Spring Term • Issue 2 • February 9, 2018
Workforce Solutions
Milestone
The Workforce Solutions team at the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) has reached a milestone. They have provided services for more than three million program participants since the program began in 2000.
THE
NEWS LETTER
The 16 colleges of KCTCS offer customized training and support services for business and industry statewide. One example is WACKER Chemical Corporation in Calvert City, which requested employee training in Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and Black Belt through West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC). This training resulted in a company savings of approximately $2.5 million over the past 18 months. Because of the success of the project, more engineers were hired to focus on additional projects, and all students who took the national certification exams passed.” “The training that our team has received through WKCTC and the KCTCS-Trains program has resulted in multiple operational excellence and cost savings projects for WACKER. They have armed our team members with valuable specialized skills and knowledge which they will carry with them throughout their careers,” said Jeremy Teague, Polymers Productivity manager.
Recognizing
Regional Education
4180 Alben Barkley Drive Paducah, KY 42001
westkentucky.kctcs.edu (270) 554-9200
facebook.com/West.Kentucky
Sometimes they work late hours. Sometimes they use their own money to enhance what they are teaching in their classrooms. Sometimes it’s just the warm smile given on a cold day. West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) has established a new awards and scholarship program to recognize those pre-kindergarten through high school educators, administrators and staff members who have gone beyond their daily responsibilities and have worked tirelessly on behalf of students, parents and the community in WKCTC’s service region, which includes Ballard, Calloway, Continued on Page 2
President’s Corner Just over a year ago, I began serving as the second president of West Kentucky Community and Technical College. I had Dr. Anton Reece President big shoes to fill following my predecessor, Dr. Barbara Veazey, who worked at the college for more than 40 years – 14 years as WKCTC’s first president. Despite being a native of Barbados, accepting the leadership role at a four-time nationally recognized community college was more than a humbling honor for me, after spending several years away from the college I started at, returning to Paducah also was a homecoming. The first month of my presidential journey began with a tour and re-visit to the Four Rivers region of western Kentucky, including Fulton, Hickman, Carlisle and Ballard counties, which served as an important reminder to me of the complexity of student access. In many ways, the tour affirmed my focus on a broader outreach of the college and connecting people throughout the region. What makes WKCTC different beyond our excellently maintained buildings and our beautiful facilities is the importance that we place on building people connections. Soon after those tours, we launched WKCTC’s Education Express outreach initiative that allowed our faculty, staff and students to join me in visiting our river counties and to have a more personal approach to connecting with the communities, which we serve. WKCTC’s Education Express made visit to Livingston, Carlisle, Fulton, Hickman, Marshall and Graves counties in Kentucky and Massac County in Illinois. In 2018, we plan to take the Express to communities in Calloway, Ballard, and McCracken counties and Pope and Alexander counties in Illinois. This ongoing initiative aligns with our vision of WKCTC as a regional, comprehensive college. Colleges and universities in Kentucky are facing changing funding formulas for academic success, which are Continued on Page 2
KENTUCKY COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM
Economic Impact from Page 1
WKCTC Thanks Donors for 2017 Contributions Nearly 100 donors, WKCTC students, faculty and staff were on hand during a recent reception to honor the college’s 2017 donors who have helped make a positive difference in the lives of WKCTC students. College officials had the chance to thank their supporters and donors had the opportunity to meet and mingle with students. “We want to thank you tonight for sharing good fortune with Paducah and West Kentucky Community and Technical College,” said Lee Emmons, WKCTC vice president for institutional advancement and executive director of Paducah Junior College, Inc., the charitable foundation of the college. The reference to good fortune, and a theme of the evening, was based on a quote from Paducah philanthropist and long-time college supporter and friend, Bill Schroeder who passed away in May 2017. He had said, “Unshared good fortune leaves one empty.” Emmons said the quote was given from the perspective of a donor and contributor, but she
(Left) WKCTC President Anton Reece recognizes Paducah Bank & Trust. Pictured with Dr. Reece is Melanie McNeill, Paducah Bank trust officer, Mardie Herndon, Paducah Bank president, and Joe Framptom, Paducah Bank CEO.
reflected on the quote from the perspective of those who benefit. “It is indeed the good fortune of the college to have such a wonderful base of generous supporters, and we thank you for that,” Emmons told the audience of supporters who contributed to the college’s scholarship funds, academic programs, workforce development and specific college projects in the past year. “Many of you share your time, many of you share your talents, many of you share your treasures, and very many of you share all three.”
“I needed to do something better with my life and this has been good. I love my job and I am thankful for the (WKCTC) program. Depending on your life situation, it may seem hard and difficult at first, but it is totally worth it in the long run.”
Safety Engineering Apex Engineering
“My mom always said, ‘do your best; someone will take notice and something good will always come out of it.’ For me, that something good was West Kentucky.”
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
February 23 - WKCTC’s Paducah School of Art and Design will be hosting an art exhibition at 5 p.m. for McCracken County 21st Century students. The show will run in conjunction with a showing by Ruth Baggett which started on January 22.
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Looking ahead, relevance, affordability and academic excellence will continue to be major priorities for WKCTC. We will continue to build and emphasize what makes our college great - our commitment to student success and our special status as one of the top community colleges in the nation. We will also continue to expand and refine our workforce and economic development. Throughout my first year as college president, the words of encouragement and the overwhelming support of this great institution have meant the world to me. It has been an amazing first year. I am committed to supporting the values, visions and worldclass education as well as training for workforce and economic development that has made “West Kentucky” the best, and ultimately making a difference in the lives of those we are fortunate to serve.
vvvvvvvv Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall, McCracken, Livingston and Lyon counties in Kentucky and Alexander, Hardin, Massac, Pope, and Pulaski in Illinois.
Victor Escavante
Surgical Technologist Baptist Health Paducah
increasingly moving beyond enrollment metrics and now include retention and graduation rates. In addition, reduced state funding is an increasingly glaring reality which colleges and universities are re-examining student success and cost-benefit measures.
Regional Educators from Page 1
WKCTC Graduates: In Their Words
Hannah L. Aikins
President from Page 1
westkentucky.meritpages.com/news
In conjunction with the awards program, a scholarship for WKCTC students interested in K-12 teaching or educational support majors has been established to encourage and assist the region’s future educators. WKCTC President Anton Reece said his vision for the inaugural Regional Educators Awards and Scholarship Program was two-fold. “Society often references the importance of our K-12 teachers and staff, but I believe they need additional recognition and support for the significant impact on society, so this recognition program is WKCTC’s appreciation of our partnerships and support of education.”
March 15 - The first WKCTC Regional Educators Awards and Scholarship Program recognizing area secondary educators who have gone beyond their daily responsibilities and played a tremendous role in the shaping of education in our region. Winners will be announced at the evening program at the Clemens Fine Arts Theatre. West Kentucky Community and Technical College, a proud member of the Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS), is an equal educational and employment opportunity institution.