West Kentucky Community & Technical College

Nine West Kentucky Community and Technical College PTA students recently attended the state meeting for the Kentucky Physical Therapy Association in Louisville. The meeting provided the students with networking opportunities and educational sessions on various topics.

Seven West Kentucky Community and Technical College students were recognized during the Annual Freedom Fund Banquet November 1, 2015 in Paducah. Each of the students received the 2015 Boyles/Coleman Scholarship based on their community service, academic standing and written essay. The scholarship funds can be used toward the cost of books, tuition or other educational related fees and services.

WKCTC's Practical Nursing students at the Murray campus in collaboration with the Murray Senior Citizens Program recently presented wellness education to nearly 50 senior participants. The one-hour presentation included education tables with posters focusing on topics such as infection prevention, relaxation techniques, alternative pain relief methods, digestive problems, and fall prevention.

Congratulations to Lilly Kaler of Paducah! Lilly was recently named the West Kentucky Community and Technical College September Student of the Month!

West Kentucky Community and Technical College has awarded a variety of scholarships to more than 450 students for the 2015-2016 college year.

For the second year, the West Kentucky Stars basketball team at West Kentucky Community and Technical College will support Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a Pink-Out event at it's first game set for October 22.

Angela Love of Paducah, KY graduated in May 2005 with an associate in applied science degree in General Occupational and Technical Studies. She also received a diploma in respiratory care technology. Congratulations, Angela!

West Kentucky Community and Technical College's collision repair technology students revamped a donated Paducah Police Department cruiser into the new campus vehicle for the WKCTC Security Department. The students repainted the cruiser that was donated to the college this summer. They also installed various college decals and symbols on the vehicle to complete the new look. The process to update the cruiser took two weeks and was a great training opportunity that fit perfectly with the current painting and refinishing curriculum for the Collision Repair Technology Program, said program coordinator Craig Dickerson. The cruiser has now been added to the WKCTC Security Department's other modes of transportation.

Members of West Kentucky Community and Technical College's Alpha Epsilon Beta chapter and some of their family members recently collected items for the Hugs Project. The national non-profit organization provides care packages for American service personnel stationed and fighting in the Middle East and Afghanistan. The care packages are filled with hygiene products, CDs, DVDs, socks, books, magazines, non-perishable food, candy, and more. The packages also have a special note of thanks to let the soldiers know they are appreciated. Paducah's Gayron Ferguson started the local chapter of the Hugs Project when his son served overseas. WKCTC's Alpha Epsilon Beta is a local chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association.

Winborn "Windy" Gregory, a graduate of the WKCTC Automotive Technology Program, recently earned a nationally recognized certification to become an Automotive Services Excellence (ASE) Master Automobile Technician.

Several West Kentucky Community and Technical College students have been named to the 2015-2016 West Kentucky Stars Cheerleading Squad that supports the college's West Kentucky Stars club basketball team.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College's surgical technology students joined hospitals and colleges throughout the U.S. in celebrating National Surgical Technologists Week September 20 to September 26. The week is promoted through the Association of Surgical Technologists to recognize this important segment of the health care field. The following WKCTC students delivered cookies to local surgical clinical site during the week:

Members of West Kentucky Community and Technical College's West Kentucky Stars Club Basketball team recently volunteered with the Paducah Cooperative Ministry.

More than 90 West Kentucky Community and Technical College students were recently named to the college's Phi Theta Kappa honor society. Phi Theta Kappa recognizes and encourages scholarship among two-year college students. To achieve this purpose, Phi Theta Kappa provides opportunities for the development of leadership and service, for an intellectual climate for exchange of ideas and ideals, for lively fellowship for scholars, and for stimulation of interest in continuing academic excellence. This year's members are:

Twelve West Kentucky Community and Technical College students have been named 2015-2016 Student Ambassadors. Student ambassadors are outstanding student leaders selected to publicly represent the college and WKCTC's Office of Student Development-Student Affairs in a variety of public events and college activities. They are part of a dynamic team of student leaders dedicated to creating positive change and supporting student success. The WKCTC 2015-2016 Student Ambassadors are:

The West Kentucky Community and Technical College community is thrilled to welcome students on campus for the Fall 2015 Semester! The fall semester begins Monday, August 17, 2015. Fall 2015 Semester enrollees include:

Jason Kirks of Murray is one of twelve students across Kentucky to be named to the 2015 Kentucky Physical Therapy Association All-Academic Team. "I am privileged to be selected to the 2015 KPTA All Academic Team," said 32 year-old Kirks, a 2001 Calloway County High School graduate and United States Air Force veteran. "It means so much to be recognized for this honor." Students are chosen for the competitive team based upon academic and clinical performance, extracurricular, campus and community service activities, participation in physical therapy-related activities and organizations, and a personal statement discussing the student's career goals and the importance of being an advocate for the physical therapy profession.

Congratulations to Georgiana Roberts of Mayfield! Georgiana was recently selected for the Phi Theta Kappa Regional Officer Team. "I am very proud to be a part of the regional officer team for Kentucky," said Roberts. "I look forward to developing further as a leader and working with phenomenal individuals throughout the state." To help her grow in her new role as a PTK regional officer, Roberts attended Phi Theta Kappa 101, a leadership training conference for community college advisors and officers held at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College in May.

The following students have earned recognition for their academic work by being named to the West Kentucky Community and Technical College Dean's List for the Spring 2015 semester. 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 digital artwork of West Kentucky Community and Technical College student Emily Hargrove was recently chosen for a Kentucky Art Council exhibition in Frankfort.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College student Asheley Thomas of Boaz recently took home a national honor from the Phi Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference in Chicago last month. Thomas was one of the more than 1,600 of America's best and brightest college students from across the United States who participated in the PBL Step Up to the Challenge conference in the Windy City June 24-27. Thomas placed third overall in the macroeconomics category. "It feels fantastic; I feel honored to have received this recognition for a great deal of hard work," said Thomas. The award was part of a comprehensive national competitive events program sponsored by the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and PBL that recognizes and rewards excellence in a broad range of business and career-related areas.

More than 50 Paducah Tilghman High School students joined more than 500 area high school students who have registered to attend West Kentucky Community and Technical College this fall. Registration for summer and fall classes at WKCTC is also underway. Call 1-(855) GO-WKCTC or visit westkentucky.kctcs.edu for class offerings. Fall classes begin August 17.

The Justice Run against Child Abuse was West Kentucky Community & Techical College's Alpha Epsilon Beta's fourth annual fundraiser for the treatment and prevention of child abuse. All proceeds from the race went to Child Watch, a non-profit organization that provides a variety of services to abused children.

Congratulations to Georgiana Roberts of Mayfield! Georgiana was recently named the West Kentucky Community and Technical College April Student of the Month!

West Kentucky Community and Technical College recognized more than 200 candidates for graduation who participated in its Spring Commencement Ceremonies May 9, 2015 at the Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center. More than 700 WKCTC students were eligible to receive associate degrees, diplomas or certificates.

Courtney Walker of Grand Rivers was one of 92 students recognized at West Kentucky Community and Technical College's 2015 Honors Ceremony April 30 in the Clemens Fine Arts Center. Courtney was recognized for receiving an Award for Excellence in Communication and the 2014 Coca Cola Leader of Promise award. Courtney received a $1,000 scholarship from Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society as a Coca-Cola Leader of Promise Scholar to further her associate degree studies.This is the first time a WKCTC student has received the Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship. Congratulations Courtney for both awards!

Tara Isbell of Mayfield was one of 92 students recognized at West Kentucky Community and Technical College's 2015 Honors Ceremony April 30 in the Clemens Fine Arts Center. Tara received a Who's Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges award and the ADN Florence Nightingale award. She was also named to the 2015 Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) All-Academic Team. The KCTCS All-Academic Team recognizes outstanding students in Kentucky's community and technical colleges. She will be one of two students speaking during the 2015 WKCTC Spring Commencement at the Luther Carson Four Rivers Center Saturday. Congratulations Tara!!

Clarissa Pease of Paducah was one of 92 students recognized at West Kentucky Community and Technical College's 2015 honors Ceremony April 30 in the Clemens Fine Arts Center. Clarissa received a Certificate of Excellence in Education: Elementary. She was also named to the 2015 Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) All-Academic Team. The KCTCS All-Academic Team recognizes outstanding students in Kentucky's community and technical colleges. She will be one of two students speaking during the 2015 WKCTC Spring Commencement at the Luther Carson Four Rivers Center Saturday. Congratulations Clarissa!!

Heather Vandiver of Paducah was one of two West Kentucky Community and Technical College students named to the 2015 All-USA Community College Academic Team. All-USA Team members are selected by USA TODAY and Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. The award is presented to exceptional students at the nation's community colleges with consideration of grades, academic rigor, growth and how well the students use their education to benefit their schools and communities. "I am honored to be awarded the opportunity to be an ALL-USA Academic Team member," said Heather, 25, a Hopkins County Central High School graduate. "From all that I have achieved, it is rewarding for me just to have made it this far. I thought I would never be in college. I thought I would never have the chance." In addition to the All-USA honor, Heather recently received an Outstanding Achievement in Business Administration award and a Who's Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges award. Way to go, Heather!

Ninety-two students were recognized during the 2015 Honors Ceremony Thursday, April 30 at West Kentucky Community and Technical College.