Virginia Blanco-Mireles of Hickory Named WKCTC Student of the Year

2017 Feb 28

Virginia Blanco-Mireles of Hickory was recently named West Kentucky Community and Technical College's 2016 Student of the Year.

She is one of six previous Student of the Month winners nominated for the award. Student of the Month winners were selected February, April, September, October and November 2016 with Mireles-Blanco winning in September.

"I feel shocked but overall blessed. The best things happen when you least expect it and when you most need it," said the 22-year-old San Luis Potosi, Mexico, native and 2013 Graves County High School graduate. "This is just another motivation for me to keep moving forward."

The first in her family to go to college, Blanco-Mireles said without her family's support she couldn't have been successful in college and wouldn't have been named Student of the Year.

"Oh my family is so proud of me. It is yet another great accomplishment, and they couldn't agree more that this is a great sign for me to keep furthering my education," said Blanco-Mireles. "So seeing how proud they are of me, is more motivation for me."

Blanco-Mireles graduated from WKCTC with an Associate in Art degree in December 2016, and she plans to continue to make her family proud by continuing her education at Murray State University this fall.

Selection of the Student of the Year is based on continuous academic performance, active participation in various student organizational activities and community service, while exhibiting a positive and encouraging attitude. The Student of the Year recipient must have maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 or higher and must have held and been successful in a significant leadership role on campus or within the community.

As Student of the Year, Blanco-Mireles will receive an award of excellence, $200 and recognition in various college and media outlets.