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Miles College Establishes Abascal Student Success Center, Advancing Student Achievement and Honoring a Legacy of Opportunity
FAIRFIELD, Ala. [March 31, 2026] – On Monday, March 30, Miles College dedicated the Abascal Student Success Center on the fourth floor of the C.A. Kirkendoll Learning Resources Center. The event brought together the Suco and Abascal families, college leadership, students, faculty, and staff to honor a legacy defined by courage, sacrifice, and the transformative power of education.
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The Abascal Student Success Center is a comprehensive hub that supports student achievement and persistence. It integrates academic advising, tutoring, writing support, testing services, and career preparation to assist students throughout their academic journey.
The center reflects a family story founded on hope. Manuel Abascal left Cuba seeking opportunity and a better future for his family. At Miles College, he found purpose beyond teaching mathematics, investing in his students, the classroom, and the community that became central to his family's foundation.
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That foundation continued with Dr. Mike Suco’s father, who also fled Cuba and built professional purpose and stability for his family at Miles College. Their pursuit of opportunity became a legacy rooted in access, education, and generational progress.
President Bobbie Knight highlighted the significance of this legacy and its meaning for today’s students.
“This moment reflects what is possible when legacy and vision unite,” said President Knight. “The Abascal Student Success Center strengthens our ability to support, challenge, and prepare every student for success. We are honored to celebrate this with a family whose story is deeply connected to our institution.”
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Dr. Mike Suco, President and CEO of Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc., and Chair of the Miles College Comprehensive Campaign, shared the personal significance of this investment.
“Miles College played a meaningful role in my family’s story, and I am honored to support the next generation of students,” said Dr. Suco. “This center creates a space where students can access the resources, guidance, and encouragement needed to reach their full potential. I believe in the work being done here and remain committed to its future.”
The program featured remarks from campus leadership and a formal presentation of a resolution recognizing the Abascal family’s contribution. The resolution affirms the center as a lasting investment in academic excellence, workforce readiness, and holistic student development.
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Candice Hardy, Director of the C.A. Kirkendoll Learning Resources Center, emphasized the College’s enduring mission. Since its founding in 1898, Miles College has remained committed to creating pathways for student success and upward mobility.
As the ceremony concluded, the Abascal Student Success Center represented more than a new space. It continues a journey that began with faith in education and lives on through every student who enters.
