WCCD ADN Program Named Finalist for Statewide Exemplary Program Award

WCCD ADN students participate in the Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) during the Spring 2025 semester.

Wallace Community College–Dothan (WCCD) is proud to announce that its Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program, led by Division Director Dr. Rayanne Daniels, has been selected as a top-two finalist in the Teaching and Learning category of this year’s Alabama Community College Association (ACCA) Exemplary Program Awards.

This year’s awards spotlight excellence in three critical areas (Support Services, Workforce Development and Innovation, and Teaching and Learning) and attracted 16 outstanding submissions from across Alabama’s community colleges. WCCD’s ADN program was recognized for its innovative integration of the Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) into its clinical curriculum, an initiative designed to cultivate empathy and deepen nursing students’ understanding of how poverty impacts health outcomes.

Developed by the Missouri Community Action Network, CAPS places students in immersive, role-playing scenarios where they navigate daily challenges faced by individuals and families living in poverty. Participants must work through real-world obstacles such as securing housing, accessing food, maintaining employment, and obtaining healthcare. The simulation is followed by guided reflections and pre- and post-assessments that measure changes in students’ empathy, awareness, and readiness to deliver compassionate, equitable care.

Dr. Rayanne Daniels said she is honored the program received statewide recognition. “Empathy cannot be taught solely from a textbook,” said Dr. Daniels. “The poverty simulation gives our students a powerful, authentic experience that helps them understand the realities many of their future patients face. Being selected as a finalist affirms the importance of preparing nurses who are clinically skilled and deeply compassionate.”

WCCD President Dr. Kathy Murphy applauded the program for elevating both the student learning experience and the College’s mission. “This recognition reflects the incredible work of Dr. Daniels and our ADN faculty,” said Dr. Murphy. “At Wallace, we are committed to educating healthcare professionals who not only excel in clinical practice but also understand the human stories behind every patient. Innovative learning experiences like this strengthen our college, our community, and the care our graduates provide.”

Being named a finalist for the Exemplary Program Award in Teaching and Learning underscores the College’s continued leadership in nursing education and its commitment to advancing teaching and learning practices that transform student experiences.