Rotary is proud to claim as one of its own Mark Heinrich, President of Shelton State Community College. Dr. Heinrich spoke to the Club last week about an institution he is privileged to lead, and that plays an important role in the education of our city, region and state.

Dr. Heinrich provided an overview of the college’s student population. Serving Tuscaloosa, Pickens, Hale, Greene and Sumter counties, Shelton has 6,000 to 8,000 students at any one time, and 60% of those are full time students. The average age of the students at Shelton is 25, and the student to faculty ratio is 21 to 1.

Shelton boasts of several important technical programs: a robotics lab, for example, that holds an annual competition; a diesel program, as well as programs in carpentry, culinary arts, cosmetology, welding, truck driving and nursing. Shelton also many fruitful business partnerships with local companies. Those include Mercedes, which they are helping train their staff for the addition of the C-Class Sedan manufacturing, Hunt Refinery, Phifer Wire and Parker Towing Company.

But there is more to Shelton than technical education and business. Dr. Heinrich reminded Rotarians that Shelton is home to the Alabama Community College of Fine Arts, as well as a Jazz Ensemble and a choir and dance program. And of course there is Shelton’s relationship with Theatre Tuscaloosa, which has been a very successful partnership.

And what would college life be without athletics? They too are an important part of Shelton’s accomplishments. Shelton boasts teams in men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and softball. In addition, the Shelton State Cheerleaders are doing their part to uphold our city’s tradition of excellence: they have won the Junior College National Championship four years in a row.