West Kentucky Community & Technical College

West Kentucky Community and Technical College recognized more than 150 candidates for graduation who participated in its Fall Commencement Ceremony December 14, 2015 at the Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center. More than 800 WKCTC students were eligible to receive associate degrees, diplomas or certificates during the Fall 2014.

Medical Laboratory Technician students at West Kentucky Community and Technical College recently donated $375 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. The students raised money over the last year through several fundraisers and made their donation to Ronald McDonald House representative during a presentation at the college on December 4.

Three welding students recently were the first to pass their American Welding Society D1.1 Unlimited Test at West Kentucky Community and Technical College. WKCTC recently completed accreditation to become an Accredited Test Facility (ATF) for the American Welding Society. The college is one of only four accredited testing facilities (ATF) for the AWS in Kentucky.

Congratulations to Kelsey Couch of Paducah! She was recently named October Student of the Month at West Kentucky Community and Technical College.

Twelve dental assisting/dental hygiene students celebrated Dental Hygiene Recognition Month in October 2015. The students set up a booth in the Allied Health Building to promote this year's focus of four components of proper oral health maintenance. The student promoted "Doing the Daily 4" which are: brushing twice a day, flossing daily, rinsing with antimicrobial rinse and chewing sugar-free gum.

Twenty-three West Kentucky Community and Technical College diagnostic medical sonography (DMS) students celebrated Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month (MUAM) throughout October 2015. The students delivered sweet treats and snacks to their clinical instructors at various clinical sites and celebrated with a potluck luncheon. They also participated in providing hands-on demonstrations to area high school students at WKCTC's 2015 Open House. The first year DMS students hosted a bake sale on campus and raised over $230 to help fund their registry exams. MUAM is held annually in October to create awareness of the role diagnostic medical sonographers play in the medical community and to educate the public about medical ultrasound and its many uses in healthcare.

Seven West Kentucky Community & Technical College recently graduated from the Paducah Police Department's 20th Citizens Police Academy. The 13-week class provides people, especially criminal justices students, with insight into how the Paducah Police Department operates, what the police can do and why the police do what they do.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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:

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.