More than 525 students were recently named to the Dean's List for the Fall 2019 semester at West Kentucky Community and Technical College. To be named to the Dean's List, a student must be a full-time WKCTC student earning at least a 3.5 grade point average (GPA) and successfully completing 12 hours or more of course work numbered 100 or above for the academic term. The Fall 2019 Dean's List recipients are listed below.

On Friday, January 24, 2020, seven West Kentucky Community and Technical College dental assisting students and two, fourth year University of Louisvile dental students, with Paducah dentist Dr. Daniel Abell, participated in one of the children's dental clinics on the WKCTC campus each semester. WKCTC, UofL and the Purchase Area Health Education Center (AHEC) partner for the clinics once a month each semester to provide free dental care for kids. The kids who attend the clinic are scheduled through Missy Stokes, AHEC center director. WKCTC provides dental assistants and the facility and UofL students provide the dental work including restorative and preventive treatments. Dr. Abell (general dentist) supervised the January 24 clinic. Eleven children were treated at that clinic. All ten current WKCTC dental assisting and other local dentists participate in AHEC dental clinics for children throughout the semester. Way to go everyone!

Congratulations to Trina Cruse, a nontraditional student who is returning to WKCTC. She registered for the spring 2020 semester during the week of January 6-10, when the college was open for extended hours. Students who registered during that week were entered into a drawing for a gift basket from Paducah's Midtown Market. Trina won! She is returning to WKCTC after more than ten years. She earned as associate in science degree and has come back to earn an associate in applied science degree in medical information technology, medical coding. Trina plans to work from home upon graduating, and hopes to continue her education at WKCTC in the future to become a nurse. Welcome back, Trina!

West Kentucky Community and Technical College recognized more than 175 candidates for graduation who participated in its Fall Commencement Ceremony at the Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center December 16, 2019. More than 1,000 WKCTC students were conditionally eligible to receive one or more associate degrees, diplomas or certificates during Fall 2019.

Five Phi Theta Kappa students from West Kentucky Community and Technical College recently attended the 2019 regional PTK Honors in Action and Leadership Conference in Louisville. They brushed up on teamwork skills and leadership development. The students learned from the Philadelphia Regional Office of the U.S. Census Bureau about efforts to ensure that citizens understand the importance of being counted during the upcoming 2020 Census. They also received information about jobs that are perfect for college students. Way to go everyone!

Congratulations to Taylor Young, who was named West Kentucky Community and Technical College's September Student of the Month! Taylor a 24-year-old Paducah resident, is earning her associate in science degree and is set to graduate WKCTC in May 2020. She then plans to transfer to UK to study dentistry. As a single parent, Taylor is not only dedicated to raising her daughter, Aubre, but also to helping her fellow classmates find success. She recognizes the value of education and the importance FYE 105 plays in helping students have a strong start to their college careers and participated in a recent promotional video sharing her experience in the course. In summer 2019, Taylor went above and beyond her typical duties as a work-study student by helping address and mail over 700 postcards to incoming students welcoming them to WKCTC. Way to go Taylor!

Skye Jones, a student at West Kentucky Community and Technical College and a resident of the Scholar House of Paducah, recently received a one-year, $2,500 scholarship from the Scholarship Committee for the Kentucky Housing Association. Congratulations Skye!

Thomas Byerley of LaCenter was recognized as a star member of West Kentucky Community and Technical College's Student Government Association (SGA). He was honored with more than 30 student leaders during WKCTC's Student Services Red Carpet Student Leader Celebration April 30. A culinary arts student, Thomas attended the National Conference on Student Government and is an active member of SGA.

The WKCTC Stars Basketball Team and their coach Mike Chumbler were recognized April 30 for their contributions to the campus at West Kentucky Community and Technical College's Student Services Red Carpet Student Leader Celebration. Team members recognized were Jashaud Fleming, Al McFarland, Lamont Bell, Dre Smith, Jamison Hicks, Dylan Richards, Zach Tracy and Connor Griffin.

Congratulations to Dylan Richards for being named West Kentucky Community and Technical College's 2019 February Student of the Month! Dylan is 20 years old and is a 2017 honor graduate of McCracken County High School. He became part of the WKCTC family in fall 2017. "In high school I always thought I wanted to be a physical therapist. However, after taking FYE 105 at WKCTC and taking advice from advisors, I knew that I would truly enjoy a career as a high school history teacher. WKCTC helped me realize my passion in history and that my desire to help others could be used through teaching. If I had gone to a big university right out of high school, I don't believe the decision would have been as clear." Dylan is the president of the WKCTC's Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the vice president of the Student Government Association, a student ambassador, a West Kentucky Stars basketball athlete, a TRIO tutor, member of the Spanish Honor Society, and secretary of the Kentucky Education Association chapter. Through his volunteer work in the Paducah community he received the honor of being named a Kentucky Colonel and a Duke of Paducah. He also graduated from the Paducah Youth L.E.A.D. program. When not a school, Dylan likes playing basketball, camping, hiking/biking, playing guitar, reading, watching movies and traveling. He has also earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Way to go Dylan!!

Six West Kentucky Community and Technical College students were inducted into the college's National Hispanic Honor Society, Sigma Delta Pi's Sociedad Honoraria de la Lengua Espanola on February 25, 2019. The induction ceremony was held in the Student Government Association lounge, located in the college's Student Center. Congratulations to all!

Congratulations to Allison Wiles and Abigail Fountain, physical therapist assistant students at West Kentucky Community and Technical College who were selected to the 2018 Kentucky Physical Therapy Association All-Academic Team in the college's current all semester. Both will graduate with an associate in applied science degree from WKCTC's Physical Therapist Assistant program December 10 at 7 p.m. at the Carson Four Rivers Center.

Eighteen diesel technology students at West Kentucky Community and Technical College recently earned a biodiesel certification from the Kentucky Soybean Board and the National Biodiesel Board (NBB). The students were presented with their certificates during a presentation at the college's Purchase Area Training Center on November 29, 2018.

Congratulations to four West Kentucky Community and Technical College students who recently won honorable mention in the 2018 Libraries Transform student essay contest. The contest is sponsored by the Community & Technical College Round Table of the Kentucky Library Association (KLA). Each of the four WKCTC students received a $25 Barnes and Noble Gift Card for their essays. Way to go!

West Kentucky Community and Technical College student Meagan Millsap of Paducah recently received a paid internship with the Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition. The coalition is a non-profit organization with the goal of informing young Kentuckians on effective ways to have their voices heard about issues regarding the environment and political activism. WKCTC Professor Bobby Ann Lee recommended Meagan for the internship. Meagan plans to study environmental issues as a career. Congratulations Meagan!

Fifteen students will serve as student ambassadors at West Kentucky Community and Technical College during 2017-18. Ambassadors represent the college and volunteer for various campus events/activities as well as volunteer within the community. Congratulations ambassadors!

Over the Memorial Day weekend (May 27-30, 2017), Tyra Henderson, Dr. David Heflin and Sanci Teague (right) presented at the 2017 NISOD International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence in Austin, TX! They presented "Revising and Refining the First-Year Experience Through Dialogue and Research". The presentation outlined how WKCTC reinvented its First Year Experience course with research-based instruction and faculty engagement, as well as discussing policy, procedures, and course design and insight into how the First Year Experience course is an effective retention and persistence tool. Way to go team!

Congratulations to the 85 WKCTC students who received special recognition at the 2017 Honors Ceremony that was held in the Clemens Fine Arts Center on May 4. Way to go!

Four West Kentucky Community and Technical College students won several awards at the Phi Theta Kappa International Convention in Nashville April 8-9, 2017. The college's PTK chapter chapter received First Runner Up for the Honors in Action Project, Kentucky Region, and First Place in the Distinguished Theme: Rights and Responsibilities, Kentucky Region. Congrats Team!

Fifteen West Kentucky Community and Technical College students helped make the college's recent Share the Love Auction a success. More than 70 people attended the auction, which raised over $7500 to send the students to El Salvador during this year's Spring Break to learn about diverse cultures and to help families in need.

WKCTC student Jalin Burnette is one of the cast members of the Market House Theatre's next Family Series production, "'The Secret Life of Girls." Break a leg, Jalin!