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Alabama’s community colleges report highest enrollment in decade, positive outlook for employers across Alabama – Yellowhammer News

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Alabama’s community colleges report highest enrollment in decade, positive outlook for employers across Alabama – Yellowhammer News


The number of residents pursuing academic credit and workforce credentials through Alabama’s community and technical colleges is the highest it has been since 2013, the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) reports.

More than 170,000 residents enrolled in academic courses or registered for adult education and workforce training opportunities between August 2023 and July 2024, marking the first time since 2013 in which enrollment had reached those numbers.

Of the 170,000, 122,867 represent the academic headcount in credit-based programs. The remaining number represents those who are pursuing industry-recognized, job-ready workforce credentials that prepare residents for in-demand jobs throughout Alabama.

The surge in enrollment underscores the increasing demand for skilled workers and the value of community colleges as a vital resource for workforce development and economic growth.

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“The slogan of the Alabama Community College System is that we make life better, and the challenge to do so successfully is evident in the support of Alabama’s leaders and in the number of Alabama residents achieving their goals through the colleges’ training,” said Jimmy H. Baker, Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System.

“This enrollment achievement reflects the growing recognition of the critical role that community colleges play in providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality education to students from all walks of life.”

The commitment of Alabama’s community and technical colleges to align programs with the needs of local and regional employers ensures graduates are job-ready and equipped with the skills required to thrive in today’s competitive job market.

“This enrollment milestone is a testament to the hard work of our faculty and staff, the relevance of our programs, and the trust that students and their families place in us. We are proud to contribute to Alabama’s future by educating the next generation of leaders, innovators, and skilled professionals,” said Olivier Charles, President of Bishop State Community College in Mobile.

The recent enrollment surge is particularly significant in light of ongoing efforts to increase Alabama’s college-going rates and labor force participation. ACCS’s initiatives, including scholarships, flexible learning options, and support services, have played a crucial role in making college more accessible to underserved communities.

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Upcoming initiatives to continue the enrollment momentum include the expansion of online learning opportunities, partnerships with industry leaders, and the introduction of new programs in high-demand fields such as healthcare, technology, and advanced manufacturing.

“Alabama’s future is bright, and our community colleges are at the heart of it,” said Dr. Neil Scott, ACCS Vice Chancellor for Student Success. “As we celebrate this milestone, we remain focused on our mission to empower students, strengthen communities, and drive economic prosperity across the state.”

Reid State Technical College first-year student Darrian Middleton, who is studying in the college’s industrial electricity program, said he chose the college because he saw it as an opportunity to attend college.

“I took a break from high school and really lost hope on college after being turned down by a university, but when I found Reid State, I found my hope again,” he said. “It’s a two-year program but offers the same quality as a four-year. I believe it’ll get me on a path and allow me to go forward in life instead of staying in the same place.”

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Alabama

Southern 88-85 Alabama A&M (Mar 5, 2026) Game Recap – ESPN

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Southern 88-85 Alabama A&M (Mar 5, 2026) Game Recap – ESPN


HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — — Terrance Dixon Jr.’s 19 points helped Southern defeat Alabama A&M 88-85 on Thursday.

Dixon shot 7 of 10 from the field and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line for the Jaguars (15-16, 11-7 Southwestern Athletic Conference). Michael Jacobs scored 15 points while going 4 of 11 and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line, and added five rebounds. AJ Barnes shot 3 for 7 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 7 of 8 from the free-throw line to finish with 14 points, while adding six rebounds.

Koron Davis finished with 23 points for the Bulldogs (17-14, 10-8). James Graham added 19 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals for Alabama A&M. Kintavious Dozier also had 12 points.

The Jaguars led by 10 points with 59 seconds to go, before the Bulldogs executed a three-point play from Bilal Abdur-Rahim then got a 3-pointer from Dozier in the span of nine seconds, cutting the deficit to four. A free throw battle closed out the result for the Jaguars.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.



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Top-30 overall recruit Jaxon Richardson commits to Alabama

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Top-30 overall recruit Jaxon Richardson commits to Alabama


Jaxon Richardson, the No. 27 overall recruit in the 2026 class per the Rivals Industry Ranking, has committed to Alabama.

The 6-foot-6 four-star small forward out of Southeastern Prep (FL) ultimately chose the Crimson Tide over USC, Creighton, and Ole Miss. He also received offers from Miami, Cincinnati, Michigan, Florida, Villanova, and others.

Richardson, a McDonald’s All-American, becomes the Crimson Tide’s third commitment of the 2026 cycle. He joins four-star shooting guard Qayden Samuels (No. 28 NATL) and four-star small forward Tarris Bouie (No. 54 NATL).

He’s the son of NBA veteran and two-time NBA Dunk Contest champion Jason Richardson. His older brother, Jase, played for Michigan State last season before being selected 25th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic.

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Rivals’ National Recruiting Analyst Jamie Shaw says Richardson is one of the most explosive players in the 2026 class:

Jaxon Richardson is able to combine fluid athleticism with explosive burst in a way no other player in this class can. He uses his athleticism to his advantage on the floor. He fills the outside channels with a purpose in transition, he is aggressive in the passing lanes, and he plays as a vertical floor spacer in the dunker spots and lob plays. Last summer, playing with the Florida Rebels on Nike’s EYBL Circuit, the 6-foot-6 wing averaged 12.8 points on 54.0 percent shooting and 10.5 attempts per game. Last high school season, he averaged 12.9 points on 61.0 percent shooting on 8.9 attempts per game. He is a highly efficient player, as 84.4 percent of his makes last high school season were at the rim.



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Alabama Baseball Ties Stolen Base Record In Win Over Hornets

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Alabama Baseball Ties Stolen Base Record In Win Over Hornets


Alabama baseball cruised to a win over Alabama State on Wednesday night, beating the Hornets 13-4 to complete the season sweep. The Crimson Tide tied a program record with nine stolen bases in one of the stranger contests that will be played this season.

The tone was set for a tumultuous night on the basepaths in the opening minutes of the game. Leadoff batter Bryce Fowler, who exited Tuesday’s game after getting beaned in the head, was walked, and promptly took second base. He advanced to third on a wild pitch in Justin Lebron’s at-bat, paving the way for Lebron to steal second when he was ultimately walked as well.

The successful baserunning instantly paid off, as Brady Neal drove both in with a double to left-center field before John Lemm walked two at-bats later. Both runners stole their respective bases on the same pitch in Jason Torres’ plate appearance, meaning that four of the first five batters of the game stole a base.

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Alabama has been exceptional on the basepaths, sitting at 30-for-30 on the season. Lebron, who swiped two bags on Wednesday, leads the team with 12. The junior had an up-and-down night, hitting his eighth home run of the season, but also committing an error at shortstop for the fourth consecutive game.

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“Get those things out of there now, baby. The dude is unbelievable,” an unconcerned Rob Vaughn said on Tuesday of Lebron’s errors. “We’re going to look up at the end of the year, and that guy is going to have five or six errors, which one he’s got right now, and we’ll be like, ‘Man, that guy is the best of all time to do it.’”

Wednesday’s game was a very prototypical midweek contest with no shortage of quirks and oddities throughout its nearly four-hour runtime. Fifteen Alabama batters were walked, falling just one shy of the program record, and the hit by pitch record was tied as seven batters were plunked.

The game was never competitive from an on-field standpoint. After barely escaping with a 2-1 win in the first matchup with the Hornets two weeks ago, this was a far more accurate representation of what these games typically look like, as Alabama now leads the all-time series 15-0.

Freshman Joe Chiarodo made his first career start, allowing two hits and one walk over two scoreless innings. He was named the winning pitcher. Luke Smyers, Connor Lehman, Anthony Pesci and Tate Robertson were the other pitchers to take the mound. Lehman allowed a three-run blast in the sixth inning, and those were the only runs until the incredibly-named Skywalker Mann drove in a run off Robertson in the ninth.

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Perhaps the most shocking figure from the game was that Alabama had 19 runners left on base. The Crimson Tide left the bases loaded in four different innings. As stated, this was just a bizarre baseball game across the board. With the midweeks out of the way, the Crimson Tide gets to prepare for its final weekend tune-up before SEC play as North Florida heads into Tuscaloosa on Friday.



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