WKCTC To Recognize Its 2020 Retirees in Digital Tribute Wednesday

by Janett Blythe

Please Note: Special Note: A change was made to this article to clarify what WKTC was. It is spelled out in this release and stands for West Kentucky Technical College.

Paducah, KY (05/04/2020) — West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) will recognize several retiring employees with a video tribute posted on its college Facebook channel at noon Wednesday, May 6.

With more than 190 years of combined service to the college, the retirements of Dr. Felix O. Ajokie, biology professor; Susan T. Graves, vice president of business affairs; Jill Knight, academic affairs specialist; Rhanda G. Miller, RN, BSN, assistant professor nursing; Carolyn K. Perry, Spanish professor; Dr. Doug Pruitt, psychology professor; Claudia R. Stoffel, MSN, RN, CNE, nursing professor and practical nursing program coordinator; and Debbie Swain, professor and surgical technology program coordinator, will be a significant loss to the college, said WKCTC President Anton Reece.

"Each of these retirees have had careers filled with distinction, achievement and dedication to teaching and learning," Dr. Reece said. "Their work over the years has contributed to our college's exceptional reputation as a top 10 community college. I'm honored to have worked with each and every one of them."

Dr. Reece said the college produce the tribute video to help recognize the accomplishments of this year's retirees, noting that an in-person celebration could not be held due to COVID-19 restrictions. "We want to take this time to recognize and celebrate our retirees - our faculty and staff who have provided incredible, timeless service to West Kentucky Community and Technical College," he said. "We hope that students, colleagues and the community as a whole join us in celebrating these wonderful educators and supporters by leaving messages of congratulations on our Facebook channel after the video has been posted Wednesday."

• A native of Nigeria, Dr. Akojie has worked at the college for 29 years. He is a veteran Paducah Board of Education member and was named 2003 Teacher of the Year at Paducah Community College (today's WKCTC). He is a graduate of the University of Ife in Nigeria.
• Graves of Paducah joined West Kentucky Technical College (today's WKCTC) as a part-time computer fundamentals instructor in 1993 before becoming a full-time network administrator at the college in 1999. After PCC and WKTC consolidated, Graves was named WKCTC's vice president of business affairs.
• Knight of Hickory joined the college in 1991 after working seven years at Citizens Bank & Trust Co. She was named 2002 PCC Staff Member of the Year and in 2009 received the WKCTC Administrative Staff Award.
• Miller, a 1988 Murray State University graduate, joined WKCTC's faculty as a practical nursing instructor in 1992 after working four years as a registered charge nursing at Murray Calloway County Hospital. She was instrumental in running the practical program's off campus site in Murray for several years.
• Perry, a Miami University and Garvin School of International Management graduate, joined WKCTC faculty in 2005. Coordinator of WKCTC's foreign languages, Perry has also served as the advisor for the college's Hispanic Culture Club, the National Hispanic Honor Society, Delta Sigma Pi and co-advisor of WKCTC's Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society chapter. She received WKCTC's Faculty Award for Excellence in 2019.
• Dr. Pruitt, a Newport Beach, Calif., native, earned an Associate of Arts degree with honors from Valley College in San Bernardino, CA. and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology with honors from California State University. He also received a Master of Arts degree in experimental psychology from California State University. In 2000, Dr. Pruitt completed a doctorate in experimental psychology from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. He joined Paducah Community College in 2001 as a psychology instructor and has served as the faculty council representative in his division. He was named WKCTC's Teacher of the Year by the student body twice in 2005 and 2014. He received the Phelps Award of Excellence in 2015.
• Stoffel, practical nursing program coordinator, graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and Bellarmine College. A staff nurse for more than 15 years, Stoffel joined the college's faculty in 1996. In 2011, she received Vanderbilt University School of Nursing President's Award.
• Swain, a 1982 West Kentucky Technical College (WKTC) surgical technology graduate, joined WKCTC full-time in 2002. She maintained certification as a surgical technologist for more than 35 years and in 2017 was honored by the National Board of Surgical Technology & Surgical Assisting for her long-term service as a surgical technologist.

To see the 2020 WKCTC retirement tribute, following the college's Facebook channel at facebook.com/West.Kentucky #WKCTCproud.

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