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.

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.

Congratulations to our Fall 2024 President’s List and Dean’s List students! Your academic performance truly deserves a spotlight. To qualify for the President’s List, students must attain a perfect semester GPA of 4.00 while being enrolled in at least 12 credit hours of college-level work. For the Dean’s List, students must maintain a GPA between 3.50-3.99, also with a minimum of 12 credit hours. Cheers to your hard work, dedication, and success!

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.

Drake State Community & Technical College hosted its annual Fall 2024 Health Sciences Pinning and White Coat Ceremony at the Von Braun Center’s Saturn Ballroom on Friday, Dec. 13. Over 50 graduates were recognized for their dedication to healthcare excellence, marking a significant milestone in their academic and professional journeys.

Starting in June 2025, Drake State Community & Technical College will offer a new program directly addressing the urgent need for highly skilled manufacturing technicians. The two-year, Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) program is an employer-driven initiative that provides hands-on experience alongside formal classroom education.

Life’s journey is rarely a straight road; instead, it’s a path filled with twists, turns, and moments that shape who we are. For Sanitha Douglas, earning her Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) was not just a personal achievement but a celebration of resilience, faith, and the transformative power of education—a journey that began with Drake State Community & Technical College.

Leidos has announced a $1.75 million donation to Drake State Community & Technical College in Huntsville, Alabama, creating new learning opportunities for students and allowing them to gain hands-on experience with complex technical and manufacturing projects. In recognition of this gift, Drake State will name its new advanced manufacturing facility the Leidos Advanced Training Complex.