Ashland News & Events

Career Camp for Young Teens Explores Health Care

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:50:00 -0400

A Career Craze Healthcare Camp on June 10 and 11, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. will help students aged 12 to 15 look at their choices for healthcare jobs. Health care offers many opportunities for high demand, high pay careers, and this hands-on camp will let students meet healthcare professionals, visit a health care facility and experience using a stethoscope to learn about the heart.

The hands-on camp will be held at the College Drive Campus. The camp is free through a grant from Kentucky Lt. Governor Jerry Abramson’s office. Enrollment is limited to 20 on a first-come basis. To enroll or receive more information, contact ACTC Community Education, 606-326-2072 or email: as_ce@kctcs.edu.

Camp Invention Explores the 'Ecoverse'

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:45:00 -0400

Camp Invention - Geo-Quest at Ashland Community and Tehcnical College is a week long day camp exploring the Earth in the sky, underwater, on land and underground. The camp for students entering first to sixth grades will be held June 17 to 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Roberts Drive Campus.

Camp Invention is offered by ACTC Community Education in partnership with Invent Now Kids, a subsidiary of the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame Foundation. Since its inception in 1990, Camp Invention has grown to include more than 1200 sites in 49 states.

Students will decipher nature’s pattern in ‘Ecoverse,’ navigate their way to treasure-filled caches in Cache Dash, learn about the natural world in Amazing Atlas Games, and use physics to create the ultimate Duck Chucking Device. The hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering and math are designed to foster creativity, cooperation, critical thinking skills and innovation.

Enrollment is limited on a first-come basis, and there is a discount for registration before May 30. Register online at campinvention.org or call 1-800-968-4332.

For information on other summer youth camps, contact ACTC Community Education, 606-326-2072 or email: as_ce@kctcs.edu.

College Camp Offers Variety for Ages 6-13

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:42:00 -0400

College Camp at Ashland Community and Technical College will be held June 24 to 28 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Roberts Drive Campus.

Camps offers afternoon classes in exciting subjects not offered during the regular school year. These classes are designed for age groups six to seven, eight to nine, ten to eleven and twelve to thirteen. Each one-hour class includes activities to stimulate creativity while building personal and academic skills

Students may take from one to four classes, and each class is $35. Enrollment is through ACTC Community Education, 606-326-2072 or 800-928-4256 ext. 62072, email: as_ce@kctcs.edu.

This year’s classes are listed below by age group.

Classes for All Ages

Acting Up - In this class you’ll play fun games with body positions and vocals, explore your imagination by creating stories with others, and learn pantomime skills in which your body is an instrument of communication.

Bullying - Why does anyone bully another person? You’ll find out about causes and solutions to bullying, how you can help one another and how to feel better about yourself as you learn to handle difficult situations.

Diving Into Cursive - Cursive handwriting is becoming a thing of the past. Before we know it, it will be considered a form of art! In this class you will “swim” through the entire upper and lower case alphabet, as you learn to use the proper slanting techniques, posture, and pencil position.

Grossology - Learn about the biology of all sorts of gross things with a different activity each day. The class is based on Sylvia Branzai’s popular books, with all sorts of disgusting topics to explore.

Lights, Camera, Drama - See what it’s like to be on stage as you learn the basic aspects of drama and Theatre through theatrical warm-up and activities, small skits and other games.

Mad Scientist - Come and become a Mad Scientist for a week. You’ll create experiments that allow you to think like a scientist while you create different products during class.

Recycled Sculpting - Recycling and Art is a good combination. You will use recycled water bottles to create a huge 3D sculpture that will be displayed on the Roberts Drive Campus. You’ll also learn about 3D sculpture artist Dale Chuhuly.

Special Effects Make-Up - Learn different make up techniques ranging from bruise creation to fantasy makeup to horror make up along with creating burns, scars, edible fake blood. You’ll learn easy application techniques using makeup and other items that can be found at local shops.

Classes for Ages 10-13

Clothing Creating - Learn how to create trendy looks as you use sewing techniques to repurpose clothing into new styles and create fun accessories. For example, you can create fringes, cut shirts into various shapes and recreate T-shirts with new designs.

French À la Mode - Explore the culture of France as you learn French words for colors and animals, some basic phrases and French holidays.

Lego Robotics - In this class, you will learn fundamentals of computer programming, along with the basics of Lego Robotics and the NXT system. You’ll program a Sentry and Edge-Detecting Robot and you can create and test your own robot program.

Make Your Own App - We live in a world of apps! Learn how to build Android apps using MIT’s App Inventory. In class, three Apps will be built – Hello Purr, Magic 8 Ball, and Pong – and then tested on an Android Emulator. You will learn the basics of app development, including use of emulators and the basics of event-driven programming.

Website Building - Have you ever thought about building your own website? In this class, you will be introduced to web development by learning the basics of HTML and CSS. By the end of the week you will have built your very own Web Page!

Classes for Ages 8-13

Crafty Crochet! - Students will learn a timeless skill in a fun and exciting atmosphere. The basic skills, terms, and techniques will help them create a variety of scarves, bags and other accessories.

Drawing 101 - Become an artist as you practice various ways to draw scenes, landscapes, and pictures from your imagination. You’ll learn about perspective, shading, and how to sketch, create and draw story boards. By the end of class, you will have created some original pieces of art.

Sew Fun - It’s never too early to learn sewing basics that will come in handy throughout your life. You will learn several basic sewing stitches and how to sew on buttons. Then you’ll make a crazy, plush monster pillow for you or a friend!

Tie Dye & Batik - Learn how to make wearable and displayable fabric art with dye and resist techniques! Your projects will include some color and fiber crafts and a blue batiked and dyed T-shirt.

Classes for Ages 10-11

Let Me Tell You My Story - Bring your writing skills to life by describing the scene with descriptive words that use all five senses to tell your story. You will choose an event or important part of your life and write a story that you can tell in class or in competition such as the Kentucky Storytelling Associations Youth Storytelling.

Mini Diva - Young ladies will learn how to dress and act like a Diva. Throughout the week the students will make “Diva” attire. At the end of the week, they will present their new found confidence to an audience.

Storytelling - Storytelling is an art. It can be used for entertainment, as a way to pass history down through generations and as a tool to get the point across about a difficult subject. Learn how to tell a story with action words and vivid descriptions as you become comfortable with public speaking.

Classes for Ages 6-9

Fairy Princesses - Girls will learn how to dress and act like a little princess. Throughout the week they will make their own princess outfit. At the end of the week they will present their new found confidence and attire to an audience.

Let’s Paint - Learn painting foundations and crafting as you finger paint, create sculptures and use items from home to create mosaics. Students should wear an old t-shirt or smock to protect clothing.

APT Graduate Enjoys Working

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:24:00 -0400

William P. Mullins, Jr, was unable to attend ACTC’s Graduation Ceremony May 11 because he was working at his new job at the Marathon refinery in Catlettsburg.

He was one of three Applied Process Technology (APT) Program students who participated in the first internship program with Marathon this spring. “When my intern position ended, I was offered a job which I gladly accepted,” said Mullins, an Ashland resident and 1993 Paul G. Blazer High School graduate.

Preparing for a good job was the reason Mullins entered the APT program after AK Steel announced its plan to shut down the Ashland Coke Plant where he worked.

“I heard about the APT program from friends and thought it sounded promising with its high percentage of graduates finding decent income jobs,” he said.

“I took a chance and set my goals high. It has been a long tough journey, but two years later I can say things have fallen into place even better than I had hoped,” he said. He earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in APT with the Chemical/Power Plant.

“I can honestly say ACTC was a great experience for me,” Mullins said. “I met some great people, and Bob Chaffins, Woody Fosson and Ralfred Hall were three of the professors who made my experience at ACTC very rewarding.”

At ACTC Honors Night May 9, he received an American Chemical Society Student Recognition Award. He was honored to receive the award but considers his job to be the real award for his college efforts.

Professor Kay Thompson Wins Gussler Award

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:20:00 -0400

Alice Kay Thompson, Professor of Mathematics at ACTC, has received the prestigious Gussler Family Endowed Chair in Science and Mathematics Award. The award was announced at ACTC’s Graduation Ceremony on May 11.

An Ashland area native and Russell resident, Professor Thompson started her college education at ACTC, known then as the UK Ashland Center. She then completed a BA in Education and an MA with an emphasis on Mathematics/Education at Morehead State University She earned a Rank I in Educational Administration at Marshall University.

After 30 years as a mathematics teacher in the Russell Independent School System, she taught Transitional Math area at Marshall University. She taught developmental mathematics part-time at ACTC before becoming a fulltime faculty member in 2000.

Students who have had her as a mathematics teacher comment on her enthusiasm; not just for mathematics, but for their success in mathematics. As one student put it, “She will not leave you alone until you get it.”

Thompson is listed in Who’s Who among Outstanding Teachers and was selected to the Commonwealth Institute of Teachers. She is a member of Kentucky Association of Developmental Educators, National Association of Developmental Educators, and the Delta Kappa Gamma National Honor Society.

She received ACTC’s Teaching Excellence Award in fall 2011 and was the college’s nominee for the National Institute for Staff and Organization Development 2011-12 Teaching Excellence Award. She has also co-authored two books designed to help mathematics teachers to align with the Ohio Content Standards.

The Gussler Award was established by Dr. C. Gordon Gussler and his wife Dixie Gussler in 2007 to recognize full-time math and science faculty who foster in their students a desire to learn and reach their maximum potential.

One recipient is selected annually, and each recipient receives a financial stipend, equal to two percent of the value of the endowment fund, for two years.

Recipients are nominated by students, fellow faculty or college staff. Award criteria include inspiring students to develop capabilities they did not realize they had, empowering students to succeed beyond their experiences, and instilling in students a love of learning.

ACTC Recognizes Students at Honors Night

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:17:00 -0400

The Ashland Community and Technical College Honors Night program May 9 recognized 105 students for their academic and service achievements in the 2012-2013 academic year. Some students received more than one award.

Recipients of the 2013 KCTCS All-Academic Team Awards were Michelle A. Gollihue from Grayson and Gregory T. McFarlin from Ashland.

The 2012-13 Student Government Association Awards were presented to President Austin Robinson from Ashland; Vice President Jennifer Stamper from Grayson, Secretary Heather Miller from Ashland, and Student Senate Member Hannah Caudill from Ashland.

The 2013 Commencement Speaker Recognition Award went to Cassandra Cantrell from Ashland.

American Chemical Society Student Recognition Awards went to Tony Arthur II, Ashland; Steven Gibbs, Raceland; Brandon Hamilton, Flatwoods; Brian McKnight, Ironton; Jarrod McKnight, Ironton; William Mullins, Ashland; Caleb Wheeler, Catlettsburg; and Brian Workman, Ashland.

Other awards are listed below with the recipients’ names and cities of residence.

Mathematics and Science Awards

Anatomy & Physiology Award: Billie Sergent, Ashland.

Applied Mathematics Award: Mike Michael, Huntington.

Applied Physics Award: Trevor Waugh, Argillite.

Basic Algebra Award: Janet Riggs, Ashland.

Bi-Term Math Award: Bridgette Harmon, Ashland.

Excellence in General Chemistry Award: Jeanette M. Pinkerman, Rush.

Excellence in Anatomy & Physiology Awards: Alexandra Cobern, Catlettsburg; Sarah Ison, Greenup; Tia Taylor, Greenup.

Excellence in Anatomy & Physiology Supplemental Instruction Awards: Steven Burch, Flatwoods; Ricky Owens, Ashland; Angie Sullivan, Ashland.

Excellence in BIO 118 Awards: Katie Hughes Ashland; Tiffany Pack, Grayson; Matthew Campbell, Kenova.

Excellence in BIO 225 Awards: Alexandra Cobern and Shelley Barnett, Ashland; Jessie Cook, Adams; Karen E. Ison, Greenup; Kayla Bellew, Grayson; Anthony Kaitis and Carisa White, Catlettsburg; Bo-Jaye Keene, Fort Gay; Travis Large, Raceland; Bethany Varney, Huntington; Ryan Williams, Chesapeake.

Excellence in Organic Chemistry Award: Kayla Simpson Dye, Flatwoods.

Outstanding Performance in General Chemistry Courses Award: Derek R. Spillman, Louisa.

Outstanding Performance in Three or More Organic Chemistry Courses Award: Chelsea D. Hale, South Shore.

Technical Algebra and Trigonometry Award: Nathaniel Bartram, Ashland.

Technical Mathematics Awards: Burchell Smith, Argillite; Gary Walker, South Point.

Transitional Math Award: Ashley Bailey, Ironton.

Academic/Organization Awards

Academic Excellence in Pharmacy Technology Awards: Andrew Braden, Flatwoods; Shanna Conn, Vanessa Dheel and Theresa Sullivan, Ashland; Kim May, Greenup; Samantha Rayburn, Olive Hill.

Outstanding H2P Student Award: Jodi Nichols, Worthington.

Library Service Award: Rachel E. McKenzie, Ashland.

Associate Degree Nursing Academic Award: Christine Webb, South Point;

Kentucky Association of Nursing Students Award: Tiffiney Carroll, Louisa;

Nursing Leadership Award: Annette Steele, Ashland.

Jennifer Carroll Award, a special award presented this year in memory of long-term ACTC faculty member and Health Science Division Chair Jennifer Carroll, Nanci E. Davis, Ashland.

Excellence in Leadership as a Peer Mentor: Elizabeth Conley, Bryant Jamison, Brandon Kelley, Terra McCarty and Heather Miller, all from Ashland; Amanda Clark, Flatwoods; Christy Lumpkins, Louisa; Jessica Lyons, Russell.

Chi Alpha Epsilon Honor Society Members: Stephanie Bowling, Lindsay Fowler, John Freeman John Fultz, Kelly Hanshaw, Nadine Maggard, Mary Ross and Jolene Williams, all from Ashland; Amanda Clark, Flatwoods; Misti Hendrick, Huntington; William E. Johnson, South Shore; Michael McNatt, Catlettsburg; Wister Nolan, Catlettsburg; Victoria Purinton, Rush; Delaya Short, Chesapeake; Adreine Worthington, Raceland.

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Awards: Fellowship Hallmark Award to Jennifer Bailey, Grayson;

Scholarship Hallmark Awards to Fannie Cantrell, Louisa, and Vanessa King, Ashland; Service Hallmark Award to Angela Green, Ashland.

Supplemental Instruction Leader Awards: William Clark, Logan Evans, Angela Green, Clayton Gullett, Vanessa King, Heather Miller, Ricky Owens and Angela Sullivan, all from Ashland; Jennifer Bailey, Grayson; Steven Burch, Flatwoods; Whitney Bush, Catlettsburg; Alex Hogan, Treena Hogan, Christy Lumpkins and Jeremiah Maynard, all from Louisa; Eric Mohebbian, Wheelersburg; Joshua Qualls, Flatwoods.

ACTC Staff Council Elected

Tue, 07 May 2013 15:26:00 -0400

ACTC staff members have elected their Executive Council for the 2012-2013 academic year, with terms beginning August 1. The Council represents the staff in the college organizational structure and decision making process.

Officers are: Chair – Kellie Allen, Director of Human Resources and Ashland resident; Vice Chair – Karen Coburn, Coordinator of Community Education and Ashland resident; Secretary – Cheryl Parsons, Human Resources Specialist and Grayson resident. The Staff Representative to the ACTC Board of Directors, elected for a three year term, is Kathy Riley, a Bellefonte resident.

Representatives for college service areas are: Administrative Support Services - Lori West, Custodial Worker II and Ashland resident; Business Affairs – Nedra Fennell, Business Affairs Assistant II and Ashland resident; Instructional Support/IPRE - Roxanne Neal, Division Assistant for Health Sciences and Ironton resident; Student Affairs – Amanda Cordle, Office Assistant for the Advising Center and Grayson resident; Institutional Advancement/PR - Sarah Diamond Burroway, Director of Grants & Contracts and Flatwoods resident; and Community, Workforce and Economic Development – Kim Boggs, Workforce Transitions Coordinator and Rush resident.

The Staff Representative to the ACTC Board of Directors, elected for a three year term, is Kathy Riley, Executive Administrative Assistant to the President and a Bellefonte resident. Ella Smith, Administrative Assistant for Title III and a Rush resident, will continue to serve as Staff Representative to the ACTC Foundation Board of Directors.

ACTC Graduation Recognizes 568 Students

Tue, 07 May 2013 15:22:00 -0400

The Ashland Community and Technical College Graduation Ceremony on May 11 recognized 568 students, a new record number of graduates. Graduates are listed below by their city of residence.

From Argillite: Justin M. Bays, Terry B. Burton, Christopher J. Gamble, Dreama D. Grubb, John R. Logan, Melissa R. Meadows.

From Ashland: Victoria D. Absten, Michael D. Adkins, Brandon M. Arms, Tony A. Arthur II, Cydney V. Baker, Paul A. Baker, Ashley D. Barada, Cynthia J. Barnhill, Kyle G. Bias, Katelyn E. Biggs, Kelsey E. Biggs, Shauna Biggs, Katie E. Black, Jeremy D. Blair, Cassandra H. Blankenship, Kaitlin D. Blankenship, Joseph E. Bocook, Justin S. Bolt, Rajeana L. Bowen, Stephanie M. Bowling, Michelle L. Boyd, Mary C. Breeding, Christopher L. Butcher, Cassandra A.N. Cantrell, Steven L. Carey, Alexandra R. Carpenter, Rachel N. Carrico, Shaylia R. Caskey, Todell C. Castle, Hannah L. Caudill, Linda M. Chappell, Brooke A. Christian, James A. Clayton, David S. Conley, Michael J. Conley, Whitli D. Conley, Laura A. Cordery, Brittney N. Counts, Joshua E. Cox, Lisa A. Cumpton, Scott A. Curtis, Holly C. Daniels, Harley J. Davis, Nanci E. Davis, Rebecca S. Davis, Michael R. Dent, Katherine J. Donnelly, Richard D. Duelley, Jason M. Edgington, Rachel D. Evans, Nkechinyere N. Eze, Michael L. Fails, Angela L. Farley, Kristopher D. Felty, Justin M. Filmore, Amanda P. Fosson, Lindsay M. Fowler, Tawanna L. Fraley, Danny D. Glass, Angela D. Green, Brittany L. Griffith, Emily D. Griffith, Joshua A. Griffith, Christinia S. Hall, Pamela K. Hall, Alison S. Hamilton, Desirae A. Hamlin, Jennifer L. Hanner, Kelly M. Hanshaw, Ashley B. Harmon, John W. Hobson, Nicholas T. Hornbuckle, Katie M. Hughes, Kelly M. Hunley, Amy E. Hurst, Ashley M. Hurst, Charles E.B. Hurst, Shyanne A. Hush, Brittany H. Ingles, Bradley T. Jackson, Brandi L. James, Emily N. Jarrell, Marshall G. Jarrell, Matthew R. Jefferson, Jack D. Johnson, Joshua D. Johnson, William J. Johnson, William A. Keaton, Justin L. Kersey, Alyssia M. Kimbler, Sarah K. Klein, Donald H. Lambert, Cameron L. Leaver, Hannah Leavitt, Brandy D. Lewis, Karah L. Long, Matt L. Louanglath, Kelly J. Massey, Aaron M. Matthews, Emily P. Mayo, Timothy S. Mayse, Cristina D. McAlister, Miranda L. McClanahan, Sherry M. McConnell, Courtney D. McCoy, Gregory T. McFarlin, Rachel E. McKenzie, Steven D. Meachem, Shalyn B. Miller, Candace J. Mollette, Christina L. Mollette, Raymond L. Moore, Angela R. Mosley, William P. Mullins, Brittany S. Mulvaney, Phillip E. Newman, Dustin J. Nunley, Desirae M. Oney, Jonathan E. Palmer, Crystal A. Parsley, Brett M. Parsons, Lindsay R. Pemberton, Sharon R. Petgrave, Jordan R. Poplin, Steven M. Porter, Elizabeth A. Preston, Amber D. Price, James S. Rakes, Careyray C. Ratcliff, Rachel H. Ratliff, Ashley N. Renfroe, Larissa K. Reynolds, Muhammad B. Rinaldi, Andrew S. Roach, Misti M. Robertson, Richard M. Robinette, Austin T. Robinson, Hunter D. Rockwell, Jesse E. Rogers, Cisha L. Rose, Clarissa M. Rose, Mary K. Ross, Christy R. Sallie, Donald R. Salyers, Amie L. Schwendeman, Shelby J. Scior, Melissa K. Seagraves, Edward W. Seaton II, Jillienne A. Shannon, Darren M. Slone, David R. Smith, James T. Sparks, Amanda V. Spears, Billie J. Stanley, Annette L. Steele, Kaitlyn R. Steele, Karri L. Stephenson, Michael W. Stewart, Mark E. Stinson, Patrick M. Stump, Steven R. Taylor, Kayla A. Thompson, Amber N. Tussey, Thomas A. Tussey, Alexander C. Vice, Angela D. Vinson, Clifford O. Waller, Tyler J. Wallin, Leigh A. Watts, Shirley F. Webb, Jeremy S. West, Barbara J. Willard, Mark A. Williams, Rebekah R. Williams, Kathleen D. Wooten, Alma K. Yoakem.

From Catlettsburg: Jessica L. Belcher, Samantha A. Blakeley, Megan L. Blevins, Kaci J. Boyd, Megan N. Cain, Ryan C. Chaffin, Terri R. Cornwell, Rickey L. Davidson, Tiffany D. Griffith, Adam L. Holley, Aaron K. Jenkins, Adam S. Keeton, Casey T. Layne, Kayla D. Marcum, Alexandria N. Marshall, Mark A. McClanahan, Kellie N. McClelland, Kayla B. McDavid, Paula M. Miller, Lindsay Moore, Jason L. Murphy, Caitlin N. ONeal, Roger L. Pemberton II, Jeremy K. Phillips, Cloyd A. Rodkey, Cody R. Salyers, Savannah D. Scott, Samantha J. Stewart, Charles A. Thomas, Lyndsey M. Thovson, Jamie L. Waugh, Adam T. Wellman, Caleb M. Wheeler, Ashley N. Woods, Cody J. Wright, Michael T. Young.

From Denton: Frankie L. Price, Miranda A. Yates.

From Flatwoods: Carrie A. Atkinson, Erica M. Browning, Matthew D. Carpenter, Ashley M. Cassity, David E. Conley, Alvin B. Cordle, Jordan M. Daniels, Thomas B. Frye II, Celeste S. Green, Joshua Green, Ethan R. Gullett, Jordan T. Jobe, Anna B. Jones, Caitlin B. Jones, Raymond M. Kilgore, Granville R. Litteral, Michael T. McClure, Raymond L. Murray, Jane R. Muth, Matthew I. Roark, William J. Scarberry, Thomas M. Sloan, Kathryn Sloas, Cody A. Stevens, Matthew A. Thompson, Megan Vacanti, Evadean Woods.

From Garrison: Jarrett Z. Noble, Lea L. Roland.

From Grayson: Bretta V. Aukerman, Blake A. Boggs, James D. Boyd, Heather D. Burton, Tyler J. Clay, Zachary D. Coleman, Austin C. Collier, Bethany A. Elliott, Derek C. Flannery, Jacob J. Flocker, Peggy J. Guilds, Amy N. Hall, James E. Hall, David S. Harlow, Dena K. Harris, Cayla R. Haywood, Ryan K. Hicks, Valerie D. Hogston, Colleen A. Howard, Ryan T. Howe, Raymond Kees, Stacy S. Kiser, Kathryn S. Lemaster, Thersa R. Martin, Dylan K. McDavid, Staci R. McDavid, Jennifer L. McGlone, Chassity D. McGranahan, Timothy T. Messer, Joyleana S. Miller, Sarah J. Miller, Scott P. Mulhearn, Hobert D. Muse, Brandon S. Oney, Erica L. Parsons, Michelle Perry, William D. Sielaff, Kevin Skaggs, Mary L. Skaggs, Danielle R. Smith, Richard D. Smith, Judy K. Stapleton, George T. Steele, Christopher R. Stone, Ronda S. Strong, Cassandra L. Sykes, Timothy B. Tolliver, Amanda R. Tussey, Bobbie J. Waggoner, Calen H. Wallin, Matthew S. Wells, Erin N. Withrow, Andrea L. Womack.

From Greenup: Rhonda Barker, Elizabeth N. Bayes, Latosha N. Bradford, Jesse W. Cantrell, Dylan G. Coburn, Candy L. Coomer, Ashley D. Cox, Jeremy R. Damron, Lisa A. Daniels, Chad W. Elkins, Jonathon D. Fannin, Adam R. Foster, Patricia A. Franklin, Christopher D. Furst, Nathan T. Fyffe, Jamie A. Gilliam, Dustin K. Gullett, Tammy C. Hall, Whitney A. Howard, Kyle D. Madden, Lauren P. Quillen, Reagan T. Reed, Anthony W. Rhoden, James A. Robinson, Melvin N. Tolliver, Steven J. Vansickle, Michelle J. Weinrich, Joseph L. Willis.

From Inez: Mary A. Ellis, Christopher W. Endicott.

From Louisa: Selena M. Bryan, Fannie C. Cantrell, Tiffiney Carroll, Shane R. Chaffin, Stephanie L. Diamond, Sasha L. Dotson, Brandy L. Dutton, Tessa B. Ellis, Sydney R. Evans, Roy H. Fields, Heather A. Hansen, Meagan D. Hanshaw, Autumn B. Hayes, Treena J. Hogan, Jennifer R. Holley, Robert C. Hughes, Chuck R. Jackson, Jimmy L. Johnson, Hilary D. Laney, Jordan K. Lemaster, Mary C. Loughery, Aaron S. May, Deborah P. Maynard, Jody L. McGinnis, Kerry A. Meredith, Nancy P. Moore, Richard W. Moore, Wade T. Skaggs,Crystal N. Spillman, Jeffrey A. Spillman, Jessica N. Spillman, Michelle N. Spradlin, Brandon G. Stiegmann, Beverly K. Turner, Walter K. Vanhoose, Ashley D. Ward, Katlin E. Ward, Kara D. Williams.

From Olive Hill: Kimberly L. Brown, Taylor R. Callahan, Brenda F. Canterbury, Raychel D. Carroll, Stephanie L. Carter, Justin M. Caudill, Shelley S. Caudill, Heather R. Cecil, Robert L. Eastes, Nicholas T. Johnson, Timothy B. Lewis, Samuel H. Lowe, Bob Mann, Rhonda D. May, James S. McDaniel, Norah E. McGlone, Kristin Morris, Deanna L. Nunley, Brittany L. Oney, Vickie C. Rivers, Diane R. Rodgers, Kayla A. Skinner, Charletta L. Smith, Garry L. Steele, Katlyn D. Thompson, Karlie E. Wellman.

From Raceland: Thomas R. Hencye, Leighanna M. Caudill-Lane, Autumn B. Fitch, Josh M. Quillen, Ross Reed, Amanda R. Smith, Brittany Stevens, Delta D. Thompson, Adreine M. Worthington.

From Rush: Loretta L. Benton, Trina Burton, Mellisa D. Dinkens, Anthony D. Flannery, Amanda K. Jones, Melissa S. Leake, Benjamin Lee, Kristie L. Middleton, Jeanette M. Pinkerman, Robert G. Pinkerman II, Victoria L. Purinton, Amanda Quillen, Robert M. Quillen, Betty J. Riffe, Trisha S. Smith, Amanda G. Sparks, Hannah M. Stewart, Corey L. Stroud, Alisa D. Thompson, Krystina N. Thornberry, Catherine E. Wamsley, Tonya M. Whitt, Jeffery S. Williams.

From Russell: Jacqueline R. Brown, Kristen M. Coffey, Jennifer R. Graham, Gregory S. Harbour II, Tara R. Helms, John T. Kimpston, Timothy R. Parsons, Courtney N. Sloas, William R. Stamper II, Haleigh M. Stevens, Timothy J. Wilson, Kevin T. Withrow.

From Sandy Hook: Travis M. Blevins, Darrell D. Boggs, Jordan Q. Fannin, Christopher R. Greene, Chasity K. Pennington, Christopher J. Yates.

From South Portsmouth: Mary B. Bivens, Joseph M. Cherry.

From South Shore: Kayla M. Boggs, Eva M. Cooper, Courtney S. Deirfield, David E. Jamison, William E. Johnson, Daniel R. Leport, Ronnie J. Liles, Kyle L. Murray, Dylan G. Perry, Phillip T. Peveto, Brittany D. Wilburn.

From Vanceburg: Randy D. Bloomfield, Jesse D. Morgan, Brittany R. Silvey.

From Worthington: Nitin Ahuja, Charis M. Artist, Falecia A. Collier, Dillon E. Keeton, Caitlin M. Kennard, Megan R. McAdams, Robin G. McBrayer, Brian P. Nolan.

From Wurtland: Charity L. Bressler, Mary E. Liming, Melanie I. Valandingham, Charlie R. Vanover II, Jeremy R. Williams.

Also from Kentucky: Cassandra D. Catlow, Maysville; Rebecca M. Caudill, Hagerhill; Charleea M. Davis, Beauty; Christa R. Flannery, Morehead; Benjamin M. Gibson, Salyersville; James T. Gray, Georgetown; Kathy L. Harper, Covington; William C. Meade, Blaine; Nathan H. Puckett, Cynthiana; Matthew B. Simpson, Lexington; Travis W. Smith, Hitchins; Angela S. Spradlin, Paintsville; Matthew B. Simpson, Lexington.

Ohio Students

From Chesapeake: Brandon J. Adkins, Katie M. Bennett, Pamela S. Cabell, Jason R. Heffner, Kayla N. Lucas, Komal S. Shah, Delaya L. Short, Spencer G. Williams.

From Crown City: Shanda C. Watson, Wendy D. Watson-Fox.

From Ironton: Keely N. Barney, William S. Bordelon, Jonathan A. Brammer, Eric R. Brown, Amanda S. Carte, Daniel A. Cook, Isaac M. Glover, Leah R. Jarrett, Brian T. McKnight, Jennifer A. Pennington, Marcus Royal, Richard L. Smith, Katie E. Stewart, Ashley R. Taylor.

From Kitts Hill: Justin T. Bustetter, William J. Mays, Patricia L. Rowe, James E. Terry, Dallas M. Tibbs, Martha A. Wilson.

From Proctorville: Brandon M. Black, Amanda M. Holderby, Evan A. Popp, Jennifer N. Smith.

From South Point: Zachariah N. Dickerson, Christy L. Hager, Angela M. Hargis, Monica B. O’Neal, Georgia M. Sorbilli, Sarah D. Stubbs, Christine L. Webb.

From West Portsmouth: Charles R. Blankenship, Richard A. Briggs.

Also from Ohio: Joshua D. Biggs, Portsmouth; Travis D. Pertuset, Lucasville.

West Virginia Students

From Barboursville: Matthew O. Mencotti, Mark Stephens.

From East Lynn: Joshua D. Bryant, Joshua C. Isaacs.

From Huntington: Elizabeth D. Deskins, Rachel L. Fizer, Tasha F. Higginbotham, Andrew M. Lucas, Christopher F. Mullen, Kayla N. Perkins, Paula G. Saunders, Jonathan M. Steele, Bethany A. Varney, Rebecca G. Webb, Sherria Winston.

From Kenova: Ryan M. Campbell, Dennie J. Ferguson, Ashley N. Kelly, Jillian M. Pulley, Katherine E. Tanner.

From Lavalette: Daniel R. Adkins, John C. McCann.

From Wayne: Jesse P. Adkins, David K. Blankenship, Joshua T. Moore, Jessica A. Mount.

Also from WV: Brittany D. Adkins, Genoa; Christopher D. Eckert, Culloden; Beth A. Workman, Prichard; Henry D. Jude, Fort Gay; Pamela J. Meddings, Crum; Derrick S. Mekosch, Kiahsville; Mindy R. Richardson, Milton.

Also Jason Cobb, Crystal River, FL; Daniel P. Kight, Oakland, MD.

Evaluate Your Classes

Thu, 02 May 2013 12:22:00 -0400

Hundreds of ACTC students have already evaluated their classes. Don't forget.

Visit https://www.actc.info/student/ today, to evaluate your classes.

ACTC Inducts 83 into Honor Society

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:45:00 -0400

Eighty-three Ashland Community and Technical College students were inducted April 19 into ACTC's Alpha Omega Gamma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK).

An international honor society of two-year colleges, PTK focuses on scholarship, leadership, fellowship and service. Inductees must have a 3.25 grade point average, on a 4.0 scale, on at least 18 credit hours that can be applied toward an associate degree.

Chapter advisors are Professor Dan G. Bailey, Coordinator of Academic Advising/Transfer, Assistant Professor John M. Davis, Coordinator of the Business Administration Program, and Travis Koll, English Instructor.

Inductees are listed below by city of residence.

From Argillite: Lakin D. Houston and Mayra N. Mendez.

From Ashland: Paul A. Baker, Ashley S. Blankenship, Michelle L. Boyd, Jefferson D. Bryan, Terrence E. Campbell, Cassandra A. Cantrell, Candy A. Colyer, Lydia M. Dixon, Frank A. Donnelly, Katherine J. Donnelly, Richard D. Duelley, Angela L. Farley, Kelly M. Hanshaw, Nicholas T. Hornbuckle, Courtney T. Jones, William A. Keaton III, Brandon L. Kelley, Emily M. Leibee, Nadine N. Maggard, Terra E. McCarty, John D. McDowell, Rachel E. McKenzie, Michael R. McNatt, Candace J. Mollette, Ricky A. Owens, Misti M. Robertson, Mary K. Ross, Shelby M. Rudie, Andrew K. Runyon, Christy R. Sallie, Jessica L. Stacey, Angela D. Sullivan, Jeri C. Tackett, Blake T. Walter, Jessica M. Whitlock, Barbara J. Willard, Jolene Williams and Julia C. Winans.

From Catlettsburg: Alexandra M. Cobern, Faith R. Ekers, Wister J. Nolan, Rodney L. Opell II and Roger L. Pemberton II.

From Grayson: Jennifer Maxwell Bailey, Katrina D. Emerson, Ashley A. Godfrey, Ada D. Helton, Kathryn S. Lemaster, Johnathan Z. Mohrman, Christophe D. Oney, Laura G. Rucker and Kaitlyn D. Savage.

From Flatwoods: Jennifer M. Braden, Amanda R. Clark, Granville R. Litteral and Jane R. Muth.

From Greenup: Sarah E. Ison, Thomas N. Musser and James A. Robinson.

From Louisa: Lakin D. Houston, Richard W. Moore, Siska A. Pack and Lucinda Schroeder.

From Raceland: Steven D. Gibbs, Angela K. Rigsby and Adreine M. Worthington.

From Webbville: Karen J. Fraley and Christopher S. Young.

Also from KY: Jessie D. Cook, Adams; Alacia K. Jahn, Vanceburg; William E. Johnson III, South Shore; Kelly R. Litteral, Olive Hill; Cheryl A. McGraw, Quincy; Jeanette M. Pinkerman, Rush; and Anissa J, Whitt, Morehead.

From OH: Kathleen S. Ellis, South Point; Marcus R. Royal, Ironton; and Ryan J. Williams, Chesapeake.

From WV: Mike A. Michael, Huntington; and Nathan L. Adkins and Joyce D. Terry, Kenova.

ACTC Honors Night is May 9

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:43:00 -0400

ACTC Honors Night on Thursday, May 9, will recognize students for their academic and service achievements in the 2012-2013 academic year. The public is invited to the free program at 7:00 p.m. in the Rocky Adkins Pavilion at the Technology Drive Campus.

ACTC Graduation is May 11

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:38:00 -0400

Ashland Community and Technical College will recognize a record number of 568 students at the Graduation Ceremony Saturday, May 11, at 10:00 a.m. in the Paramount Arts Center in downtown Ashland.

The students to be honored are August 2012 graduates, December 2012 graduates and May 2013 graduation candidates. Many have earned more than one degree, diploma or certificate, and more than 1650 credentials will be awarded.

Dr. Michael B. McCall, President and CEO of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, will preside over the Inauguration Ceremony of Dr. Kay Adkins, ACTC’s President and CEO since last September. At ACTC, the Inauguration Ceremony is traditionally performed at the first graduation held after a new president takes office.

Dr. Akins will also give the Commencement Address. The Graduation Ceremony is free and open to the public.

Graduation Student Speaker

The Graduation Ceremony student speaker will be Cassandra A. Cantrell, an Ashland resident who is receiving an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Criminal Justice. She will transfer to Lindsey Wilson College in the fall to work on a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services and Counseling. Her career goal is to work in addiction counseling.

“The college faculty and staff in every department were always willing to help me with class work, test taking, financial aid or whatever help I needed to stay in class,” Cantrell said. “The Ready to Work program provided me with the most incredible opportunity to have employment, to have positive enforcement of my studies, and have help in college after being out of school for nearly 10 years.”

Graduation Distinguished Service Award

A Distinguished Service Award will be presented to John W. Clark at the Graduation Ceremony in recognition of exemplary contributions as a friend of Ashland Community and Technical College.

Mr. Clark is the founder of John W. Clark Oil Company, Inc. He also founded Clark’s Pump-N-Shop, Bulk Plants Inc., and J&R Diesel, which are all family owned and operated. An Ashland native and Fairview High School graduate, he has served on the ACTC Board of Directors since 2011.

ACTC Offers Math Class for GED/COMPASS Skills

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:17:00 -0400

The Adult Learning Center at Ashland Community and Technical College will hold an seven-week evening math class on Tuesday and Thursday, May 14 to June 27, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on the College Drive Campus.

The class will help individuals prepare for the math sections of the GED or COMPASS college assessment test, get ready for career readiness exams and better understand math for their own lives or in order to help children with homework.

Adults sixteen years or older who are not enrolled in public school or home school are eligible for the class. There is no charge for the class as a result of a grant from the Kentucky Adult Education Council on Postsecondary Education.

For further information, call the Center at 606-326-2347 or 606-326-2456.

Learn How to Sell on Amazon.com

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:30:00 -0400

This class for people with little or no experience in online selling will be held twice in May: on Tuesday and Thursday, May 14 and 16, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. and on Tuesday and Thursday, May 21 and 28, from 6:00 to -8:30 p.m.

Participants will learn how to sell their unneeded items on Amazon.Com, the world’s largest marketplace. Topics include the basics of setting up an account, listing items, pricing techniques and shipping details.

The fee is $35, and enrollment is through ACTC Community Education, 606-326-2072 or email: as_ce@kctcs.edu.

AA Highway Library Conference Set

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:27:00 -0400

The Annual AA Highway Library Staff Conference will be held May 17 at Maysville Community and Technical College.

ACTC cosponsors the conference with Gateway and Maysville Community and Technical Colleges to help school and public librarians stay current with technology and service developments.

Keynote Speaker Mary Kay Carson is an award-winning children’s nonfiction author. Concurrent sessions will include museum and library collaboration, scanning documents into searchable databases, young adult books, digital storytelling, and partnership and grant funding.

ACTC Librarians Sara Brown and Pamela Klinepeter will present “Adventures in Demolition: ACTC’s Library Renovation Project.” The project at the College Drive Library in spring 2012 included changes to the layout, space and collections.

ACTC Library Director Matthew Onion will present a session on the last year’s New Harmonies exhibit on American Roots Music that was held at the college. His session is titled “Museum and Library Collaboration: One Library’s Experience with the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street.”

The conference fee is $12 and May 3 is the registration deadline. Register online at http://aahwylibraryconference.wufoo.com/forms/aa-highway/. For more information, contact Professor Onion at ACTC, 606-326-2113, email: matthew.onion@kctcs.edu.

ACTC Offers ServSafe Certification Training

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:25:00 -0400

ServSafe Food Safety Training and Certification Testing is offered by ACTC to help food service managers and employees protect their customers, employees and business.

The two-day class will be held Thursday, May 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Friday, May 17 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon at ACTC’s Technology Drive Campus.

ServSafe is a national certification program, sponsored by the National Restaurant Association, that provides training and certification in safe food handling and serving procedures.

ServSafe is for both managers and food handlers and is recommended by local health departments, according to instructor Peggy Bradley, Associate Professor and Coordinator of ACTC’s Culinary Arts Program. Training topics will include basic food safety, personal hygiene, cross-contamination, time and temperature considerations, cleaning and sanitation.

The $175 fee includes training, lunch and certification testing. Preregistration is required, and enrollment is through Workforce Solutions, email: jessica.lucas@kctcs.edu or 606-326-2238.

ACTC Will Host Perennial Plant Exchange

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:22:00 -0400

Area gardeners are invited to bring their extra flowering and landscape plants, including bulbs and seeds, to a Perennial Plant Exchange Saturday, May 11, from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon at ACTC The exchange will be held at the College Drive Campus in the lower parking lot located off Oakview Road.

This is a chance to find new heritage plants, share extra seedlings and cuttings, and network with other home gardening enthusiasts. Area residents are invited to bring their extra plants and exchange them for new ornamental or edible plants that can add variety to their gardens and landscapes.

ACTC Lifelong Learning, Boyd County Master Gardeners and the UK Cooperative Extension Service are hosting the exchange. For more information, contact Karen Coburn at ACTC, 606-326-2129, email: karen.coburn@kctcs.edu.

ACTC Student Art Exhibit May 3

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:41:00 -0400

ACTC art students will display their works Friday, May 3, in a “clothes line” exhibit in Judd Plaza in downtown Ashland from 4:00 p.m. until dark.

The seventh annual Student Art Show features drawings by students enrolled in fall and spring classes taught by Wendy Fosterwelsh, ACTC Assistant Professor of Art. Works include still life, portrait, figurative and conceptual drawings in pen, pencil and colored pencil.

Exhibiting students are Tessa Coyler, Samantha Leach, Thomas J. Mansfield, Shandi B. Meeks, Heather N. Miller, Kelli J. Miller and Michael R. Smith, all from Ashland; Selena M. Bryan from Louisa, Demi S. Eicher from South Point, OH, Kimberly D. Horn from Inez, Hannah Jackson from Catlettsburg and Miranda C. Offill from Olive Hill.

In case of rain, the student exhibit will be in the Pendleton Arts Center. The exhibit is held in conjunction with Ashland’s First Friday Art Walk that features works by area artists and gallery exhibits.

It's Time for Class Evaluations

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:27:00 -0400

Let us know how we're doing and help us to improve. Your evaluations make a difference. Visit https://www.actc.info/student/, login using your student username and password then select "class evaluations."

ACT Prep Class for High School Students

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:03:00 -0400

High school students can get ready for the ACT college entrance test in a 16-hour class designed to help over-come test anxiety and improve test-taking skills. The class will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays, May 14 to June 6, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the College Drive Campus.

Students will finish this class in time for the ACT test on June 8. Universities and colleges may use ACT scores for admissions and course placement decisions, and higher scores that result from studying and practicing the test will be beneficial.

Participants will go over ACT type questions, learn test-taking tips, review English grammar and punctuation and practice working arithmetic and geometry problems. The ACTC instructors are Jason Shields, Information Systems Developer and David Pack, Adjunct English Instructor.

The fee is $99, and students will need to purchase Baron’s Preparation for the ACT, available in the ACTC bookstore and other area or online bookstores. Preregister through ACTC Community Education, 606-326-2072 or email: as_ce@kctcs.edu.

Mosaic Art Class Offered at ACTC

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:57:00 -0400

An Introduction to Mosaic Art class will be held Thursdays, May 2 to 23, from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Roberts Drive Campus. Participants will learn the history of mosaics and will make their own mosaic - a heart-shaped garden stone – to take home

Participants will need to bring safety glasses and good-fitting nitrile/rubber gloves. All other materials will be provided. The fee is $55, and preregistration is required through ACTC Community Education, 606-326-2072 or email: as_ce@kctcs.edu.

"The Book as Art" Program April 25

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:54:00 -0400

Joe Napora, ACTC English Professor, will give a short presentation on “Book Art and the Art of the Book” Thursday, April 25, at noon in the College Drive Campus Library.

He will talk about handcrafted books that can include hand set type, handmade covers and binding, and illustrations. “Although electronic media threaten to make books obsolete, there are still artists and writers who carry on the tradition of making a book a work of art,” Napora said. He will bring some handcrafted books that show different artistic elements.

The program is free and open to the public.

Plant a Tree for Arbor day

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:52:00 -0400

Ashland's annual Arbor Day "Plant a Tree Project" will take place at Ashland’s Central Park on Friday, April 26, from noon to 5:00 p.m. or until all tree seedlings are gone, whichever comes first.

Approximately 8,000 seedlings will be available. The seedlings include Eastern Redbud, Hazelnut, River Birch, Mulberry, Cypress, White Pine, Willow Oak, Silky Dogwood, Pin Oak, Black Walnut, Yellow Poplar, Pecan, Blackgum and Chinese Chestnut.

The Arbor Day seedling give-away is sponsored by the City of Ashland and the Kentucky Division of Forestry. The free distribution is part of the city’s urban forestry program and a public service of the Ashland Tree Board. ACTC students and employees assist in the distribution as a community service project.

For more information, contact Professor Mark Swetnam at ACTC, email: mark.swetnam@kctcs.edu.

Apply Now for ACTC Summer Sessions

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:48:00 -0400

Ashland Community and Technical College is accepting now applications for three summer sessions: a Full Summer term from May 20 to July 26, Summer Session I from May 20 to June 21, and Summer Session II from June 24 to July 26.

Summer Sessions offer advantages to new and continuing students alike. New students can get a head start on fall, continuing students can complete their college program in a shorter time, and working adults can take classes for job advancement.

Most summer classes are for three credits, and many are offered in the general education subjects that are required for associate and bachelor degrees. Most summer courses are online, making it easier to fit college into vacation schedules. Courses where hands-on learning is needed, such as science labs and math courses, are held on campus. Some writing, sociology and psychology classes are also offered on campus.

Application deadlines are May 13 for Summer I and the Full Summer term and June 17 for Summer II. Admission forms and class schedules are on the web at: ashland.kctcs.edu. For more information, call the Admissions Office, 606-326-2114.

In-state Kentucky tuition for summer classes is $140 per credit hour, and residents of neighboring Ohio and West Virginia counties qualify for in-state tuition.

Financial Aid is available for summer classes. After filling out the ACTC admission form, new students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available online at: www.fafsa.gov.

For help with the FAFSA or to predetermine your eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant or other aid, contact the Office of Financial Aid, 1-855-246-2282.

Summer I General Education Courses

General education courses in arts and humanities, communications, math, natural science, and social and behavioral science are required for ACTC diploma and associate degree programs and may be transferred to four colleges and universities. Students unsure of their field can complete these courses while deciding on a major of area of study.

The following general education courses are offered during Summer I.

Communications courses are Intro to Communications, Basic Public Speaking (on campus), Intro to Interpersonal Communications, Intro to Intercultural Communication, Writing I and Writing I.

Math courses on campus are Pre-Algebra, Basic Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, Applied Mathematics and College Algebra.

Humanities courses are Intro to Art, History of the US Through 1865, History of Kentucky, Intro to Philosophy, Ethics, Intro to the Humanities and Intro to Religious Studies.

Science courses on campus are Intro to Biology and Lab, General College Chemistry I and Lab, Human Anatomy & Physiology I, Medical Microbiology and Medical Terminology from Greek & Latin.

Social Science courses are American Government, General Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Intro to Sociology, The Family and Lands/Peoples of Non-West World.

Introduction to Computers and Foundations of Learning are also offered.

Summer I Program Courses

Criminal Justice courses, all online, are Intro to Criminal Justice, Intro to Corrections, Issues and Ethics in Criminal Justice, Delinquency/Juvenile Justice System, Intro to Law Enforcement, Prison & Jail Administration.

Early Childhood Education courses online are Early Childhood Development, Business Administration of ECE Programs and School Age Child Care.

Welding courses on campus are Cutting Processes Lab, Shield Metal Arc Welding Fillet Lab, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, Blueprint Reading/Welding Lab, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Pipe Lab, Pipe Fitting/Template Development Lab and Welding Practicum.

Full Summer Courses

All full summer term courses are online. Computer classes are Intro to Computers, Computer Hardware and Software, Internet Technologies and Web Page Development. Math/reasoning courses are Pre-Algebra Basic Algebra, College Algebra Workshop, Intermediate Algebra, Business Mathematics, Trigonometry and Statistics.

Also offered are Foundations of College Writing II, Writing I, Native People of North America, Regional Geography of World, Developmental Psychology, Modern Social Problems, Development of Social Welfare, The Family and Security Fundamentals.

ACTC Scholarship Honors Late Professor

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:04:00 -0400

A scholarship fund honoring the late John B. Sowards, a speech and communications professor at Ashland Community and Technical College, has been established by two of his former students.

Frank Salisbury, ACTC Director of Advancement, and Dr. Bruce Shaffer, an Ashland dentist, took classes from Sowards in the late 1960’s and were members of the Alpha Phi Iota fraternity that Sowards had started at the college.

Sowards was a popular instructor and role model for two generations of students, according to Salisbury. Known to his friends and colleagues as J.B., he spent nearly 40 years in the classroom. After retirement, he continued to teach part time until his death in 1995.

Shortly after arriving at the then Ashland Junior College in 1956, Sowards organized a theatre program. More than 20 theatre productions were given from 1956 to the early 1980’s, and the theatre at ACTC’s College Drive Campus was named in his honor.

Sowards also established the Alpha Phi Iota fraternity in 1966 to enhance college life and give students an activity that would give them a sense of belonging.

“My brother Barry and I forged relationships with fellow Alpha’s that have resulted in lifelong friendships,” Dr Shaffer said. He and his brother also had Sowards in class and performed Shakespeare on stage. “Those were wonderful experiences that I will always remember,” he said.

Shaffer and Salisbury have established the J. B. Sowards Memorial Scholarship Fund through the Community and Technical College Foundation of Ashland, Inc., the foundation serving ACTC. The fund will provide scholarships to students in need of financial aid.

“J. B. had a way of bringing out the best in people, and he worked continuously to help students,” Salisbury said. “He would want to help students attend college.”

For more information on the scholarship, contact Salisbury at 606-326-2092 or email: frank.salisbury@kctcs.edu. The Foundation is a 501-C-3 nonprofit foundation eligible for federal tax-exempt gifts.

ACTC Offers Basic Sewing Class

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:52:00 -0400

Sewing skills can help you make minor repairs to garments, hem garments to fit, and add small touches to make your clothes special.

A Basic Sewing class covering these skills will be held Mondays, April 29 to May 20, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Roberts Drive Campus. Experienced seamstress Patti May will cover variety of stitches and hemming techniques, and she will show participants simple mending techniques that can make their clothes last longer.

The $39 fee includes materials, and enrollment is through ACTC Community Education, 606-326-2072 or email: as_ce@kctcs.edu.

Adult College Fair

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:38:00 -0400

Area residents who want education for a better job or new career are invited to a free Adult College Fair Friday, April 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the KYOVA Mall.

Ashland Community and Technical College is sponsoring the fair to help adults find educational and training programs that can help them prepare for a better better. These programs are outlined below.

ACTC’s college credential programs prepare students for a job immediately after graduation or for transfer to a four-year college or university. Career programs offer a variety of associate degree, diploma, certificate options which can often be completed in two years or less.

Transfer programs offer associate in arts or associate in science degrees that prepare graduates to start as juniors at their transfer college or university. Special transfer agreements are available with all area universities.

The Adult Education Program helps adults with reading and other basic skills, GED preparation, college preparation, test-taking strategies, English-as-a-Second Language, résumé writing, Internet job search and job readiness/interview techniques.

Workforce Solutions offers short-term certificate training programs for Kentucky Medication Aide, State Registered Nurse Aide and Phlebotomy as well as training workshops in computer, technical and business skills. CDL training is also available.

Community Education offers short term professional devleopment and personal interest classes for adults as well as enrichment classes for youth.

College representatives will be available to help with admissions forms and financial aid applications. For more information, contact Cara Huff, ACTC Recruiting and Outreach Coordinator, 606-326-2193 or email: cara.huff@kctcs.edu.

Job Fair April 19 Puts Employers and Job Seekers Together

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:34:00 -0400

Job seekers are invited to the Tri-State Job and Career Fair Friday, April 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the KYOVA Tri-State Mall.

“There are jobs in the area, and this is a chance for people to find out what’s available,” said Nancy Menshouse, ACTC's coordinator of career, job placement and co-op.

To date, more than 30 businesses and organizations have reserved space at the fair: A Brighter Future, Ashland Group Home, Bill Cole Automotive, Calgon Carbon Corp., Chiro One Wellness, Cintas, Coca Cola, Federal Correctional Institution, G4S Security, GCS, Goodwill Industries, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers #575, Jessica’s Scentsy, Kentucky Teleworks, Kingsbrook, Liberty Tax Service, Manpower, Marathon Marine Division, McDonald’s, McSweeneys, MTS Ambulance, nTelos, Oakmont Manor, PNC Bank, Ramey-Estep, Smithfield, Speedway, Transamerica, Tri-State Food System and Woodmen of the World.

ACTC Adult Education, the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation and Lindsey Wilson College are also participating.

The free fair is cosponsored by Ashland Community and Technical College, KY Department of Employment and Training, Southwestern Community Action Council, TENCO One-Stop Career Centers and KYOVA Tri-State Mall.

ACTC is also holding a Go2College Fair in conjunction with the Job Fair to help people find educational programs to prepare for jobs of the future.

For more information, contact Menshouse at 606-326-2199 or email: nancy.menshouse@kctcs.edu.

Apply for Pharmacy Technology Program by May 1

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:31:00 -0400

May 1 is the deadline to apply for admission to the Pharmacy Technology at Ashland Community and Technical College.

Pharmacy Technology offers a quick path into health care employment and can sometimes be the first step in becoming a pharmacist. Pharmacy Technicians are employed in community and hospital pharmacies, and jobs for Pharmacy Technicians in Kentucky are expected to grow 33% from 2010 to 2020 according to KY Occupational Outlook.

“Of my 12 students who graduated last year, 10 had jobs in the field as soon as they graduated, and the other two went on for associate degrees,” said Linda Tiller, ACTC Pharmacy Technology Instructor and Program Coordinator.

“The externship that students must complete is one reason for their employability,” Tiller said. “During their clinical hours as ‘externs’ in area pharmacies, students learn skills that would be needed as an employee, and this can give them an edge when applying for a job.”

“The Pharmacy Technology program gave me a chance to see if I would like a pharmacy career,” said William “Justin” May, a December 2012 graduate who earned an associate degree. “I liked the hands-on classes that got me right into what a pharmacist does on the job.”

Now working as a pharmacy technician at CVS, Mays will start the pre-pharmacy program at Marshall University next fall. “My goal is to be a pharmacist specializing in immunology,” said Mays, a Kitts Hill, OH resident and 2008 graduate of Dawson Bryant High School.

Under the direction of a pharmacist, a Pharmacy Technologist transcribes physician’s medication orders, fills prescriptions and pharmacy orders prepares admixtures of intravenous solutions, replenishes drugs, maintains patient profiles, and prepares bulk formulations.

At ACTC, Pharmacy Technology is a one-year diploma program, and a Community Pharmacy Assistant Certificate is also available. The diploma and certificate credits may be applied toward an Associate of Applied Science Degree in General Occupational/ Technical Studies.

The program includes lecture and laboratory classes in anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, medical terminology, microbiology, dosage calculations, pharmacy mathematics, pharmacy practice, pharmacology, drug classifications and IV admixtures.

Students learn basic pharmacy standards, such as brands and generics and basic calculations of medications, and the IV admixture skills that are important in any hospital pharmacy. “Our students learn to mix in a sterile environment and use aseptic technique correctly,” Tiller said.

Students also learn how to communicate the correct medical abbreviations and medical terminologies with patients, customers and the pharmacists they are assisting.

“In the future we are facing such a drastic rise in health care in general, and prescription care in particular, that trained pharmacy technicians will become more important in helping pharmacists complete their medication processing and distribution duties,” Tiller said.

Tiller has taught in the pharmacy field for almost 12 years and has also worked in hospital and retail pharmacies. “I like to keep up with developments in hospital, retail, home infusion pharmacies, such as nuclear pharmacy so I can pass it on to the students,” she said.

“I never have considered teaching just a job. It’s a way for me to give back some of what I have been given in my life,” Tiller said. “Pharmacy Technology was a lifeline to me when I needed to go back to school at a crucial time in my life, and teaching is a way to pass that gift along.”

Pharmacy Technology is a selective admissions program, and the application deadline is May 1. New students will need to submit both ACTC and Pharmacy Technology applications, which are available on line at: ashland.kctcs.edu. Applicants will need a COMPASS score of 34 or ACT score of 19 or must have completed MT065 with a “C” or better grade prior to being enrolled in the program.

“It’s great that there’s a Pharmacy Technology program close to home,” said Mays. “I would recommend the program to anyone considering a pharmacy field. Between the lab classes and externship, you learn the skills and knowledge you need to go right to work.”

For more information on the program, contact Tiller at 606-326-2154 or email: linda.tiller@kctcs.edu.

ACTC Class Covers Voice Over Work

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:38:00 -0400

“Getting Paid to Talk - Making Money with Your Voice” will explore the ins and outs of doing voice over work for television, film, radio, audio books, documentaries and the internet.

The class will be held Monday, May 6, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. Participants will learn how to prepare the all-important demo, get pointers on how to be successful and will have a chance to record a commercial script under the direction of our Voicecoaches.com producer.

The fee is $35, and enrollment is thorough ACTC Community Education, 606-326-2072 or email: as_ce@kctcs.edu.

ACTC Offers Continuing Education for Electricians

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:36:00 -0400

Two state-approved continuing education classes for electrical professionals will be held Saturday, May 4, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Technology Drive Campus. The $75 fee for each class includes lunch, and enrollment is through ACTC Workforce Solutions, 606-326-2130, 800-928-4256 ext. 62130 or email: jennifer.crisswell@kctcs.edu.

Analysis of NEC Upgrades is a recertification class for Kentucky electricians and master electricians. Instructor Harold Henry will cover updates to the National Electrical Code.

Green Energy Management is for Kentucky Electrical Contractors (6 hours of continuing education) and HVAC Journeymen and Masters (8 hours of continuing education). Instructor Doug Keaton will cover Green Energy trends, techniques and tips.

ACTC Instructor Shares Writing Tips

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:33:00 -0400

“The three ways to immediately improve your writing are: remember your audience, use examples and write a second draft,” says Travis J. Koll, an English Instructor at Ashland Community and Technical College. “Like any skill, good writing takes practice, but there are pointers that can help students learn what to do and what not to do in a shorter time,” he said.

These pointers are collected in Better Writing: Beyond Periods and Commas, a book published by Rowman and Littlefield Education, Inc., that is now available in print and ebook or Kindle at Amazon.com and other bookstores.

“The ability to write well is vital in today’s world,” says Travis J. Koll, “Unfortunately, too many students and others in the general public are terrified of the process and don’t know where to start. That’s why I wrote this book and why I kept it small, casual, and straightforward.”

Koll’s experience with student writers helped him develop guidelines that can help writers of any age construct a business report, school essay, or cover letter for a job.

“Many of us went through school thinking that commas and semicolons were the end all, be all of writing,” says Koll. “The truth is that mechanics are simply a means to an end—that end being the sharing of one’s voice and ideas in the larger community.”

“Semester after semester, I encounter very bright and hardworking students who, for some reason, believe writing well is simply beyond them; but I’ve yet to meet one who couldn’t improve with the right coaching,” he said.

Koll got into teaching as a result of his writing. “I was writing novels and nonfiction magazine articles at night after work, and I found myself helping business colleagues with their writing skills,” he said.

“I decided to pursue a Master’s Degree in English, and after the first few classes I was hooked,” he said. “I find working with students and colleagues very rewarding, and, perhaps with the exception of being a best-selling novelist, I really couldn't imagine doing anything else.”

Koll started at ACTC in 2010 after teaching for several years in community colleges, public universities, and online colleges in California, his native state.

“I moved from California, ultimately, to find a good community in which to raise my son, who is now three years old,” he said. “My uncle who lives in Lexington really talked up Kentucky, and I noticed ACTC was hiring. My visit to Ashland convinced me this was the place to relocate my family. It’s a safe community where people know and care about one another.”

Caring about students is also important to Koll. “Too often I encounter students who are terrified of writing and the English class itself, perhaps in the same way that I'm scared of calculus. My goal is to show students that they can indeed improve their skills.”

“Writing well is difficult, even if someone is a natural, but what most often holds people back are their own insecurities and a lack of knowledgeable but tactful guidance,” Koll said. “The road to improvement might be bumpy, but everyone deserves an opportunity to pursue success.”

Here are short guidelines to that success from Better Writing: Beyond Periods and Commas.

1. Remember Your Audience: Writers sometimes focus so much on their own ideas and opinions that they forget or ignore the needs, wants, and expectations of their audience members.

Everything in a text, from the words and tone one chooses to the structure one employs, should be created with that audience in mind. What does my audience expect to see in this text? What information does my audience need and want to know, what can I leave out, and what likely questions or challenges can I anticipate and address?

2. Use Examples or Anecdotes: My favorite activities in elementary school involved show-and-tell. Imagine how dull that activity would have been if, instead of being able to see and touch those prized possessions, you were forced to sit quietly and listen to long explanations about them.

Successful writers know that they must regularly help readers visualize a text’s meaning through examples and little stories. Rather than simply writing that hiking is a wonderful activity, show your readers it is by telling a little story. Instead of just stating that developing a sense of community is important in one’s neighborhood, provide some examples to show the audience why this is true.

3. Write a Second Draft: A second draft is far more than a chance to fix typos and punctuation errors; rather, it is an opportunity to develop and clarify your thoughts, to rearrange and better organize your ideas, and to ensure your text lives up to its potential.

Remember, you’re creating a fabric of words and ideas that must be measured, cut, and tailored to suit your writing goals and then fitted to your specific task, situation, and audience.

Koll shares these and other guidelines with students in his English Writing I and Writing II classes. “The points I raised in the book are central in my writing classes,” he said. “Anyone can use them to become a better writer.”

Wastewater Treatment Continuing Education Class

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:29:00 -0400

A class for Waste Water Treatment Operators will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, April 16 and 17, from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at ACTC’s Roberts Drive Campus.

Instructor Gary Russ from Russ & Associates, Inc. will cover topics such as package plant operations and maintenance, process control testing, and collection system operations and maintenance.

The class is state approved for 12 hours of continuing education. The $129 fee includes lunch and refreshments. Pre-registration is required through ACTC Community Education, 606-326-2072, 800-928-4256 ext. 62072 or email: as_ce@kctcs.edu.

Playwright Jonathan Joy Enjoys Teaching at ACTC

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:25:00 -0400

Appalachian life provides the backdrop for the works of playwright/author Jonathan Joy, an English/Writing Instructor at Ashland Community and Technical College.

“I’ve lived in the area most of my life, and my experiences in the Tri-State give a regional flavor to my plays and essays,” Joy said. He was born in Huntington, grew up across the river in Burlington, taught at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, now teaches at ACTC in Ashland and lives in Huntington.

“My plays are mostly domestic comedies that are set in this area and involve a wide variety of Appalachian characters. My essays are largely narrative accounts of growing up in Southern Ohio, though I have some political pieces too,” Joy said.

A café in Portsmouth gave him the title for Lunch at the Fork & Finger, a one act comedy now available in Kindle version on Amazon.com. In the play, a young man travels home to meet his mother's new boyfriend.

Boyd County was the setting for American Standard, political farce about two rural Kentucky State Senate candidates, one Republican and one Democrat, forced to pool their resources and travel the campaign trail together. The full-length play won two regional awards and was first produced by Marshall University Theatre.

One of Joy’s favorite plays, Princess of Rome (Ohio), is a comedy with a wide variety of small town characters. The dysfunctional tenants of a ramshackle house air their dirty laundry on the front porch while their young daughter dreams of getting away to start a better life. The play is scheduled to be performed in St. Albans this summer.

He also likes his Bitsy and Boots series of four comedies that revolve around two eccentric, oddball women living in Southern Ohio, their annoying cousin Ida, their nephew Tommy and his wife. The series was commissioned and produced by the First Church Dinner Theatre of the First United Methodist Church in Huntington.

“Although I use local references, the themes and character traits are pretty universal, and my plays have drawn the same audience reactions, such as laughing in the right places, in productions from Texas to New York,” Joy said.

“I often observe people or overhear conversations that make it into my plays in one way or another, Joy said. “My mother once warned my father to be careful what he says because it might end up in a play. More often than that, my plots and characters just come from my imagination.”

His plays have been performed regionally with the First Church Dinner Theatre, Charleston FestivALL, Marshall’s New Works Fest, and First Stage Theater, among others. Outside of this area, his work has been produced in twelve states, including Off-Broadway stages in New York City, and overseas in Dubai and France.

Joy’s work has been featured in the New York Times, Southern Theatre magazine and Insight for Playwrights magazine, and published by Brooklyn Publishers, Smith and Kraus, and the One Act Play Depot.

His plays are also included in three theatre books: Millennium Monologues 2, Shakespeare Festivals Around the World, and 60 Seconds to Glory: 220 Monologues for Women. His plays American Standard and Simply Selma have just been published online on ProPlay (www.singlelane.com/proplay).

Although a successful and prolific writer, with more than 25 plays to his credit, Joy considers himself to be a teacher. “Although I have a couple new plays in the works, I’m focused on my teaching first and foremost, and my family, of course.”

He values the time spent with his wife Rissie and three-year son, Levi. His brother also lives in Huntington and his parents, James and Susan Joy, still live in the southern Ohio area where Joy grew up.

He also values his time in the classroom teaching English and composition courses. “I love reading and writing, and I try to communicate that to students, Joy said. “I think my enthusiasm shows through.”

I’ve had students say that they’re reading more and enjoying it more because of what we did in class,” Joy said. We write in a variety of different styles, and students often comment that they enjoyed writing much more than they thought they would.”

“Although teaching and his son Levi take up most of my time, I get in writing zones every once in a while when I might write 30 or 40 pages in a month and then follow that up with a month or two of little or no writing,” Joy said. “It’s hard to find time, but I when I get the right inspiration, I make time.”

“I’ve always had a fascination with writing,” Joy said. “In high school, my writing was mostly poetry and short stories, and now I concentrate on plays and essays.”

“When I was 15, I got involved in community theatre and decided to study theatre in college Joy said.” After graduating from South Point High School in 1993, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree at Marshall University and worked in theater productions for two years.

“I was only gone for two years,” Joy said. “I lived in Columbus for a year and Norfolk for a year. They are both great cities, but there’s no place like home. I am much more comfortable in the Tri-State.”

His professional acting and directing credits have included work with the Phoenix Theatre Circle in Columbus, Ohio; Virginia Stage Company in Norfolk, Virginia; Huntington Rep in Huntington, and the Backstage Players in Ashland,

“Over time, I found myself drawn more to writing than to acting and directing. I moved back to the area and started writing daily. I enrolled in Graduate School at Marshall and started teaching as soon as I could.”

He earned a Master’s Degree in English with an emphasis on Drama and Creative Writing and taught part time at Marshall, Mountwest Community and Technical College, and Shawnee State before coming to ACTC four years ago.

“This is my dream job,” Joy said. “I’ve wanted to teach since I was young and my dad would take me to campus. My father is a Professor of Biology at Marshall University, and I saw where I wanted to be someday, although not in science. When I found my field, I had my goal.”

New Playwriting Class in Fall

The teaching and writing facets of Joy’s life will overlap next fall when he teaches a new Creative Writing: Playwriting class (ENG 207) at ACTC. In the three credit class, students will write monologues and short plays. The student works will be presented in spring 2014 in a New Play Festival produced by ACTC Theatre.

“I look forward to helping students develop their dramatic writing skills,” Joy said. “Perhaps some of them will discover a passion for writing that leads to their new goal in life.”

Apply for ACTC Scholarships Now

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:21:00 -0400

April 1 is the priority application deadline for fall 2013 scholarships at Ashland Community and Technical College.

ACTC offers dozens of scholarships to help deserving area residents pay for their education. As a rule, scholarships are awarded to students seeking a degree, diploma or certificate who demonstrate the potential for academic success and financial need. Some scholarships have additional requirements such as county of residence or grade point average (GPA).

Applicants should apply for admission to ACTC, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and fill out the general scholarship application form. The general scholarship application form is good for all scholarships except the John T. Smith and Pre-Engineering Scholarships, which have separate applications.

Applications are on the web at ashland.kctcs.edu/finaid, and the FAFSA is at fafsa.ed.gov. For more information, call the ACTC Student Service Center at 855-246-2282.

OSHA Forklift Operator Class Starts April 13

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:17:00 -0400

ACTC will hold an OSHA Certified Forklift Operator class Saturday, April 13, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Technology Drive Campus.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor requires forklift operator training for anyone who works around or on a forklift. This class will provide the classroom instruction, obstacle course training and on-site evaluation required for OSHA certification (OSHA 29FR1910.178).

Participants will learn about safety applications, OSHA regulations and basics fork lift operations and then go through the obstacle course. After class, participants will make an appointment with the instructor for the on-site evaluation.

Training is led by Woody Fosson, an OSHA certified instructor and certified Portman Training Center trainer. He is an ACTC Applied Process Technologies Instructor.

The fee is $125, and enrollment is limited to 12 participants on a first-come basis. Register with Workforce Solutions Specialist Jessica Lucas, email: jessica.lucas@ktcs.edu or 600-326-2238.

Kentucky Medication Aide Class Start April 10

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:15:00 -0400

A Kentucky Medication Aide (KMA) class will begin April 10 at ACTC. The class prepares students to administer specific medications in a long term care facility, as delegated and supervised by a licensed nurse.

People who have completed the State Registered Nurse Aid (SRNA) class and been employed as a SRNA for at least six months are eligible to take the class, provided they meet COMPASS or ACTC test score requirements.

The class ends May 29, and most class dates will be held on Monday and Wednesday from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. The fee is $700 plus $129.55 for the book and $11 for liability insurance.

For more information, contact Kim Boggs, ACTC Workforce Transition Coordinator, 606-326-2164 or email: kim.boggs@kctcs.edu.

State Registered Nurse Aid Classes Start in April

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:11:00 -0400

Two State Registered Nurse Aid (SRNA) classes begin in April at ACTC. The daytime class will be held Monday, Wednesday and Friday, April 1 to May 10, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The weekend class will be held Friday from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., April 2 to May 9.

The SRNA is a way for people to start on a health care career. The growth of SRNA jobs in Kentucky is projected to be faster than average, with a 23% increase from 2006 to 2016. In Kentucky, 90% of the SRNAs earn an average of $14.19 per hour with an average yearly wage of $29,500.

This eighty-hour SNRA course trains health care assistants in basic skills necessary to assist nurses in a variety of health care settings. The class fee, based on ACTC tuition rates, is $420, plus $11 for liability insurance and approximately $88 for the book. Those who complete the class earn three college credits and can then take the state licensing exam.

The class is held at the Technology Drive Campus just off the Industrial Parkway (KY 67) that connects I-64 and US 23.

For more information or an application, contact ACTC Workforce Transitions Coordinator Kim Boggs, 606-326-2164 or email: kim.boggs@kctcs.edu.

ACTC PTK Chapter Receives Regional Awards

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:08:00 -0400

ACTC’s Alpha Omega Gamma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa has been named a Five-Star Chapter for the seventeenth consecutive year. The award was presented at the Kentucky Regional Convention held March 8 and 9 at the College Drive Campus.

The ACTC Chapter also received a Distinguished Chapter Award, Honors in Action Hallmark Award and College Project Hallmark Award.

Chapter President Vanessa L. King, an Ashland resident, received the Distinguished Chapter Officer Award and the Rising Star Award in the Hallmark of Scholarship.

Chapter Vice President of the Technology Drive Campus Fannie C. Cantrell, received the Distinguished Chapter Member Award and the Hallmark of Leadership Rising Star Award. She is a Louisa resident.

Chapter Corresponding Secretary Jennifer N. Bailey, a Grayson resident, received the Hallmark of Service Rising Star Award.

Travis Koll, ACTC English instructor, received a Distinguished Chapter Advisor

The Alpha Omega Gamma Chapter served as the host chapter for the convention, and 86 members from 14 chapters attended the convention.

Chuck Charles, the Mayor of Ashland, welcomed the students and encouraged them to continue to work for their communities and to support other students and organizations. “You can choose to make a difference by volunteering to support your community,” he said. “That’s the way communities grow.”

During the convention, chapter members reviewed events of the past year and attended sessions on Leadership Development, the Competitive Edge and Project Management.

Phi Theta Kappa is the International Honor Society of the Two-Year College. There are over 2.5 million members in 1,275 chapters worldwide. The Kentucky Region has 22 chapters.

Free Workshop on Drug & Alcohol Free Workplace

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:00:00 -0400

A free workshop on Maintaining a Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace will be held Tuesday, March 26, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the College Drive Campus.

This workshop is designed for supervisors, managers, human resource professionals and business owners. Participants will learn about the resources and skills needed to make effective and legal decisions and to maintain a safe, healthy, and productive workforce.

Instructor Mike Wirzfeld is the Coordinator of Occupational Medicine at Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital. He will cover the legal information that companies are required to include in drug and alcohol workplace policies, including pre-employment screening, random and reasonable cause testing procedures and how to handle test results. There will be time for questions and answers, and partial college credit is available for those attending.

ACTC Workforce Solutions and the Ashland Alliance are sponsoring the workshop. Registration is requested through Workforce Solutions at 606-326-2238 or email: jessica.lucas@kctcs.edu. Alliance members can register with Missy McCalvin at 606-323-5111 or email: missy@ashlandalliance.com.

Ballroom Dance Class Starts April 5

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:03:00 -0400

“A Taste of Ballroom Dance” will be held Fridays, April 5 to 26. This class is a chance to get ready for that wedding or upcoming Father/Daughter dance or just find an enjoyable activity.

Participants can bring a partner and join instructors Allen Darnel and Kay McFarland to learn and practice the basic elements of partner dancing, such as posture, frame, leading, following, footwork, timing, and style characteristics. Allen Darnell has more than 50 years of dance experience, and his biography can be seen at: www.beginnersonly.com.

The class will meet from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Roberts Drive Campus, and the fee is $55 per couple. Enroll through ACTC Community Education, 606-326-2072 or email: as_ce@kctcs.edu.

ACTC Announces Youth Summer Camps

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:00:00 -0400

Five summer youth camps have been announced by ACTC Community Education. For more information, call 606-326-2072 or visit the Community Education page at: ashland.kctcs.edu/Workforce_Solutions/Community_Education.

Career Craze Healthcare on June 10-11 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. is an exploration of careers in medicine and other healthcare fields. The camp is for students 12-15 years of age. Thanks to a grant from the office of the Kentucky Lt. Governor, this camp is free and enrollment is on a first-come basis.

Camp Invention - Geo-Quest Module Expedition is for students in first to sixth grades. Held June 17-21 from 9:30 to 3:30 p.m., the camp explores the earth in the sky, underwater, on land, and underground. There is a $25 discount for those registering before March 28. Register online at: campinvention.org 2013.

College Camp, one of the longest running camps in the area, is for students 6-13 years of age. Classes in a variety of art, science and social science subjects will be announced in April, and camp will be held June 24-28 from 12:30-4:30 p.m.

Advanced Robotics Camp held July 8-12 p.m. from 8:45 to 12:15 p.m. is for students ages seven to twelve. Students will build and test different robotic creatures and vehicles. The fee is $35, and students will build a robot to take home.

Engino Building is an engineering and architectural creativity workshop for students ages seven to 14. The camp will be held July 8-12 from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. This camp is free through a grant from the Kentucky Lt. Governor’s office, and enrollment is on a first-come basis.

ACTC Announces Summer Youth Camps

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:55:00 -0400

Ballroom Dance Class Starts April 5

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:53:00 -0400

“A Taste of Ballroom Dance” will be held Fridays, April 5 to 26. This class is a chance to get ready for that wedding or upcoming Father/Daughter dance or just find an enjoyable activity.

The class will meet from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Roberts Drive Campus, and the fee is $55 per couple. Enroll through ACTC Community Education, 606-326-2072 or email: as_ce@kctcs.edu.

ACTC Hosts Regional SkillsUSA Competitions

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:46:00 -0400

Students from six area high schools participated in the annual SkillsUSA Kentucky Northeast Region-District 10 competitions held March 1 at Ashland Community and Technical College.

The 154 contestants came from ACTC, Boyd County High School Career and Technical Center (Boyd CTC), Carter County High School Career and Technical Center (Carter CTC), Elliott County High School; Greenup County High School Area Technical Center (Greenup ACT), Lawrence County High School and Russell High School Area Technical Center (Russell ATC).

“The Competitions give students the opportunity to show their technical skills and see what other students are doing,” said Shawn Parsons, drafting instructor and skills advisor for Russell ATC. “SkillsUSA also helps students develop leadership and social skills that will help them in lie as well as in the workplace.”

Russell ATC includes students from Russell, Raceland-Worthington and Fairview High Schools.

For Amber Conley, a Russell senior who won first place in the Open Job Skills competition, the annual competitions are a fun challenge. She has participated in the previous two years and has won Second and Third place at the state level. “SkillsUSA is a chance to develop my public speaking skills as well as show job skills,” she said.

For Russell senior Andy Strehle, SkillsUSA is a way to demonstrate skills and learn what others are doing in the field while building his resume. Learning what other students are doing also appeals to Ryan Yearout, a home schooled tenth grader who likes to compete and enjoys meeting new people.

Skills USA Kentucky is a chapter of the national organization that serves industrial, trade and technical students in area technology centers, public high school and career and technical centers. Annual competitions focus on leadership and technical skills. The regional competition at ACTC included 32 contests, and the contest winners are listed below.

ACTC Contest Winners

Six ACTC students won awards in the SkillsUSA Postsecondary Contest and will compete in the State Skills USA contest in April. The students are listed below with their city of residence.

Auto Service Technology: First - Steven D. Meachem, Ashland; Second - Carl Hudson, J. Russell; Third - Steven M. Porter, Ashland.

Diesel Technology: First - Corey R. Angell, Crown City, OH; Second - Chuck (Ryan) Jackson, Louisa; Third - Christopher W. Savage, Garrison.

Secondary Leadership Contests

Debate: First - Elijah Green and Josh Gilbert, Carter CTC.

Entrepreneurship: First – Carter CTC team of Kristen Brown and Jessica Davis, Rebecca Tomlin and Kaitlyn Burnett .

Job Interview, all from Elliott County High School: First -Josh Caudill, Second - Devon Stafford, Third - Daniel Skaggs.

Job Skills Demonstration (A): First - Brianna Claxon, Greenup ATC.

Job Skills Demonstration (O), all From Russell ATC: First - Amber Conley, Second - Clark Muth, Third - Ryan Yearout.

Pin Design: First - Amythest Jordan, Carter CTC.

Poster: First - Jaclyn Garvin, Carter CTC.

Promotional Bulletin Board: First - Harley Fannin, Carter CTC.

Opening & Closing Ceremonies: First – Carter CTC Team of Tanner Tackett, Jacob Waddell, John Johnson, Savannah Lewis, Johnny Pennington, Billy Webb and Shannon Coleman.

SkillsUSA Quiz Bowl: First - Russell ATC team of Joel Mullen, Alex Riffe, Shane Day, Tony Huddleston and Madison Bramblette; Second - Carter CTC team of Cody Schroeder, Austin Valentine and Brandon Messer; Third - Carter CTC team of Shannon Lykins, Phillip Stone, Courtlyn Garvin, Devin Johnston and Vivian Littleton.

Related Technical Math: First - Cody Hamm, Carter CTC; Second - Jerod Holsinger, Russell ATC; Third - Bryson Bennett, Russell ATC.

Spelling: First - Miranda Melvin, Russell ATC.

Talent & Variety, both from Carter CTC: First - Emanuel Picazo; Second - Caleb May.

Welding Sculpture, all from Greenup ACT: First - Brandon Carr, Second - Sean Rayburn, Third – Rebecca Adams.

Wood Sculpture, both from Carter CTC: First - Matthew Colegrove, Second - Josh Mullins.

Secondary Skills Contests

Auto Service Technology, all from Greenup ATC: First - Jared Liles, Second - Brandon Wilburn, Third - Harlan Taylor.

Architectural Drafting (CAD): First - Zach Wells, Boyd CTC; Second - Heath Baker, Boyd CTC; Third - Courtlyn Garvin, Carter CTC.

Architectural Drafting (Board), both from Carter CTC: First - Amythest Jordan, Second - Jessica Davis.

Technical Drafting (CAD): First - Shane Day, Russell ATC; Second - Tanner Tackett, Carter Co. CTC; Third - Landon Gould, Boyd CTC.

Technical Drafting (Board): First - Kayla Bryant, Carter CTC; Second - Justin Reeder, Boyd CTC; Third - Triston Steward, Boyd CTC.

Computer Maintenance Technology: First - Troy Hammond, Russell ATC; Second - Nicholas Ratliff, Carter CTC; Third - Joseph Helms, Russell ATC.

Construction Carpentry, all from Lawrence County: First - Ryan Wilks, Second - Cody Diamond, Third - Jacob Peterman .

Intro to Construction Carpentry I: First - Robert Wingart, Carter CTC; Second - Joe Swafford; Lawrence HS; Third - Jordan Peck, Lawrence HS.

Electrical Construction Wiring: First - Cullen Martin, Greenup ATC; Second - T. J. Slaughter, Greenup ATC; Third - Jordan Finfrock, Russell ATC.

Internetworking: First^-Emanuel Picazo, Carter CTC; Second - Zach Lemaster, Russell ATC.

Mobile Robotics (MRT): First - John Johnson and Jacob Waddell, Carter CTC.

Telecommunication Cabling: First - Vivian Littleton, Carter CTC.

3-D Visualization and Animation (VA), both from Carter CTC: First^-Shannon Lykins and Devin Johnston, Second - Phillip Stone and Dakota Tackett.

Web Design, both from Carter CTC: First - Cory Claxin and Latosha Butler; Second - Julia Duncan and Rachel Crum.

Welding: First - Bryant Jessy, Russell ATC; Second - Zach Waugh, Russell ATC; Third - Jordan Wilson, Elliott HS.

Welding I: First - Jonathan Chandler, Greenup CTC; Second - Hunter Blevins, Carter CTC; Third - Chad Kouns, Carter CTC.

Women's History Month Program March 19

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:42:00 -0500

“The Role of Women at Plymouth Plantation” is a free program March 19, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in ACTC’s College Drive Campus Teleconference Room. Vicki McGinnis, ACTC Developmental Reading Instructor, will discuss the daily life and faith of Pilgrim women.

The public in invited to this Women's History Month program sponsored by the ACTC Chapter of the American Association of Women in Community Colleges and the ACTC Diversity Committee.

Free GED Test in March

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:40:00 -0500

ACTC’s Adult Learning Center will give the GED test in March for no fee. “This is a chance for individuals who need to prepare for a job or further education to get the $60 GED test at no cost,” said Joan Flanery, Director of Adult Education at ACTC.

Research shows that people with a GED diploma make an average of $385,000 more in their lifetime than people who don’t have a GED diploma or high school diploma. A GED can help people get a better job or qualify for a promotion, and it can lead to opportunities for advanced training.

For more information on the free GED, call 606-326-2457 or 606-326-2437.

ACTC/FIVCO Science Fair Has Successful Debut

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:35:00 -0500

Over 100 science projects were submitted to the ACTC/FIVCO Science and Engineering Fair held March 2 at the Ashland Community and Technical College Roberts Drive Campus. Several hundred students worked on the projects that involved Life Sciences, Physical Science/Mathematics, or Engineering exploration and experimentation.

“This year’s fair was something to be proud of,” said Dr. Barbara Walters, Fair Director and ACTC Emeritus Professor of Math. “We had project entries from every FIVCO county, committee members from each school district, and judges and volunteers from businesses and organizations throughout the area as well as from the college.”

“The tremendous level of participation we achieved in this first year of the fair bodes well for the future,” Walters said.

Supporting the college in this endeavor to encourage student interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics were Marathon, Inc., Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital Foundation, Sustainable Berea, Veolia Environmental Services and Al and Mary Catherine Flath.

Best of Fair Awards

The Grade 9-12 “Best of Fair” award went to Jacob Menix from West Carter High School, and the Grade 6-8 Best of Fair award went to Kaleb Wears from East Carter Middle School. Best of Fair winners were eligible to enter the University of Louisville Regional Science Fair.

Medal winners

Grade 4-5 medal winners were: First Place - Jada Miller, Connor Ratliff and Hannah Taylor from Ponderosa Elementary; Second Place - Evan Thompson, Isabella Caldwell and Carter Terry from Ponderosa; Third Place - Hannah Allen from Greysbranch Elementary.

Grade 6-8 medal winners were: First Place - Kaleb Wears from East Carter Middle School, Second Place - Rachel James and Taylor Bayes from East Carter Middle School; Third Place - Will Adkins and Gage Hignite from Charles Russell Elementary.

Grade 9-12 medal winners were: First Place - Jacob Menix from West Carter High School; Second Place - Taylor Ingram, Kaitlyn McKenzie and Hayley Kilburn from Paul Blazer High School; Third Place - Troy Riffe from West Carter High.

Life Science Category Winners

Individual projects for Grades 4-5: First- Hannah Allen of Greysbranch Elementary, Second- Jalyn King of Blaine Elementary.

Individual projects for Grades 6-8: First- Kaleb Wears from East Carter Middle, Second- Ethan Music of Fallsburg Elementary,Third- Ethan McKenzie from Blaine Elementary.

Individual projects for Grades 9-12, all from West Carter High: First- Jacob Menix, Second- Troy Riffe, Third- Allen Miclurg.

Team projects for Grades 4-5: First- Jada Miller, Connor Ratliff and Hannah Taylor from Ponderosa Elementary; Second- Jackson Davis, Harrison Rice and Caroline Henry from Ponderosa; Third- Destiny Graham and Corrie Dingus from Poage Elementary.

Team projects for Grades 6-8: First- Rachel James and Taylor Bayes from East Carter Middle School; Second- Morgan Kitchen, Ashley Scaggs and Kaitlyn Reynolds from West Carter Middle School; Third- Mariah Isaac, Kaitlyn Deerfield and Evan Barker from West Carter Middle School.

Engineering Category Winners

Individual projects for Grades 4-5: First- Savannah Sizemore from Greysbranch Elementary, Second- Cameron Robbins from Greysbranch, Third- Xavier Griffith from Carter Elementary;

Individual projects for Grades 9-12: First- Samuel Garner from Elliott County High.

Team projects for Grades 6-8: First- Will Adkins and Gage Hignite from Charles Russell, Second- Bailey Wells, Evan Burton and Alannah Steagall from West Carter Middle, Third- Kelley Sammons and Jordan Duncan from West Carter Middle,

Team projects for Grades 9-12: First- Tristin Conrad, Jeremy Sweeney and Tony Yates from Paul Blazer High; Second- Morgan Scherer and Jessica Gussler of Paul Blazer High.

Physical Sciences & Mathematics Category Winners

Individual projects for Grades 4-5: First - Eden Webb from Fallsburg, Second- Calvin Riggs from Crabbe, Third- Clay Adkins from Upper Tygart Elementary;

Individual projects for Grades 6-8: First- Hailey Stenley from West Carter Middle, Second- David Eklund from West Carter Middle, Third- Emily Hicks from East Carter Middle.

Individual Projects for Grades 9-12: First- James Allen Gillum and Second- Jozie Banas, both from Elliott County High.

Team Projects for Grades 4-5: First- Evan Thompson, Isabella Caldwell, Carter Terry of Ponderosa; Second- Alexis Marcum, Taylor Bellomy and Tori Qualls/Riley Reeves from Summit Elementary; Third- Aaron Hill, Justin Bradley and Blake Hester from Hager.

Team Projects for Grades 6-8: First- Emma Green and Colby Rice from Sandy Hook, Second- Rachel Reeder and Reese Rayburn from West Carter Middle, Third- Danielle Underwood and Hannah Carpenter from West Carter Middle.

Team Projects for Grades 9-12: First- Taylor Ingram, Kaitlyn McKenzie and Hayley Kilburn from Paul Blazer High.

New Georgetown Transfer Agreement Signed

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 11:35:00 -0500

Transfer to Georgetown College has become easier for ACTC students through a new statewide transfer agreement signed with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System February 26.

The agreement applies to associate in arts degree graduates who want to transfer to Georgetown for bachelor degree programs in art, business administration, communication and media studies, economics, English, exercise science, health science, history, mathematics, philosophy, political science, psychology, religion, sociology, Spanish or theatre.

Students must have a minimum 2.0 grade point average to be considered for admission as a transfer student, and the application fee will be waived.

For more information on transfer to Georgetown or other four-year colleges and universities, contact the ACTC Advising Center, 606-326-2040.

Funding Available for Employee Training

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 11:30:00 -0500

Funding is available to help area businesses upgrade the skills of their employees.

Through the Kentucky Workforce Investment Network System (KY WINS), companies can receive funding to provide workforce training and assessment services for their current and/or potential employees. KY WINS funds are distributed on a project basis, and require a company cash match of only 35%.

Companies may apply individually or as a training network with other companies. The network approach is successful because companies who only need one or two employees trained are able to join with other companies to obtain cost-effective and timely training.

KY WINS is the centerpiece of the Kentucky Community and Technical College workforce and economic development efforts, and ACTC Workforce Solutions can help area business and industries qualify for training project funding.

Services of ACTC Workforce Solutions include assistance in developing customized training plans, developing training networks for businesses with common training needs, and applying for KY WINS funding.

For more information on training opportunities, email Workforce Solutions Specialist Jessica Lucas at: jessica.lucas@kctcs.edu.