Registration for the summer and fall semesters is underway at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC). To assist those seeking information, the College is hosting an Open House on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on the College’s Main Campus, 1845 Loop Drive in Bowling Green.

During the Open House, visitors will be able to:

• Speak with program instructors

• Explore and tour program areas

• Obtain program information

• Speak with financial aid representatives

• Apply for financial aid

• Speak with admissions personnel

• Apply for admissions

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College continues to be a leader in academic, technical and workforce training in the state.

Through the College’s Go2Work and Go2Transfer programs, students can train for high-wage/high-demand careers or complete their Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree in two years or less and transfer their credits to a university to complete their bachelor’s degree. Students can now complete their AA or AS Degrees through day or evening classes.

The open house is free and open to the public.

Bowling Green, Ky.  –Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) will honor 536 graduates receiving 2,056 credentials at the College’s Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 8, 2015. The ceremony will be held at the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center (SKyPAC) and will begin at 6:00 p.m.

"We honor each of our graduates for the hard work they have put forth to achieve their educational goals.  We also pay tribute to the family and friends for their great support to the graduates, as well as to the faculty and staff of SKYCTC for their commitment to student success," states Dr. Neal.

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College is one of the 16 colleges that comprise the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS).

The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) will honor more than 7,150 candidates, receiving nearly 14,000 credentials, for graduation this spring in 16 college ceremonies across the state.

Bowling Green, KY (May 7, 2015) – Dr. Phillip Neal, President, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, announced the 2015 faculty/staff award recipients at the annual Awards Ceremony held on May 7, 2015. Dr. Neal congratulated faculty and staff on their accomplishments and service to the College.

Five award recipients were chosen from a record number of nominations by students, faculty and staff. 

Nominations in each category were:

Soaring Beyond Expectations Nominations:
(In recognition of demonstrated achievements in their professional field and exceptional contributions that resulted in a positive impact in the overall function of Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College)

• Dean Avery
• Kristina Tackett
• Maria Taylor
• Rebecca Conner
• Jim Bronson

Outstanding Service to the Campus CommunityNominations:
(In recognition of demonstrated exemplary work ethic, extraordinary impact, and positive connections with student and colleagues at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College)

• Kyle Barron
• Bertena Varney
• Loucas Papalouca
• Janel Doyle
• Byron Pennycuff
• Aaron Mullally
• Mark Brooks

Outstanding Teamwork and Collaboration Nominations:
(In recognition of outstanding teamwork and collaboration by performing beyond the scope of regular job duties and responsibilities at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College)

• Mark Garrett and Josh Henderson
• Josh Henderson and Mark Garrett
• Lexie McDaniel, Maria Taylor, Sam Day, and Shawn Stovall
• Melissa Parocai and Mark Brooks
• Nursing Faculty Glasgow Health Campus
• Byron Pennycuff 
• Coni Waggoner and Ellie Adams
• Nerica Bowie
• Peggy Hardin and Cedric Whitney
• Donia Massey

Outstanding Service to Students Mentor Nominations:  (full time faculty)
(In recognition of exemplary and extraordinary impact on the lives of students at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College)

 This year’s award recipients were:

Outstanding Service to the Campus Community Award:

• Loucas Papalouca

Outstanding Teamwork and Collaboration Award:

• Donia Massey

Soaring Beyond Expectations Award:

• Kristina Tackett

Student Mentor Award:

• Full Time: Bertena Varney

• Part Time: Wren Mills

Tammy Inscoe, market manager at the SOKY Market Place farmers market. (Miranda Pederson/photo@bgdailynews.com)	Josh Walker of Gallatin, Tenn., sells mushrooms on Saturday, April 4, 2015, at Beech Bend Indoors Farmers Market. (Austin Anthony/photo@bgdailynews.com)

By KATIE BRANDENBURG kbrandenburg@bgdailynews.comTammy Inscoe, the new market manager at the SOKY Market Place farmers market, said the work combines things she loves: “Food, feeding people and farming.”

Inscoe, who studied culinary arts at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, was a pastry chef with Aramark at Western Kentucky University and an adjunct professor, teaching basic baking at SKYCTC. 

Her family has a farm in Logan County, where they raise cattle and crops including corn and beans.

Inscoe began work in the new position April 20. She does farm inspections for vendors, manages the market on market days and will handle scheduling for the planned commercial kitchen after it is completed.

“Everything is running smoothly, and so many people are so helpful and excited,” she said.

SOKY Market Place opened April 4 after joining forces with SKY Farmers Market, previously located at The Medical Center. It is supported with funding from Warren County Fiscal Court, along with grants.

Plans for the market include a commercial kitchen in the old Taylor’s Chapel AME Church.

This weekend, the market is expected to be in a newly built pavilion behind the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center. For now, it sets up between Hitcents Park Plaza and Bowling Green Ballpark and has about 32 regular vendors, Inscoe said.

Public Works Director Josh Moore said work is being done on wiring for the 19,200-square-foot pavilion and tying the 600-square-foot bathroom into sewer.

Weather permitting, he said the farmers market should be able to move this weekend.

The farmers market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays. A grand opening is set for June 6.

Brittany Young, chairwoman of the board for SOKY Market Place and county extension agent for family and consumer sciences, said nine applicants were interviewed for the market manager position. The board unanimously voted to hire Inscoe.

“Tammy had the organizational skills that it’s going to take to run a market,” Young said.  

She said Inscoe brings good experience to the market. Young said Inscoe came to the board with creative ideas for events and plans to sell more goods and support the market.

Inscoe is an employee of the farmers market, and her salary comes from farmers market revenue, Young said. 

Inscoe said she will be talking with people in the community about the market and recruiting sponsors. 

She said she wants to promote the connection that many of the market vendors have to WKU and work to get more of their products served in restaurants.

A newsletter and website also are planned, Inscoe said.

Versailles, Ky.– Three Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) faculty/staff were among fifty from the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) Colleges that were recognized for their leadership and significant achievements at an awards ceremony held Monday, May 18, at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington.

Recognized from SKYCTC were the following;

• Faculty Award: Michael W. Riggs, Professor/Executive Chef, Culinary Arts
• Administrative Staff Award: Raymond Haddix, Coordinator, Simpson Co. Adult Education
• Staff Award: Amy N. Cannon, Assistant Registrar

Statewide honors went to three individuals who not only supported their colleges, but also the entire System. Dr. Alissa Young, Chief Academic Officer at Hopkinsville Community College, was honored as the Administrative Staff Awards of Excellence recipient. Richard Combs, Facilities Management Team Leader at Hazard Community and Technical College, was honored as the Support Staff Awards of Excellence recipient. Felecia Johnson, Professor at Madisonville Community College, was honored as the Faculty Awards of Excellence recipient.

Each of the 16 KCTCS colleges selected an outstanding administrative staff member, support staff member and faculty member. Two individuals (one support staff and one administrative staff) from the KCTCS System Office were also honored. 

“The recipients honored serve as standards of leadership for their colleges, communities and KCTCS,” said KCTCS President Jay K. Box. “Their creativity and innovative spirit are paving the way for the future of our system.”

Both faculty and staff honorees were nominated by their college for their innovative and significant achievements, as well as service to students and their communities.

A list of all faculty and staff honorees follows, alphabetically by college.

Ashland Community and Technical College

Faculty Award: Shannon R. McCarty, associate professor/program coordinator

Administrative Staff Award: Janet C. Thompson, admissions advisor
Support Staff Award: Robert Smith, instructional specialist

Big Sandy Community and Technical College

Faculty Award: Charles W. VanHoose, assistant professor

Administrative Staff Award: Joshua L. Ball, director of college relations

Support Staff Award: Linda Dyer, staff support associate

Bluegrass Community and Technical College

Faculty Award: Nancy V. Bronner, associate professor

Administrative Staff Award: Connie Rine, IT support center manager

Support Staff Award: Beverly D. Drake, HR assistant

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College

Faculty Award: Beverly Flanagan Dile, developmental studies department coordinator

Administrative Staff Award: Noel E. Helm, coordinator, disability services             
Support Staff Award: Deborah L. Bryan, executive administrative assistant

Gateway Community and Technical College

Faculty Award: Kerri D. McKenna, assistant professor

Administrative Staff Award: Josh D. Risch, IT support specialist

Support Staff Award: Paul Tipton, maintenance and operations supervisor

Hazard Community and Technical College

Faculty Award: Paul Currie, associate professor, chemistry and biology

Administrative Staff Award: Teresa Breeding, tier II lead, KCTCS Student Services Center

Support Staff Award: Richard Combs, facilities management team leader

Henderson Community College

Faculty Award: Doris I. Cherry, professor of reading

Administrative Staff Award: Cary N. Conley, associate dean of enrollment management
Support Staff Award: Sherri L. Williams, custodial team leader

Hopkinsville Community College

Faculty Award: Karen H. Dougherty, associate professor of biology

Administrative Staff Award: Alissa L. Young, chief academic officer

Support Staff Award: Larissa Horn, student affairs assistant II
     

Jefferson Community and Technical College

Faculty Award: Bonita B. Tyler, associate professor

Administrative Staff Award: Susan C. Allen, director, child care

Support Staff Award: Robert P. Tucker, IT project manager

Madisonville Community College

Faculty Award: Felecia K. Johnson, professor

Administrative Staff Award: Candace B. Bennett, Workforce Transitions coordinator

Staff Award: Kim L. Morrow, student affair assistant

Maysville Community and Technical College

Faculty Award: Justin A. Weiss, assistant professor of biology

Administrative Staff Award: Rhonda K. Childers, HR specialist

Support Staff Award: Melissa Bishop, senior administrative assistant

Owensboro Community and Technical College

Faculty Award: Meredith L. Skaggs, assistant professor of communications

Administrative Staff Award: Donna L. Butler, College Readiness Coordinator  

Support Staff Award: Jason L. Reeves, IT project manager

Somerset Community College

Faculty Award: Steve Hammons, associate professor, academic coordinator of clinical education

Administrative Staff Award: Clint Hayes, associate dean, mathematics and natural sciences and director, institutional effectiveness and research

Staff Award: DeAnna L. Proctor, IT manager

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College

Faculty Award: Michael W. Riggs, professor/executive chef, culinary arts

Administrative Staff Award: Raymond Haddix, coordinator, Simpson Co. Adult Education

Staff Award: Amy N. Cannon, assistant registrar

Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College

Faculty Award: Elijah Buell, professor/CAO   

Administrative Staff Award: James M. Galloway, chief IT officer

Support Staff Award: Debra J. Roark, senior administrative assistant

West Kentucky Community and Technical College

Faculty Award: Karen F. Hlinka, professor of biological sciences; dean, science and mathematics division

Administrative Staff Award: George M. Tudor, coordinator of academic support

Support Staff Award: Alexandra M. Turley, senior administrative assistant

KCTCS System Office

Administrative Staff Award: Mark Hundley, associate director for sponsored projects administration 

Support Staff Award: Ashley M. Cook, technology solutions operations manager

Bowling Green, Ky. (May 12, 2015)- Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) honored 546 graduates at the College’s Commencement Ceremony, Friday, May 8, 2015. The ceremony was held at the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center.

"We honor each of our graduates for the hard work they have put forth to achieve their educational goals. We also pay tribute to the family and friends for the great support they give to the graduates," states Dr. Neal.

2015 Graduates:

* with distinction
** with high distinction

ALLEN COUNTY:

Jessica  Basham, Laura Branham, Andrew Richard Britt, Clinton Storm Browning*, Marina D. Burchett, Mark A Bush, Candise M. Fann, Jared Eli Freeman, Tamara Rose Grienenberger, Emily Anne Harlan**, Bonniejean Renee Holder, Morgan Hood, Skyler Copas Huffman*, Joshua Lee Jones, Candice Lee Keith, Brandy Joy Lambert, Ryan Scott Maynard, Cody Bryan McGuffey, Chelsey L. Miller, Amanda Jo Mitchell, Allison Murley, Seirra B. Norris, Gabrielle Christine Roberts*, Kenneth J Russell*, William David Rutledge, Connie L. Walters**, Eli C. Weaver, Latishia B. Woodcock

BARREN COUNTY:

Malcolm Brian Adwell Jr. **, James Taylor Austin**, Sydney Mae Austin , Paul Alan Bailey , Hannah Berry, Sherri J. Bryant**, Robert Lee Burton, Robert E. Calvert **, Eva M Cassidy, Emily Rose Certain, Christy Jean Childress, Jessica Brooke Christmas, Brittany  Cogar , Glenn K. Cook*, Justin Crews**, Odessa Rhea Cummings *, Mary Daniels**, Harlan Louis Dile*, Taylor Louis Dile, Courtney D. Donelson, Travis Van Gossett, Tiffany Nicole Gray, Traci Lynn Green , Pamela Jean Greer*, Mitchell L. Gregory , Chantz Diamond Hancock*, Samuel  Harbison, Tommy E Harper*, Anthony Reed Harper, Christie M Harrison, Teresa Lynn Herron**, Shelby Lauren Hiser **, Lori R. Hohmann**, Tina R. Hubbard , Kimberly Ann Hughes , Christine  Hutton, Jonathan Lance Irwin *, Jonathon F Isenberg**, Van Travis Jones*, Karrah Lenahe Jones, Nikki  Jones, Leslie Ann Jones, Dennis Brian King**, Kelsey Renae Kingrey , Christina Michelle Leber**, Paul Simpson Mckinney , Cheyenne Deketa Milan, Candie Lynette Mills, William P. Neurohr**, Chelsea Northrup, Brandon  Rich , Christine B. Rudenga , Derek Saltsman**, Mikayla Sanders*, Madison Caroline Schultz, Matthew Spillman Spillman**, Charles Joseph Stanfill , Sarah  Stanley, Michael Brandon Stockton, Taylor  Swafford , Jordan Lee Sweeney , Jacob D. Thomas**, Sharlane  Thomas, Amber Kristin Thomason, Chelsea Dawn Thurman, Jaimie Leigh Thurman, Behija Trcic, Jerrod Wells *, Nathaniel Tobias Whitehouse, Amanda Carol Wilson, Sherry F. Wooten

BUTLER COUNTY

Travis Dwayne Bailey, Deborah G Barrow**, Angela Lynn Bastin **, Angelia Michelle Collins**, Mallory Combs, Chelsea Nicole Dockery **, Nathaniel Glen Embry, Brandy  Givens , Kacie Henderson, Zachary Alexander Hicks **, Keri Lee Lewis*, Brittany Moore-Felty, Tiffany Nicole Neblina , Audrey Pendley, Jodie Elizabeth Phelps**, Abby Ann Southerland, Kayla Faith Spurgeon**, Stephanie Faith Todd**, Randal Aaron Ward**, Justin Ray Willoughby *

CAMPBELL COUNTY:

Rachel Lea Mann*

CUMBERLAND COUNTY:

Justin Lee Clark**, Melissa Ann Lucisano

DAVIESS COUNTY:

Jill Meagan Graham, Emily Ruth Hayden, Alicia Spring Haynes *, Corbin Jewell

EDMONSON COUNTY:

Amy Katherine Barnett *, Derik Shane Bledsoe, Chad Micheal Browning**, Bobby Ray Burrell**, Lori Ann Foulks*, Miranda Beth Hardin, Tiffani A. Houchin, Kristen Lee-Ann Jurisich, Jennifer Meredith, Sarah Elizabeth Sanders*, Robert Wayne Weikel**, Kelsea Leigh Wilson**, Daniel Scott Wright

FAYETTE COUNTY:

Travis Lee Faulkner, Denise Kelii Queenie Jordan

GRAYSON COUNTY:

Billy Clemons, Brian Christopher Dowling**, Courtney Nicole Eaton*, Jeana Pavlak

GREEN COUNTY:

Calvin Lamonte Gore, Joshua L. Smith

HARDIN COUNTY:

Courtney Alexandria Tuck

HART COUNTY:

Jeffrey Patrick Bennett**, Kelly Michelle Carver **, Shelby D Dennis, Charla Highbaugh, Michael David Schonschack **, Jessica Lee Scott, Christy Jean Stilts, Rebecca Ann Sturgeon, Joshua Aaron Sullivan**, Stephanie Trent**, Gabrielle Dawn Trent, Jimmy Lewis Walker **

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

Jamie L. Decker**, Sean Michael Rushing

LOGAN COUNTY:

Alesha R. Anderson, Ashley Nicole Arnold, Timothy Aarron Baldwin**, Courtney Paige Baugh, Lindsey Brooke Bond, Charles Michael Bradley**, Sabrina K. Brown, Mindy Michelle Brown, Christeenia Michell Bryan**, Stephanie Buchanan, Stephanie Ann Coffman, Kimberly A. Cropper, Ryan D. Davenport*, Kayla Renee Delaney, Janzen Gabriel Dunn**, Jose Manuel Esparza Sanchez, Christina Marie Farmer**, Dallas Michelle Fowler Charlton, Sabrina L. Fuller, Kyle Brett Harris, Justin Lloyd Heidel, Matthew Douglas House, Stacy Michelle Irvan, Eric Alan Johnson, Sara Elizabeth Maley, Brandon Marcum**, Stephanie Marie Markham , Denisha S. Moorman , Racheal N Murphy, Jeffrey Dale Page, Christopher Pearson**, Mary Elizabeth Pedigo **, Sydni Makayla Ross, Nicholas Earl Scarbrough**, Tamala Smith, Israel Vargas**, Dolores Jane Vysa, Tyler Alan Whittington, William Tyler Wilson **

MCLEAN COUNTY:

Jena Wayde Vanover**

METCALFE COUNTY:

Lorie D. Calhoun, Rebekah E. Davis , Erica Shae Gibson, John Anthony Glass, Jordan Lee Harper, Joshua Martin Herrington**, Dustin Ray Jessie, Cierra Danielle London, Barbara Suzanne Scott , Serena J. Shaw, Chase Shive, Jenna Smith, Jubilee Sneed, Riley Lewis Wisdom

MONROE COUNTY:

Derling Ramirez Catalan**, Tara Dawn Emmert, Amy Fletcher**, Myra Graves**, Amber June Russell **, Whitney Denise Jobe*, Katie Johnson**, Kayla Schyler Jones, Kendall Hunter Jones

MUHLENBERG COUNTY:

Devon Pehm

OHIO COUNTY:

Molly Paige Kennedy, Wendy Sue Smith

RUSSELL COUNTY:

Desiree Dawn Gordon, Patrick Kahn **, Kayla Pyles

SIMPSON COUNTY:

Charley Jo Allen , Rhonda Carole Barton, Katie Baxter , Jessica Marie Becker**, Tasley Bell , Michelle L. Bell-Brown, Alisha Dawn Blain, Thomas Irvin Glen Bowles*, Houstin Bradstreet, Ricky Joe Byrd**, Sunni Dae Carver-Gregory, Bobbie J. Chandler **, Lee Ann Embry , Josh Gilliam, Brad Eugene Glodjo, Marie A. Gregory , Dawn Marie Griffin, Archie Harris, Christopher Hawks, Corie Taylar Henson*, Eric Lee Higginbotham**, Holly Malone **, Nichole A. Mann, Jessica Renee McPeak*, Janisha Rochelle Perry**, Barbara S Petersen, Moriah A. Peterson*, Jacob Beach Peterson, Trenton Thomas Rhea, Amber Simpson, Derek A. Smith, Brian Austin Troutt, Audrey Rosanna Tubbs*, Haley Brooke Williams*

TAYLOR COUNTY:

Lindsey E Wise**

TODD COUNTY:

Matthew Daniel Cox

WARREN COUNTY:

Kymantay J. Abner, Sammy Adkison, Melissa Gail Allen*, Christina C. Allen , LaDerickia LaSha Amos, Larrita Nicole Anderson, Lucinda Rae Anderson*, Anthony R. Arthur , Will Atkerson, Jessica Elizabeth Atkins, Clint Bailey**, Aissia M. Bailey , Crystal Barber, Sergio Beltran-Sosa, Tina Marie Bissel , Amy Michelle Blankenship, Shatika Sheree' Boards**, Tiffany Sheree Boards**, Joseph W. Bond**, Amanda Brabham, Gabrielle Renee Bristow**, Aaron Daniel Brooker, Blake Aaron Brown, Angela L. Brown, Sara Elizabeth Browning, Bradley Allen Bunch*, Jessica Burke**, Melanie Burnette, Roger D. Burns II**, Shelby Margaret Burtoft, Eric Christopher Burton**, Daryl Lynn Campbell**, Scotty Cardwell, Courtney Carver, William Douglas Caudill, Ashley Rene Coffey*, Laura Ashley Cohron*, David W Cole**, Patricia Ann Combs, Rebeka Coy*, Tiffany Roseanne Crabtree**, Victoria Nicole Crump, Catherine A Cummings, Karissa Jane Davis*, Nejra Delic , Wesley Deweese, Hannah Duckett, Omega R. Dumas, Derick J. Duncan, Kiersten Echols, Nathan S. Elmore, Kevin W Elsener, Bryan Edward Elswick, Hoikenani Eliza Figueroa, Nicholas Ray Ford, Anu Christianah Fowope*, Michael O Fox, Makayla Jane Gentry, Rachel Dawn Gilbert-Wheat, Seth Glasscock, Emily C. Golden**, Lisa Gower*, Brandon Graham, LeAndra Green, Sylvia Greer*, Jonathan E. Greer*, Kelly Rae Gresham-guffey**, Sandra H. Guillot **, Heather Halasz, LaDanica LaShaye Halcomb , James M. Hampton, Taylor Lee Haney, Laura Michelle Hanner**, Taylor James Hardcastle, Frankie Lynn Hargis**, Paul E. Harlan, Shelby Harp , Debbie Jo Harp , Michael Craig Harper, Terry Harris , Cary Lee Harrison*, Emily Ann Hatfield, John Austin Hatfield**, Sean A. Heltsley , Nathan Heltsley , Chandler Nicole Helveston, Candace Hill, Kimberly Renee Holder, Ben Taylor Holley*, Patience Holts, Scott Hood , Evony J. Houston , Joshua David Huffman, Elizabeth Rae Huffman , Sheila Hughes, Leticia D. Hughes, Alyssa M. Hunt , Patrick Hunt , Amy Marie Hurt**, Brandon Hurt**, Emily Beth Hyde, Mark Wendell Jacobs, Jeffery Allen Jarvis, Jeanette Nicole Johnson, Caitlyn Rene' Johnson, Terrence Johnson, Jordan Michael Jones, Crystal L. Jones , Alan R. Karoffa Jr.**, Walter Lee Kennedy Jr., Melissa Faye Kerr, Jesse Caitlin Kirby , Jaxom Kitchens, Matthew-Jon McCoy Kitchens, Bethanie Hope Kotelnicki, Krystina Kay Krueger**, Kristie L Lee**, Hope Ashton Lee**, Ariel Lee, Bradley David Leix**, Jarell Aaron Lewis, Ashley F. Lewis, Jonathan Adam Locke*, Charles R. Long, David Lee Loveland**, Juan Carlos Luna, Erica Dawn Mader**, Deborah K. Maples , Danielle Leigh Marlette, Diane Annette Marshall , McKenzie N. Mason, Cody Kevin Mayhugh, Miranda Michelle McDonald, DeAngela McDowell, Kelly Lauren McHugh, Courtney McKain**, Destiny McKenzie, Ryan Kent McKenzie, Christina L Meador**, Stephanie Dawn Meador **, Frances Danielle Mehicic**, Jennifer Kay Meredith, Donald Edward Meredith*, Mark Desmond Meredith II**, Emily Faye Merry, Michael Miles**, Britni Michele Miller**, Faith Marie Miller*, Britni Michele Miller**, Michael O. Mills , James Ryan Montgomery , Aaron Phillip Mooney, Anthony Moore*, Kathryn E. Moore , Cortney Derez Morrison, Thomas A. Moss, Lindsey Ruth Moxley , Jasmina Mujagic, Angelica Marie Murray , Mosope O Mustapha*, Randy Neal **, Daniel Lee Neukomm**, Fred Roy Newton, Lindsey Nicole Noltkamper*, Olivia F. Obemyer**, Danielle Ann-Marie Oberst, Richard Craig O'dell, Patrick L. Oliphant, Wanda Orick, Ellen Stewart Pardue **, Robert Earl Pate**, Jennifer Elizabeth Paul**, Robert Shane Peach, Effie DeLois Peay , Karmen K Penrose, Robert Christopher Perdue, Amy Beller Phelps, Valerie Marie Phillips, Jessica Danielle Phillips, John R. Poole, Sarah Poston, Shelby Danielle Poteet, Tiffany Amber Prebe , Lindsey Rose Prive*, Dayan Mondrell Railey **, Jordan D. Raines, Mirnesa Ramic, Erica Marie Ramsey, Faith Ramsey, Sherri Anne Rawls*, Sarah Elizabeth Redding**, Mahira Redzic, Britanii Paige Rexroat, Gregory H. Reynolds, Chelsie Nicole Riggsbee*, Jason Daniel Rigsby, Jacob Alan Riley**, David Eugene Rine**, Joanna L Roberson, Jaymie Roberts, Dinastee Nikole Robinson, Jennifer Susan Robison**, Brooke S. Robison, Dustin Scott Rockrohr**, Liceth Rodriguez, Bridget Roper, Jonathan D. Sackett*, Rhonda Sale, John Sanders**, Hannah Marie Sargeant , Alexandra Scott , Jessica G Seckel, Aaron Maurice Sells, Stephanie Nicole Severns , Lonnie D. Shirah**, Ashley Mae Siegle, Christopher Michael Simpson, Alexus Nicole Slappy*, Lauren Michelle Slaughter, Jeff L Slaughter**, Tara Danielle Slaughterbeck, Marquisha Monique Chane' Smith, Tyler Duane Smith, Ashton Kent Smith, Naki Tyanna Smith, Joseph M. Spalding, Nathan Benjamin Stagner, Brandon Stewart, Stewart Stewart*, Natasha Lynne Stinnett, Paul H Stratton, Christopher Lewis Strode, Keri Ann Stucker, Janiemae Sturgeon, Jordan Ray Talley*, Daniel E. Taulbee*, Brian Thomas Taylor, Audrey McCall Taylor, Jennifer Kim Teel**, Merideth Mckenzie Thomas*, Kayla Danielle Thomason, Whitley Elizabeth Thompson, Patricia Tibbs , Charles Thomas Tinch*, Edward Parker Tinnon, Phoenix Turner**, Kalen Nathaniel Tyler**, Emily Tyree, Erin Underwood**, Ashley Vanevery, Jennifer Lane Vibbert, Megan Vice*, Lori Ann Watt**, Brandi Renae Wells , Dustin Edward West**, Robin Colette Wheeler, Joshua Wheeler, Michael Alexander Whitaker, Jackie Allen White**, Morgan Brooke White*, Craig Thurston Wickman**, Arlene Catherine Williams, Haley M Woolbright, Braden Worthington*, Ashley Colleen Wurst *, Dakota Lee Wyatt , Brandy Nicole Yaden, Jacqueline Kaye York, Deana York, Tammy R. Zenobi **

OUT OF STATE

Mackenzie Tate Clements – Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee
Dylan Gross* - Lafayette, Tennessee
Scott M. Turner* - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Jolie Michelle Voss – Seymour, Indiana
Melanie Anne Wilson – Palm Coast, Florida

Versailles, Ky. – Thirty-two of Kentucky's top college students were honored as members of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System's 2015 All-Academic Team during the 14^th annual KCTCS Student Academic Achievement luncheon held Tuesday, May 19, at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington.

Students from each of the 16 KCTCS colleges were chosen for the All-Academic Team based on a rigorous selection process that focuses on academic performance and campus involvement. Each member of the All-Academic Team received a $500 gift from their college, as well as scholarship opportunities as KCTCS graduates to continue their education from 29 Kentucky public and private universities.  

Among those recognized were Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) students Jennifer Jackson and Rachel Test.

Jennifer Jackson of Portland, TN is a Registered Nursing student seeking her Associate Degree with plans to transfer to Western Kentucky University to pursue a Master’s degree specializing in Psychiatric nursing. Jennifer has participated in many campus activities and has been involved with several organizations as a representative of SKYCTC. She is an active member of Phi Theta Kappa, where she participated in the first Faculty Appreciation Day and SKYFest, and Gamma Beta Phi. She is also a board member of the Lion’s Club, worked with Toys-for-Tots and volunteers at the Salvation Army.

Rachel Test of Bowling Green is also Registered Nursing student seeking her Associate Degree with plans to pursue a degree as a psychiatric nursing practitioner. Rachel is currently the Vice President of the SKYCTC chapter of Gamma Beta Phi.  She also is a member of the Body Positive Club, and she volunteered with SKYFest, SOAR sessions and the SKY book giveaway, and Farmer’s market.

Scholarships

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

BOWLING GREEN, KY (WBKO) -- Bowling Green resident Karyn O’Neal is this year’s winner of the Veterans Upward Bound “Student of the Year” award. The announcement was made last week at VUB’s annual awards banquet which was held at the Knicely Conference Center on WKU’s South Campus.

O’Neal attends South Central Kentucky Community& Technical College as a nursing major. Since the summer of 2014, she has been receiving tutoring in math and other subjects from VUB staff members.

“Veterans Upward Bound has benefited me by giving me the confidence to say I can pass the harder classes,” O’Neal said. “I know all I have to do is call and make an appointment for tutoring and they are there for me.”

O'Neal is a non-traditional student who is trying to earn her degree while she and her husband are also supporting their daughter’s efforts to graduate from the University of Kentucky. “I would love to receive a college education in order to have a degree to make my life more enjoyable,” said O’Neal.

At the awards banquet, O’Neal also won the Adult Learner scholarship and a scholarship from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1298 in Bowling Green. “Karyn is one of our most gifted and talented students,” said VUB Coordinator/Counselor Rick Wright. “She values education very highly and she’s always willing to work hard to achieve academic excellence. We’re very proud of her.”

O’Neal served full-time active duty in the U.S. Navy for almost four years before transferring to the Naval Reserves for several more years of military service. Before receiving her honorable discharge, she was given the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

About Veterans Upward Bound at WKU:
VUB is a free educational program for veterans that helps them get admitted to college so they can get the education they need to get a good job and have a good quality of life. It is the only program of its kind in Kentucky. Since coming to WKU in 1992, VUB has helped more than 2,500 student veterans go to college.

For more information, visit www.wku.edu/vub or the VUB Facebook page at www.facebook.com/vubwku. Contact: Rick Wright, (270) 745-5008.

WBKO-TV

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – May 27, 2015 – Today, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce announced the launch of the On Track Motorsports Education Initiative, in partnership with the Warren County Area Technology Center, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College and Holley Performance Products.

The Chamber, in partnership with the Bowling Green Economic Development Authority, will purchase two second-generation Chevrolet Camaros from Holley to donate to SKYCTC and Warren County ATC. The schools will completely rebuild the cars, using multiple educational disciplines, including science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

This initiative is a crucial piece of the Chamber’s commitment to the development of talent for the future workforce of South Central Kentucky. According to the 2013 Urgent Call to Action study, South Central Kentucky will have 4,500 job openings in 2016 in manufacturing alone, and that number doubles to 9,000 by 2020. The On Track initiative introduces critical STEM concepts in a practical setting that will help develop a highly skilled talent pipeline to continue to fuel the already strong South Central Kentucky economy.

“We are always excited when opportunities arise to create more educational access for individuals in the community and to highlight our achievements on a national level,” said Chris Cumens, vice president of finance and administration at SKYCTC. “The On Track initiative accomplishes both. We have a unique opportunity to help promote the growing demand for careers related to STEM fields while helping others understand the incredible automotive performance infrastructure that Bowling Green supports. It’s easy to envision this growing into a very impactful program for our community and becoming a national model much like ‘The Leader in Me.’”

“This is an outstanding opportunity for students in the automotive and manufacturing career pathways to be introduced to the real life application of academic standards in the STEM field,” said Eric Keeling, Warren County ATC principal. “This partnership has created unimaginable opportunities for our students. The initiative incorporates the tenants of a high quality education and sets the bar for STEM and CTE programs in Kentucky while challenging programs on the national level.”

Western Kentucky University will serve as a strategic partner in the On Track initiative, offering support from the Ogden College of Science and Engineering, Gordon Ford College of Business and Center for Gifted Studies.

“WKU is delighted to join with our local Chamber in this key strategic partnership to advance the STEM-related educational opportunities for our area students,” said Dave Tatman, associate vice president for advanced manufacturing at the WKU Center for Research and Development. “This is yet another terrific opportunity for our regional community to work together to meet the intellectual talent needs of our area businesses both now and in the future.”

The On Track initiative is set to be a revolutionary project, involving the entire community. Throughout the 2015-16 school year, Students will completely overhaul the cars, determining and utilizing the most efficient and cost-effective means. During this process, industry experts will work closely with students and faculty to aid in the development of the car as well as the curriculum. Additionally, students, parents and the public will be engaged through social media and physical appearances.

“Bowling Green is an epicenter for the motorsports industry,” said Mayor Bruce Wilkerson. “It’s only natural that our educational institutes utilize this asset for effective learning. I’m excited to see this partnership grow and impact students across the region.”

“Students from both Warren County ATC and SKYCTC will benefit greatly from the On Track education initiative,” said Mike Buchanon, Warren County Judge-Executive. “Our region boasts strong ties to the motorsports and automotive industries, proving a natural fit for the two.”

For those businesses and individuals who wish to receive more information, or be involved in the On Track initiative, contact Kim Phelps at the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce by calling 270-901-4611 or emailing kim@bgchamber.com.

Photo by Miranda Peterson - Daily News Dave Tatman, associate vice president for Advanced Manufacturing at the Western Kentucky University Center for Research and Development, speaks Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce. The chamber announced the launch of the On Track motorsports education initiative in partnership with the Warren County Area Technology Center, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College and Holley Performance Products. (Miranda Pederson/photo@bgdailynews.com)

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

Local leaders want students “on track” to a possible local motor sports career.

“Hands-on learning can be much more influential than book learning,” said Bill Tichenor, director of marketing at Holley Performance Products.

To spark that learning, officials want kids under the hoods of street-legal race cars, rebuilding those cars from scratch.

A new educational initiative launched by the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce has several partners. The details were outlined during a news conference at the chamber’s office Wednesday.

Two late-model Chevrolet Camaros will become motor sports laboratories in the 2015-16 school year under the new On Track program.

The educational initiative will use STEM disciplines – science, technology, engineering, and math.

The Warren County Area Technology Center, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College and Holley Performance Products partnered with the Bowling Green Economic Development Authority on the plan. College-level students at SKYCTC and high school students at the tech center will work on the 1980-vintage Camaros to completely rebuild the two cars. Tichenor said the cars were used in Holley’s LS Fest.

“I’m pretty excited,” said Christian Flores of Bowling Green, a second-year student at SKYCTC majoring in collision repair technology. “We’re rebuilding a part of history.”

Tech center instructor Michael Emberton said it just might be the spark needed to get students interested.

“You try to get math before kids, but they get bored,” Emberton said. “Put a race car in front of the students, now math isn’t boring.”

Speakers talking about the initiative said On Track will bring together several segments of the Bowling Green, Warren County and southcentral Kentucky communities.

“It is to partner the rich motor-sports heritage with education,” said Tommy Adams, chamber chairman, adding that On Track is a “crucial piece to develop talent” to help fill an anticipated 4,500 job openings in 2016 in manufacturing.

Future workforce needs were documented in the chamber’s 2013 Urgent Call to Action in Support of Manufacturing study, which also noted that jobs needed to be filled in southcentral Kentucky will swell to 9,000 by 2020. 

In August 2013, Maureen Carpenter, the chamber’s vice president of regional economic development and talent, spoke at the Barren River Area P-16 Council meeting in Scottsville and detailed the Urgent Call to Action in Support of Manufacturing study, which was released in July 2013 by Audrey S. Theis.

Theis, president of Key Links, served as a consultant for the chamber and looked at the region’s workforce picture for six months. 

On Track is intended to raise the profile of motor-sports education in southcentral Kentucky, said Dave Tatman, associate vice president of advanced manufacturing at the Western Kentucky University Center for Research and Development. Tatman is a former plant manager at the General Motors Bowling Green Assembly Plant.

“This one thing won’t solve the problem” of the jobs need, “but this is part of the plan,” Tatman said.

Tatman said “we already have national eyes on this” program.

“As a representative of WKU, we could not be more delighted to enter into a partnership to advance the cause of the STEM disciplines,” he said.

The WKU connection includes support from the Ogden College of Science and Engineering, the Gordon Ford College of Business and the Center for Gifted Studies.

“I have a passion for motor sports,” said Chris Cumens, vice president for finance and administration at SKYCTC. “It is cool to build a car with someone else’s money.”

Tech center Principal Eric Keeling said a student can take a sheet of metal and lay it out, and that’s one education. “But when you get a car – whoa!”

The initiative will build on academic performance already turned in by students at the tech center.

“This car allows us to take this to the next level,” Keeling said.

Adams said the On Track initiative follows the successful implementation of The Leader in Me in Warren County Public Schools and the Bowling Green Independent School District under a $1.4 million fundraising program by the chamber. The Leader in Me is based on Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”

“This ties education to the workforce,” Cumens said.

Warren County Judge-Executive Mike Buchanon thanked the chamber for its vision. “This will make a difference in the lives of our young people and of our community,” he said.

Bowling Green Mayor Bruce Wilkerson said the On Track program is the next step after The Leader in Me. “And what a fun step this is going to be,” Wilkerson said.

The progress the students make on the cars will be outlined on social media and in public appearances, officials said.

— Follow business reporter Charles A. Mason on Twitter at twitter.com/BGDNbusiness or visit bgdailynews.com.

KCTCS honors outstanding faculty and
staff for leadership and achievements

KCTCS faculty and staff who were recognized at the ceremony. Click to enlarge. (Photo provided)

 
Fifty faculty and staff from the Kentucky Community and Technical College System were recognized for their leadership and significant achievements at an awards ceremony at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington.
 
Statewide honors went to three individuals who not only supported their colleges, but also the entire System. Alissa Young, chief academic officer at Hopkinsville Community College, was honored as the Administrative Staff Awards of Excellence recipient. Richard Combs, facilities management team leader at Hazard Community and Technical College, was honored as the Support Staff Awards of Excellence recipient. Felecia Johnson, professor at Madisonville Community College, was honored as the Faculty Awards of Excellence recipient.
 
Each of the 16 KCTCS colleges selected an outstanding administrative staff member, support staff member and faculty member. Two individuals (one support staff and one administrative staff) from the KCTCS System Office were also honored.
 
Young, Combs and Johnson were chosen for statewide honors by the KCTCS Cabinet. Each received $1,000 to be used for the professional development experience of their choice.
 
“The recipients honored serve as standards of leadership for their colleges, communities and KCTCS,” said KCTCS President Jay K. Box. “Their creativity and innovative spirit are paving the way for the future of our system.”
 
Both faculty and staff honorees were nominated by their college for their innovative and significant achievements, as well as service to students and their communities.
 
A list of all faculty and staff honorees follows, alphabetically by college.
 
Ashland Community and Technical College
Faculty Award: Shannon R. McCarty, associate professor/program coordinator
Administrative Staff Award: Janet C. Thompson, admissions advisor
Support Staff Award: Robert Smith, instructional specialist
 
Big Sandy Community and Technical College
Faculty Award: Charles W. VanHoose, assistant professor
Administrative Staff Award: Joshua L. Ball, director of college relations
Support Staff Award: Linda Dyer, staff support associate
 
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Faculty Award: Nancy V. Bronner, associate professor
Administrative Staff Award: Connie Rine, IT support center manager
Support Staff Award: Beverly D. Drake, HR assistant
 
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Faculty Award: Beverly Flanagan Dile, developmental studies department coordinator
Administrative Staff Award: Noel E. Helm, coordinator, disability services
Support Staff Award: Deborah L. Bryan, executive administrative assistant
 
Gateway Community and Technical College
Faculty Award: Kerri D. McKenna, assistant professor
Administrative Staff Award: Josh D. Risch, IT support specialist
Support Staff Award: Paul Tipton, maintenance and operations supervisor
 
Hazard Community and Technical College
Faculty Award: Paul Currie, associate professor, chemistry and biology
Administrative Staff Award: Teresa Breeding, tier II lead, KCTCS Student Services Center
Support Staff Award: Richard Combs, facilities management team leader
 
Henderson Community College
Faculty Award: Doris I. Cherry, professor of reading
Administrative Staff Award: Cary N. Conley, associate dean of enrollment management
Support Staff Award: Sherri L. Williams, custodial team leader
 
Hopkinsville Community College
Faculty Award: Karen H. Dougherty, associate professor of biology
Administrative Staff Award: Alissa L. Young, chief academic officer
Support Staff Award: Larissa Horn, student affairs assistant II
 
Jefferson Community and Technical College
Faculty Award: Bonita B. Tyler, associate professor
Administrative Staff Award: Susan C. Allen, director, child care
Support Staff Award: Robert P. Tucker, IT project manager
 
Madisonville Community College
Faculty Award: Felecia K. Johnson, professor
Administrative Staff Award: Candace B. Bennett, Workforce Transitions coordinator
Staff Award: Kim L. Morrow, student affair assistant
 
Maysville Community and Technical College
Faculty Award: Justin A. Weiss, assistant professor of biology
Administrative Staff Award: Rhonda K. Childers, HR specialist
Support Staff Award: Melissa Bishop, senior administrative assistant
 
Owensboro Community and Technical College
Faculty Award: Meredith L. Skaggs, assistant professor of communications
Administrative Staff Award: Donna L. Butler, College Readiness Coordinator
Support Staff Award: Jason L. Reeves, IT project manager
 
Somerset Community College
Faculty Award: Steve Hammons, associate professor, academic coordinator of clinical education
Administrative Staff Award: Clint Hayes, associate dean, mathematics and natural sciences and director, institutional effectiveness and research
Staff Award: DeAnna L. Proctor, IT manager
 
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
Faculty Award: Michael W. Riggs, professor/executive chef, culinary arts
Administrative Staff Award: Raymond Haddix, coordinator, Simpson Co. Adult Education
Staff Award: Amy N. Cannon, assistant registrar
 
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
Faculty Award: Elijah Buell, professor/CAO
Administrative Staff Award: James M. Galloway, chief IT officer
Support Staff Award: Debra J. Roark, senior administrative assistant
 
West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Faculty Award: Karen F. Hlinka, professor of biological sciences; dean, science and mathematics division
Administrative Staff Award: George M. Tudor, coordinator of academic support
Support Staff Award: Alexandra M. Turley, senior administrative assistant
 
KCTCS System Office
Administrative Staff Award: Mark Hundley, associate director for sponsored projects administration
Support Staff Award: Ashley M. Cook, technology solutions operations manager
 

By: Whitney Davis

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) - On Saturday the Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) held its fourth annual Golf Scramble.

The Golf Scramble was hosted at Crosswinds Golf Course, and raised money for student scholarships.

Executive Director of The Foundation at SKYCTC, Heather Rogers, said this was a cause close to her heart.

"We want to help our students be able to get their education debt free, so the more scholarships we can raise to help students come to school, pursue their higher education, and not have to go into debt and take out student loans, the better."

Rogers also noted that seeing the students who receive these scholarships walk away with a smile on their face makes all the work more than worth it.

"They are very appreciative of the support they receive from the scholarships. You know, a lot of these students, their the first ones in their family to come to college. So that's a big deal when they can get support from the school, from the community, to help them attend college."

And even though not everyone could make it out to the Golf Scramble on Saturday, there were still ways to make a contribution to the SKYCYC scholarship fund.

The community was asked to contact the SKYCTC office at 270-901-1116 in order to make a donation.

Winners of this year's Golf Scramble for Students Scholarships Steve Garmon, James Rhodes, Chuck Tucker, and Kevin Lashley.

By KATIE BRANDENBURG  - BG Daily News

In another seven months, Courtney Persinger, 18, of Bowling Green, expects to have her Associate of Science degree from Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, but on Saturday she accepted her high school diploma along with her classmates at Warren Central High School.

A total of 199 students from Warren Central High School – out of 206 graduates – were honored in the graduation ceremony at Western Kentucky University’s E.A. Diddle Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Persinger has been taking college classes since the beginning of the school year and has already accrued about 43 credit hours. She expects to get her Associate of Science degree from SKYCTC in December. 

She earned her credits while working at Sonic and taking elective courses at Warren Central.

Persinger said she’s excited to graduate for the freedom it will provide her to continue her studies without the time constraints of a high school schedule.

“I really just want to be able to get out, not have any limitations, like time restrictions in having to come here, and ready to ... really pursue it,” she said Thursday at Warren Central.

After earning her associate degree, Persinger said she wants to transfer to Murray State University to become a pre-veterinarian student with the goal of becoming a zoo veterinarian.

She said a difficult childhood has driven her to achieve academically.

“I’ve always had an understanding, as a kid, of my situation, and I’ve always understood that I don’t want to live like that, I don’t want to let it define me, I want to do better than where I came from,” Persinger said.

Persinger lived with her grandmother from a young age because her mother was not around a lot and her father was in and out of jail.

Money was tight, but she remembers her grandmother reading a lot. She would give Persinger books she finished. That meant Persinger was reading higher-level books by age 4 or 5, she said.

When her grandmother went to the store she would buy Persinger math workbooks.

“And she’d give me, like, fifth grade math and give me a bag of pinto beans and I’d sit there and count out stuff and learn math that way,” Persinger said.

Persinger’s mother is back in her life now. 

Persinger lives with her mother and little brother, and she said her mother’s example of hard work has inspired her. Persinger has had a part-time job since she was 16.

She has two younger brothers and a younger sister and said she wants to help them in any way she can.

Still, Persinger said she always understood that she couldn’t let work get in the way of an education even when she was working until 10 on school nights and until midnight on weekends while taking college and high school classes.

“I’ve always had an understanding that education is the most important thing in the world because it can take people in a situation like mine and make them into greatness,” she said.

Brad Tolbert commended graduates on a job well done during Saturday’s ceremony.

“As your principal, the view from where I stand is priceless,” he said.

Tolbert was recently removed from his position as principal; a Warren County Public Schools spokesperson said he will continue to be employed by Warren County Schools but did not say in what capacity.

Tolbert said the class of 2015 has made his time at Warren Central a special time in his life that he will always cherish.

“All I can say is, ‘I was there,’ ” Tolbert said. “I saw all the things that you accomplished. I saw the love in your hearts. I saw a spirit that could not be defeated. I saw laughter. I saw tears of compassion. I saw brothers and sisters, and because of the class of 2015 I have never felt better about the future than I do right now.” 

FRANKLIN, Ky. (WBKO-TV) -- Students in Franklin just got out of school for the summer, but it's video games that have them right back in the classroom.

As part of Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College's Career Craze camp this week, about fifteen middle school students are learning more than just how to play video games. They're actually designing one themselves.

Tuesday marked the first day of students learning to use the Scratch programming software designed by MIT.

When asked to create characters on a blank page, the students looked to familiar faces for inspiration.

"I saw this one game and he had a beard. Then I thought of my dad. He has a scruffy beard. I just got the little lines and started clicking," said Cole Hollingsworth.

"I've always been interested in them. You know, the graphics and things like that. I wanted to see if I had the ability to make them like that," added McKinna Peterson.

“This most recent school year, we were honored to work with the Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) and the local chapter of its Lions Club to serve our community,” Martin said.  In partnership with the Lions Club, JRES held an eyeglass drive, as well as a clothing drive for Ms. Annie's clothing bank in Bowling Green.  “We are very blessed with strong family support at JRES that helps make these kinds of service learning projects a success.”

Our students and families continued to benefit from the partnership with SKYCTC and Lions Club at our traditional 6th grade family potluck on the last day of school.  This is a special celebration after the 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony each year. Phillip Stagner, SKYCTC Assistant Professor, was gracious enough to get all the hot dogs, buns and condiments donated, which was a big savings for our PTO.  

Mr. Stagner, along with one of his students, grilled and wrapped approximately 400 hot dogs! This was a huge help to the PTO and JRES staff members organizing the potluck.

We are excited about our future partnership with the college and service organization, as we are working with them to start a kids' club that would be an extension of the Lions Club this fall.  We believe service learning opportunities, such as this, maximize our efforts to prepare our future leaders.

Franklin, Ky. (June 8, 2015)—  The Goodnight Memorial Library kicked off its summer reading program – “Every Hero Has a Story” - on Monday June 8 with the help of some Super instructors from Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College (SKYCTC).  Bertena Varney, David Jones, and Gary Beagle will be holding workshops at the library thought out the summer to help participants tell their own super story.

Over the course of four workshops, participants will help discover their inner super hero, create their super hero through visual arts, write their own super hero story and then have a presentation for their friends and family.  These workshops are geared toward teens and young adults. 

“This is part of a month of activities we are hosting for the summer including; student summer reading contest where student are encouraged to read 30 books for a prize, The Nutty Scientist, magicians, Animal Tales, and visits from the police fireman and EMT’s,” said Athena Richardson, program coordinator for the library.

For more information contact, Athena Richardson at the Goodnight Memorial Library at 270-586-8397.

Bowling Green, Ky. – As thousands of college graduates enter the workforce, employers look for students equipped with more than just the traditional knowledge and skills for their chosen profession. Want a nursing job? You should know anatomy, disease management and patient care. Hoping to be a robotics technician? You need to be versed in computer programming and advanced manufacturing skills. But it is often not sufficient to simply know how to the do the job, students are also expected to exhibit proper workplace behavior.

After area employers voiced concern that new hires, particularly younger employees, lacked soft skills like professionalism, workplace etiquette and teamwork; Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) applied a new approach to career readiness.  The Faculty Senate implemented a workplace ethics agreement in all classrooms to strengthen student mastery of punctuality and work ethic, classroom participation and teamwork, appropriate dress, proper technology use, and treating each team member with professional courtesy.That means in addition to completing class assignments students must demonstrate they can be on time, act professionally, put the cell phones away, and put forth a full day’s work in order to make the grade. Since the workplace ethics agreement implementation in 2011, student GPAs and retention rates have improved and employers are pleased with students’ work ethic.  The success of the program earned national honors for SKYCTC. The college’s Faculty Senate was the 2015 recipient of the Faculty Innovation Award of Excellence from the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) in April and was chosen from more than 1100 of AACC’s member colleges. The program has also been recognized by the League for Innovation in the Community College.

“We have set the bar higher for our students, so they will stand out to employers,” said SKYCTC president Phillip Neal. “They will be the preferred hires not only because they have the necessary skills, knowledge and training to do the job, but also because they are dependable, hard-working, and understand the expectation of today’s industries.”

Only students who meet both the academic and work ethic behavioral expectations successfully complete their courses. Faculty report increased productivity in the classrooms and students say they feel more motivated to succeed.  “This is a team effort, and while it immediately benefits our college community, it is directly focused on better serving our industry partners who are the basis of Kentucky’s economy, said Neal. “We are honored to be recognized for helping our students and their future employers succeed.”

     Funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) is offering an opportunity for high school teachers and counselors from Warren, Barren, Allen, and Simpson Counties to get an in-depth, hands on, exploration of Careers in Advance Manufacturing (CAM) at one of two summer sessions.

The camp, funded by a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, is designed to introduce Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) / Advance Manufacturing (AM) careers to high school students and their career influencers: parents, teachers and counselors.

Each day of the camp, participants will be able to take part in hands-on activities such as programing robots, complete an arc welding project, and write programs for PLC’s.  The lunch sessions each day will feature speakers from area industries, and after lunch the participants will be able to tour local industries and observe demonstrations such as how automation technicians use robots to assemble a Corvette and how bridges are assembled at STUPP Bridge.

The camps will be open to the first 36 participants that sign up, and each participant will receive a $500 stipend at the end of the camp.  In the future, students will be able to take advantage of this exciting, free opportunity.

There will be two camps offered this year by SKYCTC. The first will be from     June 15 through 19, and the second will be held from June 22 through June 26.

For more information or to enroll in SKY CAM, contact Brian Sparks, Assistant to the Dean & Associate Professor of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, at   (270) 901-1228 brian.sparks@kctcs.edu or Kristina Tackett, Assistant Professor of Biology, at (270) 901-1096 kristina.tackett@kctcs.edu

The Kentucky Association of Career and Technical Education (KACTE) will recognize the Culinary Arts Program of Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) as one of two programs in the state receiving the Post-secondary Programs of Distinction. The presentation will take place at the KACTE Annual Conference during the opening ceremonies that will be held on Monday, July 20, 2015 at the Galt House in Louisville.

Criteria for the award is comprised of assets such as; developing leadership for students, enhancing student growth, promoting scholarly activities that develop life-long learners, student involvement, creativity, and promoting increasing student awareness of community needs.

Students in the Culinary Arts program at SKYCTC have multiple opportunities to develop leadership skills, technical, human relations and decision making skills. The program is actively involved with non-profit events where student activities are showcased such as: Cooking for Hope, Dinner on the Duncan Hines Diner, and a sustainability project entitled “Edible Landscapes”.

“Every aspect of our program, from our curriculum to the way labs are designed to our involvement in multiple local events, is designed to make our students well-rounded individuals and develop the skills they need to be successful in life,” says Executive Chef Michael Riggs, Culinary Professor at SKYCTC, “Our students face the challenges of overcoming obstacles in lab and learning to persevere, adapt, problem solve, think critically, overcome and move forward.”