Owensboro Community and Technical College embraces the diversity of its faculty, staff, and students as well as the region it serves. All are welcome.
Recognizing that all individuals contribute to a rich, broad education, the college is committed to fostering a learning community where students feel supported and encouraged to explore ideas and share experiences in ways that connect us and challenge us to grow. To that end, the college offers the following services, student organizations, and policies:
Anti-Harrasment & Discrimination
Counseling Center
Disability Services
Military and Veterans Multicultural Association
Office of Diversity Programs
SAFE LGBTQ
Title IX
*TRiO
*Ready to Work
*The TRiO program offers academic and personal support for students with disabilities, those who are first-generation college students (meaning neither parent graduated with a 4-year degree), or individuals who are income eligible. Ready to Work is an income based program to help students find work and childcare while in school.
OCTC will be the host college for the inaugural Regional Diversity Conference scheduled for February 2-3, 2023.
This free conference is the result of an exciting collaboration between OCTC, Brescia University, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Western Kentucky University, and Murray State University.
Additional partners include Jagoe Homes as presenting sponsor and Southern Star as a gold sponsor.
The theme of the conference is Incorporating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) into Everyday Organizational Culture.
This conference is open to anyone in the community (businesses, students, educators, etc.) and is free to attend. Registration will open in September 2022.
If you have any questions, please contact Sharmy Davis at sharmy. davis@kctcs.edu.
The Office for Diversity is committed to creating a campus environment that values the exploration, appreciation, and celebration of diversity, while promoting inclusiveness, multiculturalism, and global awareness by promoting collaborative relationships on campus and community partnerships. The Office for Diversity is located in the Counseling Center (lower level of the Campus Center, CC102).
Sharmy Davis, MBA, MPA Director of Cultural Diversity 270-852-8159, sharmy.davis@kctcs.edu
The Owensboro Community and Technical College Foundation, Inc. received a grant award from the Owensboro Health Community Health Investments Grant program, to implement Promoting Health Equity Through Allied Health Workforce Diversity Initiative.
The initiative’s goal was to increase the interest of African American, Hispanic, and other underrepresented minority youth and adults in pursuing allied health education and careers, in support of creating a diverse workforce to provide the best quality care to the citizens of the region.
Additionally, OCTC faculty and staff hosted four hands-on information sessions on-site at the Dugan Best Community Center,
the H.L. Neblett Community Center, the Boys and Girls Club, and Girls, Inc. during spring 2022. Information about OCTC’s allied health programs, including prerequisite needs, available scholarships, and other relevant information was provided, along with hands-on activities related to the following healthcare career fields: Radiography, Surgical Technology, Nursing, Medical Assisting, Paramedic Technology.
Youth participated in hands on activities and their parents were invited to participate at the end of the day at the normal child pick-up time at each location.
OCTC faculty and staff hosted a threeday summer academy in June 2022. In addition to providing information and hands-on, allied health activities, two professionals in the field discussed topics that promoted increased diversity in health care careers.
Students were encouraged to showcase/ share information learned and activities with parents and others. The CEO of the Kentucky Nursing Association, Delanor Manson, spoke at the final event and shared her experiences as a woman of color in the health care field and conveyed the importance of increasing
2015 marked five years since Owensboro resettled their first refugees. After holding their permanent resident card (aka Green Card) for five years, refugees can apply for Naturalization - the process of becoming an American citizen. In 2015, SkillTrain, OCTC’s Adult Education department, started their Citizenship Preparation classes at the Downtown Campus.
In the last year, eight students took and passed their Naturalization tests to become American citizens.
Lian Sen, became a citizen in March 2022. He served as the guest speaker at our GED graduation. Lian Sen discussed his journey from Burma to the U.S. He was forced to flee Burma because of the military occupation. For a year, he took an extralong lunch break from his job making sushi at Kroger to study in our citizenship classes.
In order to pass, refugees must take four tests: American civics and history, reading, writing, and English. Currently, there are 15 students attending class twice a week.
When asked why they want to be a citizen, most students reply, “I want to vote.” SkillTrain serves, on average, 150 non-native English speakers each year. English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are offered twice a week, with a day and night option. Citizenship classes are offered two days a week. For more information, contact Meredith Bowers, via email at meredith. bowers@kctcs.edu, or call SkillTrain at 270686-4454 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
The second cohort of the Academic, Career, Exploration (ACE) program will begin in September. The ACE program is expanding to include Black students from Daviess County Public Schools (DCPS).
The partnership began with Owensboro Black Expo (OBE) teaming up with Owens boro Community and Technical College (OCTC) to increase the supports in place for African American students in August 2021.
ACE was first piloted to Owensboro High School where 20 students participated in the year-long comprehensive mento ring program which provided a range of resources in support of the academic and personal advancement of Black high school students through self-discovery, career exploration, academic skill build ing and leadership development. Owens boro Public Schools (OPS) was pleased with the results, with 20 students complet ing the entire program.
The 2022 cohort of ACE students includes over 40 students from Owensboro High School, Daviess County High School, Apol lo High School, and Heritage Park High School.
This year’s group will have some of the same activities and workshops, but new items will also be introduced, including tours of Brescia University, Kentucky Wes leyan College and participating in a regional diversity conference.
Owensboro Community and Technical College is proud to award a $1,000 Burmese Heritage and ELL Scholarship to a current student enrolled during Fall 2022.
In addition, OCTC collaborated with First Christian Church to increase the scholarship award for three recipients to $3,000 for the Fall 2022 semester. These scholarships assist non-native English speaking and refugee students in achieving a path to a better life while acclimating into the Owensboro, Daviess County community.
These students are truly grateful for the support and an opportunity to receive a higher education leading to an excellent career. OCTC would like to share a story of one of the recipients.
“
I felt like it was only yesterday when my family first resettled here in America from a refugee camp to start a new life. We had to start from the real beginning. I remember I had to start from the kindergarten level. Here I am now the first person to attend college in my family and it’s really difficult because I am still struggling with the English
language. I am working a full-time job and am a full-time student at the same time. There are so many times when I think of quitting school because of struggling with the language and finances but I am still here now trying because I remember someday it will be worth it.
I am so thankful to those people who helped me such as my mom and the OCTC TRiO staff. The reason why I’m majoring in Education is that it is such a blessing for me to have this opportunity to go to school. Then I can help those people who struggle the same as me in the future. This journey isn’t easy for me. Being the first generation in your family means you have to figure it out and do a lot of things on your own.”
The Owensboro community support of student success is truly having an impact on student success. OCTC is grateful for our partners assisting us in providing opportunities to change lives in our region. Student success is OCTC’s success and together, we’ve got this.
The Owensboro Community and Technical College Foundation, Inc. received a grant award of $25,000 from the Alcoa Foundation in June 2021. The grant supported the implementation of the ALCOA STEAM Project, focusing on promoting education and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Art (STEAM).
The program’s goal was to engage a minimum of 150 middle and high school aged students, particularly those underrepresented in STEAM, through sharing relevant information and utilizing engaging, handson learning activities.
OCTC faculty, who teach computer and information systems, art, robotics, advanced manufacturing, and other STEAM program areas hosted community outreach activities during the spring 2022 semester, followed by a STEAM academy this summer. The STEAM community outreach and academy activities included several interactive activities, such as: training a robot to pick and place a 3-D printed object, exploring engineering concepts of design and maintenance through rocketry, creating and launching a rocket, and learning printmaking techniques.
OCTC hosted the Level- Up 2.0 Camp from June 6 - July 13, 2022 thanks to a grant award received from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE). This summer bridge program is designed to help students transition to college and persist to their second year.
The goal of OCTC’s Level Up Camp was to provide students with an overview of campus services, success strategies and career options. Utilizing a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) approach, faculty from all the employment sectors provided students with background on the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in a STEAM related field of work.
The graduates of this program earned incentives that would support their college experience, including: one hour of college credit for completing FYE-100 (First Year Experience) course, $3,000 in scholarship funds, new laptops and printers, backpacks, and other school supplies.
Jen Bricker-Bauer was born without legs, after which her biological parents left her at the hospital. As a child, Jen was obsessed with gymnastics, and her idol was gold medalist, Dominique Moceanu. In fact, watching Dominique on TV, helped inspire Jen to start competing herself. Against all odds, Jen went on to compete against able bodied athletes, and became a state champion in power tumbling. Jen later learned that her childhood gymnastics idol, Dominique Moceanu, was actually her biological sister.
Jen transitioned into an accomplished acrobat and aerialist. As such, she travelled internationally with Britney Spears’ World Tour, and appeared as the headliner in Las Vegas, and in Dubai. Jen’s incredible story has been featured on multiple shows, including HBO Real Sports, 20/20 and Good Morning America. She has added a successful speaking career to her list of accomplishments, including being featured in one of the well renowned TED talks, as well as speaking & performing in over 23 countries.
She hopes to inspire and motivate others to believe that anything is possible. Jen published, “Everything is Possible”, that hit the New York Times Best Sellers list in 2016, as well as being translated in 11 languages.
OCTC hosted the 5th Annual Girls Empowerment Trail Blazer Dinner on Wednesday, March 3, 2022 with guest speaker Jen Bricker-Bauer.Getting started at OCTC is as easy as picking your program from the list provided, some credentials can be earned in a little as 6 weeks.
Fill out the application online at owensboro.kctcs.edu and select APPLY, or you can stop by the START Center in the Campus Center on our Main Campus at 4800 New Hartford Road and we can help you in person, or drop us an email at octc.STARTcenter@kctcs.edu or call 270-686-4527 with the times you are available and we can help you virtually!
You can get started when it fits for your busy life! The Winter Term begins December 12, 2022 and the Spring semester begins January 9, 2023.
