OCTC Alumni: Hinton, Hayden

OCTC Alumni: Hinton, Hayden

In 2005, Hunter Hinton graduated from OCTC with his Associate in Applied Science in Criminal Justice, but he did not come to OCTC on a traditional path.

“OCTC is a great place to start. You do not have to go on to a major university. The atmosphere and size are a great stepping stone for the future. Go to class. Make the best out of your experience,” are all words of advice from Hunter Hinton.

Hunter Hinton

Hinton started out at the University of Louisville, but when his mother became ill, he came home to take care of her. His grandmother insisted that he should not quit school, so Hunter came to OCTC to see what programs were available. He saw the brochure on the Criminal Justice Law Enforcement program and he decided to choose that path.

Hunter began his service at Owensboro Police Department (OPD) as a patrol officer and is now a narcotics detective. Hunter handles vice crimes and works hard to keep our community safe.

Reflecting on his time at OCTC, Hunter mentions Bob Purdy, retired OCTC Criminal Justice program coordinator, and the wonderful experience he had in his classes. When he went to his first class with Mr. Purdy, Hunter says he was “hooked within minutes” because of the conversation, instruction, and engagement. He believes OCTC has a great atmosphere with engaging instructors that are down to earth, regular people. In his words, the instructors, “made the experience sweeter because they were on a personal level.”

We are proud of Hunter and his numerous accomplishments, many of which he is too humble to share. In 2014, he was named Noon Optimist Officer of the Year. While at OCTC, he received the Keith Cain Award from Mr. Purdy. Hunter continued his education by earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix. Hunter is an inspiration, and we appreciate his service at OPD.

ELLIE HAYDEN

Early College Student Thriving at U of L

Early College student Ellie Hayden was a 2020 graduate of Daviess County High School and transferred to the University of Louisville. She is currently pursuing her degree in finance.

Ellie plans to minor in entrepreneurship and to earn certifications in project management and managerial analytics after completing her undergraduate degree.

She has a future goal of establishing her own financial firm, but plans to build up to that by working in a financial firm as an analyst or financial planner.

Ellie Hayden

When asked about her experience as an Early College student, she reflected, “Receiving my associate degree at such a young age was a big accomplishment for me. As a first generation student, I found it gave me much needed experience before venturing out and transferring to U of L.”