“I was the first to graduate college in my family, and because of that, I believe in the transformative power of higher education and making higher education accessible to those who wish to pursue it.”

“The nursing professors and cohort didn’t make me feel like I needed to shy away from telling people about my disability. Everyone knew. I had the right to not say anything, but I felt safe telling them because we help each other out.”

“I want to play professional soccer one day. But I want to get an education. There are plenty of schools I could have gone to but I wanted to play for my hometown, and I wanted to play for Dalton State Coach Saif Alsafeer.”

“I’ve always dreamed about this happening but never thought it would come true. I was in awe that first time I stepped onto the court, and it has kept up every single game. I love playing the game. I love playing on a college level. It excites me.”

“The sim lab increases my confidence 100-fold. Health professions programs are intense. We learn a lot in a short amount of time, so a safe learning environment before working with real patients is even more important.”

“I have been exposed to a lot of business owners. Being at the Dalton Innovation Accelerator has given me a more realistic view of the business world, especially the business world here in Dalton.”

“To have this experience is unbelievable. I don’t think I would have gotten this far into research as an undergraduate at a bigger school. Everything is hands-on here, and you always have a professor willing to do research with you.”

“One of my favorite things about working here is the small classroom size. I actually know my students by name and get to know them on a personal level. Teaching at Dalton State doesn’t feel like work; it’s my passion.”