CACC hosts ribbon cutting for nursing, science wing on Prattville campus

Malia Riggs

Elmore Autauga News

The Central Alabama Community College hosted a ribbon cutting to commemorate the official opening of the new nursing and science wing on the CACC Prattville campus Monday. Following the ceremony was a tour of the new facilities now offered to students. 

“Today CACC is very proud to be able to serve the students and their community in a wider array than we did before. These science labs that open up all programs that we so desperately need, biology, chemistry, physical science, but also the nursing programs that help our campus to grow,” CACC President Jeff Lynn said.

In attendance at the ceremony were many elected officials from not only Autauga County, but Elmore County as well. Elmore County Schools Superintendent Richard Dennis, Alabama State Representative Vance Smith, Patty VanderWal with the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce, Autauga County Commissioner and Chairman Jay Thompson and Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie to name a few were in attendance Monday morning.

Many other influential individuals from Elmore and Autauga Counties were present to show their support for CACC.

Lynn stressed that the addition to this wing opens up opportunities to CACC students that may not have been there before, and that this addition brings learning opportunities and career pathways for CACC students and their path after graduation.

“Healthcare is such a dire need right now and our job is to really supply the labor of the market. This is a very exciting day for us to be able to do that, especially to add more students to our community that we serve,” Lynn said. 

CACC also offers dual enrollment for all high school students across the state with over 40 high schools throughout Alabama that feed into CACC, Lynn confirmed.

“About 45% of the students that graduate high school don’t go into the military, a two-year or four-year program, they just kind of permeate out into the community. We need to get them early so they can focus on what those career options are,” Lynn said.

Starting as young as 10th grade and with a GPA of 2.0 or higher, CACC offers college and high school credit throughout their programs where the new nursing and science wing could facilitate new growth. It brings more dual-enrollment opportunities for high school students.

“I think this is great because we can really focus on the young students, getting them in a pathway, educated and trained. They can get their certificates, state license and get to work. Without the state legislature we couldn’t do what we do with the dual enrollment program,” Lynn said.