KCTCS colleges garner impressive awards

VERSAILLES, Ky. — The colleges of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) have had a very good year. They have been recognized for excellence in a variety of ways in academic year 2019-20. Here’s a list of some of the awards the colleges have received.

Ashland Community and Technical College

• Ranked third by Guide to Online Schools 2020 Best Online Community Colleges in Kentucky.
• Electrical Technology program ranked second in Kentucky and fifth in the nation by CollegeChoice.net.
• Multiple faculty members deemed Blackboard Exemplary Course Award Winners, signifying excellence in online instruction and course delivery.
• President Larry Ferguson – NAACP 2020 Carol Jackson Diversity Award recipient for work done by the college.
• The Journal-Times 2019 Readers’ Choice Award for Best College/University.

Big Sandy Community and Technical College

• Electrical Technology program recognized by CollegeChoice.net as number one program in Kentucky and number four in the nation.
• Only community college in the country selected by American Association of Colleges and Universities to become a Center for Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Campus Center.
• Tammy Ball and Sandra Saad – recognized by the American Association of Community Colleges for their leadership on the Nest project.

Bluegrass Community and Technical College

• Named one of the top Online Community College by BestValueSchools.org.
• First community college in Kentucky to be designated as a Center of Academic Excellence for Cybersecurity Education for 2-Year Colleges by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security.
• Medical Assisting – first of three programs in the nation certified for ensuring all college graduates are equipped with the essential employability qualities (EEQ) employers say are most needed.
• Respiratory Therapy Program – among a select group of programs to receive the Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.
• Only college in Kentucky providing Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training classes for law enforcement to simultaneously earn an associate degree while completing Law Enforcement Basic Training Academy.

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College

• 2020 Best Places to Work in Kentucky.
• GI Jobs – Military Friendly School 2020-2021 designation for second year.
• Named number three in the nation in two-year colleges for online learning in medical administrative assisting by EduMed.org.
• Nursing Program received the 2019 Volunteer of the Year Award by the Center for Courageous Kids.
• VEX U Robotics Team earned a place in world competition.

Gateway Community and Technical College

• Top 10 finalist for the Bellwether Award.
• One of eight organizations in the southwest Ohio and northern Kentucky area to receive grants from Duke Energy Foundation.

Hazard Community and Technical College

• Named to the Best Online Community College 2020 ranking by College Consensus. HCTC was ranked number eight out of the top 50, based on user friendliness of the learning platforms, transparency about offerings and web presence.
• Won three awards for Marketing Excellence from the National Council of Marketing and Public Relations District 2.

Hopkinsville Community College

• Ranked 18^th Best Community College in the US by Wallet Hub; first in Kentucky.
• RN program named number five of 50 accredited programs in Kentucky by registerednursing.org.
• Multiple awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District III and Kentucky.
• President Alissa Young named National Council for Marketing and Public Relations District 2 Pacesetter of the Year. She was the only female winner in the U.S.
• Community College Humanities Association Literary Magazine Association – third place in the best magazine category, southern region, small colleges division

Jefferson Community and Technical College

• Named Best Online Community College in Kentucky by Guide to Online Schools.
• Communication Arts Technology students won five ADDY awards at the American Advertising Awards.
• Jefferson Academic Team took home the Sectional trophy and an automatic bid to the National Community College Championship Tournament where the A and B teams finished 7th and 14th respectively.
• Gary Dryden, vice president of administration and chief financial officer – selected as a 2020 Best in Finance Honoree by Louisville Business First.
• Selected by American Association of Colleges and Universities to participate in the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Campus Center.

Madisonville Community College

• Ranked number two best community college in Kentucky by BestColleges.
• Ranked 28^th best community college in the nation by WalletHub.
• Ranked as the 30^th best online associate degree college in the nation by Study.com.
• Human Services was ranked as the sixth best online human services program in the nation by BestColleges.
• Paralegal Technology ranked in the top 10 online programs by Criminal Justice Degree Hub.
• First community college in the state to meet provisional accreditation standards from the Society for Simulation and Healthcare and the second higher education institution in Kentucky, along with UK, to receive provisional accreditation.

Maysville Community and Technical College

• RN program ranked number three in Kentucky (behind Berea and UK) for 2019.
• Among 10 two-year colleges in the nation selected for Caring Campus initiative.
• Rowan Campus Postsecondary Center for Excellence received LEED Gold Certification.

Owensboro Community and Technical College

• The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security designated Owensboro Community and Technical College as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education.
• Messenger Inquirer Reader’s Choice Platinum Award for 2020. Received this award three of past four years.
• Greater Owensboro Chamber Member of the Year Award for 2020.

Somerset Community College

• Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Awards:
• Paragon Award for New Presidents – Dr. Carey Castle
• Paragon Award for New Advisors – Dr. Amanda Waterstrat
• Honors Case Study Challenge Award – Alison Causey
• Numerous regional and state awards from PTK.
• Student Jordan Powell named Kentucky’s New Century Workforce Pathway Scholar.
• Several students won awards from American Physical Therapy Association, including the highest award physical therapy assistant students can win.
• The Bridge, SCC student newspaper – nine Kentucky Press Association Awards. 

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College

• Electrical Technology program ranked in the top 10 programs in the nation.
• Selected by Aspen Institute as one of America’s top 150 performing community colleges as part of their Community College Excellence Program (based on retention rates, graduation rates, and employment outcomes after graduation).
• Recognized by Aspen Institute as one of America’s top performing community colleges as part of their Excellence and Equity in Community College STEM Program (based on success of low-income and under-represented minority students in STEM fields).
• Selected as one of the 100 Best Places to Work in Kentucky for 2020.

Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College

• Named number two in RN pass rates out of 39 nursing programs in Kentucky byNursing Explorer.
• President Vic Adams named SOAR Hero.
• Awarded Bronze Medallion for video by the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations District 2.
• Sherry Tinsley, Southeast’s director of advising – Harlan Daily EnterpriseReaders’ Choice 2019 Teacher of the Year for the Cumberland Campus.
• Professor Tammy Chapman – Harlan Daily Enterprise Readers’ Choice 2019 Teacher of the Year for the Harlan Campus.
• Erica Farmer Miller, student success coach – Excellence in Customer Service award from Harlan County Chamber of Commerce.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College

• For the fifth time, named one of 10 national finalists for $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College. For the sixth time, included in a ranking of the best 150 community colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute.
• Named second best online community college in Kentucky by the Guides to Online Schools.
• Chosen as one of two community colleges in the nation to participate in the League for Innovation in the Community College’s Innovative Solutions for Hunger Relief and Student Success project.
• Named the number one community college in Kentucky by BestColleges.com for 2020.
• For the fourth time, selected as a finalist for the Bellwether Awards.
• Recognized with a 2020 CASE Educational Fundraising Award for Overall Improvement as part of a select group of more than 90 colleges and universities receiving awards this year.
• Television department recognized with a bronze award by National Conference for Marketing and Public Relations District 2.

Kentucky Community and Technical College System

• For the second straight year, named one of the top 10 community college systems in the United States by WalletHub. At number nine, KCTCS outranked all neighboring states in the study.
• President Jay Box named to the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board by President Donald Trump.
• Three colleges named to the Aspen Institute’s top 150 performing community colleges in America as part of its Community College Excellence Program. West Kentucky Community and Technical College named as a top 10 finalist.
• First higher education system in the United States to have all system leaders and top-line fundraisers sign the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethics, the only enforceable code in the fund-raising profession.
• Marketing and Communications team – Two Paragon Awards at the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations national conference and seven District 2 awards.