March 2022
Your News & Updates
KCTCS featured in two Lane Report articles
The Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS) was featured in two articles in the February issue of The Lane Report. President Paul Czarapata was interviewed for the One-On-One feature titled "Getting Kentucky Back to Work is Top Job at KCTCS."


The second article, "Building Better Graduation Rates at Kentucky Colleges," looks at the need for state investment to upgrade or build new classrooms on KCTCS and university campuses. Many KCTCS buildings are more than 30 years old and some can't meet the needs of certain high tech programs. Roofs and HVAC systems need to be replaced and many buildings need general overall maintenance. Research shows these types of improvements can enhance student outcomes.
Students from two KCTCS colleges earn honors in major competitions
Jefferson Community and Technical College
Jefferson Community and Technical College's Academic Team is celebrating a second-place finish in the Community College Championship Tournament. This earned the team a bid to compete with four-year colleges in their national championship on April 2 in Chicago. Among the qualifiers in that 32-team field are six Ivy league colleges, along with Stanford, Vanderbilt, Chicago, MIT, Cal Berkeley and others.

Owensboro Community and Technical College
Owensboro Community & Technical College's speech and debate team competed in two tournaments on the same weekend earning several team and individual top awards at both events.
Henderson Community College student accepted to Princeton
Henderson Community College (HCC) student Olivia Matthews has been accepted to Princeton University. Olivia is currently enrolled at HCC as a high school student through the Early College Academy.

Olivia’s participation in HCC's Early College Academy will allow her to graduate this May from Union County High School with two degrees, her high school diploma and her associate degree. She’ll walk onto Princeton’s campus in August already two years ahead of students her same age.
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College president speaks at national event highlighting success of students in recovery
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College President Vic Adams recently spoke at Achieving the Dream’s Annual Convening 2022. Over 3,000 educators from across the country registered for this event to discuss best practices in higher education. Adams led a breakout session in which he shared the college’s efforts toward recovery to work. 

“In partnership with community action agencies and other organizations, we have created opportunities for individuals in recovery to have a new beginning,” Adams said. “We have found that these students are among our most resilient, and our role is providing them with the support they need to earn a credential, go to work, and lead a healthy and successful life.”  

KCTCS expands opportunities for training funds for Kentucky businesses
The Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS) TRAINS program has increased its funding support for qualifying companies. TRAINS offsets the cost of customized training for incumbent worker upskilling, pre-employment training, assessments and apprenticeship programs.

KCTCS has expanded financial assistance now offsetting 75 percent (up from 50 percent) of a business’s costs associated with developing tailored talent pipeline initiatives. With funding established by the Kentucky General Assembly, KCTCS delivers TRAINS-backed projects to help businesses across the Commonwealth equip current and potential employees with the skills and on-the-job experience to succeed at work and beyond. 
Dr. Paul Czarapata | KCTCS President