Sabrina Fikes and Norah Rush, classmates in the Focused Industry Training Program at Wallace Community College Selma, were already feeling very proud of themselves for completing the intensive 10-week job-training course.

Then the two received word that they not only passed a comprehensive examination to become “Alabama Certified Workers,” they scored in the top three percentile of all FIT students statewide.

“The day after taking the exam, I got a call that Norah and I had scored number one and two in the state,” Fikes said. “I was just overjoyed. Words can’t really describe it.”

Shandra Smith, director of the Selma Works and FIT programs, said when it was announced in class that 12 of the 13 students who took the FIT Adult Basic Education Exam also received certification, everyone cheered and held a toast with sparkling grape juice.

“I’m really just proud of all of the FIT students for doing so well, especially Sabrina and Norah,” Smith said. “It was a 100-question exam, and these two women got 97 to 98 percent of the answers correct.”

The FIT program, which has been in place at WCCS since February, teaches individuals with limited education and employment experience the skills the need for entry-level employment with many Alabama industries and businesses.

The program is free, but first prospective students must take a test to ensure they have at least 7th-grade learning level. After completing the FIT program, they are required make a 70 or higher on the Adult Basic Education Exam to confirm their work skills and abilities meet employer standards.

The FIT curriculum includes basic education in math and reading, computer skills in such programs as Microsoft Windows, and problem solving.

“I found out about through CareerLink,” Fikes said. “I enjoyed it a lot. The teachers and staff were very encouraging. The material was challenging, but you can excel if you apply the materials and information they give you.”

Fikes said she felt prepared for the exam before taking it, especially after the instructors did a review of the material being covered on the test.

“I was pretty calm going in. The instructors said everything would be alright,” she said.

The test wasn’t exactly easy. All the answers were correct, and students had to chose the best one.

“It was really challenging, but I knew I passed,” Fikes said. “I just didn’t know how well I didn’t think I did that well.”

Fikes and Rush graduated from the FIT program on July 6. Now Rush is in the process of enrolling as a full-time student at WCCS, and Fikes is currently job hunting for a position in either management or manufacturing.