Nearly 150 high school students from southcentral Kentucky examined automotive brake systems, built wooden walls, welded steel and talked about lapel pin designs they had prepared for Friday’s SkillsUSA Region 5 competition in Bowling Green.

The students were scattered across the city in competitions held on campuses of Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College and at the Warren County Area Technology Center.

“The competition itself is a place to showcase their skills and be competitive – this is not an A, B, C, D multiple choice test,” said Melissa Jones, Region 5 SkillsUSA coordinator. Regional winners have a chance to go on to April’s state competition in Louisville.

Savannah Bell, a senior at Barren County High School, chatted quietly with some students on SKYCTC’s main campus Friday while she awaited a chance to present her pin drawing.

Students were asked to design a Kentucky SkillsUSA lapel pin to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the SkillsUSA national organization. The theme is “50 Years of Champions at Work.”

Bell said she drew her pin on a digital tablet. Bell would like to attend Western Kentucky University following graduation and study mechanical engineering. She said SkillsUSA projects help her formulate her future.

“It is really leading me to what I am going to be doing in college,” Bell said.

With all the recent snow days, Bell did a lot of work on her pin design at home.

Cody Gravil and Lucas Upchurch, both seniors at Warren East High School, were among several students building a wooden wall with two rafters in three hours at the Warren Area Tech Center.

Roy Mellott, a retired carpentry teacher at Franklin-Simpson High School, said the key to the work was accuracy.

Upchurch added that figuring out the angles also were part of the challenge.

Several students down the hall at the Tech Center began a competition in automotive technology. Instructor Michael Emerton said they were to torque tires, hook up a scanner to measure an engine’s performance, identify 10 car parts, check the brake fluid in a vehicle and assess fuses without pulling the fuses out of the circuit board.

The SkillsUSA is not the kind of challenge for which a student could cram.

“If you know how to do it, you do. If you don’t, you don’t,” said Brittany King, a senior at Warren Central High School. During class they went over the identification of the car parts. King got interested in automotive technology when her father procured a 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle and began restoring it.

“We dropped a motor in it just a couple of months ago,” King said.

Emberton said he makes sure the kids know about the electronic aspects of automotive technology when teaching his course at the tech center.

“They have to be trained on all of it, but the electrical is a really big thing these days,” he said.

Mike Greer, computerized manufacturing instructor at SKYCTC’s Kentucky Transpark campus, said students competing had to operate a milling machine and show  proficiency.

“After they machine a component, then they have to run the lathe,” Greer said.

Nathan Johnson, a quality control inspector for Stupp Bridge Company in Bowling Green, served as a judge for the welding competition held on the main SKYCTC campus.

“You look at the quality of the weld and the workmanship,” he said.

This year’s winners in the Region 5 SkillsUSA Competition were:

Action Skills (AS)

• 1^st Place – Paul Hedge Russellville ATC

Architectural Board Drafting (ABD)

• 1^st Place - Noah Kaiser - Russellville ATC
• 2^nd Place – Aidan Rice - Allen Co.
• 3^rd Place – Brandon Little - Allen Co.

Architectural Drafting - CAD (AD)

• 1^st Place - Dylan Harper - Allen Co.
• 2^nd Place – Zoe Brownfield - Barren Co.
• 3^rd Place – Devin Walters - Allen Co.

Automated Mfg Technology (MFG) Team

• 1^st Place – Braden Pedigo, Dylan Haynes, Darian Bautista - Barren Co.

Automotive Service Tech ( AST )

• 1^st Place – Jeffrey Lemons - Russellville ATC
• 2^nd Place – Dylan Farmer - Barren Co.
• 3^rd Place – Samson Anderson - Allen Co.

Automotive Service Tech 1 ( AST1 )

• 1^st Place – Britany King - Warren Co.
• 2^nd Place – Isaiah Coyt - Warren Co.
• 3^rd Place – Stephen Hoffman – Barren Co.

Cabinetmaking (CM)

• 1^st Place – Mason Jones - Monroe Co.

Carpentry ( C )

• 1^st Place - Cody Gravil - Warren Co.
• 2^nd Place - Lucas Upchurch - Warren Co.
• 3^rd Place - Devin Lee Gearlds - Monroe Co.

Carpentry 1 ( C1 )

• 1^st Place – Daniel Posers - Warren Co.
• 2^nd Place - Kai Andrew Khai - Warren Co.

CNC Milling Specialist (CNCM)

• 1^st– Seth Chapman - Barren Co
• 2^nd– Josh Wooten - Barren Co.

Computer Maint. Technology ( CMT )

• 1^st Place – Logan Boyd - Warren Co.
• 2^nd Place – Kevin Perea – Warren Co.
• 3^rd Place – Matthew Garner - Russellville ATC

Construction Tool Identification (CTI)

• 1^st Place – Daniel Powers – Warren Co.
• 2^nd Place – Jeramie Thompson – Russellville ATC

Customer Service (CUS)

• 1^st Place – Kaitlyn Foster Russellville ATC
• 2^nd Place – Aidan Rice - Allen Co.

Electric Construction Wiring (ECW)

• 1^st Place – Weston Riggs - Barren Co.
• 2^nd Place – Cole Wilkinson - Barren Co.

Electronics Technology (ET)

• 1^st Place – Tiston Keas - Russellville ATC
• 2^nd Place – Sebastian Rolett - Russellville ATC

Extemporaneous Speaking (ES)

• 1^st Place – Alex Melton - Franklin Simpson
• 2^nd Place – Grace Jones - Allen Co.
• 3^rd Place – McKinley Dieterlen - Allen Co.

Extemporneous Writing ( EW )

• 1^st Place – Lucas Harrison - Allen Co.
• 2^nd Place – Chyanne Funnell - Allen Co.

Heating, Ventilation, Air Cond. & Refrig (HVAC)

• 1^st Place – Eric Garrison - Barren Co.
• 2^nd Place – Zack Scott – Barren Co.

Industrial Motor Control (MOTR)

• 1^st Place – Makievyn Burgos - Russellville ATC

Job Interview (JI)

• 1^st Place - Devin                Walters - Allen Co.

Job Skills Demo A (JSDA)

• 1^st Place – Austin Miller - Barren Co.

Job Skills Demo Open (JSDO)

• 1^st Place – Joaquin Galben - Russellville ATC
• 2^nd Place – Tristan Dill - Russellville ATC

Masonry (M)

• 1^st Place – Matt Lile - Franklin Simpson
• 2^nd Place – Logan Watkins - Franklin Simpson

Masonry I (M1)

• 1^st Place – Michael Herrington - Franklin Simpson

Pin Design (PIN)

• 1^st Place – Savannah Bell - Barren Co.

Pledge (PL)

• 1^st Place – Ralston Shipley - Allen Co.

Precision Machining Tech (PMT)

• 1^st Place - Jacob Holman - Barren Co.
• 2^nd Place – Wesley Hadden - Russellville ATC
• 3^rd Place – Chris Mayes - Russellville ATC

Promotional Bulletin Board (BB) Team #1 Member 1

• 1^st Place – Macey Young and Elizabeth Young - Franklin Simpson

Quiz Bowl (Quiz)

• 1^st Place – Madison Anderson, Noah Kaiser, Dillon Settle, Noah Stahl, Seth Bagby – Russellville ATC

Related Technical Math (RTM)

• 1^st Place - Michael Dylan Cardwell - Russellville ATC
• 2^nd Place – Dylan Harper - Allen Co.
• 3^rd Place – Cory Radcliff - Allen Co.

Skills Spelling (SS)

• 1^st Place – Paige Jones - Russellville ATC
• 2^nd Place – Maggie Sharp - Russellville ATC
• 3^rd Place – Tyler Kirkman - Russellville ATC

Talent Group (TG)

• 1^st Place – Paul Hedge and Tristan Dill - Russellville ATC

Technical Board Drafting ( TBD )

• 1^st Place  - Travis Tarter - Barren Co.
• 2^nd Place – Ralston Shipley - Allen Co.
• 3^rd Place – Cory Radcliff - Allen Co.

Technical Drafting CAD ( TD )

• 1^st Place – Lucas Harrison - Allen Co.
• 2^nd Place – Garrett Cooper - Allen Co.
• 3^rd Place – Madison Anderson - Russellville ATC

Transportation Tool ID (TTI)

• 1^st Place – Clayton Harwood - Barren Co.
• 2^nd Place – Tyler Kirkman - Russellville ATC

Welding (W)

• 1^st Place – Chase Williamson - Russellville ATC
• 2^nd Place – Hunter Gloyd - Russellville ATC
• 3^rd Place – Zach Stradtner - Franklin Simpson

Welding 1 (W1)

• 1^st Place – Jacob Hildebrant - Warren Co.
• 2^nd Place – Nick Coleman - Russellville ATC
• 3^rd Place - Jacob                Hadden - Warren Co.

Welding Fabrication (WF) Team

• 1^st Place – Cody Driver, Dakota Hyde, Chris Butt - Franklin Simpson
• 2^nd Place – Brennan Wilkinson, Will Steen, Austin Massey – Warren Co.
• 3^rd Place – Marshall Lewis, Corey Glass, Brandon Belk – Warren Co.

Welding Sculpture

• 1^st Place – Samantha Sturgill - Russellville ATC
• 2^nd Place – Jordan Spurgeon - Franklin Simpson

The contests are organized by and run through a partnership of industry, labor and education. More than 5,500 students from all states advance and compete in the national event.

SKYCTC will present the player of the game trophy at each of the Region 4 basketball tournament games. Check back each day as we add new recipients to the list.

Donia Massey of Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) presented the SKYCTC Player of the Game Trophy to Amaya Lasley of South Warren High School at the KHSAA Region 4 basketball tournament first round game between South Warren High School and Russell County High School held March 3rd at the Diddle Arena.	Lori Slaughter of Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) presented the SKYCTC Player of the Game Trophy to Holly Robinson of Allen county-Scottsville High School at the KHSAA Region 4 basketball tournament first round game between Allen County-Scottsville High School and Franklin-Simpson High School held March 3rd at the Diddle Arena.
Jim Turner of Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) presented the SKYCTC Player of the Game Trophy to Oneisha Turner of Bowling Green High School at the KHSAA Region 4 basketball tournament first round game between Bowling Green High School and Glasgow High School held March 2nd at the Diddle Arena.	Jim Turner of Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) presented the SKYCTC Player of the Game Trophy to Magann Turner of Logan County High School at the KHSAA Region 4 basketball tournament first round game between Logan County High School and Cumberland County High School held March 2nd at the Diddle Arena.

Versailles, Ky.– Kentucky’s public postsecondary two-year system has risen from a fragmented group of technical and transfer-oriented colleges into one of the most comprehensive community and technical college systems in the country, according to a new report by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS). The report ranks the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) fourth in the nation for total credentials awarded among the nation’s community and technical college systems and fifth in enrollment growth improvement.                                                      

Since 2000, KCTCS has experienced a dramatic increase in annual enrollment from 73,000 students to 135,000 in the 2012-2013 academic year, the time period studied by NCHEMS. According to the report, one of the best ways to measure success is to look at the impact KCTCS is having on Kentucky adults without college degrees. KCTCS now ranks fifth in the nation in terms of improving its reach to young adults ages 18-34.

One reason for that growth is online education. The report noted the explosion in the number of students enrolled in at least one online course, which showed a little more than 3,000 in 2000 to nearly 52,000 in the 2012-2013 academic year. This makes KCTCS the largest provider of online education in the state.

Since 2000, KCTCS also has had a dramatic increase in the awarding of credentials with the number of associate degrees tripling and the number of certificates increasing tenfold. In the critical age group of 18-34, the state’s improvement in awarding college credentials has moved KCTCS from 32^nd to fourth in the nation.

The recently released report titled “The Kentucky Community and Technical College System: The Rise of a Premier Public Two-Year College System,” shows that KCTCS has realized the vision set forth by former Gov. Paul Patton and other state policymakers when they passed House Bill 1 (HB1) in 1997.

“It has happened in large part because of the sustained commitment to leadership, support and service from the staff at KCTCS, and the diligent efforts to service their communities among the 16 colleges (and their staffs),” NCHEMS reported. “The residents of Kentucky are greatly benefitting from all of their efforts.”

Kentucky was one of the first states to set a goal for college attainment when it did so in 1997. Recognizing that Kentucky was one of the most undereducated and poorest states in the U. S., legislators set out to greatly expand the open access mission and provision of the state’s community and technical colleges.

“Gov. Patton and the legislators who created and passed HB1 had the foresight to understand what would happen to Kentucky’s workforce and economy if education levels did not increase,” said KCTCS President Jay Box. “We took that vision and created a system that has helped improve the lives of 750,000 Kentuckians and increased the number of skilled workers to help recruit and retain businesses throughout Kentucky.”

The report praises the “innovative” work the 16 colleges are doing to serve the needs of Kentucky’s employers and for effectively linking postsecondary education with workforce and economic development. Last year, KCTCS served just over 5,500 businesses and trained nearly 50,000 employees.

The centerpiece of the KCTCS workforce and economic development effort is the KCTCS-TRAINS program, which is part of the Kentucky Skills Network, a partnership between the Cabinet for Economic Development, Kentucky Career Center, Labor Cabinet and KCTCS. Through KCTCS-TRAINS, companies are provided funding to defray the costs of training and assessment services for current and potential employees to keep businesses competitive.

NCHEMS also points out that KCTCS leads the nation in its use of data regarding the employment of its graduates. Data compiled by KCTCS for a Bill and Melinda Gates project in 2012 revealed positive outcomes for graduates at all levels and fields of study – each yielding wages to program completers that are above those experienced by working adults who have not earned college credentials.

The report concludes by saying that despite its improvement, KCTCS continues to seek innovative practices and has remained involved in many major national initiatives aimed at improving student success and institutional performance. To learn more about the report, click here.

About NCHEMS

The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) is a private nonprofit (501)(c)(3) organization whose mission is to improve strategic decision making in higher education for states and institutions in the United States and abroad.

Link to weather outlook

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/

Inclement Weather Policy

Unusual situations, such as severe weather, may require Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) to delay its class schedule or close the institution. In the event severe weather poses a threat to the safety of SKYCTC students or employees, the College President (or his designee) will determine one of three types of schedules that all campuses will implement. The scheduling decision will be in effect for all locations equally (i.e. if the main campus is closed, both Glasgow locations will be closed), and all scheduling decisions will apply to students and employees alike (i.e. if students report at 10:00 a.m. faculty and staff report at 10:00).

The college has the following three types of schedule:

All classes at all locations are operating as originally scheduled with no adjustment.

Classes at all locations will begin at 10:00 a.m., beginning with classes that were originally scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. The snow schedule will be posted no later than 6:15 a.m. the day of the schedule change.

For example on the day of the schedule change
(1) a 9:30 a.m. Basic Public Speaking class would be canceled
(2) a 10:00 a.m. Catering class would meet as regularly scheduled

Employees should report to work by 10:00 a.m. Employees not reporting by 10:00 a.m. must take vacation time or make up work as mutually agreed with their supervisor. In the event that the snow schedule is in effect and the weather situation worsens, the college reserves the right to change the schedule to a “closed” status. If this change in schedule is deemed necessary, the decision will be posted prior to 8:30 a.m., otherwise.

Note
Due to an automated process, the snow schedule will be communicated as a “two hour delay” on WBKO’s television broadcast.

All campuses are closed. Classes will not meet. Once this schedule change is made it will be in effect for all day and night classes and will not be reversed.

Announcements regarding delays or closings will be communicated using 

1. The main switchboard message (270-901-1000)
2. Selected area radio stations
3. Bowling Green's (WBKO-TV) television station
4. SNAP notification
5. College e-mail
6. The college website http://southcentral.kctcs.edu)

During the winter months the college’s website will have a stoplight posted in the “News and Event” section of the homepage. The light color will indicate the current schedule.

Green = Regular schedule
Yellow = Snow schedule
Red = Closed

Below is an example of what will be displayed on the website Homepage.

On Thursday Sept. 4^th Dr. Ransdell, President of WKU, will be at the SKYCTC Main Campus, Building F, in the Conference Room from 2-3PM to share information and answer your questions  about the Joint Admissions Program between SKYCTC & WKU. 

Students must register at http://skyctc-meet-greet-with-dr-ransdell.eventbrite.com and attend the event in order be entered into a drawing for a $500 Transfer Scholarship to WKU! Space is limited so register today!!!

Life feed available at:

Transpark Center

Franklin-Simpson Center

Glasgow Campus

Glasgow Technology Campus

Help SKYCTC be the Twitter Champion!

SKYCTC and Somerset are currently competing in a Twitter contest as part of a promotion for Transfer Madness, an online transfer fair sponsored by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). The game will be played by pairing up each of the 16 KCTCS colleges against a KCTCS college of the same size for a sweet 16 tweet-off. The game will begin with a “@KCTCS Transfer Tournament GAME ON!” tweet at 9 a.m., on Monday, March 16. To score points Southcentral students or staff can tweet with one, or both, of the following tweets:

• A tweet containing @SKY_NewsEvents + #kytransfermadness
• A tweet containing @ SKY_NewsEvents + the college you are transferring to + #kytransfermadness

Points are earned for EVERY tweet. The first Sweet 16 round will run from Monday, March 16 - Thursday, March 19. The winners of round one will move on to the next rounds to be played the following week, leading up to the championships on Wednesday, March 25. Let’s make Southcentral the Transfer Madness Twitter Champion!!

Prizes include T-shirt giveaways, a pizza party for the winning college’s Transfer Center and bragging rights, declaring the winning college 2015 Transfer Madness Champions.


Transfer Madness Online Transfer Fair
KCTCS is partnering with the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) and almost every four-year and private institution in the state to hold the third annual online transfer fair! The event will be March 26, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. EDT. During this time students can log in and visit virtual booths set up by other institutions and hear what transfer opportunities are available for KCTCS students, prospective KCTCS students, or those just interested in transfer. For more information visit http://transfermadness.org/ and register today. You must register to participate. Many of the participating four-year institutions will offer special promotions for students who complete the process during this online event.

Bowling Green, Ky. Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) students who wish to transfer their credits or associate degree to Western Kentucky University (WKU) or another four-year institution will have the opportunity to connect with those institutions, ask questions and better prepare for their future during a Transfer Madness fair. Transfer Madness will be Thursday, March 26 from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. CDT.

Transfer Madness is the only online, statewide transfer fair where students can chat online with transfer advisors, search for scholarships, download materials and get questions answered at a time that suits their family and work schedules. Application fees will be waived for those who visit a booth during Transfer Madness.

The event is being sponsored by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) and the Council on Postsecondary Education. This year 22 Kentucky four-year institutions are participating in addition to KCTCS.

“Choosing one of Kentucky's outstanding universities at which to complete a bachelor's degree can be an exciting and challenging task for community college transfer students,” says Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) President, Dr. Phillip Neal. “The Transfer Madness event is a unique virtual opportunity to conduct research and build linkages with more than a dozen four-year institutions in the same environment.  It is a one-stop-shop that maximizes a student's contact with institutional officials while minimizing their travel and expense.”

Transfer Madness supports the Council’s Stronger by Degrees strategic plan to improve the quality of Kentucky’s workforce by increasing the number of students who transfer from KCTCS colleges to four-year institutions. One of the goals of House Bill 160 (2010) is to eliminate the barriers students encounter when trying to transfer to a four-year institution, and one of the barriers is a lack of information and engagement between students and transferring institutions.

According to Jasmine Bass, a SKYCTC graduate and current student at Western Kentucky university (WKU), her experience as a SKYCTC student and work-study employee was an essential stepping stone to her career goals.

“Being able to be a part of a college community so strongly concerned about the education of their students helped reinsure that others do want to see you succeed,” says Jasmine. “After graduation I transferred my credits to WKU and now I am a step closer to getting my dream career as a social worker”.

In addition to the online fair, a KCTCS Transfer Madness Twitter Game is underway. The game is played in a typical bracket style by paring up the 16 KCTCS colleges against each other for a Sweet 16 tweet-off. The colleges are encouraging their students to tweet about where they plan on transferring to and include #kytransfermadness. The Sweet 16 round will run from Monday, March 16 – Thursday, March 19. The following rounds will be played the following week leading up to the championships on Wednesday, March 25. For official game instructions visit: http://transfermadness.org/twitter-game/

SKYCTC is encouraging their students planning to transfer to a four-year college after obtaining their Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, or Associate in Applied Science Degree at SKYCTC to log on to the Transfer Madness website for information.  SKYCTC will offer assistance to students the day of the event in the Student Success Center on the College’s Main Campus.

To register and to view a list of participating Transfer Madness colleges, universities and education partners, visit www.transfermadness.org. Follow us on Twitter at #KYtransfermadness.

SKYCTC Culinary Arts graduate Paola Schwartz was featured in the Spring 2015 edition of Sizzle Magazine, a national publication of the American Culinary Arts Federation. Sizzle is a quarterly magazine featuring students of cooking education and careers.

Paola Schwartz, age 36, earned her Associate degree from Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College (SKYCTC) Culinary Arts program in Bowling Green, Kentucky. in 2014 she earned her  bachelor’s degree in communications from Universidad del Valle de Mexico, Mexico City, 2002.

"After reviewing the cost and quality of SKYCTC’s academic program, it was the best choice for me," said Scjwartz. "My experience has taught me that cost and control management are essential in the restaurant business. My dream is to become a health-supportive chef, which means I will have the ability to adapt menus and recipes for people with allergies and/or food intolerance. In addition, I want to gain the experience I need to become an ACF-certified personal chef," she says.

View article in Sizzle Magazine.

Bowling Green, KY (April 16, 2014) –  Each year Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) recognizes students from each of the Allied Health programs of the college who have excelled in academic and clinical excellence as well as leadership. This year SKYCTC honored twenty Allied Health students with awards presented at the annual Allied Health Award Ceremony April 8, 2015 at on the Main Campus of the College.

Awards recipients in their respective categories were:

Academic Excellence
In recognition of achieving excellence by maintaining the highest program GPA.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography - Amy Fletcher
Polysomnography - Jenny Saxton
Radiography - Jasmina Mujagic
Respiratory - Courtney Nicole Eaton       
Surgical Technology - Bobbie J. Chandler

Clinical Excellence
In recognition of achieving and maintaining the highest level of clinical proficiency.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography - Justin Clark
Polysomnography - Karen Carver
Radiography - Courtney Carver
Respiratory - Sara Elizabeth Maley
Surgical Technology -J. Brooke Christmas

Excellence in Leadership
In recognition for demonstrating outstanding leadership skills and integrity consistently exhibited toward fellow students

Diagnostic Medical Sonography - David Cole
Polysomnography - Omega Dumas
Radiography - Crystal Jones
Respiratory - Lori R. Hohmann
Surgical Technology - Miranda McDonald

Overall Program Excellence
In recognition of achieving excellence in academics and clinical proficiency as well as for the integrity consistently exhibited toward fellow students.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography - Britni Miller
Polysomnography - Jennifer Meredith
Radiography - Ryan Davenport
Respiratory - Emily C. Golden
Surgical Technology - Brittany Cogar

Overall Allied Health Winner

Radiography – Ryan Davenport

Award winners seated from left:Britni Miller, Amy Fletcher, Brittany Cogar, J. Brooke Christmas, Crystal Jones, Courtney Carver, Jennifer Meredith, Courtney Carver. (standing from left: David Cole, Justin Clark, Bobbie Chandler, Miranda McDonald, Jasminea Mujagic, Ryan Davenport, Omega Dumas, Jenny Saxton, Lori Hohmann, and Sara Maley.

By LAUREL WILSON - BG Daily News

“It was a unique opportunity, a very unique event that nobody else was doing,” Lewis said. “When he passed away last year, there was this void of what was going to happen with this event. Obviously, we wanted to continue his legacy. It’s a way that we can continue to honor Scott and his family.”

The fifth annual Cooking for Hope will be at 6:30 p.m. April 23 at the Living Hope Baptist Church Connection Center. The event benefits Hope House, a nonprofit that aims to alleviate spiritual and physical poverty through gospel restoration.

The organization helps people in need through a food pantry, community thrift store, affordable holiday gift program and classes on job training and financial skills. 

Cooking for Hope includes a cooking competition with three local chefs, a dinner catered by chef Mike Riggs and his culinary students from Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, a silent auction and testimonies from people who have benefited from Hope House’s programs. 

“I think people are attracted to stories of transformation,” Lewis said. 

The cooking competition is named in honor of Wilson, who owned the personal chef service Kitchen Towel Productions.

“That kind of keeps his legacy going,” Riggs said.

The Scott Wilson Chef Throw Down will feature chef Andy Henderson of Wild Eggs, chef Jarrad Miller from the Bowling Green Country Club and chef Klent Palmer from Aramark at Western Kentucky University. Each chef will be teamed with a SKYCTC culinary student and will have 30 minutes to create a dish from Hope House food pantry items plus three other secret ingredients.  

“It’s a chance to see up close and personal three chefs create something without any preparation,” Lewis said.

Cooking for Hope is a free event, but Hope House is looking for banquet sponsors to donate $500 or more, table hosts to commit to filling a table of eight and other guests willing to support Hope House.  

“We know people might not be able to give now, but if they come, they get an opportunity to hear about the ministries,” Lewis said. “Sometimes, them just getting to hear more about us ... they know who we are and that makes an impact.”

Reserving a seat is preferred, but there will be some spots available at the door. To RSVP, contact Kassie Smith at kassie@hopehousebg.com or 270-904-1200 ext. 103 or submit a form online at www.hopehousebg.com.

Kentucky Community and Technical College System President Jay Box speaks with local community leaders on Wednesday, April 8, 2015, at SKyCTC. (Austin Anthony/photo@bgdailynews.com)

By CHARLES A. MASON cmason@bgdailynews.com bgdailynews.com

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) will host a golf scramble for student scholarships on Saturday, May 30, 2015 at the Crosswinds Golf Course in Bowling Green.

Check in begins at 7:15 and a shot gun start will begin at 8:00.

Entry Fees: $75 per person | $50 SKYCTC Student Rate
(Students contact Kyle Barron at 270-901-4348 for your discount code)

4-Person Teams (Individuals will be paired up with team members)

Fee includes: Green/Cart fee, 1 Skirt and 1 Mulligan,
Breakfast, Lunch & Player Gift

Cash Prizes awarded to 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Place

Prizes for: Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin

 Available for purchase:

Mulligan • Skirt • Water Hazard • Sand Bunker • Throw

$5 each OR $20 for all !

 Silent Auction

 Register and Pay online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skyctc-golf-scramble-for-student-scholarships-tickets-16283090161

Cash and Credit Card and PayPal will be accepted for registration and purchases the day of the event 

Attn: Kyle Barron
Golf Tourney
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
1845 Loop Drive
Bowling Green, Ky 42101

APRIL IS COMMUNITY COLLEGE MONTH!'

We invite you to take part in the exciting activities slated for this month

Local businesses among 'best places to work' By the Daily News bgdailynews.com

Local establishments ranked again on the Best Places to Work in Kentucky list.

Van Meter Insurance Group and Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College ranked No. 3 and No. 25, respectively, on the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management's 2015 Best Places to Work in Kentucky list in the medium companies category. Medium companies have between 150 and 499 U.S. employees, according to the online publication. 

Hosparus, primarily based in Louisville but with an office in Bowling Green, was 17th in the medium category.

ARGI Financial with offices in Louisville and Bowling Green was ranked fourth in the small company category. Leachman Buick GMC Cadillac ranked No. 28 in the small companies category. Small companies have between 15 and 149 U.S. employees.

Van Meter has been ranked twice on the list, and its previous rank was No. 14. Van Meter had 159 U.S. employees at the time of the survey, 135 of whom were Kentucky employees. Van Meter is hiring, according to the publication.

SKYCTC has been ranked four times on the list. SKYCTC's last rank was No. 18. SKYCTC had 204 U.S. employees, all of whom are Kentucky employees, at the time of the survey.

Leachman has been ranked twice on the list and filled the No. 28 spot the last time. Leachman had 65 U.S. and Kentucky employees at the time of the survey and is hiring, according to the publication.

The Best Places to Work in Kentucky program launched 11 years ago with 35 winners in two size categories, according to the publication. This year's list had 90 winners in three size categories.

Job Fair at SKYCTC

• This event is free!

• Open to college students and the general public. 

• Meet and talk directly with employers looking to fill positions.

• Come to the Job Fair and don’t miss this opportunity!

April 22, 2015 11:00am – 2:00pm
SKYCTC Main Campus
1845 Loop Dr. Bldg. F
Bowling Green, KY

Participating Companies & Agencies

Contact: Tim Lutenski
270-901-1052 - tim.lutenski@kctcs.edu

By CHARLES A. MASON - bgdailynews.com

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College will host a job fair for students, college alumni and the public Wednesday at its main campus in Bowling Green.

The job fair is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1845 Loop Drive, Building F.

Tim Lutenski, success coach at SKYCTC, said job fairs used to be held at the college and officials decided to reinstitute them.

“The college hasn’t done one for two or three years,” Lutenski said. “We hope to benefit the community, college alumni and students.”

Lutenski said the local job market is expanding and the college wants to aid students and college alumni who may be caught up in today’s online job application process.

“They can talk to an employer face-to-face rather than online,” Lutenski said.

Job seekers also will have the opportunity to find out other job openings. The job fair provides a link with the Bowling Green community, he said.

Lutenski anticipates 200 to 400 students could attend the job fair. He said a student success coach helps students select classes, choose a major and figure out college credit when transfers apply.

He also helps students with resume preparation. Lutenski said today’s employers are looking for graduates with so-called soft skills, such as teamwork, the ability to communicate, punctuality and the ability to understand directions. 

Besides local employers, the job fair will feature several state and regional agencies, including the state Department of Highways, the Kentucky Career Center, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce and the Barren River Area Development District.

Companies participating include: Commonwealth Health Corp., Afni, Inc.; Lowe’s; Sumitomo; YFS Automotive Systems; Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products; Quality Personnel; Auto Zone; Manpower; Tractor Supply; Home Instead Senior Care; Holley Performance Products; U.S. Marine Corps; U.S. Air Force; Bowling Green Metalforming; Martin Management; Service One Credit Union; Kelly Services and Stewart Richey Construction.

From left: Dr. Gerald Napoles, Senior Vice President of Student  and Organizational Success, Jennifer Shoemake, Associate Professor/Nursing, Dr. Maggie Shelton, Provost, and Dr. Phillip Neal, College President of SKYCTC, accepted the Innovation Award of Excellence from the American Association of Community Colleges on behalf of the College.

SAN ANTONIO, April 21, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The nation's community colleges are making great strides to increase completion rates. Seven community colleges were honored for their work toward the student success agenda on April 20 at the American Association of Community Colleges' (AACC) Awards of Excellence Gala, part of AACC's 95th Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

This is the third year AACC has presented the Awards of Excellence.

In the category of Emerging Leadership, Montgomery College (Maryland), led by DeRionne Pollard, was named the winner. Through Pollard's leadership, the college has a bold strategic plan, a new mission, innovative partnerships, and a new academic structure. The strategic plan, Montgomery College 2020, ensures that by 2020 the college will be a national leader in academic programming, in promoting and supporting economic development, and in fostering community building, civic responsibility, and intercultural understanding.

Bunker Hill Community College (Massachusetts) won in the Outstanding College/Corporate Partnership category. The innovative Learn and Earn paid internship program has allowed the college to partner with top employers to give students opportunities for valuable on-the-job training. The program promotes student accessibility, diversity, retention, and completion. Ninety percent of interns transfer to a four-year institution after earning their associate degree, and 40 percent extend their employment. The college is led by Pam Eddinger.

The Advancing Diversity category recognizes colleges that are dedicated to increasing diversity and advocating for social equity on their campuses and in the community. Moraine Valley Community College (MVCC) in Illinois serves 26 diverse communities, but strives to be an institution of inclusiveness that embraces all people. One of the college's many initiatives is the Directing Results through Educational and Academic Mentoring (DREAM) program, which gets staff and faculty from all departments involved in mentoring students within the Multicultural Student Affairs department. MVCC is led by Sylvia Jenkins.

For Lee College in Texas, student success supports begin while students are still in high school. The Student Success to the Core initiative engages every level of the organization, as well as the community, to create a college-going culture and a successful student experience. The college, led by Dennis Brown, won in the Student Success category. Among the services offered, student mentors, career advising, and individualized case managers help students from the moment they connect with Lee College to graduation, and on to the workforce or transfer to a four-year institution.

In the Exemplary Board/CEO category, Eastern Gateway Community College (Ohio) was named the winner. President Laura Meeks and the college's board of trustees are working to guarantee access, equity, and affordability for all students. This has led to increased student retention while maintaining a balanced budget, even while state funding has decreased and the college was experiencing a boom in enrollment.

The Faculty Senate of Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKCTC) won in the Faculty Innovation category. When area businesses voiced a concern that new employees did not understand or value a work ethic needed for organizational survival, they responded. The group worked with business partners to create and implement the Workplace Ethics Agreement. It requires that behaviors in every classroom mirror those expected in the workplace. Since it was implemented in 2011, the college-wide GPA has increased each year, and retention and persistence rates are up. SKCTC's president is Phillip Neal.

In the new Community College Safety Planning and Leadership category, Brookhaven College (Texas) was named the winner. The college's Campus Assessment, Response and Evaluation (CARE) Team is tasked with addressing safety protocols, behavioral intervention, preparedness and timely response. The team of qualified college professionals addresses students or staff who display mental, emotional or psychological behavior that might be disruptive, hurtful to themselves or others. The college has invested in the team with the leadership, infrastructure, and ongoing training that has resulted in 1,185 students and contacts receiving help. Brookhaven College is led by Thom Chesney.

Winners were selected by a committee of the AACC Board of Directors. Twenty-one finalist colleges also were recognized at the Awards of Excellence Gala.

As the voice of the nation's community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), delivers educational and economic opportunity for 13 million diverse students in search of the American Dream. Uniquely dedicated to access and success for all students, AACC's nearly 1,200 member colleges provide an on-ramp to degree attainment, skilled careers and family-supporting wages. Located in Washington, D.C., AACC advocates for these not-for-profit, public-serving institutions to ensure they have the resources and support they need to deliver on the mission of increasing economic mobility for all. 

SOURCE American Association of Community Colleges