Shellon Troutt
  • Nursing
  • Class of 2016
  • Paducah, KY

Shellon Troutt Attending One of the Top 10 Community Colleges in the Nation

2014 Sep 8

Shellon Troutt of Paducah is now enrolled at an Aspen Prize Top 10 Community College.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC), where Shellon is pursuing a health science technology credential, was recently named one of ten finalists for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation's preeminent recognition of high achievement and performance in America's community colleges.

WKCTC has earned a place on the ten top finalists' list in each of the three years the Prize has been awarded and was named a finalist-with-distinction in 2011. The $1 million prize fund will be awarded in March 2015 in Washington, D.C. to the winner and up to four finalists-with-distinction.

The Prize, awarded every two years, recognizes outstanding institutions selected from an original pool of more than 1,000 community colleges. With a singular focus on student success, the Prize assesses community colleges' achievements in four areas: student learning, certificate and degree completion, high rates of employment and earnings for graduates, and high levels of access and success for minority and low-income students.

West Kentucky stands out as one of the nation's top community colleges for many reasons, including:

  • Strong graduation/transfer rate (48% compared to 40% national average)
  • Exceptional culture among faculty for improving teaching practice across the college, resulting in measurable improvements in student learning
  • Alignment of programs to both long-term and short-term needs of local community and businesses, resulting in the college playing a central role in region's economic development

"We are extremely honored to once again be named by the Aspen Institute as one of the top 10 community colleges in the nation," said WKCTC president, Dr. Barbara Veazey. "Aspen noted the exceptional culture dedicated to student success that exists at West Kentucky. To achieve outstanding results in graduation rates, program quality and high wage job placement over a 4-5 year period shows our long-term commitment to student success. I commend the faculty and staff who pay attention to this every day and continually look to improve upon past performance."

Congratulations to the faculty, staff and students at West Kentucky Community and Technical College!

For more information, visit the Aspen Institute or WKCTC.