Our BCTC Why

Getting involved at BCTC is why I was successful. I had the honor to serve as the African Student Association President, and I’m so thankful for the love and support ASPIRE and Becoming Her showed me. I came to BCTC not knowing what I wanted to major in. I was wandering around with so many majors in mind with no passion in any of them. But like a family, ASPIRE and Becoming Her walked along my side and guided me into a major I love. Now, I can pursue the career I love.

I chose BCTC because I am a first-generation college student. I obtained my AA from BCTC and received my BA from Eastern Kentucky University. Now I am a Youth Services Librarian. I love BCTC and the services they provide. As a freshman at BCTC, I began with some developmental courses that helped me build my confidence and articulate my thoughts. I discovered my love for research and data retrieval from BCTC's eLibrary. I would encourage all students to start at BCTC. There are definite advantages to starting your college experience in a smaller learning community like BCTC, where one can build confidence and prepare themselves alongside instructors who care about students. BCTC prepared me to go places I never knew I could go.

I chose BCTC because I saw my bright future becoming a reality by working in small classes, engaging with students, faculty and staff, last but not least, debt-free when I graduate.

I chose my major and profession as filmmaking to pursue my passion, dream and career. I want to be educated because it will not only help me understand the world, but it will also open my vision. I also want education so I can educate people around me for a better life. I want to strive for better because my parents deserve an easy, better and greater life ahead. I want to strive for better because I believe that I have the power to change the world for better.

I started my college career at a 4-year that I thought was my dream, but turned out not to be. I transferred to BCTC and continued to pursue a degree. It was a whole different ball game, and I felt like I hit a home run! I kept getting A's, B's... it was so refreshing. I am graduating with an AA, and I am so proud of myself!

Moral of my story: don't feel pressured to go to a four-year college. Choose a place where you feel comfortable and will find success.

 

I chose BCTC because I saw that it presented me with the most opportunities and flexibility in my college career. I knew this would be a place that could ease me into the college setting without the stress of the big class sizes and I knew that it could help me continue my educational journey with transfer programs. BCTC was a no-brainer for me and I could not be more grateful for where I am today because of it. Now I am about to graduate from UK with a BA in Communication and have had an opportunity to be intern with the Strategic Communication office for the last two years where I have gained a plethora of experiences in my field. I still think back to many of the classes I took at BCTC and the content that I learned from them.

My Graduating class consisted of three that's including myself. University was way too big of a step; instead of a place like Transy or UK, I took a non-traditional move. I chose BCTC because it’s a supportive school, and the small class sizes are great. I am not just a statistic here; your professors really care about you and your education. As a first-generation American, BCTC helped me to not feel scared about college and gave me the confidence to be open about where my family is from and not feel judged. I got to know my professors and they got to know me. They encouraged me to take a leap and do a project and low and behold the entire campus knew.

My "why" comes in the form of helping others. After attending BCTC for nearly three years I finally took the biggest step towards my nursing career and got my CNA license. After having worked a job in a nursing home, I realized that caring for others and helping those who needed me was the only thing I ever wanted to do with my life. BCTC gave me the opportunity to explore my career and find joy in both learning and my new career. Why do I attend BCTC? Because I want to have the skills to assist, serve, and care for the amazing and beautiful people in this city.

My why is because after attending a local technical college and working in the Dental Field, I realized how much I enjoy working with the public and in an administrative role. The technical college gave me courage to go after what I want to do, and helped me prove to myself that I can finish this education, and that I believe that I will be able to be the best version of myself possible. BCTC has given me the opportunity to continue doing what I love professionally, while I continue to grow educationally. I am so thankful to consistently be backed by educators who want the best for me.

 

 

I was born and raised in Santo Dominigo, Dominican Republic. Moved to the United States with big dreams of becoming a professional Chef. I see these big dreams in our students daily. In my three year tenure with BCTC, I have had the opportunity to build strong relationships with my colleagues in an effort to continue to provide our students with a great experience and quality education. My greatest accomplishment has been the development and implementation of the Cultural Competency Certification Program with Erin Howard, Dr. Iddah Otieno, and Dr. Steven White. This program will be made available to students in the Spring of 2021. This effort will benefit our students as much as it has been benefiting our faculty and staff.

 

 

Having grown up the youngest of 7 children in Memphis TN, education was always stressed in my family. I had an amazing opportunity to attend Kentucky State University for undergraduate studies, followed by attending The University of Nebraska-Lincoln for graduate school. These two distinct institutions offered totally different perspectives on the "real world" and education. My why is to educate my students in such a way that NO one ever feels that they are inferior or less than another. I want them to be prepared when they exit the halls of BCTC and enter our communities feeling knowledgeable and worthy to compete and complete the tasks that await them. I remind them that they are BCTC capable and STRONG!!!

I was a student at BCTC before transferring to UK. When I graduated from UK, I was so excited to make a full circle and begin my professional career here. I love BCTC because it is a place where everybody is welcome. BCTC gives real people a second chance at the lives they deserve by working closely with our mission statement. I was not considered to be the "type of person to go to BCTC" by my peers and educators when I was in high school. I was actually discouraged by many of them when I shared my decision. However, I wanted to show people that BCTC is so much more than what they thought. Bluegrass Community and Technical College is a starting point for the rest of your life.

I was born and raised in the East African country of Kenya. My American journey began right here in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It is here that I have raised my children and found my career calling as a professor of English and African Studies and director of Kenya Exchange Program. "My Why" is that BCTC has offered me a platform to expose my colleagues and students to other cultures of the world through educational travel, curriculum development, and cultural competency training program. BCTC is the first college within KCTCS to partner with African institutions of higher education. Plans are underway to explore ways of teaching our courses abroad, and I am thrilled to work with our new president to make this happen for our school.

Why I love BCTC is because of the great dental hygiene program here :) We have the greatest students and faculty/staff so coming to work is a pleasure. I admire my students so much because they have overcome many obstacles and responsibilities to pursue this demanding career. When work becomes something you love then you know it is your calling.

 

 

 

I was a dental hygiene student 32 years ago when BCTC was LCC. I had a wonderful career as a clinician, but in 2007, I came full circle and am back where I started, mentoring and training younger and non-traditional students in dental hygiene. I thought it was just going to be a "job" with benefits, which I needed at the time. But it has become so much more with benefits for me that I never imagined. I am such a better person for having worked with all these students. They have taught me so much more than I have taught them. I love being here for them.

 

My “why” is all thanks to my dad, Murl F. McCord who attended the Leestown campus after his factory job re-located out of the country. While a student he worked nights as a housekeeper so on Fridays my mom and I would drive up to have dinner with him. I still remember running up to the Cosmetology classroom where I would find him cleaning the floors. After his graduation he was then hired by the regional office (now building B) where he oversaw the shipping and receiving for not only the Leestown campus but also all the area tech centers in central Kentucky. I followed my dad’s footsteps in becoming a student and a staff member. BCTC has always been a part of my life and I'm happy to work where it feels like "home."

I’m one of the lucky few who found my “why” early. While in graduate school at UK, I was advising first time freshman and felt the passion for education. Since then there is no question as to “why” I’m here at BCTC in Winchester. I get to see our students around town succeed every day. They are working as medical assistants at Clark Regional Medical Center, industrial engineers at Infiltrator Water Technologies, and teachers in our public schools, just to name a few. My “why” is knowing that I was a small part of their success.

IT Project Coordinator- Projects, Analysis, & Development

Several years ago, I volunteered at a local drug and alcohol recovery center. As I learned more about substance use and the recovery process, I realized a need for clients to be able to continue their education to improve employability. When my son Nick passed away from a drug overdose just over three years ago, my family and I started the Nick Parrish Scholarship of Hope through the BCTC Foundation. My family is proud to have awarded three scholarships to worthy BCTC students. I believe in the mission of BCTC and am proud that my passion for community and technical college programs and those in recovery met to honor my son's memory.

Director of Advocacy and Community Relations

I give to BCTC because as a retired teacher, I want a good education to be available to anyone who has a desire to better themselves. I give a scholarship in honor of my parents because they were my first teachers-teachers who never stopped urging me to be a better person, to never stop learning and to always encourage others to be their best self.

Professor and Coordinator of Dental Hygiene

I give because I see first-hand how much we do at BCTC with so little money. It is easy to give when I do pay roll deduction as I don't even have to think about it. I have given to UK since I graduated in 1978 and I feel we need it so much more here so it's a no-brainer for me.

Associate Vice President for Institutional Development

I am so grateful for our faculty, staff, and students at Bluegrass. Our student success stories are so inspiring and I really believe in the mission of community and technical colleges. Our employees are so dedicated to our students and helping them to achieve their goals and find a better way of life whether they encounter them in the classroom or on campus as a part of their job duties. As a single mother of four sons, I witnessed firs-hand the passion and commitment that our folks have to our students as two of my sons graduated from our programs going on to careers and furthering their education. Family, both my work family and the experiences of my own family at BCTC inspire me to give back so that more students can succeed and build a better life for their families!

Director of Libraries and Tutoring, Coordinator for Library Technology Program

I believe in the mission of BCTC, and am so honored to be a part of that mission. After working with our students for the past 17 years, I have seen, many times, the impact completing educational goals can make on a life. Our students come to us with many different goals and challenges. However, they all have one thing in common ... to create a better life for themselves and their families. I want to be a part of helping them achieve their goals, and one way to do that is by giving back to the college that has given so much to others, and to me.

PhD, President/CEO

I choose to make a gift to my college because it is an important way to put students first. I know that speaking of my personal commitment to BCTC matters when I ask donors to support the transformative work that we do here. Others dollars, combined with my own, allow us to provide financial aid, world-class teaching and innovative programming that helps our students develop the skills and the confidence necessary to reach their goals and achieve their dreams.