Lawson State celebrates 65 years with silent auction, reception
Jordan Frazier is left holding the bag at the Lawson State Community College silent auction. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr./Alabama NewsCenter)
Above: Jordan Frazier is left holding the bag at the Lawson State Community College silent auction. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr./Alabama NewsCenter)
Jordan Frazier received some good natured ribbing Thursday night as he carried a gray and black Python tote bag around the Culinary Arts Center at Lawson State Community College.
Some suggested that the purse, which he bought during a fund-raising silent auction for the school, was bought for him as it matched the gray suit he wore.
Frazier, who later gave the bag to his wife Cora, said any snickers were worth it. “It’s all about the kids,” he said.
The Lawson State Foundation hosted a reception and silent auction to celebrate the college’s 65 years of service and to raise money as it moves into the future.
Like Frazier, Robert Dickerson is a member of the foundation board. He said the event was about helping the school to move up.
“It’s not only the intent for Lawson State to move on up but for us to help the students,” he said. “We heard some testimonials from a few of them who if not for Lawson State and the work of the foundation and generosity of our donors might not be in school today.”
Lawson State President Perry Ward said during a program that the current community college “is not the old Lawson State.”
“This is a new Lawson State – aggressive and progressive and doing a lot of different things that people don’t expect us to do,” he said. “We’re looking at it from a global perspective, doing programs and having programs that will have international significance. We’re making a difference.”
The college president rattled off a litany of Lawson State accomplishments and designations during the past few years, beginning with the school being ranked No. 5 on Washington Monthly magazine’s list of Best Community Colleges. It was also on that list in 2010.
The college was designated a Champion of Change by the White House in 2011 and merited a visit from President Barak Obama earlier this year to present his platform on the economy and financial literacy.
Additionally, he said Lawson State:
- Achieved 100 percent pass rates on the National Council License Examination by its nursing program.
- Received a four-year, $10 million TAACT grant.
- Opened a Community Development Center that provides free training to the community, including basic and advanced computer training, money management, wills and estate planning.
- Offers the largest post-secondary automotive training program in the Southeast.
- Has begun a new mechatronics program which combines mechanical and electronics.
