Author: AMelody Jacobi

Students in the Electrical Technology program at Drake State are doing far more than studying theory. They are building, troubleshooting, and solving real-world electrical challenges that mirror the demands of today’s workforce. Through hands-on instruction and industry-aligned training, students develop the technical knowledge and practical experience needed to thrive in high-demand careers.

“In this class students are tasked with ‘making it work,'” says Mr. Lardell Goodloe. “They know exactly what they need to do: get it to work safely.” He said, “learning and adapting and challenging the equipment is a critical part of the training.”

That mindset is already translating into success for Drake State students.

Jonathan Agee is currently working as an industrial maintenance worker at Shape Corp in Athens, Alabama while completing his degree. Balancing work and school, Jonathan is gaining valuable experience that strengthens both his technical skills and his long-term career prospects. His ambitions stretch far beyond North Alabama. “I can travel with this job, and I really want to see the world!” He said.

Second-semester student Jaleerreya Garrett is charting her own path toward entrepreneurship. With aspirations to start her own business and create jobs in her community, she credits the program’s emphasis on discipline and persistence as key components of her growth. “Mr. Goodloe is trying to teach me discipline and patience, and I am learning.”

From industrial maintenance to future business ownership, Drake State’s Electrical Technology program equips students with more than technical expertise. The program fosters critical thinking, adaptability, and problem-solving skills that are essential in today’s rapidly evolving electrical and advanced manufacturing industries.

Learn more about the Electrical Technology program at Drake State by visiting:
https://drakestate.edu/career-pathways-programs/advanced-manufacturing/electrical-technology/

When you’ve welded pipelines in the Texas heat, supported aerospace programs that reach for the stars, and worked on power plants that light up entire regions, what do you do next?

For Mr. Jeremy Malone, the answer was simple: come home to Alabama and change lives.

Drake State Community & Technical College’s welding program just got a major upgrade, the kind that doesn’t come along often. He’s an AWS/ASME-certified union journeyman pipefitter who’s worked for industry giants like TVA, Alabama Power, Shell, British Petroleum, Georgia Power, and Nucor. He’s even a certified aerospace welder holding ASTM E1417/E1444 credentials and experience supporting aerospace programs at Boeing, Airbus, and Gulfstream.

But here’s what makes his arrival at Drake State particularly significant: instructors who combine decades of mastery with teaching excellence are rare. Most industry veterans stay in the field where the money is good and the work is steady. Mr. Malone chose a different path.

“I believe welding offers life-changing opportunities for individuals and communities,” he said. And he’s got the track record to prove it.

At Limestone County Career Technical Center, Mr. Malone didn’t just teach welding. He built a program that became a regional powerhouse. Under his leadership, enrollment and job placement grew and students earned state and national championship titles.

As Drake State expands its welding program to meet the surging demand for skilled tradespeople across North Alabama, Mr. Malone brings exactly what we need: world-class expertise, infectious passion, and a teacher’s heart. He’s certified through Lincoln Electric’s prestigious instructor program and authorized to provide industry credentials that open doors nationwide.

“I’m excited about transitioning to higher education and expanding my impact,” Mr. Malone shares about joining the Drake State community. “This is about giving people a strong start, or a fresh start, in one of the most vital trades in today’s workforce.”

Welcome to Drake State, Mr. Malone. Huntsville is lucky to have you.

Last fall, Regions Bank partnered with Drake State to host “Reality Check,” an interactive financial literacy workshop designed to help students build practical budgeting skills for real-world success.

The workshop challenged students to think critically about income, expenses, savings, and lifestyle choices, offering a hands-on experience that reinforced the importance of financial planning. Through guided exercises and realistic scenarios, participants gained valuable insight into managing personal finances and preparing for financial independence.

As part of the program, one participating student was selected to receive a beach cruiser-style bicycle, generously provided by Regions Bank. The bicycle recently arrived on campus, accompanied by four additional bikes donated to Drake State to further support student needs.

The selected student was formally presented with the bicycle in the Drake State Library. Joining the student were Drake State President Dr. Patricia Sims and Ms. Floresha Watkins of Regions Bank, highlighting the continued partnership between the College and Regions in supporting student success beyond the classroom.

Drake State is grateful for community partners like Regions Bank who invest in the holistic development of our students. Initiatives like “Reality Check” not only strengthen financial literacy, but also empower students with the confidence and knowledge needed to make informed decisions about their futures.

Through collaborations that blend education with real-world application, Drake State continues to prepare students for success in both career and life.

Following the success of the landmark LPN Launch Program collaboration between Drake State Community and Technical College and Huntsville Hospital, both institutions proudly announced the new RN Launch Program with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding held yesterday. The signing event took place Monday, December 1, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Nursing Classroom on Drake State’s Cochran Road Campus.

The LPN Launch Program has demonstrated strong outcomes, with Drake State receiving the Mark Ivester Innovation Award from the Community Colleges of Appalachia and many institutions across Alabama and beyond adopting the model for their own programs. The program has also delivered impressive student results: the last two classes of the PN Nursing program (December 2024 and May 2025) achieved a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX, while Drake State’s RN program has maintained an 86% NCLEX pass rate. The new RN Launch Program serves as a natural progression, allowing students currently enrolled in the LPN program to continue their studies toward earning an RN license.

The RN Launch Program gives students access to a stronger, more affordable, and more supportive academic pathway. Through the initiative, students will benefit from a streamlined transition from LPN to RN training, increased exposure to hospital-based clinical experience, and closer mentorship from nursing professionals. The strengthened alignment between academic coursework and hands-on training reduces barriers to degree completion and enhances students’ preparation as they move directly into advanced nursing roles.

“Our partnership with Huntsville Hospital continues to strengthen the region’s healthcare workforce, and the RN Launch Program is a powerful next step,” said Dr. Patricia Sims, President of Drake State Community & Technical College. “By expanding opportunities for our nursing students, we are ensuring they have clear, affordable, and accessible pathways to advance their careers while meeting a critical community need.”

“We’re excited to expand our partnership with Drake State with the RN Launch program. This initiative will mirror our highly successful LPN Launch program which has had great results for our hospital and for Drake. Both of our organizations share a strong commitment to workforce development for our growing region,” said Tracy Doughty, President & COO of Huntsville Hospital.

“It makes so much sense, as the RN program is a one-plus-one program whereby the first three semesters prepare the students for an LPN license. The students can now opt to stop out as LPNs or continue their training for another two semesters and get their RN license,” said Dr. Alice Raymond, Drake State’s Health Sciences Chair.

With the current nursing shortage in Alabama, the RN Launch Program provides a strengthened workforce pipeline that will support employment opportunities for students and positively impact the region’s healthcare community.

Students interested in joining the inaugural RN Launch cohort may apply for Fall 2026 enrollment, with additional program details and admissions information available through Drake State’s Health Sciences page.

Drake State Community and Technical College hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony today for its new Leidos Advanced Training Complex. The event featured remarks from Drake State President Dr. Patricia Sims, Leidos CEO Tom Bell, elected officials, and community leaders.

The ceremony marked the grand opening of the 50,000-square-foot facility on Drake State’s campus, which will support education and training for the aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries. The training complex houses in-demand training programs, including precision machining and welding. It also features dedicated space for additive manufacturing, mechatronics, electrical technology, engineering design, and more, as well as lab spaces, classrooms, and offices for instructors and administration. Additionally, the complex will serve as home to a new cohort of Federation of Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) students, an apprenticeship-style program that Drake State started in 2024.

“The Leidos Advanced Training Complex represents a transformative investment in workforce education and regional economic growth,” said Dr. Patricia Sims, President of Drake State. “This state-of-the-art facility will allow us to expand training opportunities in high-demand industries such as precision machining and welding, preparing our students for the careers of tomorrow while strengthening the talent pipeline for our local and national partners. I want to thank our state elected officials, the Alabama Community College System, and Leidos for supporting this transformative project.”

The Leidos Advanced Training Complex was identified as a key initiative through the Alabama Community College System’s ASPIRE 2030 plan, which stands for “Achieving Systemwide Potential through Increased Resources and Engagement.” The initiative was made possible by a statewide bond issue passed by the Alabama Legislature in 2020 to support facility upgrades and new construction across Alabama’s education system.

“The facility here will effectively serve Drake State students and North Alabama for a long time,” said ACCS Chancellor Jimmy Baker. “We are in the business of making life better for everyone. It’s our job and mission to make sure every area of this state has the resources needed to provide training and support economic development. The innovation and talent that will be produced at this training complex will be among the best in the state.”

In November 2024, Leidos announced a $1.75 million donation to Drake State. The gift helps fund Drake State’s advanced manufacturing and IT programs, student apprenticeships, campus technical and infrastructure upgrades, a new scholarship endowment, and faculty development opportunities. In recognition of the donation, Drake State named the new building the Leidos Advanced Training Complex.

“Huntsville has been a cornerstone of aerospace and defense talent since the industry’s earliest days,” said Leidos CEO Tom Bell. “This partnership with Drake State will grow the pipeline of talented people who will solve our nation’s most vexing challenges in smarter and more efficient ways.”

Drake State broke ground on the facility on June 9, 2023. The complex features 10 laboratories, seven classrooms, multiple offices, a multipurpose room, specialized tool and storage areas, a storm shelter, a testing suite, a kitchen and serving area, a break room, and modern restrooms. Additional features include glass viewing areas for prospective students and industry partners, as well as digital displays providing key information for students and visitors.

The new training complex will equip students with skills to help them earn high wages and gain nationally recognized certifications at a low cost.

Goodwyn Mills Cawood provided architectural, interior design, civil engineering, and landscape architecture services for the complex, which was constructed by Fite Building Co.

For more information about programs available in the new facility, visit drakestate.edu.

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About Drake State Community & Technical College About Leidos

Established in 1961, Drake State Community and Technical College is a historically black community college located in Huntsville, home to the fast-growing, highly technical aerospace and defense industry, including the NASA Marshall Flight Center, US Army Redstone Arsenal, and Cummings Research Parks. Drake State offers flexible, affordable university-transfer 2-year and technical degrees, certificates, adult and continuing education, and customized technical skills training for Huntsville/Madison County employers. Visit www.drakestate.edu for more information.

About Leidos
Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 48,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

In December, the Drake State team of faculty and staff came together for a team-building professional development day unlike any other. Their mission: to support Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), an organization dedicated to ensuring that every child has a bed to call their own. What started as a day of building beds turned into a powerful demonstration of community care and collaboration—and a whole lot of fun.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace began in 2012 in a small Idaho town with a startling realization: dozens of local children were sleeping without beds. This discovery inspired a movement, one rooted in the belief that every child deserves the comfort and security of a warm bed. Since then, SHP has grown into an international organization with 350 chapters and thousands of volunteers who have built and delivered over 250,000 beds to children in need. The Huntsville chapter, led by Mary Ena Heath, has played a vital role in extending this mission to our community, delivering over 1800 beds in the last two years to kids in Madison County.

“It’s incredible to see the difference a simple bed can make in a child’s life,” said Heath. “When a community comes together like this, it shows that we truly can change lives—one bed at a time.”

The Drake State team’s December effort was nothing short of remarkable. In just three hours, they built 50 beds for children in need. Inspired by the meaningful experience and the spirit of giving, the team decided to take it a step further. They set a goal to collect 50 pillows to accompany the beds they built. But why stop there?

With the spark of friendly competition, the initiative turned into a spirited “Pillow Fight”—a campus-wide challenge among faculty and staff, divided into eight teams. Each team worked tirelessly to bring in as many pillows as possible, with bragging rights on the line. The results were astounding: the Drake State team collected over 150 pillows, tripling their original goal and ensuring that every child receiving a bed would also have a soft, warm place to rest their head.

Dr. Patricia Sims, President of Drake State, reflected on the initiative with pride. “At Drake State, we believe in going beyond the classroom to make a real impact in our community. Partnering with Sleep in Heavenly Peace allowed us to not only give back but also strengthen our bond as a team. This experience reminded us of the power of coming together for a cause greater than ourselves.”

During the course of the initiative, the build site and campus were filled with laughter, camaraderie, and heartfelt moments that left a lasting impression on everyone involved. Beyond the physical act of building beds and collecting pillows, this initiative exemplified the importance of community care and inspired the Drake State team to continue finding ways to serve their neighbors.

As Heath noted, “The need is great, but so is the potential for change when people step up. We’re so grateful for partners like Drake State who share our passion for helping children sleep better and dream bigger.”

If you’re inspired by this story and want to make a difference in your community, consider volunteering with Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Visit their website at www.shpbeds.org to learn more about how you can help.

Together, we can ensure that no child sleeps on the floor in our town—because every child deserves a bed to dream in.

Drake State Community and Technical College has been awarded a $1,514,520 grant as part of the U.S. Department of Labor’s latest round of Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants. Drake State is the first institution in Alabama to receive the grant, emphasizing the college’s position as a leader in workforce development and innovation in the State.

This fall semester, Drake State Community & Technical College proudly hosted its Career & Technical Education (CTE) Advisory Board Meetings night on campus. These meetings, held for each of our CTE programs, serve as a vital connection between the college and industry leaders, ensuring our programs remain aligned with the ever-evolving demands of the workforce.