Rep. Chestnut and Selma University President Stan Angion shakes hands in honor of check presentation. | Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce By Faith Callens Special to the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information On Tuesday, Rep. Prince Chestnut came to Selma University to present its president Dr. Stan Angion with a check of $31,000 to help with the university’s efforts to expand their technology and to contribute to their student support efforts. Angion told Chestnut during the check presentation on the steps of Dinkins Hall that he was delighted and grateful to receive such a generous contribution for the university. “I want to thank him personally because I know how hard it is to fight for funding,” Angion said. “He’s been there with Selma University and for Selma University for several years since I’ve been here and so I personally want to say thank you. On behalf of the faculty, staff and students, I also want to say thank you and I think our entire campus community will greatly benefit from this donation.” Angion said the generous donation will help the university enhance their internet services that they currently offer to the students of SU including their academic services support that they currently provide for the students as well. “When I refer to internet access, we have computer labs that we make available to our students so that they will be able any time of the day to get on the website to complete activities and complete academic assignments. They also need student support services and that means that we have to have somebody who can provide access to these labs so that students can be able to come and get the help they need. So, with these funds we need to make sure that the computers are up and operational and that the students can get help when they need it.” Chestnut said since the university is the only HBCU standing in his district, he wanted to make sure that he supported the university, especially at a crucial time when HBCUs are having a lot of funding issues. “We need to keep these universities open,” Chestnut said. “And I, myself am a graduate of an HBCU.” Speaking of HBCUs, Governor Kay Ivey declared the month of October as HBCU Month on Oct. 1 and both Angion and Chestnut said that they stand firmly behind the governor’s latest proclamation. “I support the designation of October as HBCU month because it gives us an opportunity to agree with the governor that HBCUs are special and that we serve a population and a mission that many other universities do not serve, and the work that we’ve done in the past gives us an opportunity to highlight that. So, I am very delighted for this proclamation,” Angion said. Like Angion, Chestnut said, “I have every indication from other legislators, as well as the governor, that they are supportive of HBCUs. In fact, we’ve been able to get Selma University some other funding as well within the budget through different collaborations with West Alabama and other universities. So, I think that the state stands firm and committed to furthering educational opportunities for everyone. HBCUs are part of the higher education system, and we want to make sure that we are supporting in every way possible.” Angion said the university is a quite unique place for students to study because it stands out above any other college in the Selma area due to its true dedication to meet students where they are and to help them get to where they need to be successfully. “Now, you hear that cliché all the time, we meet students where they are, but many institutions just don’t because they are not equipped to, but we truly meet students where they are,” Angion said. “If a student comes in and they are barely are a C-student, we embrace you. We provide the academic skills and support services to help you get to the point where you can be a college level student.” Angion said not only is the university known for its mission catered to student excellence, it also is known for its timeless buildings full of history. “Dinkins Hall is our main administrative building,” Angion said. “We have classes in this building on the second and third floor and we have a 400-seat auditorium in this building, and it is one of our buildings among several others that are under renovation.” Angion spoke about university’s other buildings like Pollard Hall, that will soon be a museum for the university which will feature a video conferencing center. Then, he spoke about the university’s science building that has been totally renovated with a new roof, a new paint job in the inside and out and he considers it “ready for use.” He also spoke about the university’s gymnasium and how it has a new roof as well, new doors and that it is a building that has more additions coming soon. “The cafeteria is also undergoing a full renovation,” Angion said. “We just put a brand-new roof on it as well and we are putting a whole new design in place for it soon for students to be able to have a nice environment to eat and relax. So, we’ve done a whole lot this year and over the last couple of years or so, we have spent over $ 4 million dollars for campus renovations.”

By Faith Callens Special to the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information The Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information is honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In honor of the month, The Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce has decided to feature two residents in the city who are also making the commitment to keep hope alive for those who are continuously fighting such a courageous battle. Julie Atchison who is a mammography technologist at the Selma Vaughan Regional Medical Center shares why she chose her career path and what led her to fight for other women through the detection of breast cancer. Then, Selma resident Cindy Box also shares her courageous fight with breast cancer, leaving women with hope that they can also make it through. Read both of these beautiful and courageous testimonies below: Why I Chose my career path as a Mammography technologist Testimony By Julie Atchison I’m a mammography technologist at Vaughan Regional Medical center. I chose this career path because I know first hand how important it is to get your screening mammograms done. In 2016, right after I graduated high school, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 46 after feeling a lump in her breast and getting checked. After a long, grueling battle with cancer she passed in 2018 at age 49. She had never had a screening mammogram before this. After she passed, I decided to join the fight against breast cancer and change career paths. I’m so glad I did. I love getting to see our patients year after year and build friendships with them. What I do for work goes beyond the walls of the hospital- I will call up my friends moms and check on them to make sure they got their yearly mammograms, share with friends and family the importance of screenings, and even answer helpful questions along they way that they may not know! My Breast Cancer Story Testimony by Cindy Box My journey started on February 13, 2012 when I had a mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy in the same day. I received my results the following day, Valentine’s Day. Breast cancer. In the beginning, we thought it was early stage two, but further testing revealed Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, estrogen receptor positive, stage 3C, (IDC ER+ 3C). Within a month, I had chosen my oncology team and underwent bilateral mastectomies with reconstruction, (it took three years). I had four rounds of chemotherapy for a total of 16 weeks and 39 radiation treatments. 12 weeks into chemotherapy I had become terribly sick and had to have a blood transfusion. I had a total of 10 surgeries and 14 hospitalizations. Once all of my treatments ended and confirmed that I was in remission, I began a 10 year maintenance therapy of a hormone blocker, based on the type of cancer diagnosis. Although I was in remission, the battle was to stay healthy. I had visits with my oncologist every six months along with breast, MRIs, bone scans, and lab work. In March, 2024, I had completed my 10 year regime and graduated to annual visits. On April 23, 2025, I underwent surgery again on the right breast, (cancer side), due to an intracapsular contracture that had ruptured the implant. The implant was replaced and scar tissue removed. Three short months later, I was hospitalized with cellulitis and sepsis due to an abscess at the incision site from the previous surgery. The abscess ruptured. I underwent emergency surgery once again to remove the implant. This was a life saving surgery. At this point, I am left without a breast or an implant. I was fitted for and I am waiting for a prosthesis, but hopefully sometime next year will be able to have reconstruction by fat grafting using my own tissue. It took a minute for me to accept my body as it is … but then I am reminded of the scars that Jesus Christ wears. He died, but I am spared. I am grateful. I’m thankful. I’m highly favored and I am blessed. During all of this, I give God all the glory.

Last week , The Selma Housing Authority debuted their food truck's first-ever event catered to first responders. |Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce By Faith Callens Special to the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information On Thursday, The Selma Housing Authority had their first-ever food truck initiative event catered to first responders. Members of the Selma Police Department, Selma Fire Department, including the city’s paramedics and EMT professionals were all invited to the event and provided complimentary meals from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bloch Park. There were also nurses in the community who attended the event and SHA’s Chief Operating Officer Cicely Curtis said the idea behind the food truck appreciation meal day stemmed from its CEO Kennard Randolph. “Our President and CEO, Mr. Randolph stresses that this is the people’s truck and our motto behind this truck is “Serving Up Hope and Hot Meals,” Curtis said. “So, not only are we going to sell food from the food truck, but we are also going to appreciate people in the community like our first responders. We are going to soon have some appreciation events catered to our educators and various other service providers that we have in our community, and we will also utilize the food truck to give back.” Curtis said the food truck will give SHA residents the opportunity to learn culinary skills through classes provided by their own chef, Mrs. Erial Hunter while the organization remains true their mission of serving nutritious meals throughout their developments and to the families of their community. “So, what better way than to appreciate our first responders for the sacrifice that they make every single day for all of us?” Curtis said. “It was a joy for us to be able to give back to them, let them take a break from the long hours that they work and for them to just come out and sit down and enjoy a delicious meal.” Curtis said the meal of choice for the first responders consisted of polish sausages, teriyaki wings, french fries, fried fish, catfish including their specialty, The Big Al Burger that consisted of several different toppings. Curtis said the main topping that is on the burger is fried green tomatoes. Curtis said she wants all the participants of Thursday’s event to first take away that they are not just serving hot meals, but that they are serving hope. “We are here for the people to feed the people,” Curtis said. “Yes, we will have a menu with prices, but you will also see us out in the community serving needs. We are service providers, and we try to fill the needs of the people.” Curtis said she also wants people who attended the event to also take away the experience that they had and to know that whenever SHA has an event, there will be music and great food. “At this event, we had DJ Barack on the ones and twos, because music soothes people’s souls and it brings people together,” Curtis said. “It’s a vibe you can enjoy, and we also want people to know that this is a way to fellowship. It’s a way to show that we are appreciative for our first responders and for everything that they do for us.” During the event, Curtis said they received such great feedback about the meal, and she said she was just excited to be able to hear great things for their first event and to bring the SHA’s vision to life. Speaking of vision, Curtis also mentioned the food truck’s slogan is not only a motto for SHA but a visionary piece from a special resident of Selma. Curtis said 15-year-old Alysia Langdon was the resident who thought of the food truck’s unique slogan and was named the official winner of their slogan contest that was put out on the organization's Facebook page for all residents of the Selma community to participate in. “I came with “Serving Up Hope and Hot Meals” because it’s not just about food,” Langdon said. “It’s about each day being a new opportunity and about making people feel cared for. The hope is just as important as the meal, and everyone loves a good, hot meal.” Curtis said when the SHA team looked through the slogans after the closing of the contest, she said the slogan that Langdon made was the one that stood out to the team the most. “When we looked through those slogans, that was the one that really stuck out to us. So, on Thursday, I think what we saw was evidence of that slogan,” Curtis said. “This event was true to that slogan, “Serving Up Hope and Hot Meals”. We saw police officers, firemen, and EMT workers eating, smiling and the firemen were throwing the ball back and forth. It was then you saw hope, people who work hard but they got a chance to take a break, pause, breathe and fellowship together. Curtis said soon SHA’s new food truck initiative will expand to other locations downtown such as MK 87 on Broad Street on first Fridays and that starting next month, they will officially roll out their menu with prices.