Through a $5,000 grant provided by RockTenn Industries, 27 Demopolis High School students each received $200 for tuition at Alabama Southern Community College and $10 for books on Monday.

The money is part of the dual enrollment program that DHS and ASCC are a part of. DHS principal Dr. Isaac Espy Jr. said that Demopolis has more student involved in dual enrollment than the other four ASCC campuses combined.

Espy and ASCC director Angelia Mance each thanked RockTenn for its generous contribution.

“In 2000, Gov. Bob Riley appointed a small committee for work force development,” Chuck Smith, manager of human resources at RockTenn, told the students. “Dual enrollment was a part of that. We started building on that with ASCC as a partner, and there are plans for development there in the future. There is a lot of effort going on in Montgomery that recognizes what you are doing now.

“This scholarship will help you and it will help your parents. It will also help you focus on what you want to do when you get out of college.”

Espy said that at $90 per semester hour, ASCC is a great bargain for students wanting to get a taste of college life.

Manse said that there was a student in Thomasville who began the dual enrollment program in his freshman year, graduated from high school in May of his senior year, graduated from ASCC that August, and had a starting salary of $44,000 per year.

“Demopolis is well represented on the work force development regional committee,” Smith said. “John Lainey, Mike Marshall from the hospital and Felicia Owens of New Era are all on it. With the presence of new industries coming into Alabama, this committee is critical in getting a better-trained work force.

“Dual enrollment is the key to getting the students visibility into what they are getting into going to college. Dr. Espy, Dr. (Wayne) Vickers (superintendent of Demopolis City Schools) and Ms. Mance have all done a great job promoting this. I don’t think we would be where we are without Dr. Espy taking the lead in supporting the program. I am proud to be working with them.”

The scholarships received by the DHS students will be for the Fall 2008 semester only.