By Michelle Mann
Dothan Eagle

https://dothaneagle.com/community/escc-adult-ed-teams-with-johns-chapel-ame-to-host-ged/article_df1e846c-cd59-11ed-bfbd-777eb49c14ea.html

Members of Enterprise State Community College’s Fine Arts Department and the community will present “The Wiz” as this year’s spring musical.

Tickets sales are open for community members and ESCC students. Tickets can be purchased at auctria.events/THEWIZ or through the ESCC Business Office. General Admission tickets are $15, and student tickets are $5. Students must purchase their tickets through the Business Office and be able to show their Student ID.

Performances of “The Wiz” will be April 13-15 in the Student Center MPR. Each performance will begin at 7 p.m.

“The Wiz” follows Dorothy as she miraculously travels to Oz, where she learns about the Wiz and meets her team of friends, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. This play is a retelling of the classic L. Frank Baum story “The Wizard of Oz” through an African American perspective.

Alabama Aviation College student Aaron Phillips has been chosen to receive the 2023 James Rardon Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Student of the Year Award.

This prestigious award, presented by the Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC) in collaboration with JSfirm.com and the Northrop Rice Foundation, “recognizes the outstanding achievement of an Aviation Maintenance Technician student. The achievement must be demonstrated through academics as well as through involvement that makes a direct impact on the students associates, school and/or community,” according to ATEC’s website.

Phillips was nominated for the award by AAC Campus Director Stan Smith. Nominees for the award must be full-time AMT students at an ATEC member school. AAC is one of 120 Aviation Maintenance colleges that are members of the organization. The award winner is chosen by a selection committee based on a set criterion that includes leadership/motivation, academics, school/community and recommendations from others.

“As the director, I had heard instructors talking about what a great student Aaron Phillips was, his high comprehensive exam test scores and the extra things he does on campus to include repairing college equipment and tutoring other students for free,” Smith said, noting that Phillips received a 98 and 100 on the Airframe Comp, the highest in the College’s record books. “Based on those conversations and the interaction I had with Aaron, I decided to nominate him for the Aviation Technical Education Council (ATEC) Student of the Year Award.”

Nominators are required to include two additional letters of recommendation for the nominee. Smith said he received five additional letters when he requested them from AAC faculty and staff.

“The magnitude of this award cannot be overstated since 120 aviation maintenance colleges are members of ATEC,” Smith said. “Not only is Aaron Phillips our best student, but he was selected as the best in the nation.

“As reassurance that we made the right choice, when I called Aaron to let him know he won the award, he was tutoring students at that time.”

ESCC President Danny Long noted Phillips’ hard work and his connection with his peers.

“It is great to see Aaron being recognized for not only his work in this program but also the support he provides to his fellow students,” Long said. “He’s truly deserving of this award, and we’re proud to have him represent the Alabama Aviation College at the national level.”

Phillips said he was honored to be nominated for the award and for the chance to represent the College.

“First and foremost, I would like to thank Mr. Stan Smith and everyone who vouched on my behalf for presenting me for nomination for such a prestigious award and having confidence in me for being worthy of selection,” he said. “I’m proud to have the opportunity to represent a great institution such as the Alabama Aviation College, and I’m humbled by the respect for my efforts everyone has shown me on this journey.”

He thanked instructor Patrick Williams for his encouragement and mentorship during his time in the program. He also especially thanked fellow students, Blake James and Callie Sparks, for their help and support, stating that “study sessions with the two of them is what inspired me to start helping others.”

Phillips said a family member who works as an aviation mechanic inspired him to join the aviation maintenance program, also known as the Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) program. He is expected to complete the program this May. After completing the program, he said plans to take his training into the aviation maintenance career field. He said he also hopes to continue to give back in some way “by inspiring in as many others the dedication towards success [the program] has instilled in me.”

Phillips will be formally recognized during the ATEC’s annual conference in Chicago at the end of March.

George Scott has been named the new head coach for Enterprise State Community College’s women’s basketball team.

“Right now is a good time to make the change to George as the head coach of the women’s team, especially with the team changing conferences,” ESCC Athletic Director Jeremaine Williams said. “With him being here at ESCC, it will be good for the girls to have someone working with them full-time. I know him from his time coaching at Kinston and Enterprise High School, and he’s going to do a good job as the new coach.”

Scott, a speech instructor at the College since 2000, previously held the position of assistant women’s basketball coach at ESCC from 2000-2008. His coaching history also includes serving as the assistant coach for the Enterprise High School women’s basketball team for four years and the head coach of the EHS women’s team for four years. He most recently served as the head coach for the Kinston High School men’s basketball team.

“We’re happy to have George take on the role of head coach for our women’s basketball program,” ESCC President Danny Long said. “He’s already a valuable member of our Weevil family with his history as a coach here and his work with students in the classroom. I know he will do a great job leading our women’s team as its new coach.”

Scott said he is ready to get started.

“I love to see players develop as individuals on and off the court,” Scott said about working with student athletes. “I enjoy being a part of that process.”

He also said he is excited about his new position within the ESCC Athletic Division.

“As an instructor and now coach at the college, I consider the people at the college more than just co-workers,” he said. “I consider them family. Being the head women’s coach is an opportunity my family and I have prayed for. I am honored and excited to lead the program into the future.”

Enterprise State Community College recently received a $1,500 grant from Walmart #734 through its Walmart Community Grant Program, which will help the College address student food and nutrition needs.

“This year, we really wanted to give back to our local groups and organizations who are doing great things to help our community,” Enterprise Walmart Store Manager Terri Cawthon said. “We are happy to offer support to projects like the Weevil Pantry at Enterprise State.”

ESCC’s Student Basic Needs Coalition will utilize grant funds to provide food items through the Weevil Pantry as well as nutrition information to ESCC and Alabama Aviation College students. The Coalition’s mission is to address food and nutrition insecurity on both the ESCC and AAC Campuses, help minimize the effects of the financial barriers students face and provide emergency assistance to students experiencing unfortunate circumstances, such as loss of income or homelessness.

The Coalition has also partnered with the ESCC Foundation to facilitate the Student Emergency Aid Fund, which provides small amounts of monetary support for students facing emergency situations.

“ESCC joined the Alabama Campus Coalition for Basic Needs (ACCBN), and since then, we have learned more about food insecurity on college campuses and how we can work to lessen the number of students facing food insecurity on our campus,” ESCC’s Dean of Students Kassie Mathis said. “We are thankful for our partnership with Walmart and its support of our efforts to help students in need. I know this grant will go a long way to helping the Coalition achieve these goals and impact the lives of our students.”

Donations to the Coalition’s Weevil Pantries or to the Student Emergency Aid Fund are welcomed. To make a tax-deductible donation to the Student Emergency Aid Fund, visit escc.edu/studentemergencyaid. To donate to the Weevil Pantry, email mknight@escc.edu.

Local companies looking to hire employees are invited to attend two career fairs being held on the Enterprise State Community College and the Alabama Aviation College campuses on March 21.

Hosted in collaboration with Southeast AlabamaWorks, the fairs will allow employers to meet with potential hires while job seekers and students will have the opportunity to meet with possible employers.

The first Career Fair will be held at ESCC from 9-11 a.m. in the Student Center MPR. Later, from 1-3 p.m. in the Aviation Technical Training Center (ATTC) on the Alabama Aviation College campus in Ozark, employers will be set up to meet with attendees. ESCC/AAC students and members of the community are invited to attend the event.

Businesses interested in attending the event can register at escc.edu/careerfair23. Interested businesses can register for one or both events. There is no cost to participate.

Community members and students interested in attending the career fair are encouraged to have copies of their updated resume ready to present to employers. Visitors do not need to register to attend.