Kyle Garner of Paducah Named WKCTC Student of the Month

2018 Mar 12

West Kentucky Community and Technical College student Kyle Garner was named the college's March Student of the Month, officials announced today.

"When I found out that I had been selected as the Student of the Month, I was surprised and humbled to know I have been recognized for my accomplishments at WKCTC," said 19-year-old Paducah resident and WKCTC Community Scholarship Program (CSP) recipient.

"The scholarship allowed me to come to college, tuition free, which allows me to get a great education while staying at home with my family and friends while also continuing to work during the summer," said Garner, who is also able to continue his passion for international mission trips.

A graduate of McCracken County High School is May 2017, Garner had already traveled abroad through the high school three times to El Salvador and Cuba to serve those in need in those countries. Attending WKCTC has allowed him to continue to study abroad. He will travel with other WKCTC students to El Salvador later this month as part of Paducah's Starfish Ministry service learning trip. These trips have helped Garner to know what he wants to do in life.

"These trips give me great experience for what I want to do in the future. My life goals are to become an optometrist and to be able to go on medical mission trips to other countries. I would like to be able to help others see clearly while also sharing the word of God," said Garner. "I have always wanted to help others."

During his first year at WKCTC, Garner has become involved on campus including serving at the Student Government Association (SGA) social media coordinator and as a member of the college's Phi Theta Kappa honor society chapter. Later this month, he plans to run for SGA president with a term that would begin this fall.

"Being involved on campus is an important part of being able to help other students and get a sense of belonging," said Garner.

Set to graduate from WKCTC with an associate in science degree in May 2019, he plans to transfer to the University of Kentucky to major in biology and chemistry, followed by applying to optometry schools to work toward his dream of becoming an optometrist.

"I want to make my parents and my brother proud, and spend my life working to make a real difference in the lives of those less fortunate, and WKCTC is my first step to getting there," said Garner.

The Student of the Month program is designed to recognize the accomplishments of students on campus. Individuals selected must be currently enrolled at WKCTC and have maintained a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher and are nominated on the basis of exceptional performance, personal attributes, academic excellence and active participation in various student organizational activities.

Student of the Month recipients receive $100, a certificate of excellence, recognition on the WKCTC Facebook page, campus announcements and Web site. Recipients are also recognized by Pepsi MidAmerica and receive one free month's supply of their favorite Pepsi product.

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West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) has been recognized as an Aspen Prize Top 10 Community College each of the four times the Prize has been awarded by the Aspen Institute and has twice been named a Finalist with Distinction for providing students with strong job training and continuing higher education opportunity, for achieving high completion and transfer rates, and for providing strong employment results for its graduates.