. George Daniels, a member of 100 Black Men of West Alabama, Inc. “Moreover, this speaks to the collaboration between UA, Stillman, and Shelton State in a way that we couldn’t accomplish with our MLK weekend events or the visit from Dr. Ivory Toldson, Deputy Director of the White House My Brother’s Keeper Initiative.”

Shelton State Community College’s (SSCC) chapter of Collegiate 100 will host “The Reason to Continue the Dream” on Wednesday, February 17, 2016, at 12:30 p.m. Part of the College’s programming for Black History Month, the event will be held in the Atrium of the Martin Campus and feature community activist, Sue Thompson, spoken word artist, Kevil Tice, and live music. Admission is free and all are invited to attend.

One of SSCC’s student organizations, Collegiate 100 provides an avenue for chapters of 100 BlackMen of America, Inc. to continue their one-on-one mentoring program for students as they matriculatefrom high school to college. The program supports the initiatives set forth by the 100 Way Across a Lifetime organization.

Upcoming activities for Shelton State Community College’s Collegiate 100 chapter include an outreach opportunity with Hale County’s Youth Engagement Session (YES), as well as a joint project with the University of Alabama and Stillman College to benefit Habitat for Humanity. The chapter’s initial pinning ceremony will be held in April.

The Shelton State Cheerleaders earned their ninth consecutive national title by securing the title of 2016 UCA National Champions.

The Shelton State Community College Cheerleaders earned the title of 2016 UCA National Champions on Saturday, January 16, in Orlando, Florida. The win marks the ninth consecutive national title for the Shelton State Cheerleaders and coach Christa Grizzle Sanford.

Sanford, now in her eleventh year at Shelton State, is described by her cheerleaders as determined, motivated, and tough, but someone who provides constant encouragement and support. “She is really like a mother to us,” said Devan Harris, a second-year cheerleader from Tuscaloosa majoring in nursing. “She is always telling us to ‘trust the system,’ even when we don’t understand it.”

For her cheerleaders, trusting the system means staying focused despite exhaustion, illnesses, injuries, and distractions. Sanford regularly lets her team know that a championship is not to be taken for granted. “We know that a national championship is never guaranteed,” said Will Coggins, another second-year cheerleader from Georgia. “There is always some worry about carrying on a winning tradition.”

This team carries on winning traditions both in and out of competition. Successful in their academic work, the team holds one of the highest average GPAs of any of Sanford’s squads. Additionally, they are not afraid to tackle obstacles. Without a large budget for competition travel, they worked together holding fundraisers and soliciting donations from local businesses and donors. When some of those efforts fell short, the team came together in a different way. “This team has a special bond. When it was clear that a fellow teammate was not going to be able to go, they pooled their Christmas money and made a way,” said Sanford. “I felt like we’d already won with just that.”

The Shelton State Cheerleaders and Coach Sanford will be honored at a celebration on Thursday, January 28, 2016, between the women’s and men’s basketball games against Gadsden State Community College. Admission is free for Shelton State faculty, staff, and students with a current ID, and $4 for general admission.

Following their Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) State Championship, SSCC’s Women’s Basketball finished third in the nation at the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Division I National Tournament. Additionally, Tcheneavia “Coco” Knight was featured in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Ring of Honor in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Following their Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) State Championship, Shelton State’s Women’s Basketball team traveled to Lubbock, Texas, to compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I National Tournament. The Lady Bucs finished third in the nation, defeating New Mexico Junior College in the final game of their season.

Playing teams from across the country, the Lady Bucs took advantage of opportunities to prove their top level ranking. By advancing to the final four, they achieved the highest finish for any Division I team in the state of Alabama.

Madonna Thompson, now in her eighteenth year as Shelton State’s head coach, led a team of students with local and regional ties. “I am proud of this team and their success,” Thompson said, “and I am also proud that most of our kids are local.” Thompson, 2016 ACCC Coach of the Year, does not recruit nationally or internationally for Shelton State. “When starting lineups were announced for other schools, we heard names of places from all over the world. When our starting lineup was called, we heard the hometowns we all know. We represented our community’s college. I was really proud of that.”

Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach, Chris Sanford, echoes Thompson’s pride. “Other teams we’ve coached certainly had chemistry, but this group played for each other and worked hard. We may not have reached our ultimate goal of a national championship, but we proved our talent and ranking.” The Lady Bucs had eight sophomores on this year’s roster. Kailey Echols, a second-year player from Ragland, Alabama, returned to Tuscaloosa with some bruises, though none on her spirit. “I’d do anything for these girls,” Echols said. With her basketball career drawing to a close as she transfers to Jacksonville State University, she will remember the importance of what she’s learned from Coach Thompson and her time at Shelton State. “It’s all about possibilities and no regrets.”

Following an Alabama Community College Conference Championship and third place finish in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I National Tournament, a member of the Shelton State Lady Bucs has received an additional honor.

In recognition of her outstanding play for the 2015-16 season, Tcheneavia “Coco” Knight will be featured in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame’s “Ring of Honor” in Knoxville, Tennessee. The “Ring of Honor” is a display of jerseys celebrating the accomplishments of young athletes from across the nation. Knight’s jersey will be on display for a year.

Knight, a shooting guard originally from Bay Minette, Alabama, enjoyed an exceptional season on the basketball court. Playing in thirty-six games, Knight averaged 14.6 points per game with 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.7 steals per game.

“Coco is one of the most athletic players I have ever coached,” said Shelton State Lady Bucs Head Coach, Madonna Thompson. “Her athletic abilities are why she is so fun to watch and so successful. She has the best mid-range jump shot I have seen in women’s basketball.”

Following in the footsteps of her head coach, Knight signed with the University of Alabama to play women’s basketball for the Crimson Tide beginning in the fall of 2016. She will pursue a degree in criminal justice.

The Alabama Environmental Council presented SSCC with the 2015 Conservation Award at its inaugural POWER-Up Energy Forum. The College was recognized for its increased efforts in electrical sustainability and energy efficiency.

The Alabama Environmental Council presented Shelton State Community College with the 2015 Conservation Award at its inaugural POWER-UP Energy Forum on February 23, 2016, at Birmingham Southern College. The Forum recognized increased efforts in electrical sustainability and energy efficiency.

Shelton State’s energy conservation process began as a result of conversations with Sain Engineering Associates in Birmingham, Alabama. With assistance from Sain, the College developed and implemented a “best value” approach to energy conservation while maintaining ongoing operations and zero capital expenditures. The collaborative processes implemented by the College and Sain are expected to create utility savings in excess of $300,000.

Shelton State’s Dean of Auxiliary Services, Dr. Tommy Taylor, received the award on behalf of the College. Taylor stated, “This award is a direct reflection of the efforts of many individuals and departments at the College, as well as the excellent guidance and direction of Sain Engineering. The College will continue to implement further process changes and improvements to positively impact our future utility consumption.”

Customized as a training lab, the Mobile Workforce Unit is deployed to rural and underserved communities throughout the West Alabama region and used for pre-employment training.

Representatives from Shelton State Community College, West Alabama Works, and the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama officially launched the Mobile Workforce Unit during a press conference held at Benjamin Barnes YMCA March 25.

The Mobile Workforce Unit, a Mercedes Sprinter van customized as a training lab, is complete and ready to deploy to rural and underserved communities throughout the West Alabama region. Outfitted with the latest technology, the van will be used for traditional pre-employment training. There are currently ten outreach events in Hale County scheduled through the end of May.

“There are many applications for the Mobile Workforce Unit,” says Nicole DuBose, Director of Training for Business and Industry at Shelton State. “This versatile unit is about extending the delivery of services across our region and increasing awareness of available workforce training and services. It is much more than a van; we believe it is a critical piece for transforming the workforce delivery system in our rural communities. Additionally, it can be used for job fairs. Individuals can register for classes or apply for jobs with a recruiter standing by to help.”

Shywanda Moore was presented with the 2016 Paragon Award for New Advisors for her work with Shelton State’s Alpha Epsilon Iota chapter.

At the upcoming NerdNation 2016 in National Harbor, Maryland, fifteen Phi Theta Kappa advisors will be presented with the 2016 Paragon Award for New Advisors. Shywanda Moore, advisor for Shelton State’s Alpha Epsilon Iota chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, has been selected as a 2016 Paragon Advisor.

The Paragon Award for New Advisors recognizes the accomplishments of advisors who have served less than four years and have made significant contributions. These advisors are advocates for chapter membership, serve as their institution’s liaison, and encourage involvement on local, regional, and international levels.

Shelton State’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter is open to full-time or part-time students who have earned a 3.5 cumulative grade point average and have completed twelve credit hours as part of a degree program.

@theDome serves as the primary designation and information source for all Shelton State K-12 outreach camps and programs. Programs are designed to accommodate all ages and a wide variety of interests through S.T.E.A.M related disciplines.

Shelton State Community College’s Office of Instructional Outreach opens their summer programs by launching @theDome.

As a new College-wide program, @theDome will serve as the primary designation and information source for all Shelton State K-12 outreach camps and programs. Opportunities include athletic camps, fine arts activities, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) based experiences. Programs are designed to accommodate all ages and a wide variety of interests.

Upcoming summer camps and activities include athletics, LEGO and robotics engineering, theatre, and chefology. Program sessions are also available at the Demopolis Center for Higher Education.

Registration is ongoing for summer 2016 programs @theDome.

Catherine Nafe and Viktoriya Skelton were honored for their academic accomplishments and outstanding leadership by the All-Alabama Academic Team Foundation.

Shelton State Community College students, Catherine Nafe and Viktoriya Skelton, will be honored at the All-Alabama Academic Team Recognition Program on Friday, April 15, in Montgomery, Alabama.

Catherine Nafe, a sophomore from Northport, Alabama, will transfer to the University of Alabama in the fall to earn a degree in elementary education. Nafe serves as Vice-President of the Shelton State Ambassadors and Vice-President of Scholarship for the College’s Alpha Epsilon Iota chapter of Phi Theta Kappa.

Viktoriya Skelton, originally from Zheleznogorsk, Russia, is a 2014 graduate of Shelton State’s Office Administration program with dual degrees in bookkeeping and accounting. Currently a member of Phi Theta Kappa and enrolled in general studies, Skelton is preparing to transfer to the University of Alabama to pursue a degree in business.

Both students will be honored for their academic accomplishments and demonstration of outstanding leadership, and each will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the All-Alabama Academic Team Foundation.

The newly established Office of Student Engagement hosted its first annual Spring Fling. Designed to create a festive and welcoming atmosphere for all, the College-wide event allowed students, faculty, and staff to connect outside the typical classroom and office settings.

Shelton State Community College hosted its first annual Spring Fling on Thursday, April 14, on the Martin Campus. The College-wide event created a festive atmosphere allowing students, faculty, and staff to connect outside the typical classroom and office settings.

With activities scheduled throughout the day, participants enjoyed free food, games, and fellowship. Highlights of the day included a band concert featuring Shelton State students, faculty, and staff and a student vs. faculty/staff basketball game.

“Our primary goal was to bring all facets of the College together in a laid-back environment,” said NorQuina Rieves, coordinator of the Shelton State Spring Fling. “I am very proud of us for coming together to make this event a success.”

Shelton State plans to annually host the Spring Fling.

In cooperation with students from the University of Alabama, SSCC engineering students took top price at the NASA Robotic Mining Competition.

A team of University of Alabama students won back-to-back championships this past weekend, cementing its status as the most successful team in the competition.

Alabama Astrobotics took top prize at the NASA Robotic Mining Competition, besting student teams from 45 other institutions in the challenge to build a robot capable of navigating and excavating simulated Martian soil.

Made up of students from across engineering disciplines, computer science and other areas of campus, along with students from Shelton State Community College, Alabama Astrobotics is now the only team to win the NASA contest in consecutive years. The team has won three times during the competition’s seven-year history.

Robots are judged not only on how much simulated soil they can dig and deposit into bins but also on their ability to operate on their own, or autonomously.

The robots are also judged on their size and weight, and Alabama Astrobotics built a robot that performed well in all three areas, said Dr. Kenneth Ricks, UA associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and team adviser.

“Every year the level of competition improves across the board,” Ricks said. “What separated the UA robot from the others is that it performed well in all three areas: digging and collecting; robot mass; and autonomy. That combination was unequaled by the competition.”

NASA invited 45 university teams to compete in the mining contest during the third week of May at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. On May 20, the last night of the competition, NASA officials announced Alabama Astrobotics notched the most points in the competition, winning the Joe Kosmo Award for Excellence as the top overall team.

The team placed first in the categories of mining, autonomy and technical presentation. In all, the students won $10,000 for use on next year’s robot.

As part of the competition, students are required to design a robot capable of navigating through and excavating 10 kilograms of simulated Martian regolith, a layer of loose material that covers a solid rock.

The robot is allowed two competition runs of 10 minutes each to move across the arena, through an obstacle area, excavate as much regolith as possible, and return the collected regolith back to the starting area.

Like every year, the team designed and built a new robot. For this competition, however, the students kept the design from last year, improving some of its mining capabilities, making it lighter and upgrading its ability to operate on its own, said team lead Caleb Leslie, a graduate student in electrical engineering, before the start of the contest.

Improvements included changes to the robot’s programming, or algorithms, that control autonomy, and upgrading the sensors that scan the competition arena that allow the robot essentially to see its surroundings and navigate around them, Leslie said.

Alabama Astrobotics is made up of about 40 students and is advised by Ricks and Renea Randle, mathematics instructor at Shelton State.

As part of a required educational outreach component, members of Alabama Astrobotics have hosted outreach activities on campus during E-Day and game day tailgates. Additionally, the team has worked with students at University Place Elementary School in the Tuscaloosa City School System to introduce science and technology concepts through hands-on activities.

The team received funding from the Alabama Space Grant Consortium, NASA, Dynetics, Fitz-Thors Engineering, the UA College of Engineering, and the UA Student Government Association.

Capping off a career at Shelton State spanning almost thirty years, Glinda Blackshear directed this performance of current and former Shelton Singers.

The Shelton State Community College Singers will host a reunion concert on Saturday, June 11, at 5:00 p.m. on the Martin Campus. A reception will immediately follow the concert. A 2:00 p.m. rehearsal will precede Saturday’s performance, and all former Shelton Singers are invited to participate.

Capping off a career at Shelton State spanning almost thirty years, the reunion concert will be the final performance directed by retiring music faculty member and longtime Shelton Singers director, Glinda Blackshear.

Admission for the reunion concert is free, and all are invited to attend.

With associate degree and certificate options available, the College’s Health Information Technology program provides new opportunities for students interested in pursuing a behind-the-scenes career in healthcare.

Shelton State Community College recently announced its new Health Information Technology program. With associate degree and certificate options available, the new program promises to provide new opportunities for students interested in pursuing a behind-the-scenes career in healthcare.

The Health Information Technology (HIT) program is designed to prepare individuals to construct medical records and clinical databases, retrieve data, control the security and quality of records and information, and supervise data entry and personnel. Technicians may work in hospitals, insurance companies, or for vendors or organizations maintaining patient medical information.

“The program aims to meet the need for health information professionals in West Alabama,” said Lakesha Kinnerson, HIT program director. “We are excited and optimistic.”

Applications for fall admission will be accepted through July 1. Courses in the HIT program will be available in the traditional, face-to-face format and will utilize industry recognized health information and medical coding lab applications.

In cooperation with the Youth Leadership Development Program (YLDP) of Alabama, the College continues its partnership and commitment to providing scholarship opportunities to student leaders.

SSCC developed its first online degree program in office administration with a concentration in information processing. The degree is offered entirely online and can be completed in two years or less.

Beginning in the fall 2016 semester, Shelton State Community College will offer its first online degree program in office administration with a concentration in information processing. The degree is offered entirely online and can be completed in two years or less.

With an online degree, students are able to fit college coursework into their busy schedules. This convenience is a great advantage.

“We are now able to reach a different demographic of our service area,” said Robbie Pressley, a Shelton State instructor since 2008. “Individuals with full time jobs now have the opportunity to pursue their degree without taking leave from work. In the past, we’ve had students attending class on their lunch break.”

In addition to the online courses in information processing, the office administration programs at Shelton State include traditional concentrations in bookkeeping/accounting, legal secretary, medical records, paralegal, as well as information processing.