ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. — Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (ECTC) students received $1,504,959 through the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship (WRKS) during the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 semesters, the college said. The scholarship was awarded to 536 students in business and IT, construction and trades, transportation and logistics, healthcare and advanced manufacturing programs.
“Our region’s future skilled workforce saved a record $1.5 million in the 2022-23 academic year through the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship,” ECTC President Dr. Juston Pate said. “Free tuition might sound too good to be true, but this scholarship makes it possible no matter your age or income. Students can earn a degree tuition-free and graduate ready to enter high-paying career fields available right here in our region.”
The scholarship is available to Kentucky residents who do not have an associate degree or higher and enroll in an eligible high-demand program. ECTC has more than 20 academic programs eligible for the scholarship with more than 150 options ranging from certificates that can be completed in as little as four months to associate degrees. WRKS covers up to 60 credit hours and up to $400 per year in fees.
Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship recipient Adam Scarbrough, of Bardstown, said he could not afford to return to college without it. A single father of two and longtime self-employed carpenter, he started ECTC’s Engineering and Electronics Technology program in the spring in pursuit of a higher paying career.
“I heard about the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship and I thought, ‘Oh, that’s for everybody else, not for me,’ ” he said. “It’s a scholarship that actually helps you, and it actually pays.”
Noting the ease of the application and the assistance he received from ECTC staff, he said he encourages others to apply for the scholarship.
“Sign up. It’s easy, and you’ve got nothing to lose,” he said.
The Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship is not based on income or GPA, and no essay is required, said ECTC Financial Aid Director Michael Barlow.
“The experts at ECTC are ready to help with the financial aid forms and answer any questions you may have,” Barlow said. “The Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship is a powerful tool when preparing for a great career, and we’d love to see even more ECTC students benefit.”
To learn more about WRKS including a list of eligible academic programs, visit workreadyky.com or call (270) 769-2371.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (ECTC) serves Breckinridge, Green, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Taylor and Washington counties in Kentucky. It provides education and training that prepares students to succeed in a constantly changing world. Learn more at www.elizabethtown.kctcs.edu.
