Tech Excellence Emerges
From Investments at WCCS

SELMA – Dedication of the Hank Sanders Technology Center at Wallace Community College – Selma caps a strong push by the college to become a Center of Excellence for manufacturing and technical training in Dallas County. 

“It is a symbol of excellence, progress, hope and dreams,” Sanders said of the building named for him.  The State Senator is a strong supporter of the college and its mission.

The technology center will help meet the critical workforce needs of Dallas and surrounding counties by serving as a training area for business and industry.  Dr. Mitchell said, "Our goals with the design of this building are to provide access to state-of-the-art technology in an interdisciplinary setting, thereby better preparing workers for the high-tech workforce."

Wallace’s emergence as a top provider of state-of-the-art training was envisioned by Mitchell when the college joined with seven others in 2005 to apply for a Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development grant from the U.S. Department of Labor for West Alabama and East Mississippi (WAEM).  This initiative has helped the college develop national-standards-based training systems and invest in modern training equipment.  The Sanders Center is the capstone of these efforts.

“The center came about because of President Mitchell’s hard work and dedication,” said Sen. Sanders.

Today, Dr. Mitchell serves as the president of the WAEM Alliance, a consortium of eight community and junior colleges dedicated to creating what he calls “a globally competitive workforce for our West Alabama – East Mississippi Region.”

The technology center follows the announced of the college’s new Industrial Maintenance Technology program that was recently approved by the Alabama State Board of Education.
The Industrial Maintenance Technology program, located in the college’s growing Industrial Training Center, will provide the Black Belt with a pool of qualified workers to fill current and anticipated jobs in industrial maintenance and related areas. Implementation of the program in the center of the Black Belt will support existing industry as well as increase potential economic development by creating a workforce environment that is more attractive to new industry.
Mitchell called this new program, “another shining example of the college meeting the needs of our service area, providing tools to aid student progress, and further enhancing the needs of our workforce.”

“Dr. Mitchell’s transformation of WCCS into a Center of Excellence for manufacturing and technical training has been and will continue to be a remarkable success story,” said Bill Crawford, director of the WAEM initiative.