West Kentucky Community & Technical College

Sixteen West Kentucky Community and Technical College students participated in roundtable discussions as part of the Student Success Center's Success Hour Series in Spring 2023.

CONGRATULATIONS! West Kentucky Community and Technical College's Diagnostic Medical Sonography Class of 2023 recently completed the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) Board exam with a 100% first time pass rate! We are very proud of our students and their hard work and dedication!

Congratulations to Vincent Massi for being named the 2023 April Student of the Month at WKCTC! "Being selected as student of the month is an incredible honor," said the 19-year-old who is studying education and is expected to graduate in 2024. Originally a native of Long Island, New York, Vincent chose to live in the McCracken County area to pursue his educational goals because of the many friendships he has made and his research into the programs that WKCTC offers. "I ended up making many friends in Kentucky. Because of that, I researched WKCTC and noticed that they had a free two-year program, so I took advantage of that. It was the best decision I made," said the Community Scholarship Program recipient. Vincent is active on the WKCTC campus. He currently serves as the president of Alpha Epsilon Beta, the college's justice club; a member of the Student Government Association and the Gender and Sexualities Alliance. "Being the president of AEB is the most rewarding thing for me at this college. I always look forward to our meetings each week, and I enjoy when we all put our heads together for a big event," said Vincent. He continued to express his gratitude and appreciation for WKCTC's clubs and organizations, as well as the connections he has made with other students and faculty. "The college has many opportunities for students looking to build their resumes, and they have a vast array of different degree pathways you can choose from. My advice for anyone coming in is to join a club. You won't regret it," Vincent added. After graduating from WKCTC, he plans to transfer to Murray State University to pursue his bachelor's degree in education. He hopes to use this knowledge to become a physical education teacher and dreams of one day becoming an actor. Congratulations, Vincent!

More than 75 West Kentucky Community and Technical College students received honors for outstanding achievement in 2022-2023, and many attended the honors ceremony in the college's Clemens Fine Arts Center on May 2, 2023. Students were selected for honors by WKCTC faculty and staff within four academic divisions in more than 30 categories, plus the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. The 2022-2023 Honors Ceremony is available on WKCTC's Facebook page and YouTube channel.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College students Andrew Cornelius and Cameron Dorris were recently named to the 2023 Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) All-Academic Team. Cornelius and Dorris, both of McCracken County, are among 32 students recognized for this honor. The KCTCS All-Academic Team recognizes two outstanding students from each of the 16 community and technical colleges based on their high achievement in the areas of scholarship, service and leadership. Cornelius is working toward an Associate in Applied Science degree in business administration, with an emphasis in human resources management. Dorris, who is working to complete an Associate in Arts degree, is studying to be an attorney. Congratulations to you both!

More than 650 students were recently named to the Dean's List for the Fall 2022 semester at West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC). For the first time, the college also recognizes not only full-time students but part-time students. To be named to the Dean's List, a full-time student must earn at least a 3.5 grade point average (GPA) or higher and successfully complete 12 hours or more of coursework numbered 100 or above for the academic term. Part-time students must have a cumulative 3.5 grade point average (GPA) or higher and a cumulative total of at least 15 KCTCS semester credits.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College's 2022-2023 Student Government Association (SGA) officers are Alexandra "Lexie" Harned, president; Lindsey Gipson, vice president; and Krystian Clayton, secretary. SGA represents the student body by generating knowledge, interest, and participation in college affairs among students. SGA is an integral part of Student Life as the sponsor and collaborator for events and programming provided to students of WKCTC. Congratulations Lexie, Lindsey and Krystian!!

On September 28, 2022, Physical Therapist Assistant Program students at West Kentucky Community and Technical College helped with the Orthopedic Institute of Western Kentucky/OIWK winter/spring sports physicals for Paducah Tilghman and McCracken County Schools. Way to go! We are #WKCTCProud of you!

West Kentucky Community and Technical College recognized and celebrated the fall Class of 2022 during commencement at the Carson Center for the Performing Arts Monday, December 12. Sarah Ladd of Louisville, a 2017 WKCTC alumna, expressed excitement and gratitude to return to the college as the featured speaker to more than 160 candidates for graduation at the Carson Center for the Performing Arts.

Congratulations to Vivian "Nikki" De La Paz, a student a West Kentucky Community and Technical College, as the recipient of the first James Wright Cosmetology Scholarship during a special presentation in the college's Bistro on September 19, 2022. A graduate of WKCTC with an associate in applied science degree in cosmetology in 2020, De La Paz, who is working in the beauty industry, is studying to be a cosmetology instructor. Bethany Edwards, Sheri Wright and Kathryn Thomas of Paducah's State Beauty Supply presented the $500 scholarship to De La Paz, in honor of their late father and husband, James Wright, who passed away in November 2021. De La Paz said she is grateful for this new opportunity. "I am very thankful for all the instructors (at WKCTC) who have helped me. I am super grateful for State Beauty Supply." Way to go Nikki. We are #WKCTCProud of you!

Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, welcomed 1,971 new initiates from 78 universities during April 2022. Students initiated into the Society must be sophomores, juniors, seniors, or graduate/professional students in the top 35% of their class, demonstrate leadership experience in at least one of the five pillars, and embrace the ODK ideals. Fewer than five percent of students on a campus are invited to join each year.

C. Todd Birdsong, director of the Clemens Fine Arts Center on the campus of West Kentucky Community & Technical College in Paducah, will be a featured artist in the upcoming LIVING IMAGE 2021/2022 Contemporary showcase of traditional and historic photographic processes exhibition. Held in Philadelphia, Pa., the exhibit will be featured from January 14th, 2022 - February 27, 2022 with a virtual opening reception at 7:30 p.m. on January 15 at https://www.thehalideproject.org/events/living-image-opening-reception/ The Halide Project was founded in 2015 to support the continued practice and appreciation of traditional and historic photographic processes. Based in Philadelphia, The Halide Project serves local and global communities by providing exhibition opportunities, educational programming, and other resources. We enthusiastically invite practitioners of chemistry-based photography from around the world to submit work to be considered for Living Image 2021 as a means to share their work with others and connect with like-minded artists. Living Image showcases contemporary artists working in traditional and historic photographic techniques. Selected works will be included in an exhibition held at The Halide Project gallery in Philadelphia and published in a printed catalog to accompany the exhibition.

Alpha Epsilon Beta officers were recently installed for 2021-2022. AEB is the criminal justice club at West Kentucky Community and Technical College. Way to go everyone!

West Kentucky Community and Technical College recognized its 2020-2021 honors students during a virtual tribute today on the college's Facebook page and YouTube channel May 15, 2021. More than 70 WKCTC students were recognized in a variety of subject areas for outstanding achievement. The complete list of honors recipients can be viewed online and can be seen in alphabetical order by award and county. The college produced the tribute video to help recognize the accomplishments of this year's honors students, as an in-person celebration could not be held due to COVID-19 restrictions. Student honors recipients were asked to submit photos for the video. "Through this video tribute, we want to salute you, our distinguished students, and celebrate your accomplishments with family and friends," said WKCTC President Anton Reece. Speakers on the virtual program were Dr. Reece; Carrie Hopper, dean of allied health and personal services; Stephanie Milliken, dean of applied technologies; Britton Shurley, dean of humanities, fine arts, business and social science; Dr. Shari Gholson, dean of nursing; Heather Coltharp, dean of science, math and computer information technologies; Dr. Kevin Gericke, retired Phi Theta Kappa advisor and professor; and Amy Elmore, student life coordinator. WKCTC faculty and staff introduced the names of each of the award winners in more than 25 categories.

Student ambassadors at West Kentucky Community and Technical College are outstanding student leaders selected to publicly represent the College, Office of Student Services, and the community in a multitude of essential capacities. A big shout out to the 2021 student ambassadors! Thank you for all you do for WKCTC and the community!

More than 80 students received their GED in 2019-2020 through West Kentucky Community and Technical College's Skills U program. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the College's adult education program was unable to hold an in-person GED graduation this year. To honor the hard work and dedication of the graduates in the significant milestone in their lives, WKCTC posted a GED video tribute on its social media channels on Thursday, July 9, 2020.

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!

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.

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!