Restore Therapy joins Wallace State in Powerful Partnership and as Scholarship Provider

Hanceville, Ala. — Wallace State Community College welcomed Restore Therapy Services as its latest participant in its Powerful Partnership program and as a new contributor to scholarships for Wallace State students.

“Partnering with Wallace State Community College allows us to invest in our most valuable asset—our people,” said Ellen Maxwell, CEO of Restore Therapy Services. “This collaboration not only supports the continued education and growth of our clinicians and their families but also helps to build a strong pipeline of skilled, compassionate professionals. We’re proud to work alongside an institution that values workforce development as much as we do.”

Based out of Pelham, Restore Therapy Services also established a scholarship to support students in Wallace State’s Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) and Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) programs. The scholarship will support students in their final two semesters of their program.

Restore Therapy Services has established a scholarship that will benefit students in Wallace State Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Assistant programs. On hand for the announcement include from left, in front, Wallace State Dean of Health Sciences Dr. James Malone, Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Karolewics, Restore Therapy CEO Ellen Maxwell, Restore Therapy COO Nikki Whaley; in back, Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Director Dr. Rachel Gooch and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator Kelly Wilson.

“This scholarship will be a great asset to our program, especially during a student’s final semesters when clinicals often hinder their ability to work,” said Annie Kennedy, Program Director for the Physical Therapist Assistant program. “Due to the rising costs and limited access to scholarships, I know that they would be greatly appreciative of this opportunity. This financial assistance would ease their burden and allow them to fully focus on their academics, training and success as a PTA.”

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Director Dr. Rachel Gooch agreed the scholarships will help alleviate a financial burden for OTA students and expressed her appreciation to Restore Therapy as one of its clinical partners.

“Restore Therapy is a valued partner of the Wallace State OTA program,” Gooch said. “They provide fieldwork opportunities for our current students and employ many of our graduates. We are grateful for their support and look forward to many more opportunities to collaborate in the future.”

With Restore Therapy Services, Wallace State now has 23 area businesses and industries taking advantage of the benefits of the program.

Benefits provided to businesses and industry that join the Powerful Partnership program include: 

• 10 percent tuition discount on up to six credit hours in academic courses for degree and certificate seeking students and Pro Skills Workforce training courses per semester for employees and their immediate families.
• Complimentary evaluation of previously earned educational credits, training and professional certifications and work experience for consideration of prior learning towards academic credit
• Complimentary access to meeting spaces at the Wallace State Workforce Training Center  
• Wallace State Alumni Memberships for up to five employees  
• Special sponsor rate for the Wallace State Future Foundation Student Investment Luncheon  
• Access to a pipeline of workers prepared for internships, apprenticeships, and employment through priority registration for Industry Comes to Wallace State  
• A Powerful Partner registration rate for the annual WSCC Career Fair  
• Featured as a Powerful Partner through various marketing avenues  
• A role on Wallace State’s program advisory boards and Business and Industry Leadership Teams (BILTs) to provide guidance for instructional technology 
• Opportunity to receive access to Athens State University’s Learning Partnership program  

This comprehensive set of benefits ensures that businesses are not just passively involved but actively engaged in shaping Wallace State’s educational programs to better meet industry demands. By participating in advisory boards and leadership teams, companies can directly influence the development of future workers, creating a well-prepared labor force that meets their specific needs.   

For more information about the Powerful Partnerships program and how your business can get involved, email Simone Grant at simone.grant@wallacestate.edu or call her at 256.352.7453.  

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About Wallace State

Wallace State Community College (Ala.), a member of the Alabama Community College System, is a comprehensive community college in north central Alabama offering more than 200 options in academic, health and technical programs of study leading to an associate degree, certificate or transfer, as well as workforce-credit training and adult education. An Achieving the Dream Leader College, nationally recognized by the Aspen Institute as a Rising Star for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, ranked by Southern Business and Development among the Top 3 institutions in the South for workforce development, named a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing and the National Security Administration, rated the Top Online Community College in Alabama, a Military Friendly Institution and an All-Steinway School, Wallace State is an outstanding place for students to pursue their education and career goals. Classes are offered online and on campus, day, evening and on weekends, with numerous start dates each year. Visit Wallace State’s beautiful main campus located on 300-acres in Hanceville, Ala., our satellite location in downtown Oneonta, Ala., find us online at www.wallacestate.edu, or call 256.352.8000.