2012 Homecoming Court

Congratulations to the following students for being elected to the 2012 Homecoming Court at Snead State Community College. The Homecoming Court will be recognized and the sophomore King and Queen crowned between the men's and women's basketball games against Wallace Hanceville on Thursday, Feb. 2. The women play at 5:30 p.m., and the men will play immediately following the crowning of the King and Queen.

Sophomore Court
Ashley Amberson
Meghan King
Meg Mooneyham
Jacie Scott
McKenzie Spurlin
Caleb Brown
Colton Campbell
Zach Fraiser
Jesse Reeves
Will Tidmore

Freshmen Court
Katie Bobo
McKenzie Hardin
Ginny-Lynne Sexton
Keelie Wilkes
Brett George
Lucas Jolley
Brady Keel
Stephen Starkey

Jennifer's Race

Snead State Community College is hosting the Jennifer Garmany Hallmark 5K Memorial Scholarship Run on Saturday, April 28. The race starts at 8 a.m. For the complete race brochure, please click here.

Celebrating Jennifer

    Jennifer was a top-notch student enrolled in the RN program at Snead State Community College. She was a wife to Shane and a stay-at-home mom to 6-year-old Arianna. She valued her faith and her family as the most important parts of her life. But she opened her life up to studying to be a nurse, and she did so with her sister-in-law, Amanda Garmany, at her side.

   "We felt God leading us to nursing school. Jennifer was my right-hand man. She was super smart, and once she learned something, she remembered it, even if it was something we studied a while ago. When we were in clinicals, she did what needed to be done without a problem, and she did a good job. She studied and worked hard. She wasn’t a procrastinator. We got through it all together with strength from God. She loved serving older people, and her goal was to be the head over a nursing home," said Mrs. Garmany.

   The sisters-in-law enrolled at Snead State in 2008. After completing the core curriculum, they began striving for their Associate in Nursing degree, which they achieved in the Spring of 2011. Mrs. Hallmark was recognized for maintaining the highest GPA in her class as both a first-year and second-year RN student.

But before Mrs. Hallmark could claim the diploma she earned, she – along with her husband, her in-laws, and her nephew – was killed as a result of the April 27, 2011, tornados that hit Marshall County. As her family coped with the tragedy, Mrs. Hallmark’s Snead family also mourned the loss of a woman whose heart was to serve God and others.

   "Her heart was on fire for God, and she gave Him the glory in everything she did. She loved her family, and we both knew how very blessed we were to have supportive families we could rely on while we were in school," said Mrs. Garmany.

   Mrs. Hallmark’s achievements and legacy did not go uncelebrated. Her memory was honored at Snead State Community College during the RN Pinning Ceremony on May 11 and the Spring Commencement Ceremony on May 12, 2011. Arianna attended both ceremonies to accept the nursing pin and Associate in Nursing degree awarded posthumously to her mother. Her family has also honored her memory by establishing the Jennifer Garmany Hallmark Scholarship Fund. The administration at Snead State Community College pledged to contribute the first $1,000 to the endowment to match the contribution made by the Hallmark and Garmany families.

   "We are humbled to be able to honor Jennifer’s memory in this way," said Snead State President Dr. Robert Exley. "Our hearts are broken for her family and friends, but they have served as an inspiration by reminding us through Jennifer’s legacy of the things that are most important in life – faith, family and compassion."

Help us rename SSCC Online!

Snead State is currently working on upgrading the SSCC Online system. The new system will be more user friendly and provide more services for students. Because of this change, we're asking students to help us rename the system.

Visit http://tinyurl.com/rename-sscc-online to select on of the suggested names the College has chosen based on surveys and focus groups, or feel free to suggest an original name of your own. The College will review the votes and suggestions as possibilities for the new system's name.

Get your creativity flowing and your name may be the one chosen!

Former Snead President Leaves a Legacy

Courtesy of The Sand Mountain Reporter

Steve Thrasher remembers his former colleague and friend Dr. William H. Osborn fondly as a compassionate and caring man who will leave an indelible mark in the history of Snead State Community College.

Osborn, the president of Snead State Community College from 1977 to 1996, died Sunday and was laid to rest Monday.

"I knew him personally as well as professionally," Thrasher said.

"He was a very loving family-type person. He established a family atmosphere at the college where one did not exist before."

Thrasher served as business manager at the college for a number of years.

"I was there before and after he was," Thrasher said of Osborn.

"He was a very caring person who believed in promoting from within. He cared about the employees and their family situations and life circumstances.

"When economic times got tough, he did everything he could to keep employees instead of letting them go."
Osborn, 78, holds the distinction of the longest serving president of Snead State in the school's history.

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of our former president, Dr. William Osborn," said current President Robert Exley.

"He served Snead State Community College faithfully for a number of years."

During Osborn's administration, the campus grew to include the Tom Bevill Continuing Education Center, the Chalmus Weathers Business Building and the William H. Osborn English Building.

Osborn established the Snead State Foundation and also guided the college in its journey from a junior college into a community college in 1992.

From this, he was able to add several career and technical programs, all while keeping the traditional junior college mission alive, Exley said.

Soon after his retirement, he was named President Emeritus of Snead State Community College and briefly served as Interim Dean of Instruction in 2000.

"When Anita and I first arrived, (Osborn) and his wife Joan were so kind to us," Exley said.

"They organized a reception at their home for us to meet many Snead State retirees.

"The evening was simply great fun and gave us a wonderful opportunity to hear many anecdotes about the college.

"We have a great college and Dr. Osborn certainly contributed much to what we are today."

Thrasher said although Osborn came from "humble beginnings," he became a leading educator serving in primary and secondary education fields.

"He was a very well-rounded person," Thrasher recalled.

"He was a high school teacher, college instructor, dean of two colleges and director of the postsecondary division of the state Board of Education before the junior college system was separated.

"He was very active in the community and participated in things like the United Way, the Chamber of Commerce and Civitan club.

"He was a big gardener and loved fishing and all sports.

"He was just a very generous and caring type person."

Osborn is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Tony and Pam Osborn, of Boaz; daughters and sons-in-law, Mitzi and Mike McLaurine, of Montgomery, and Becky and Phillip Kinney, of Boaz; brother and sister-in-law, Clifton and Carol Osborn, of Southside; and eight grandchildren and one step-grandson.

Administration Building Renovation on Schedule



Rendering of the Front of the Administration building

  Construction crews have made quick work of the renovation to Snead State Community College’s Administration Building to keep the $8 million project on schedule for completion by the beginning of Fall 2012.

Built in 1921, the Administration Building has been vacant for over a year, during which extensive work has been done to ready the building for use as administrative and classroom space.



Rendering of the Back of the Administration Building



“As the project progresses, excitement and curiosity has been building with people on and off campus. We’re all anxious to see the finished product, which promises to be a valuable showpiece for the College,” said Snead State President Dr. Robert Exley.

Renderings have been developed by Krebs Architectural Firm in Birmingham to give an idea of what the finished Administration Building will look like. A major component of the project has been the renovation of Fielder Auditorium, a beloved piece of the College’s heritage. The auditorium will have a 412-seat capacity to be used once again as a lecture/recital hall. A catering kitchen and commons/banquet room will be added to provide a gathering area for students and a place to support College events.

The 29,519-square-foot building will also include nine classrooms, seven faculty offices, the President’s Office, Academic Administration office, and the Academic Planning and Research office. Math classes will move from the Elrod Science Building into the finished Administration Building. A Snead Heritage room and space for the college cyber-library is included in the plans as well.

Once the project is complete, relocating faculty and staff offices will free up much-needed space in the McCain Student Success and Career Center and the Science Building. The Student Success Center will continue to be the location for key operations such as Admissions, Financial Aid, Advising, Recruiting, Testing, and Campus Engagement.

“As we moved forward with the Administration Building renovation, we’ve kept in mind the result of the renovation of the Norton Social Sciences Building. Norton was another historic building that over time had deteriorated until it could no longer be used. It was renovated to become a functional facility that also captures the charm and heritage that is Snead State Community College. We have the same expectations for the Administration Building,” said Dr. Exley.

The Administration Building was evacuated in June 2010 due to electrical and safety concerns. The sudden move provided the College with an opportunity to move forward with the much-needed renovation and to establish the Student Success and Career Center in the former McCain Learning Resource Center. The Student Success Center was identified by the College Leadership Team as a major initiative to pursue to meet the needs of students.  

Snead State Welcomes New Volleyball Coach

Snead State Community College announces today the appointment of a new head volleyball coach.

Dee Ayres accepted the part-time coaching position and officially begins in January. The Southside High School Volleyball Coach takes the position left vacant by Lisa Murray Bright. After serving as Snead State’s volleyball and women’s softball coach for two years, Coach Bright will continue as the softball coach and the academic advisor for athletics.

“I am really excited about taking over as the new volleyball coach, and I am looking forward to building on the success of the volleyball program and to cultivate young lives into professionals,” said Coach Ayres.

Coach Ayres’ athletic career includes successes she achieved in high school when she lettered in volleyball, basketball and tennis at Southside. During her senior year, the Lady Panthers Volleyball Team placed second at the State tournament.

After high school, she attended the University of North Alabama on an athletic and academic scholarship and played for the UNA Volleyball Team from 2003-2006. In addition to receiving her Bachelor’s degree from UNA, she was also a member of the 2003 NCAA Division II National Championship Volleyball Team at UNA and was team captain during the 2005 and 2006 volleyball seasons. In 2006, she helped to lead the team to the NCAA Division II National Championship game.

Over the course of her volleyball career, Coach Ayres’ team has won three Gulf South Conference Championships and one National Championship title and has made four NCAA Division II Regional appearances, two NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearances, two Final Four appearances, and two National Championship games.

“We are excited to have Coach Ayres join the Parson coaching staff. With her experience and knowledge, I believe she will be a great asset to the athletic department and will wholeheartedly join us in assisting our volleyball student-athletes to a promising future as college graduates,” said SSCC Athletic Director Mark Richard.

For Snead State’s new coach, her job is an opportunity to fulfill a life-long dream.

“It is always been a dream of mine to be a college coach, and I saw the position at Snead State to be a great opportunity,” she said. “I am excited about seeing where we are as a team, so that we can begin to prepare for the upcoming spring season. I am looking forward to becoming acquainted with the Snead family.”

Coach Ayres already has a full to-do list prepared for the first few weeks as Snead’s volleyball coach. “There is a lot that I want to accomplish in the first few weeks. I am anxious to meet with the returning players and to contact the recruits.”

In addition to coaching volleyball, Coach Ayres teaches biology at Southside High School and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She was named the Etowah County Teacher of the Year for 2010-2011.