Skip to main content

Drake State Stories & News

Building Beds, Building Community: Drake State’s Heartwarming Initiative with Sleep in Heavenly Peace

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 awarded $1.5 million Strengthening Community Colleges grant by U.S. Department of Labor

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.

Continue reading

The Value of Industry & Community Insight

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.

Continue reading

Health Sciences Graduates Honored at Pinning Ceremony

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.

Continue reading

Drake State: A Spark That Lights Lifelong Journeys

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.

Continue reading

Drake State to receive $1.75 million donation from Leidos

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.

Continue reading

Drake State Joins NJCAA and ACCC

Drake State Community and Technical College has been accepted into the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC), marking the start of its athletic journey.

Continue reading

Drake State Faculty Accepted into ACCS CTE Externship Program

Drake State Community & Technical College is proud to announce that five of our esteemed faculty members—Bertha Little, Brittany Doran, Joseph Bevel, Larry Snell and Kory Rafferty—have been selected to participate in the Alabama Community College System’s (ACCS) CTE Externship program.

Continue reading

Drake State Names 2024 Summer President’s and Dean’s List

🎉 Congratulations to our Summer 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! 👏

Continue reading