What if you could earn your degree by attending school only one evening a week?

In Pell City, Huntingdon College and Jefferson State Community College have partnered to create a program designed to do just that. In the program, which allows students to earn bachelors degrees in multiple fields, the course work is accelerated and designed for students who are not on a traditional educational track. The Huntingdon Evening Bachelor Degree is available at the Jefferson State Pell City campus.

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For more information on the Huntingdon College Evening Bachelor’s Degree program at Jefferson State, contact the Pell City campus at (205) 704-1049 or visit Huntingdon’s website at huntingdon.edu/evening.

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The program has seen great success thus far, and four graduating students have been named honor students at Jefferson State. These students are majoring in either Business Management or Healthcare Management.

One benefit that students receive from the program is the small classroom sizes. This enhances the student-to-instructor ratio, ensuring students more quality time and attention from faculty.

“I really appreciate the smaller class sizes,” honor student Taylor Prewett said. “We get attention from the teachers that you don’t get at other schools.”

The remainder of the honor students have reaped benefits from the program as well. Amanda Garcia received a promotion at work to a management position. Julie Elliott was offered a management position at her current job because of her increasing education.

Melissa Childers said that going back to school has been an incredible negotiation tool for her in the workforce. She believes that it has made her a “much more valuable asset to her current company.”

“Having this degree means so much to employers,” Childers said. “It has opened a lot of doors for me, and it will continue to do so in the future.”

Recently Pell City Mayor Joe Funderburg met with the program’s honor students to express how proud he was of their accomplishments. He is a strong supporter of the program and believes it to be beneficial to members of the community — both employers and employees.

“I would love to see this as a first choice for the people of Pell City,” Nicholas Kin, Pell City Campus Division Chair said. “This is a phenomenal opportunity and it would not be possible without the partnership of Huntingdon College.”

The program offers students a way to complete a bachelor’s degree without having to put all other responsibilities on hold. Classes are offered on various nights at 5:30 p.m. to accommodate students’ schedules.

Honor students that are nearing the completion of the program have shown a tremendous amount of dedication and determination, according to Huntingdon College Assistant Site Coordinator, Pam Argo.

“I have been so impressed with these students and their support for one another,” Argo said. “They have worked hard to get where they are now and they have done it all while balancing jobs, families and other countless responsibilities.”