Bevill State Community College has been awarded a grant from the Walker Area Community Foundation for the David J. Rowland Continuing Education Center - Community Restoration Project. The $65,000 grant ($64,000 from the Don Drummond Family Fund and $1,000 from the Community Fund) will be utilized for the needed repairs and replacements to secure the four columns and two half-columns on the front of the building. This repair will ensure the structural integrity of the facility and improve the outward appearance of the building. 

The David J. Rowland Continuing Education Center - Community Restoration Project involves two deferred maintenance projects to said facility. The first issue, addressed by this grant, is the deterioration of the columns on the front of the building. The second issue involves the sound system and acoustics in Rowland Auditorium. The David J. Rowland Continuing Education Center - Community Restoration Project seeks to restore this building and work to have the Rowland building and the BSCC Jasper Campus a community center once again. The completion of this project will provide an affordable option to community organizations, groups, and schools for performances or events. Also, having foot traffic back on the campus serves to generate awareness of Bevill State and the educational opportunities it provides in the community. To support this objective, multiple other upgrade and restoration projects on the campus are underway or planned for this campus. These include miscellaneous painting projects, updates to the facade of the Jesse Student Center, and the exploration of various solutions for facilities such as Murphy Hall and Davis Hall.  

“Bevill State is thankful for the continued support from the Walker Area Community Foundation and the Drummond Family. The overall goal of this project is that Bevill State has a facility that is a vibrant part of the college community. BSCC is currently working to strengthen existing relationships and develop new community partnerships. Relationships (both individual and organizational) can be enhanced through this project,” stated Dr. Joel Hagood, President of Bevill State Community College. 

The sound system in Rowland Auditorium had aged and much of the sound equipment was damaged or missing. Additionally, the acoustics in the facility were not ideal. Bevill State Community College is fortunate that Senator Greg Reed funded this phase of the overall project. He awarded the College an $11,381.57 Community Service Grant for the auditorium component of the David J. Rowland Continuing Education Center - Community Restoration Project and to advertise the facility at the completion of the entire project. Work to install the sound system and acoustic tiles was completed in March 2021.  

About Bevill State Community College (BSCC) 

Bevill State Community College is a public, two-year, "open door" institution, committed to providing comprehensive education and educational support services for people in West Central Alabama and beyond. Bevill State is a member of the Alabama Community College System. Bevill State's four main campuses, and one instructional site, offer university parallel and applied technology educational opportunities to over one-quarter million people in a seven-county area. This service area spans over 4,600 square miles, from the Birmingham city limits to the Mississippi state line. 

 For more information contact Tana Collins-Allred at 800.648.3271 ext. 5742 or by email at tana.collins@bscc.edu.  Please visit our website at www.bscc.edu.