Lawson State Community College - Office of Workforce Development

03/20/2026

Celebrating 10 New Line Workers Ready to Power Our Future ⚡🎓

On March 17, 2026, we had the privilege of celebrating ten dedicated individuals who completed their Alabama Power Line Worker Training at Lawson State Community College. The ceremony was held in the Ethel Hall auditorium on our Bessemer Campus, and it was a true testament to the power of hard work, commitment, and community.

These graduates have earned an impressive array of credentials that have prepared them for success in the field:

✅ OSHA 10 Certification
✅ CPR Certification
✅ Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
✅ Fiber Optics Certificate
✅ 300+ hours of hands-on Line Worker Training

We were honored to host such a meaningful celebration. Erika McCalpine, Associate Dean of Workforce Development & Career Technical Education, served as mistress of ceremonies with her signature warmth and professionalism. Dr. Bruce Crawford, Vice President of Instructional Services, welcomed our guests and set the tone for the afternoon. Rachel Waterhouse of Alabama Power provided a comprehensive program overview, highlighting the significance of workforce development partnerships in preparing students for high-demand careers.

Certificates of completion were presented by Tanisha Rankins, Workforce Development Outreach Specialist, alongside Dr. Crawford. Graduate Dylan Willmore delivered a humorous and heartfelt tribute to their instructor, Gerald Jones, sharing favorite moments and memories that captured the camaraderie and growth this cohort experienced together. Grant Cockrell, Dean of Workforce Development and Career Technical Education, offered inspiring closing remarks that sent our graduates off with encouragement and pride.

A special thank you to the family members, friends, and community partners who filled the auditorium to show their support—including Dr. Ellison, a board member of the Lawson State Foundation. Your presence meant the world to these graduates and reinforced the village it takes to prepare them for the workforce.

📢 Interested in the 2027 Line Worker Training class?
For more information, contact Delwin Hill at (205) 837-4330 or [email protected].

To our ten graduates: You stepped up, put in the work, and now you are stepping into careers that keep our communities powered and connected. We are incredibly proud of you. ⚡💙

03/04/2026

Sharing Stories and Spreading Smiles at Brighton Elementary! 📚❤️

We had the absolute best time kicking off Read Across America Week with the amazing students at Brighton School!

Our very own Tanisha Rankins (Workforce Development Outreach Specialist) and Delwin Hill (Workforce Development Specialist) from the Lawson State Community College Office of Workforce Development stopped by to read to the kids—and let me tell you, the excitement was contagious! The students were so engaged, asking questions, laughing at the stories, and truly soaking in every moment.

At its heart, Read Across America is about more than just reading words on a page. It’s about opening doors to imagination and building the foundation for a lifetime of learning. Since 1998, this program has been motivating kids across the country to pick up a book and fall in love with reading—and we were so proud to be a part of that mission here in our own community.

We hope our visit encouraged these bright young minds to keep reading, keep dreaming, and keep learning. Shout out to the staff at Brighton Elementary for having us—we can’t wait to come back!

02/27/2026

⚡️ From the classroom to the pole! ⚡️

This week in our Line Worker training program, our students got hands-on with one of the most critical skills in the trade: installing switches.

Watching these future journeymen tackle the task with confidence and precision has been incredible. It’s not just about connecting wires; it’s about building the reliability that keeps our communities powered up.

Great work this week, class. Keep climbing! 👷🏽‍♂️👷🏼‍♀️

02/25/2026

Look how high our students are reaching! ⚡💙

Today, our line worker student Reece McNutt climbed all the way to the top—70 feet—the tallest pole in our yard. And let me tell you, watching him make that climb was something special.

That height takes guts. It takes focus. And most of all, it takes trust—trust in your training, trust in your gear, and trust in yourself.

Reece showed us all today that with the right instruction, a commitment to safety, and a whole lot of determination, those big dreams of becoming a line worker? They're closer than you think.

Proud of you, Reece. Keep climbing. The sky is not the limit—it's just the beginning. ⚡🙏

If you or someone you know has ever dreamed of a career in the skilled trades, our line worker program is here to help build that foundation. Reach out to learn more.

02/24/2026

It's never too late to learn something new! 💻✨

This Friday, February 27th from 1pm–4pm, Lawson State Community College (Bessemer Campus) is offering a FREE Community Graphic Design Class—designed especially for those who have always wanted to explore design but felt too busy or overwhelmed to start.

Whether you want to create a basic website, design a flyer, or edit a photo, this class is for you. And with Mr. Williams leading the way, you're in excellent hands.

Space is limited, so don't wait!

📧 To register, email: [email protected]

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

02/16/2026

This is what we live for at Lawson State. ❤️⚡

Yesterday, we had the honor of watching Eddie Jones—a 2024 graduate of our Line Worker Program—return to the very pole yard where his journey with us began. Two years later, Eddie walked back through those gates not as a student, but as a professional lineman on the transmission team with Henkels & McCoy.

Since graduating, he's gained valuable experience in both distribution and underground line work. But yesterday wasn't just about where he's been—it was about how far he's come.

Seeing Eddie standing tall in that yard, skilled and confident, doing what he loves, reminded us why we do what we do. Moments like this are the heartbeat of Lawson State. They're why we pour everything we have into every student who walks through our doors.

Eddie, you trusted us to help lay your foundation. Now you're building something incredible on it. We couldn't be prouder. Keep climbing. ⚡

And to every student currently in our programs—your moment is coming. We'll be right here, cheering you on every step of the way.

01/25/2026

Lawson State Community College’s Birmingham and Bessemer campuses will be closed Monday, January 26, due to winter weather conditions. All classes and campus activities are canceled. Regular operations will resume Tuesday, January 27.

11/26/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from
Lawson State Community College - Office of Workforce Development!

The Lawson State Community College - Office of Workforce Development and Lawson State Community College will be closed from November 27-28th. They will reopen on Monday, December 1, 2025. Have a safe and joyous holiday!

10/20/2025

Workshop Rescheduled: Owning Your Success: Accountability in Action

Mark your calendars! Our workshop, "Owning Your Success: Accountability in Action," has been rescheduled to Wednesday, October 29, 2025.

We made this change to ensure we can accommodate more of your success stories! There are still seats available, so don't miss your chance to learn powerful strategies to take charge of your goals.

Ready to own your success?
🔗 Secure your spot today! For registration and details, please contact Tanisha Rankins at [email protected].

10/09/2025

We're excited to shine the spotlight on this amazing student!

🎉 Student Spotlight: Celebrating Erica Chaney! 🎓

This spotlight shines on the incredible strength of Erica Chaney. In the wake of the tragic loss of her son in January, Erica made a courageous decision in May 2025: to channel her grief into growth and pursue her GED.

While working a full-time job, she attended class with unwavering commitment, becoming the sole student from her cohort to see it through to the end. Her perseverance in the face of profound adversity is nothing short of inspiring.

On September 11, 2025, her hard work culminated in a tremendous victory—she officially earned her GED! But this is just the beginning. Erica is now preparing to pursue a degree in Culinary Arts with us here at Lawson State, with the ultimate dream of opening her own restaurant.

Join us in celebrating Erica's strength and this incredible first step toward her dream. Congratulations, Erica! Your Lawson State community is so proud of you. ❤️

10/01/2025

You're invited! Lawson State Community College is proud to host our annual Manufacturing Day on October 30, 2025. This is a fantastic, free opportunity for local high school and college students, educators, and community members to explore the exciting world of modern manufacturing.

Come and:
🔧 Tour our state-of-the-art training labs
🤖 See live demos of the latest industry equipment
💡 Discover rewarding career paths

Don't miss out! Share this with a student or educator you know.

Event Details:
📅 Date: Thursday, October 30, 2025
🕘 Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
🏛️ Location: Ethel Hall Auditorium, 1100 Ninth Avenue SW, Bessemer, AL 35022

Questions? Contact Tanisha or Kamille (info in the flyer!).