Outstanding Alumni honored during Homecoming festivities
GADSDEN, AL – The Gadsden State Community College Alumni Association
presented its Outstanding Alumni of the Year Awards during the
Homecoming festivities on Feb. 13 in the Beck Gymnasium.
“The awards were given to exceptional individuals who have demonstrated
a deep commitment to Gadsden State Community College, its students and
the community,” said Hillary Folsom, director of Advancement and Alumni
Relations.
The Gadsden State Alumni Association, an advocacy group composed of
alumni, students, faculty, staff and community supporters, aims to
advance, support and promote the interests of the college.
“This year’s honorees were selected based on their outstanding
dedication to the college and their efforts to positively impact not
just the institution, but the broader community,” she said.
Distinguished Alumni of the Year
Dr. Alberto Echeverri, a local general surgeon, was honored as the
Distinguished Alumni of the Year. Born in Medellin, Colombia, and raised
in Bogota, Echeverri pursued his medical education at Pontificia
Universidad Javeriana. His early career saw him working in the jungles
of Guainia, Colombia, where he provided critical medical care in
underserved areas, a pivotal experience that led to his medical
licensure.
Echeverri moved to the United States, where he enrolled in the Alabama
Language Institute at Gadsden State. At ALI, the Southeast’s oldest
English language institute, Echeverri spent a year improving his
English. He then went to Philadelphia to intern in medicine and surgery
before spending six years training in Savannah, Ga. In 1998, Echeverri
returned to Gadsden to establish a general surgery practice.
Emerging Alumni of the Year
Melissa Battles, the Northeast Alabama field representative for U.S.
Sen. Katie Britt, was recognized as the Emerging Alumni of the Year. In
her role, Battles serves as a liaison between the Senator’s Office and
local elected officials, business leaders and civic groups across 10
counties. She also assists constituents with issues involving federal
agencies such as the Veterans Administration, Social Security and
immigration.
A graduate of Gadsden State Community College, where she ran cross
country, Battles went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from
Jacksonville State University. She started her career as an office
assistant and intern at Boatner and Pugh Accounting Firm. She went on to
work as a staff accountant for the Alabama State Department of
Education, accountant for Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill and
executive assistant to Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford. Battles is a current
member of the Gadsden State Cardinal Foundation Board of Directors, a
non-profit support organization of the College.
Outstanding Faculty/Staff Alumni of the Year
Pam Johnson, dean of Institutional Effectiveness, Grants and Special
Projects at Gadsden State, was honored as the Outstanding Faculty/Staff
Alumni of the Year. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace
Engineering at the University of Alabama and a Master of Business
Administration from Jacksonville State University. Johnson’s career in
higher education began in 1984 as a computer science instructor at Harry
M. Ayers State Technical College, now known as Gadsden State’s Ayers
Campus.
During her tenure at Gadsden State, Johnson played a pivotal role in
numerous projects, including the successful SACSCOC reaccreditation
process and the securing of grants from various state and federal
agencies, including the U.S. Department of Education, the National
Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Labor. She has been twice
nominated for the Chancellor’s Award for Administrators from the Alabama
Community College System.
“The Outstanding Alumni of the Year Awards are a testament to the
exceptional individuals who continue to make a difference in their
communities, and we are proud to honor them,” Folsom said. “These awards
celebrate the enduring legacy of those who embody the values of Gadsden
State and demonstrate the true spirit of community leadership.”
For more information on the Gadsden State Alumni Association, visit
www.gadsdenstate.edu/alumni [1].
