Wallace State Outstanding Alumni
Each year the Wallace State Alumni Association recognizes alumni who have demonstrated achievement within their field of work or expertise, community based service as a volunteer, and demonstrated commitment to Wallace State. Individuals are nominated by their peers, faculty, or community members to be recognized for their outstanding accomplishments.
2019 Outstanding Alumni
Aaron (AJ) Mathis
As a Wallace State student from August 2013 to May 2015, Aaron Mathis shined in the Flight Technology and Aviation program. He graduated with his multi-engine commercial license and then flight instructor training classes so that he could serve as an instructor. Aaron also earned a Management of Technology degree from Athens State.
After instructing flight classes at multiple locations, including Wallace State, Aaron accept a pilot/first office position with PSA Airlines, which flies under the brand name of American Eagle, a regional airline under the American Airlines umbrella.
While at WSCC, he earned the Richard Caretti Aviation Technology Scholarship through the Future Foundation. Aaron has also established a scholarship through the Future Foundation for future flight professionals. At only 24 years of age, Aaron has accomplished much in his life already and we look forward to where he will soar in the future.
2018 Outstanding Alumni
Lance Self
Lance Self, founder and CEO of Cullman-based Zero RPM, earned the 2018 Most Outstanding Wallace State Alumni award.
“I was obviously surprised when I received the email I was going to be named the Outstanding Alum. I’ve never thought of myself as outstanding. I’m very grateful and honored to be given this award,” Self said. “Ninety percent of the work I do today came from the things I learned at Wallace State. It’s because of the diligence and sacrifice of people in this room that opportunities like this are possible for people like me.”
Self enrolled in both electronics and engineering technology courses at Wallace State in the late 1980s and worked at HH Technologies as a mechanical draftsman while in college. Self later transitioned into a position at REHAU in 1997 where he managed Logistics, Production Control, Industrial Engineering, Cost Accounting and JIT Assembly. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in management of technology at Athens State while working at REHAU. Self continued to work in various roles at REHAU before eventually becoming the plant manager of the Magna plant in McCalla.
In 2012, Self founded Zero RPM, an award-winning leader in providing worksite idle mitigation solutions for its diverse customer base in utility and telecom vehicles, ambulances, fire engines, border patrol and police vehicles and armored vehicles across the country.
During its inception, ZeroRPM was Wallace State’s first business incubator project and was recognized by Governor Robert Bentley in 2012 as one of the most important new businesses in Alabama since the recession began. The company continues to excel today, branching out into independent power generators, grid storage, turnkey systems integration for OEMs, vehicle telemetrics and large-scale battery packaging. Zero RPM and its contracted manufacturer, HH Technologies, have currently created 60 jobs. Self credited the positive influence of Wallace State for the rising success of Zero RPM.
“Wallace State has had a huge impact on my life, my family’s life and the families of our employees. Every manager at Zero RPM attended Wallace State, three employees on our tech team attended here and most of our technicians came up through Wallace State,” said Self, who also serves as the company’s Chief Technology Officer. “It’s made a huge difference for all of us.”