kentucky community & technical college systemthe culinary arts program was the first funding...

K E N T U C K Y C O M M U N I T Y & T E C H N I C A L C O L L E G E S Y S T E M

A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 7 - 2 0 0 8

The Birth of aConsolidated College 2003

West Kentucky Community & Technical College thrives in a culture of excellence—where there is an expectation of superior effort and quality performance on the part of everyone in the college. We value:

• LEARNING• INNOVATION• RESPECT• EMPOWERMENT

President’s MessageBuilding a Strong Future 5

At-A-Glance 2007-2008Taking Education to New Levels 7 A Growing VisionPromoting Excellence in Teaching and Learning 9

Our Upward StrideIncreasing Student Access and Success 11

A Global FocusExpanding Diversity and Global Awareness 20

A Competitive WorkforceEnhancing Economic Development 21

Faculty & Staff AccomplishmentsAdvancing Academic Excellence 22

Eye on the FutureEnhancing the College’s Strategic Organization 23

A Spirit of GivingPaducah Junior College, Inc. Foundation 24

Contents

Kentucky Cabinet Secretary of Education Helen Mountjoy, speaking at the groundbreaking of the

Emerging Technology Center on July 31, 2008

“Paducah honors its history,

but its eyes are to the future”

This year marks the five-year anniversary of the consolidation of two

historically great colleges into West Kentucky Community & Technical College. We celebrate this past year in our annual report, but also plan to celebrate our five years of accomplishments throughout the remainder of the year.

Consolidation of two very fine institutions with long standing histories was no easy task. It took the belief of our community, and the steadfast work of all faculty, staff, and administration to make it a reality. The accreditation as a single institution on December 9, 2003 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) sealed consolidation. SACS’s review of our college five years later affirmed the successful institution we have become when the regional accrediting agency made NO recommendations for changes at our college – something that rarely happens to colleges or universities.

We have seen record enrollment growth; new programs added that will have significant impact on economic development, and outreach into, not only our local community, but also internationally.

During the last five years, the College launched its “Fulfilling the Promise” resource development plan to provide quality programs and meet the long-term needs of our community. The culinary arts program was the first funding initiative of the plan. Positive changes in the facilities and equipment in the culinary arts program were made, including the opening of our new College Bistro. The campaign also brought vital allied health initiatives, improvements for the Challenger Learning Center, and the financial spark for an engineering technology initiative.

The College partnered with the community in lobbying for a new facility on campus to address high-tech training needs of business and industry. This year, we broke ground on a new $18.5 million facility that will provide workforce solutions to existing industry and assure prospective companies WKCTC can deliver training customized to their companies. We launched the Paducah School of Art that will complement Paducah’s downtown and Lowertown development and be a major part of the continuing creative economy. These are a few of the milestones we have achieved since consolidation.

As we reflect on how far we have come in five years, we have our eyes on the future. The opening of the Emerging Technology Center in 2010, the continued growth of the Paducah School of Art, and the strengthening of our Transfer Advising Center to make the process of transferring to a four-year college or university as smooth as possible for our students are just a few of the initiatives on our horizon.

I hope you share our pride in what we have accomplished in the past year as you read this annual report. I also ask that you congratulate the wonderful faculty and staff who have worked so hard to make WKCTC one of the best colleges in the nation.

I thank the community and those who have given so generously in both time and resources to make a difference in the educational level of our region.

Sincerely,

Dr. Barbara Veazey, President and CEOWest Kentucky Community & Technical College

President’s MessageBuilding A Strong Future

1WEST KENTUCKY COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Student Profile (Fall 2007)Total Student Enrollment: 7,100 Students enrolled in online courses: 1,372 Students receiving financial aid: 75% Part-time students: 69% Full-time students: 31% Female: 51% Male: 49%

West Kentucky Community & Technical College is a comprehensive two-year community and technical college that

is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

WKCTC is a smart choice for many students because we:

• Offer lower tuition rates. • Provide technical degrees for today’s jobs. • Provide transfer degrees to four-year colleges. • Deliver job training programs. • Refresh a student’s basic skills. • Help a student decide where to start. • Provide business and industry training.

MISSION West Kentucky Community & Technical College is an educational institution that provides excellence in teaching and learning, promotes student success, and supports economic development. The goals for WKCTC are to:

Promote Excellence in Teaching and Learning• Increase Student Access and Success• Expand Diversity and Global Awareness• Enhance Economic Development• Enhance the Strategic Organization•

VISIONWest Kentucky Community & Technical College will be an innovative learning institution committed to empowering individuals to achieve excellence in an environment of respect.

Gov. Beshear (right) pictured with WKCTC President Barbara Veazey.

“What an asset you’ve got here.Not everybody has something like this. This asset will not

only help us educate our people, but it will partner with the economic part of this city, this county, and this community.”

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear speaking about WKCTC during his first visit to the College as governor on January 28, 2008.

At-A-Glance 2007-2008

2 WEST KENTUCKY COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Emphasis on enrollment management in 2007-2008 resulted in an increase of 165 credential–seeking students from the 2006 academic year to 2007. In addition, the total fall 2007 enrollment increased by 7 percent over fall 2006 and the retention rate of credential-seeking students also increased by 4 percent from fall to fall in 2007.

Degrees & CertificatesWe offer more than 200 associate degree, diploma, and certificate options in more than 30 academic and technical programs.

CredentialsConferred (2007) • 523 associate degrees • 1,945 certificates and diplomas

FacilitiesThis year marks the beginning of a new chapter in the growth of the West Kentucky Community & Technical College’s physical plant. Improvements to facilities totaled more than $629,000 in 2007-2008. Land cleared and developed for the new Emerging Technology Center has opened up the campus and allowed for a single-campus atmosphere. The College is nestled on 220 beautiful acres in Paducah’s north side and includes 15 separate buildings. In addition to the main campus, classes are also offered at:

• The Purchase Area Training Center in Mayfield, Kentucky• The Workplace Skills Center located in Kentucky Oaks Mall in Paducah• The Mary Ellen Thompson Health Education Center in Paducah• The Weaks Community Center in Murray, Kentucky• The Paducah School of Art located at 409 Broadway in downtown Paducah

Pharmacy Technician Assistant program began during the 2007-2008 school year

and graduated five in May 2008.

Technology Students have access to the latest desktop computers at a variety of computer labs throughout the campus as well as access to e-mail, the Internet, laser printers and technical support.

Financial AssistanceNearly 75% of WKCTC’s students receive financial assistance in the form of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study jobs.

EmployeesWKCTC employs 288 full-time faculty and staff, 171 adjunct instructors, 81 Training Center instructors, and 26 temporary staff.

Special ServicesThe college offers transfer assistance, financial aid, tutoring, career planning, personal and career counseling, and supportive services for individuals with disabilities.


Each year the College implements objectives in support of the community’s needs, aligned with Kentucky Community & Technical College’s strategic plan, to increase the College’s potential for serving the people of Kentucky. These actions are part of a comprehensive plan and a vision of what the College will be in the future.

Renea Akin, Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, spearheaded the college’s successful reaccreditation visit by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Akin had an article accepted for

publication to the Southern Association of Community, Junior, and Technical College (SACJTC) Journal, which received an award. Pictured (left to right) Dr. Chuck Mojock, SACJTC president, Dr. Sheryl Smith-Kappus, SACJTC vice-president, Renea Akin, winning paper award recipient from WKCTC, Dr. Matt Basham and Dr. Dale Campbell, SACJTC Journal co-editors, at the SACJTC annual membership meeting in New Orleans on December 9, 2007.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) reaffirmed the accreditation of West Kentucky Community & Technical College (WKCTC)

for another ten years. The SACS Commission on Colleges notified WKCTC President Barbara Veazey in July 2008 the College met all criteria for accreditation and also received NO recommendations for improvement.

“We can all be proud of this achievement,” said Dr. Veazey. “The College’s unconditional reaffirmation of accreditation is the result of several years of planning and hard work and reflects the positive impact we have on our students.”

SACS serves as the regional accrediting agency of more than 800 institutions of higher education in eleven southern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia) and Latin America that award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degrees. Accreditation ensures to the public that an institution meets standards established by the higher education community, has a purpose appropriate to higher education, and has the resources, programs, and services sufficient to accomplish its purpose.

WKCTC’s review began in 2007 with submission of a Compliance Certification Report in March, and a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) in August. The

WKCTC QEP, Focus on Reading, is designed to enhance a culture of reading to enable students to better

comprehend the written word, use their knowledge to make decisions, achieve specific academic and professional skills, and become more productive and informed members of society. A team of SACS reviewers visited the campus in October 2007 to evaluate the soundness of the QEP and determine the extent of institutional compliance with SACS principles of accreditation.

“Most institutions receive one or more recommendations for improvement during a SACS site visit,” said Sherry Anderson, Vice President of Learning Initiatives. WKCTC received no recommendations for improvement during its site visit in October. “Instead of recommendations, the SACS team commended the College for its support of the QEP,” Anderson said.

A GROWING VISIONPromoting Excellence in Teaching and Learning

WKCTC Receives SACS Reaccreditation


—Keith Thorpe, who enrolled in WKCTC’s nursing program after being displaced by the Continental Tire closing in Mayfield.(August 12, 2007)

“As I considered job possibilities,I wanted something secure and something that offered me greater variety. Nursing seemed to fit.”

Putting Skills to the Test

Many programs at West Kentucky Community & Technical College require that students take state examinations in order to show

competence to enter the workplace. WKCTC students and graduates continue to do exceptionally well on such tests. In 2007-08, the:

• Barbering program 2007 graduates had 100% pass rate on state board and 100% job placement.

• 2007 Physical Therapist Assistant graduates had a 100% first-time pass rate on the 2007 licensure test. Peggy Block was invited to participate as an advanced item writer for the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy in January.

• 2007 Surgical Technology students who elected to take their national certification exam received 100% pass rate.

• Medical Assisting graduates who took the AAMA CMA certification examination received a 100% pass rate in 2007.

• 2007 Diagnostic Medical Sonography graduates had a 100% pass rate on the Physics portion of the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.

• May 2007 Respiratory Care graduates received a 100% pass rate on national certification exam.

• Dental Hygiene graduates from WKCTC site had 100% pass rates on the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination (DHNB) both written and clinical components and also had 100% job placement. In addition, all of the WKCTC dental assisting graduates who took the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) passed to become certified Dental Assistants.

The College’s reaffirmation of accreditation was not made official until the SACS Commission on Colleges approved the recommendation of the visiting team in the summer of 2008.

Dr. Veazey said the SACS Commission on Colleges further recognized the College by asking WKCTC to present at both the annual SACS Orientation Meeting and the Summer Institute on Quality Enhancement and Accreditation.

The College earned its initial SACS accreditation in 1953 as Paducah Junior College. The institution received reaffirmation of accreditation in 1971, 1981, 1991, and 2001 as Paducah Community College. The College received its first SACS accreditation as WKCTC in 2003 following the consolidation of Paducah Community College and West Kentucky Technical College.

Adult Education Meeting A Need

More than 100 students received their GED thanks to participation

in the Adult Education program at WKCTC in 2007-08. Traditionally, only about 30 students receive their equivalence diploma after getting GED preparation assistance at WKCTC. More than 50% of the GED graduates seek postsecondary education after receiving their GED. Bea Chester, 88, of Paducah was among more than 20 individuals who received their GED diplomas on July 20, 2008. Ms. Bea received a legislative citation in the form of an Esteemed Citizen Academic Achievement Award as one of the oldest individuals to ever earn a GED in Kentucky. Ms. Bea requires oxygen and needed assistance getting to the adult education classes at WKCTC’s Anderson Technical Building, but she was determined to get her GED. “When I make up my mind to do something, I’m going to do it,” she said.

2004


WKCTC hosted the Annual Conference for Student Research in November 2007. Five WKCTC

science faculty - Dr. Felix Akojie, Bobby Lee, Dr. Zhonghua Li, Dr. Sarah Liu, and Dr. Ehab Marji - donated their time and expertise to guide WKCTC students through the development of research projects for the conference. A total of 37 students, representing four KCTCS colleges, presented their research in poster presentations; 18 of which were WKCTC students. Students also published their findings in the “Proceedings From the Conference for Student Research.”

Independent StudentResearch Projects

In addition to successful graduates, several programs were successful in receiving certification or reaccreditation in their fields in 2007-08. Those included the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program, which was recognized by the Society of Diagnostic

Medical Sonographers (SDMS) and the Diesel Technology program, which completed National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) recertification.

Kelsey Curd Ladt, a 2007 graduate of West Kentucky Community & Technical College, pictured here with Dr. Felix Akojie, completed a summer internship at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. Ladt, who was 8 years old when she first started taking classes at WKCTC, was featured on a segment of NBC’s Today Show in August 2008. Kelsey, now a 13-year-old University of Kentucky student, credits WKCTC with helping her achieve her dreams.

Providing Extra Assistance

West Kentucky Community & Technical College recognized the needs

of it students by establishing an Academic Support Program in 2007. By strengthening tutoring and other services, the Academic Support program played a vital role in increasing the college’s retention rate by 10%. The Center also received the College Reading and Learning

Association/International Tutor Program Certification (CRLA). The CRLA is an international organization of tutoring professionals and its certification program assures the quality of training for tutors. WKCTC is one of seven Kentucky colleges and universities to receive CRLA certification and only one of two colleges in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS).


Education on Your Schedule

In an effort to provide more access to students in a convenient manner, the college implemented the Accessible College Education program. In its second year

of implementation, the ACE program experienced significant growth with 196 unduplicated students enrolled in the fall

2008. A chemical operator certificate program was developed and provided in an accelerated format with classes offered in Calvert City. Other new offerings included the Homeland Security/Emergency Management Certificate program that is offered at night and online as well as the Phlebotomy for Healthcare Workers Certificate program.

In order to empower students, West Kentucky Community & Technical

College recognizes the importance of providing access to the College’s programs and services in a variety

of methods and locations. In 2007-2008, the College increased the

opportunities available to students to receive an education as well as

designed new services aimed at helping students succeed.

OURUPWARDSTRIDE Increase Student Access & Success

“I was working full time while I was attending engineering school. Lexington wasn’t an option. Havingthe school in Paducah was the only way I could have gotten my engineering degree.

—William Turner, 53, who works in mechanical design engineering at USEC”


Adult Education

West Kentucky Community & Technical College’s Adult Education Department was awarded a $100,000 grant for READ KY by

the Collaborative Center for Literacy Development, New Adult Literacy Initiative. The initiative addresses the literacy needs of adults who score below the basic levels of literacy achievement by providing free classes in a private location.

Going the Distance

Improvements made to WKCTC’s distance learning program resulted in a 3,749 unduplicated number of students taking online classes from WKCTC in

2007-2008. The distance-learning program also received funding to participate in KCTCS’s Project 6 as the lead college for the Virtual Learning Institute.

Safety First

Students cannot be successful if they are constantly worrying about their safety. Student safety is paramount at WKCTC. College officials demonstrated

that commitment in 2007-08 by installing new locks on classroom and office doors throughout the campus. In addition, more than a dozen seminars and workshops were offered on campus safety and the college ranked second in the number of individuals who signed to the statewide Safety Notification Alert Process (SNAP). More than 1,400 individuals signed up to receive an alert through text message when an emergency occurs on campus.

WKCTC Culinary Arts students Anthony Peck, Kimberly Peck and Jason Canup were among several culinary students from throughout Kentucky who showcased their talents during the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) Legislative Reception February 26 in Frankfort. Members of CPE and the Kentucky Legislature attended the reception that was held during the legislative session in Frankfort, and sponsored by the Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS) and CPE. Chef Brett McCarthy and Culinary Arts Professor Vicki Koehler accompanied the students.

Pictured: (left to right) Anthony Peck, WKCTC President Barbara Veazey, Chef McCarthy, Kimberly Peck and Jason Canup.

Student safety isparamount at WKCTC

2005


“The Middle College will allow high school faculty and college faculty to align the curriculum so that students truly experience a seamless education,” said WKCTC President Barbara Veazey.

Students will come on the college campus and take high school classes at the Middle College while also being enrolled in WKCTC courses. The program will begin in Fall 2009 with 50 students - 20 selected from Marshall County High School and 30 from high schools in McCracken County. The Middle College allows students to complete a minimum of 36 college credits while still in high school. Tuition and some of the cost of books will be covered through a unique public and private partnership, which will result in a savings of at least $5,000 for each student.

The Lay Family Foundation, a private family foundation located in St. Louis, Missouri, awarded a grant of $600,000. Without private dollars, this unique opportunity could not exist, school officials said. Paducah Junior College, Inc., the foundation of WKCTC, serves as the fiscal agent of the Lay grant.

Boards from McCracken and Marshall county public schools signed an agreement on April 17, 2008 to partner, develop, and implement a Middle College on

the campus of West Kentucky Community & Technical College. The Middle College model attempts to remove barriers to college access and success by blending high school and college into a seamless educational program. Selected students will have the opportunity to accelerate their education by earning up to nine college credit hours per semester as they also complete requirements for high school graduation.

McCracken County Schools Superintendent Tim Heller, Marshall County Schools Interim Superintendent Ruth Etta Buchanan, WKCTC President

Barbara Veazey and Ken Wheeler, past chair of the Paducah Junior College, Inc. Foundation sign an agreement to partner in the implementation of a Middle College at WKCTC.

“The foundation’s hopeis that this can become a national

model. It provides qualified students a way to get the college environment. This is meant for those kids who really

want to have a head start.”

—Charles Luber, CEO of the Lay Family Foundation at the April 17, 2008 announcement

of the foundation’s donation to support the Middle College at WKCTC

Middle College Partnership


On October 31, 2007, ownership of the former Kitchens, Inc. building at 904 Harrison Street was turned over to West Kentucky Community & Technical College by Paducah city officials to house the art school. However, until funds could be raised for extensive renovations of the building, a temporary home was secured at 409 Broadway in downtown Paducah. Classes in drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture and two- and three-dimensional design are being offered at all levels from beginning to advanced by nationally and internationally exhibited master artists.

The Paducah community, Lowertown artists, and WKCTC officials have taken the idea of having an art school in Paducah and produced the Paducah School

of Art, which in the fall 2008 had 200 students enrolled.

Movement toward the birth of the art school began in September 2007 with the naming of Harvey Sadow, an internationally recognized sculptor from Florida, as the first director of the school. Specializing in ceramics, Sadow has more than 30 years of experience as an artist and educator. His work is exhibited

at the White House Collection of Contemporary Craft, the International Museum of Ceramic Craft and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, among others.

Harvey Sadow, the Paducah School of Art director, shows

off the interior of the Kitchens, Inc. building to Dr. Michael

McCall, president of the Kentucky Community &

Technical College System, and Dr. Barbara Veazey, president of West Kentucky Community

& Technical College.

Launching of Paducah School of Art


Top ProducerWest Kentucky Community & Technical College was ranked 17th in the nation in the 2008 Community College Week Magazine’s list of “Top 100 One-Year Certificate Producers.” The 2008 Top 100 analysis examines degree and certificates awarded during the 2006-07 academic year. The data is collected by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) through the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Set (IPEDS) completions survey. According to the magazine’s research, WKCTC awarded 1,796 one-year certificates in 2007 to reach its 17th ranking. Among other colleges in the top 20 of leading certificate producers included the City Colleges of Chicago (3rd), Mt. San Antonio College (6th) in California, Valencia Community College (10th) in Florida, and East Los Angeles College in California (13th).

Student Leader WKCTC multimedia student Randall Barnes was elected to serve a one-year term on the KCTCS Board of Regents as the Occupational/Technical Student Regent. Barnes of Paducah is pursuing an associate in applied science in visual communications with an emphasis in multimedia at WKCTC. He was elected the 2008-09 WKCTC Student Government Association (SGA) President and participates in the National Scholastic Sportsman Program, a club that encourages outdoor activities and conservation.

Providing Direction—WKCTC’s Advising Center The WKCTC Advising Center located in the Anderson Technical Building is a college service staffed by professional counselors and advisors committed to providing guidance and information to help students enjoy a successful college experience. More than 8,000 students were served in the center from July 1, 2007 to May 1, 2008.

Durwin Ursery, treasurer of the Lower Town Renaissance Association and Kay Travis, executive director of Paducah Junior College, Inc. sign the paperwork for the scholarship the Lower Town Association established for the Paducah School of Art.

The Lower Town Renaissance Association (LTRA) established a scholarship for art students at West Kentucky Community & Technical College. LTRA members voted September 16 to create the scholarship with a $3,000 contribution from the organization to Paducah Junior College, Inc., the foundation of WKCTC. LTRA leaders plan to contribute a portion of the organization’s annual Lower Town Home Tour proceeds to the account to increase the balance to an endowed level. Earnings from the account will be used to fund scholarships for students studying disciplines offered at the new Paducah School of Art. “We are pleased to establish this scholarship as a symbol of what Lower Town has accomplished and what is to come,” said LTRA treasurer Durwin Ursery.

2006


A GLOBAL FOCUS Expanding Diversity and Global Awareness

China natives Lu Zhang and Zhiling Wang are the first female Chinese instructors to be a part of the WKCTC international education program.

“We have seen good cooperation,” Wang said not long after arriving on the campus. “We want the students to understand China and Chinese language and culture.” Zhang and Wang teach Introduction to Chinese Culture and Beginning Chinese at WKCTC. It’s the first time in the United States for the women who both work at Tianjin Normal University in Tianjin, China. In addition to teaching at WKCTC, the Chinese instructors have also shared information about their culture and language with area secondary students. “We’re here to work, “ said Zhang, “but probably during holidays, we would like to go out to see other parts of the United States.”

Chinese Scholars (left to right) Jipaum Askew Robinson, Director of Diversity, Chinese instructor Zhiling Wang, WKCTC President Barbara Veazey, Chinese instructor Lu Zhang, and Program Facilitator Johnette Mends-Cole.

Science faculty members Dr. Zhonghua Li, Dr. Sarah Liu, and Dr. Ehab Marji, sponsored the newly formed Multi-Cultural Club, which hosted the First Annual Ping Pong Tournament in 2007.

West Kentucky Community & Technical College (WKCTC) strives to exceed the changing expectation of our many

communities by increasing student access and success. New programs, new delivery methods and continued support of

global exploration have all enhanced life in western Kentucky.

International and cultural diversity initiatives continue to grow at WKCTC. Continued international partnerships have brought students to our campus/programs from British Guyana, India, Jamaica, Nepal, Nevis, West Indies, and South Korea. International partnerships between students has resulted in the formation of a student cultural diversity club.

International Partnerships


“WKCTC has a rich history in Paducah and throughout western Kentucky. The college has successfully prepared thousands of Kentuckians, both young andold, to thrive in today’s workplace and contribute to the economic development of the region.” —U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield, March 4, 2008

Reaching StudentsAll Over The World Sayoko Fujii lives half way around the world in the Shibuya district of Tokyo, Japan, but is able to work on her Master Quilting Certificate offered by WKCTC and the American Quilter’s Society in the comfort of her own home. Fujii is one of a growing number of individuals around the world who are turning to online classes to help them get higher education credentials. A partnership between WKCTC and the AQS allows students to earn college credit in quilting classes through three options: at quilt shows in Paducah, KY, Knoxville, TN, and Des Moines, IA, through classes offered by the Museum of the American Quilter’s Society in Paducah, or online classes offered by WKCTC. The first online quilting classes were offered in October 2007.

Grant for Minorities and FemalesThe National Science Foundation awarded WKCTC a $569,582 grant to fund the “Manufacturing Technology and Pre-Engineering Scholarship Project.” The project, which was announced by U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield on March 4, 2008, will give two-year scholarships to forty full-time Manufacturing Technology and Pre-Engineering students who demonstrate both academic potential and financial need. The goal of the scholarship project is to increase the participation of academically talented and financially disadvantaged students, and provide support services to enable students to complete an associate degree, transfer to a four-year institution, or be placed in the workforce.

Patricia RobinsonReceives Legacy AwardCosmetologist and businesswoman Patricia S. Robinson was named the recipient of the WKCTC African-American Legacy Award on February 17, 2008. The award was presented during the “Celebration through Music” at Washington Street Missionary Baptist Church in Paducah.


QUICK JOBS TRAINING

In 2007-2008, the Training Center facilitated implementation of quick jobs training with a focus on welding. Quick Jobs Training courses

are designed to teach technical skills in a short class format. The goal of a Quick Jobs program is to provide students with intense, short-term (1 week to 1 semester) courses that allow them to develop a technical skill or skills that lead to immediate employment. Quick Jobs courses are part of career pathways. Students may exit the program and get a job after completing a Quick Jobs course or series of courses. A career pathway exists that will allow students to return for further education and development, ideally while maintaining employment.

Because the need of welders in local industry, particularly the river industry, is so great, welding was the primary focus of the Quick Jobs efforts in 2007-2008. Funding was received from WIA for a quick jobs program to train 19 to 21 year olds. An additional grant was written and approved for funding of quick jobs welding training for the general population. Funding begins in 2008-2009.

The Training Center The Training Center for Community and Economic Development served more than 4,500 duplicated clients and nearly 350 unduplicated companies in 2007-08. The Center spearheaded the college’s efforts in KCTCS’s new Workforce Competitiveness Initiative. WKCTC was selected as one of four pilot schools to launch the initiative. The center also secured more than $600,000 in KY WINS funding for 26 companies.

Educating the Community Community education classes such as basic computer literacy, personal development and health & fitness classes were expanded by 40% in 2007, resulting in 672 individuals served.

Workforce Competitiveness Workforce Competitiveness was one of the three major areas of focus for KCTCS in 2007-2008. Workforce Competitiveness is designed to enhance the

working relationships between the college and business and industry. The program promotes on-going dialog to identify existing companies’ need for current workforce training and future workers. It also promotes a closer tie with regional economic development organizations to ensure that new companies recruited to the area will have workers trained to meet their needs. The college launched this program in December 07.

A COMPETITIVE WORKFORCEEnhance Economic Development


them become comfortable on campus. The camps are very “hands-on” with the participants spending most of their time creating. All of the camps for middle and high school students are sponsored by area businesses, civic organizations, or through grants so that people can participate regardless of income. Participants are asked to pay a small registration fee, but scholarships are available to pay the registration of those who cannot afford it. These camps have been recognized as a KCTCS Best Practice.

In Summer 2008, camps were held for grade school children in writing, art, and building with Lego’s (math and science). Middle school students were able to participate in camps in Creative Explorations (theatre and art), and mathematics, science, and engineering for girls. Those 14 to 18 year old students participated in camps focusing on welding, carpentry, information technology, and river operations. Participants and parents have remarked on how much was learned in a week and have already asked about signing up for next year.

SUMMER CAREER CAMPS

Summer was fun at WKCTC. The WKCTC Training Center in cooperation with the Business and Education Partnership of the Chamber and many

area businesses and organizations provided summer day camps for children and youth. These camps were designed to help expose young people to possible careers they might not have previously considered and to help

“Education of the workforcepool is an issue, time and time again.

If you’re not educating workers, it’s very,very difficult to attract companies.”

—Kentucky Economic Development CabinetSecretary John Hindman, Paducah AreaChamber of Commerce, August 2, 2007


40 Yearsof arts in FOCUS A New York production of the award-winning “Five Guys Named Moe,” a musical comedy, was one of the fine performances provided through arts in FOCUS in 2007-2008.

In 2007-2008, West Kentucky Community & Technical College celebrated its 40th anniversary of presenting the performing arts to the region. WKCTC’s arts in FOCUS programs have evolved to include national tours of diverse professional performers, student and community productions, coffee house performances to spotlight local and regional musicians, a speakers series, visual arts exhibits, a series of professional performances targeting students and the 18-30 year olds in our region and, most recently, an independent film tour.

Officials broke ground July 31, 2008 for the new Emerging Technology Center at West Kentucky Community & Technical College. (Pictured from left to right): Paducah City Commissioner Robert Coleman, Paducah Mayor Bill Paxton, Helen Mountjoy, Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet Secretary, Bradley Butler, WKCTC student, Dr. Michael McCall, President of the Kentucky Community & Technical College System, Dr. Barbara Veazey, President of WKCTC, Anne Gwinn, chair of the Paducah Junior College, Inc. Board of Trustees, McCracken County Judge-Executive Van Newberry, Dr. Tom Lester, dean of the University of Kentucky College of Engineering.

Collaboration has always been a key ingredient in the work WKCTC does. This past year, WKCTC expanded its outreach efforts and, in the process, touched a growing number of individuals. This was possible because of community support.

Continuing a Tradition ofExcellence in Broadcasting

The WKCTC television department and Public Access Channel, Paducah-2 made significant progress in many areas in this year. High definition television production became a

reality, video on demand and streaming video of Channel 2 programming on the Paducah-2Web site is now being offered, and a new state of theart lighting system was installed.

Emerging Technology

EYE on the FUTUREEnhance Strategic Organization


Purple Haze, Northwestern University’scoed a cappella group, performed on

December 15, 2007 with Paducah Tilghman High School’s Prime Rib and Concordia.

The college’s commitment to arts education and outreach is evident in our continued presentation of workshops in theatre, dance, and music. The workshops, taught by professional performing artists, are offered free to students and community members. More than 5,000 people attended arts in FOCUS activities held in the Fine Arts Center last season. An additional 4,500 attended events sponsored by other campus and community organizations.

One of New York’s longest running Off Broadway shows, “Little Shop of Horrors” was a big success during the spring 2008.

Pictured: Heath High School’s Robert Sharkey playing Seymour Krelbourn holds Audrey played by Janet Bloomingburg

The $16.5 million center and adjacent $2.2 million Fred Paxton Engineering Wing will provide the region with a facility equipped

to meet the needs of today’s technically advanced workforce. Construction workers began clearing land beside the college’s Allied Health Building on Alben Barkley Drive for the new 75,000-square-foot facility in June 2008. By July 31, more than 150 people were on hand to watch a ceremonial groundbreaking for the center. The new technology center will include industrial technology training and offer advanced engineering technology, which includes mechatronics, robotics, rapid prototyping and metrology. A Haas Technology Education Center and advanced classes in information technology will also be a part of the center’s programming. The center will serve as the gateway for business and industry training. The building is expected to be completed and open for students by January 2010.

GRANTS Grant funding exceeded $3 million in 2007, and provided more than $1.2 million in salaries. Among the new grants awarded was a $100,000 University of Kentucky Literacy Project grant, a $569,528 National Science Federation Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) grant and an increase in Workforce Investment Act (WIA) youth funding to $152,000.

A Sound InfrastructureWKCTC’s business office received several awards from KCTCS including Best Practices in Accounts Payable and Best Practices in purchasing. In addition, WKCTC’s Call Center ranked #1 in KCTCS for customer services in fall 2007. Call centers were established last year throughout the community & technical college system as a way to better serve our students. The building and grounds personnel helped the College complete $629,000 in facility improvements in 2007- 2008.

Members of the maintenance and operations staff at West Kentucky Community & Technical College along with WKCTC President Barbara Veazey and Vice President John Carrico proudly display the 2008 Beautification Award the College recently received from the Paducah Civic Beautification Board. WKCTC was selected by the Beautification Board for the College’s efforts to beautify and maintain the campus property at 4810 Alben Barkley Drive.

2007


Dr. Kevin Gericke, Associate Professor of Economics, was named the Phelps award recipient for outstanding instruction in a general education discipline.

La Center resident Allison McGullion, Business Administration Instructor, represented WKCTC in the Leadership Paducah Class of 2008-2009.

David Franklin, Engineering Technology instructor, completed Siemens Certification in Germany.

Construction Technology Instructor John Moore of Mayfield was the 2008 recipient of the PJC Faculty Award.

Office Systems Technology Professor Tiffinee Morgan of Benton was named Advisor of the Year by Kentucky Phi Beta Lambda.

Ledbetter resident David Nickell, associate professor of sociology, published a first-person account of a people’s struggle to defend their cultural heritage in, “Between the Rivers: Socio-Historic Account of Hegemony and Heritage.” It was published in a special double issue of the peer-reviewed sociology journal, Humanity and Society.

Renea Akin and Bettie Bean, both of Paducah, were nominees

for the Kentucky Community and Technical College System’s

2008 New Horizon Award. Each KCTCS College nominates one

faculty member and one staff member for the award by their

fellow college employees.

History Professor Berry Craig of Mayfield, served as Kentucky Humanities Council Speaker at Muhlenberg County Historical Society, “Lincoln the Unloved in Kentucky”; spoke to the Hardin Co. Historical Society on “The Battle of the Little Big Horn”; wrote a monthly column, “Famous Kentucky Democrats” for the Kentucky Democratic Party Internet Web site; and wrote a cover story for Paducah Life titled, “The History of Brooks Stadium.”

Maria Flynn of Mayfield was awarded a certificate of recognition by the Kentucky Association of Developmental Educators (KADE) for service to the field of developmental education.

Biology Professor Karen Hlinka of Benton was selected as the 2008 Teacher of the Year by the WKCTC student body. Hlinka serves as the Dean of the Science and Mathematics Division. She began teaching at Paducah Community College in 1988 as an adjunct instructor in the science division. Since then, she has taught General Biology, Human Ecology, and Anatomy & Physiology for the college. Hlinka also traveled to England in the Summer 2007 with plans to develop a study-abroad biology course.

Dr. Scott Garrett, Professor of History, recently published an article in Robert S. Rush’s Collected Papers of the Military History Working Group, 2001-2007. He also reviewed “Beyond the Brotherhood: Reassessing U.S. Army Unit Cohesion in the Second World War,” for Chief, Field & International Branch, Washington, DC, Center of Military History, 2007 and presented a paper “Army of Occupation in Germany: America’s First Experience, 1918-1923,” at The 8th Annual Conference of the Military History Working Group at Ljubljana, Slovenia, on April 21, 2008.

Faculty and Staff Accomplishments


Mathematics Professor Joe Mahoney of Gilbertsville (left), pictured here with Heath High School student

Robert Sharkey, had starring roles in WKCTC’s “Little Shop of Horrors” and the Paducah Symphony

Children’s Chorus Christmas program.

Veteran performer and English Professor Don Maley of Calvert City, pictured here with Jerry Anderson, was nominated for a “Best Actor” award at the first annual International Mystery Writers Festival in Owensboro at River Park Center. He also starred in a production of, Tuesdays With Morrie, at Paducah’s Market House Theatre.

Janett Blythe, Director of Public Relations, published Upward Stride: A Pictorial History of West Kentucky Community & Technical College through the Donning Publishing Company. The limited edition volume showcases 160 pages of interesting text complemented with

approximately 230 historic and modern photographs that depict the development and progress of the college.

Spanish Instructor Carolyn Perry of Paducah was named the Virtual Learning Institute Course Leader for Spanish online courses. She created and hosted “Hispanic Heritage Celebration” in August 2007, which brought the Latin American Community together on the WKCTC campus with faculty, staff, and students.

UpwardStride 2008

Five years ago, two different faculties and staffs came together with the birth of West Kentucky Community & Technical College. Each year has brought new and exciting accomplishments from the college community. This past year was no exception.

Randy Simmons, Assistant Professor of Art, was a recipient of the Kentucky Arts Council Grant/Al Smith Fellowship of $7,500. He also had three solo exhibits, one at Belmont University in Nashville.

Norman Wurgler, Associate Professor of Music, directed a main stage production at Murray State University, “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” in fall 2007 and WKCTC’s “Little Shop of Horrors,” in Spring 2008. He participated in the KCTCS President’s Leadership Seminar this year.

Associate Professor Claudia Stoffel, MSN, RN obtained Certified Nurse Educator certification, was named treasurer of Kentucky Nurses Association, District #5, and authored case studies and learning activities for web resources for Community Health Nursing, 5th Edition by Clark (2008), Old’s Maternal Newborn Nursing and Women’s Health Across the Lifespan, 8th edition by Davidson, London, and Ladewig (2008), and Pediatric Nursing, 5th Edition by Ball and Binder.

Continuing on Our


Engineering Technology Wing Named in Honor of Fred Paxton

A planned research wing for the Emerging Technology Center at West Kentucky Community & Technical College has been named after the former Paducah Sun Publisher

Fred Paxton.

On December 7, 2007, the Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS) Board of Regents named a proposed 12,000-square-foot addition to the Emerging Technology Center, the “Fred Paxton Engineering” Wing in memory of Paxton who died in April 2006.

The wing will address the needs of the University of Kentucky College of Engineering program at WKCTC and will feature large high-bay space for flexibility in equipment arrangement and future modifications, a wet lab with fume hoods for chemical engineering applications, and classrooms for undergraduate instruction associated with course activities conducted in the facility.

Paxton’s wife, Peggy, pledged $600,000 over four years to complete a $1.2 million local drive for the addition. The University of Kentucky, which operates the engineering school at West Kentucky Community & Technical College, committed $1 million. The idea of bringing an

engineering school to Paducah began in the early 1990s when local leaders saw the need to develop and keep engineers in the region. Though Paxton thought money for the school would be raised quickly, it took three years and a lot of work to secure $8 million for a Paducah engineering school. The fundraising campaign was headed by Paducah attorney David Denton, but it was Paxton’s influence and dedication that brought the support of many to the project, including George P. and Eleanor B. Crounse who donated $4 million to the Science and Engineering building, now called Crounse Hall.

A Spirit of Giving

Paducah Junior College, Inc., the foundation of WKCTC, each year showcases the needs of the

college to the community, and each year the community responds generously in kind. This past year, the community demonstrated its strong support by donating more than $2.3 million in gifts, pledges and gifts-in-kind. The foundation’s support provided major professional development for faculty & staff, enhancements to the college’s buildings, equipment purchases, and more than $200,000 in student scholarships.

PJC the Foundation of WKCTC

20 PADUCAH JUNIOR COLLEGE

“We’re both interested in helping the community and we’re both interested in helping this college.”—Gerry Montgomery on the announcement of her and her husband, Dr. Wally Montgomery’s $100,000 donation to the Paducah School of Art in July 2008

Wheeler’s Pledge $100,000 to Fred Paxton Engineering Wing

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth A. Wheeler pledged $100,000

to the planned Fred Paxton Engineering Wing.

Kenneth Wheeler, a member of the Paducah Junior College, Inc. Board of Trustees since 1990 and the chairman of the board from 2005 to 2008, is very

active in economic development initiatives throughout the western Kentucky region. Along with his wife Jean, he is excited about the construction of this facility. “Having a four-year engineering degree available in a town the size of Paducah is unique,” says Mr. Wheeler. “It is an honor to be associated with a community and technical college that has become an integral part of our region’s economic vitality.”

The pledge was made to Paducah Junior College, Inc, the foundation of WKCTC.

“Mr. Wheeler was an integral part of the development of the Fred Paxton Engineering Wing,” said WKCTC President Dr. Barbara Veazey. “Ken and Jean’s commitment to this community is remarkable.”

Katterjohns Give $100,000 to Fred Paxton Engineering Wing

Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Katterjohn have been longtime

supporters of both West Kentucky Community & Technical College and the University of Kentucky College of Engineering Extended Campus in Paducah. The Paducah

couple helped both institutions when they donated $100,000 to the Fred Paxton Engineering wing in memory of Carolyn Owen Katterjohn.

The Katterjohns were pleased to support such an innovative project in their hometown. “I believe the community needs to appreciate the importance of actual engineering research being conducted in Paducah,” states Mr. Katterjohn. “This type of facility is needed to help Paducah stand out when competing for new industry and valuable federal research grants.”

The Katterjohn’s made this gift through charitable provisions provided in the Pension Protection Act of 2006. This legislation included a two-year Charitable IRA Rollover provision that permitted people age 701/2 or older to exclude up to $100,000 from their gross income for a taxable year for cash gifts directly to a qualified charity. The Katterjohn’s gift was made to Paducah Junior College, Inc., the foundation of WKCTC.

“The Katterjohn’s friendship and affinity to WKCTC has been inspiring,” said WKCTC President Dr. Barbara Veazey.“ Mr. Katterjohn worked to solicit funds and demonstrated support for this project from day one. Paducah is fortunate to have Gene and Mary Louise whose generous nature is witnessed not only at WKCTC, but across our community.”

On October 3, 2008 President Bush extended the IRA Rollover provision established in the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

This legislation, retroactive to January 1, 2008, extends the provisions of the PPA through December 31, 2009 and allows people age of 70 ½ or older to exclude up to $100,000 from their gross income for a taxable year for cash gifts made directly to a qualified charity.

For information on how to make a gift from a qualified account, contact Becky Haus at (270) 534-3086, or your financial advisor.


Mrs. Peggy PaxtonUniversity of Kentucky

Mr. & Mrs. Eugene Katterjohn

Mr. & Mrs. Ken Wheeler

Mr. & Mrs. W. J. BrockenboroughCrounse Corporation

Hannan Supply CompanyMr. & Mrs. Jim Marvin

United States Enrichment Corporation

First Kentucky Bank

Golden Eagle Distributing

Mr. Norman Greenberg

Harper Industries, Inc.

The Lubrizol Foundation

Dr. William Murphy

Mrs. Hugh Williams

Mr. & Mrs. Gene Edwards • Mr. George Sullivan

Mr. & Mrs. Ric Ladt • Mrs. Marcia Nemer

Mr. & Mrs. Bobby Smith • Mr. Dwayne Stice

Campus Enhancements

PJC, Inc., the foundation for WKCTC, continued its efforts to provide funds for improvement and renovation of facilities and for campus

enhancements that support the mission of the college. PJC, Inc. supported the college leadership as they took the lead in providing higher educational opportunities to

the citizens of the region.

The planning stage for the Paducah School of Art was completed this year with financial assistance from the foundation. The location at 409 Broadway was selected, upgraded and equipped with necessary equipment for both 2-D and 3-D classes to begin in the fall semester.

The foundation supported the arts in FOCUS program by providing monies that allowed the leadership of the program to bring outstanding touring shows to the campus as well as offer opportunities for learning through productions that feature local talent. The television studio was enhanced by the purchase of equipment that allows for solid state TV signals, upgrades to the production computer and additions to the lighting system in the studio.

Private Donations Fund Engineering Wing



Jim and Karen Marvin and Jim Grisham Named Benefactors of the Year

West Kentucky Community & Technical College and Paducah Junior College, Inc. honored Jim and Karen Marvin

and Jim Grisham as the 2007 Benefactors of the Year during a formal gala hosted by KCTCS in Louisville on November 17, 2007.

Mr. and Mrs. Jim Marvin established a $294,000 endowment with Paducah Junior College, Inc. to fund scholarships for McCracken and Graves county students attending the University of Kentucky College of Engineering program at West Kentucky Community & Technical College.

Mr. Jim Grisham has contributed $70,000 toward campus projects over the years. In 2005, the college refurbished the Rosenthal Hall computer lab and named it in memory of Mr. Grisham’s wife Jo. In 2006, Mr. Grisham designated his gift to be used in the college’s cosmetology program.

left to right: Celesta Wilson, Jim Grisham,Dr. Barbara Veazey, Karen Marvin and Jim Marvin

Funds from PJC also allowed for the installation of technology upgrades on the campus. The support in the 2007-2008 academic year increased student access and provided tools

for faculty while preparing the network for a new infrastructure and future growth. WKCTC is one of the few KCTCS campuses with “virtual server” environments used for administrative and academic purposes. The campus has saved 65% of the normal replacement and maintenance cost of three servers virtualized. PJC monetary support has allowed for increased student access across campus.

Additionally, faculty and staff were able to take advantage of outstanding professional development opportunities that enhance their job performance that were provided through PJC funding. The foundation staff works closely with the President and other leaders of the college to assist in meeting the needs of the ever-changing educational environment.

College Hosts Scholarship Donors and Recipients

Scholarship donors and recipients gathered in August 2007 for the college’s annual Scholarship Reception. More than 100 students and donors were in attendance to visit and

meet one another.

Thanks to the foundation’s healthy endowment and numerous annual donors, the college awarded more than $227,000 in scholarships to more than 180 students during the 2007-2008 academic year. In addition to the new scholarships offered, WKCTC renewed selected scholarships of 34 students in the amount of $51,000.

Paducah Junior College, Inc., the Foundation of WKCTC, funds the majority of student scholarships through endowed scholarship accounts and annual fundraising event proceeds. Additional scholarship dollars are provided by local businesses and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. Scholarships are awarded yearly to WKCTC students and students of the University of Kentucky College of Engineering extended campus at WKCTC. 23 PADUCAH JUNIOR COLLEGE

Lourdes and Western Baptist hospitals have once again joined forces with West Kentucky Community & Technical College to ensure that the Paducah area experiences no

effect from the emerging nationwide nursing shortage.

Under a recent agreement renewal, Lourdes and Western Baptist hospitals will continue to fund additional nursing faculty positions by each donating $225,000 over the next three years.

“WKCTC’s ability to admit and graduate nursing students is directly tied to the number of faculty our nursing department employs,” said Dr. Barbara Veazey, WKCTC president.

The donation from Lourdes and Western Baptist hospitals enables the college to continue increased admissions by providing salary funding for additional nursing faculty positions. This increase in faculty positions permits WKCTC’s nursing program to admit and graduate more than 100 nursing candidates annually.

Lourdes and WesternBaptist Hospitals Continue Nursing Education Support

Shari Gholson, Dean of Nursing at WKCTC, and Dr. Barbara Veazey, President of WKCTC, accept a check of $225,000 from Lourdes Chief Nursing Officer Phebe McKay (center).

Dr. Wally and Mrs. Geraldine Montgomery Pledge $100,000to WKCTC Paducah School of Art

Paducah residents Wally and Geraldine Montgomery have

pledged $100,000 to West Kentucky Community & Technical College. The funds were pledged in support of the college’s emerging Paducah School of Art in the historic Lower Town district. This

is the first lead gift to this initiative.

“The Montgomery’s have always been leaders of Paducah’s downtown revitalization efforts,” says Dr. Barbara Veazey, President of WKCTC. “Their generous gift to the Paducah School of Art symbolizes their confidence in the success of this exciting project.”

Both Dr. and Mrs. Montgomery are very active in economic development initiatives throughout the western Kentucky region. Mrs. Montgomery, who served two terms as Mayor of Paducah, was instrumental in the revitalization efforts of downtown Paducah. As the Mayor, Mrs. Montgomery served on the Paducah Junior College, Inc. Board of Trustees. Dr. Montgomery, a retired surgeon, has been a member of the board since 1980. Dr. Montgomery was instrumental in securing private funding for the college’s Crounse Hall in the 1990s.



2007 Gala & Golf Raises Scholarship Funds

The 2007 Gala Scholarship Auction and Marshall Nemer Memorial Golf Tournament raised more than $130,000 for student scholarships.

The Gala featured more than 40 live auction items including exclusive vacation destinations, fine jewelry and sporting tickets. More than 350 attended the evening event held at the Executive Inn. Fifteen golf teams competed for scrip prizes the following day at the Country Club of Paducah. The team representing Federal Materials won the tournament.

“Our community is blessed to have the WKCTC nursing program and Lourdes looks forward to only enhancing this valued partnership,” says Steven Grinnell, President and CEO of Lourdes.

Thanks in part to this private funding, the college’s nursing program admits and graduates students two times each year and provides a continuous flow of candidates eligible for nursing employment to area healthcare facilities.

“This is a partnership where not only the school and hospitals benefit, but also the community,” said Larry Barton, President and CEO of Western Baptist Hospital. “We’re pleased to have a hand in the quality education and training these students receive. That translates into excellent patient care, a top priority at Western Baptist Hospital.”

Dr. Veazey said the positions funded by Lourdes and Western Baptist hospitals demonstrate the commitment to provide quality nursing care for this community. “This relationship is the best example of how the community and technical college can work with business to provide and serve the needs of our region.”

Rotary Club of PaducahGift Honors Schroeders

The Rotary Club of Paducah donated $50,000 in honor of Paducah residents Bill and Meredith Schroeder. The presentation was made to WKCTC President Barbara

Veazey at the April 9, 2008 Rotary Club of Paducah meeting. The donation is designated for a high technology conference training room to be named in honor of the Schroeders in WKCTC’s Emerging Technology Center. Rotary officials said the donation to the college was made in appreciation of the Schroeders’ commitment to Paducah and the American Quilter’s Society Quilt Show.

Allan Rhodes History Award

West Kentucky Community & Technical College student Amber Woods was presented a $1,000 check for her winning submission in the Allan

Rhodes Sr. History Award Challenge.

Mr. Rhodes funded the challenge in fall 2006. The yearly contest encourages WKCTC students to research overlooked Kentuckians in our nation’s and Kentucky’s history.

Wood’s submission highlighted the life of William Wells Brown, a 19th century slave who is widely considered to be the first African-American author of a novel. Her work captured William Brown’s life both during and following his enslavement.

Dr. Barbara Veazey (right) accepts a check of $225,000 from Western Baptist Hospital Director of Nursing Nola Courtney.

John Halsell, President of the Rotary Club of Paducah, Meredith Schroeder, Bill Schroeder and Dr. Barbara Veazey.


Norman GreenbergEstablishes Endowment

Paducah resident Norman Greenberg established an endowment in honor of his late wife, Mary Rose Greenberg. The endowment will be used to fund

scholarships for students at West Kentucky Community & Technical College.

“Mr. Greenberg has been a long-time supporter of the college,” said Dr. Barbara Veazey, president of WKCTC. “Over the years he has made substantial annual contributions.” Mr. Greenberg recently donated to the Fred Paxton Engineering Wing and to the Gala Scholarship Auction.

The scholarship will be awarded to the first student during the 2009-2010 academic year.

Good Ole BoysEstablish Endowment

In December 2006, members of Paducah’s Good Ole Boys Barbeque Team established a $5,000 quasi-endowment to fund scholarships for pre-engineering students at West

Kentucky Community & Technical College. In October 2007 the account converted into a permanent endowment with a $10,000 donation from the team.

The team donates earnings from Paducah’s annual Barbeque on the River festival to the endowment. The first scholarship award was made to a student for studies during the 2008-2009 academic year. The scholarship is awarded in honor of Good Ole Boys member Russ Chittenden.

What is aCharitable Gift Annuity?

A charitable gift annuity operates much like an annuity issued by an insurance company. A donor makes a contribution to a qualified charity and in return

receives a guaranteed annuity contract for life. At the end of the donor’s life, the remaining value of the charitable gift annuity is to be used as the donor has directed.

Shoot & Hold ‘Em Tournament a Success

More than $22,000 was raised at the inaugural Shoot & Hold ‘Em Tournament on May 12, 2008. The new

event features a pro-am golf tournament and a Texas Hold ‘Em tournament.

Federal Materials took top honors out of twenty-two teams that entered the golf tournament. Federal Materials team members included: Alex Metzger, Bill Metzger, Rick Leeper, Dwight Mills, and Jason Stilley. A reception was held between the golf and poker tournament where $900 of scrip prizes were presented to golf teams and individuals. Poker tournament players competed for $3,000 in cash prizes and the winners included Bill Evans and Jimi Gwinn of Paducah and Guss Garrow from Metropolis.

Donor Establishes Charitable Gift Annuity

Mr. James Elkins of Austell, Georgia funded the college’s first charitable gift annuity in 2007.

A Paducah native, Mr. Elkins donated more than $50,000 to fund the annuity, which provides an income stream for Mr. Elkins for the remainder of his life. Remaining annuity funds will be used to provide scholarships for graduates of Reidland High School.

Mr. Elkins was a 1950 graduate of Reidland High School. He was the Sport Editor of the Paducah Sun-Democrat (now Paducah Sun) from 1957 – 1962. He was a teacher-administrator at Kentucky Wesleyan College and Owensboro public schools.



More than $2.3 million was raised during 2007-2008. Donations and pledges received by initiative are:

Scholarship $390,491.31

Emerging Technology Building/Engineering wing $865,882.95

WKCTC Programs $50,778.57

Non-Featured Objectives $300.00

Challenger Learning Center $11,224.78

Paducah School of Art $438,550.00

Unrestricted $13,000.00

Middle College $619,748.00

Total $2,390,001.61

Fulfilling thePromise Campaign

The Challenger Learning Center

A reception was held on September 5, 2007 to celebrate the center’s five years of operation and to thank U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield for his support of the project. Whitfield was an early supporter of the mission of the Challenger Learning Centers to provide math, science and technology education for elementary and middle school students.

Since the inaugural mission, Rendezvous With a Comet™ on September 16, 2002, the Challenger Learning Center at Paducah has flown over 1,200 missions and added programming such as summer camps, scouting workshops, e-Missions and professional development for area teachers.

TVA Funds ChemicalOperator Program

The Tennessee Valley Authority donated $5,000 in 2007 to fund the college’s new Chemical Operator Program. The college introduced the pilot program in fall 2007

in direct response to requests from local chemical plant managers. The funding received from TVA provided teaching resources and equipment to better outfit the program.

WKCTC President Barbara Veazey and Michael Pape, Senior Field Representative for Congressman Ed Whitfield at Challenger Five Year Celebration.

The Challenger Learning Center at Paducah celebrated in 2007 its fifth

year of inspiring youngsters to become life-long learners.

Located on the campus of West Kentucky Community & Technical College, the Center is a part of a national program formed as a living memorial to the six astronauts and teacher Christa McAuliffe, who died when the space shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986. Paducah’s $5.3 million center officially opened on August 16, 2002, as the 44th member of the national Challenger Center for Space Science Education network.


The satisfaction of giving comes in knowing that you are investing in the lives of students, businesses, and communities who

benefit each and every day from our education, training, and services.

Gifts to West Kentucky Community & Technical College can be made through Paducah Junior College, Inc. PJC is a registered 501 (c) (3) corporation dedicated to the support of WKCTC and its programs. As the foundation for WKCTC, PJC, Inc. provides resources to help donors find the appropriate use and nature for desired charitable contributions, including:

Appreciated Securities• Bequests

• Cash Gifts

• Charitable Gift Annuities

• Charitable Lead Trust

• Charitable Remainder Trust

• Closely-Held Stock

• Life Insurance

• Matching Gifts

• Real and Personal Property (In-Kind)

• Retirement Account Gifts

Please contact the Office of Advancement for more information:

Paducah Junior College, Inc. The Foundation for West Kentucky Community & Technical College PO Box 7380 Paducah KY 42002-7380Phone (270) 534-3086 Fax (270) 534-6319

[email protected]



Paducah Junior College, Inc. Foundation

Board of Trustees

Ex-Officio MembersBill Paxton, Mayor

Van Newberry, County Judge Executive

Dr. Barbara M. Veazey, WKCTC President

OfficersAnne Gwinn, Chair

Bruce Bruckenborough, Vice Chair

John Williams, Secretary

Lorraine Schramke, Treasurer

Dr. William Wheeler, At-Large

Board MembersGuthrie Allen

Chris Black

Ann Denton

Joe Framptom

B.A. Hamilton

Judge Jeff Hines

Louis Michelson

Dr. Wally Montgomery

Kenneth Wheeler

Bruce P. Brockenborough of Paducah

Robert R. Emerson of Wingo

B. A. Hamilton of West Paducah

Donald R. Mitchell of Paducah

Nancy Susan Nelson of Benton

Julie A. Thomas of Barlow

Dr. Mary Lou Yeatts of Murray

Shari Gholson of Paducah, faculty representative

Paul Ross of Paducah, staff representative

Alissa Morehead, student representative

West Kentucky Community & Technical College

Board of Directors

K E N T U C K Y C O M M U N I T Y & T E C H N I C A L C O L L E G E S Y S T E M

West Kentucky Community & Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097: Telephone number 404-679-4501) to award the associate degree.

West Kentucky Community & Technical College, a member of the Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS), is an equal opportunity employer and educational institution.

4810 Alben Barkley DriveP.O. Box 7380Paducah, KY 42002-7380(270) 534-3264www.westkentucky.kctcs.edu

kentucky community & technical college systemthe culinary arts program was the first funding...

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