Hundreds gather in Montgomery for Higher Education Day

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — The 2025 Education Trust Fund has allocated around $12.2 billion dollars to universities. COVID relief money has run out, but that isn’t stopping the impact of higher education on our state.

“Not just at Auburn, but across the entire state, you know, we’re all Alabamians at the end of the day. We all love this state. We’re glad we’re here,” said Ty Torbert, student at Auburn University. “And higher education is an investment in Alabama’s future.”

“Funding for college students is definitely something that needs to be heightened and more focused on,” added Carmell Sanders, Alabama State University student. “As we are adults now and so, we’re trying to navigate the world in a new light.”

That navigation is made possible with the help of elected officials, students said. That’s why hundreds gathered in Montgomery to boast about higher education for Higher Education Day.

Gordon Stone, executive director of the Higher Education Partnership, said funding is crucial.

“Pre-K is important. K-12s are important. Two years is important- but we also understand that four years are critical,” he said. “We have a twenty-billion-dollar economic impact in our state.”

Whether it’s by a lottery, or by other means, Stone said new revenue sources will help students. “What we want to recognize is, whichever one we choose- whichever one fits Alabama the best- we want to make sure that we’re funding education,” he said. “So that these young people, that are so important- they are our future- have the education that they need.”

Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur) said budgets are tighter this year.

“We’re gonna have to be very careful how we make increases. And that’s just something we have to look at every time. I think we’ve been very conservative,” Collins said.

Rep. Barbara Drummond (D-Mobile) said they are prepared.

“For the ETF where I serve- the Education Trust Fund budget- I think we did a very smart thing years ago when the money was flowing like milk and honey. And we set some money aside,” she explained.

Stone said universities shape the state’s economy and must be supported.