Success Stories: Samantha Rolen

Samantha Rolen

Associate Degree Nursing

When I graduated from Dawson-Bryant High School in 1987, my desire was to become a nurse. I did not have the funding to attend nursing school, but I had an academic scholarship to Ohio University Southern. At that time, OU only offered 4 year degrees in either education or business. I selected education and graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. I began teaching at Hager Elementary in Ashland, KY and taught a total of 10 years in the Ashland Independent School District. The experiences I went through with the death of my beloved father from cancer in 2004 inspired me once again to be a nurse. So in 2006 I made the decision to go back to school to become an RN. ACTC has provided me many wonderful opportunities and the chance to fulfill my faith-inspired dream of becoming a nurse.

The best thing about coming to ACTC so far has been the "family" atmosphere, supportive faculty and staff, and the wonderful student friendships I've made along the way.  I also appreciate the convenience ACTC provides in achieving your degree close to home. 

My entire experience with the nursing program and faculty has been a blessing.  The idea of going back to school and changing my career was intimidating, but the nursing staff made this transition easy - especially my advisor and Nursing 101 instructor Mrs. Barbara McKinney, Associate Professor of Nursing.  My clinical experience through the ACTC Nursing Program has also been very positive and rewarding.  It is a privilege to have hospitals right here in our community that are actively involved in supporting ACTC nursing students by providing the best possible educational experience.  The academic expectations in the nursing program are challenging...but with determination, hard work, and a supportive faculty - anyone can achieve success! 

Kentucky Community and Technical College System