BCTC Students Grow Rooftop Garden to Fight Food Insecurity and Support Campus Community
Published on Aug 5, 2025
Lexington, KY — Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) is proud to highlight the success
of its student-led rooftop garden project, an innovative and compassionate initiative
aimed at addressing food insecurity among students. The garden, located on the Newtown
Campus, Classroom Building, has already produced a variety of fresh vegetables that
are donated directly to BCTC’s HEART (Helping Everyone Attain Resources Together)
Food Pantry.
Launched this past spring, the garden was made possible by the dedication of students from the Peace and Earth Justice Club and the Computer Club, alongside other student volunteers and staff. These students not only helped prepare the site but have also continued to plant, maintain, and harvest the garden throughout the season. While many contributed, the most active student volunteers include:
- Xochilt Bautista
- Tucker Brewer
- Syd Gross
- Sammie Healander
- Hudson Holder
- Colin Olaughlin
- Sayed Safdari
- Sara Toori
Their efforts have been strongly supported by Kate Adams, Administrative Assistant; Galen McCarty, who oversees the greenhouse aquaponics grant at the Leestown Campus; and Dr. Melanie Williamson, Dean of Innovation, who has been an enthusiastic hands-on partner in every step of the project and often working side by side with the students in the summer heat.
“We know that food insecurity is a serious barrier to student success,” said Dr. Greg Feeney, President and CEO of BCTC. “This rooftop garden is more than a sustainability project, it’s a symbol of student leadership and community resilience. I’m incredibly proud of our students, faculty, and staff who have come together to care for each other in such a meaningful way.
The project began with a clean-up of the rooftop space and transitioned to planting a variety of vegetables. The produce is distributed to students through the HEART Pantry, which served 559 in-person students, processed 79 online orders, and supported 270 unique students during Fall 2024 alone.
Peter Mottas, Community Support and Outreach Coordinator/Associate Professor of Psychology and Family Studies and faculty advisor to the project, added: “Our college is proud to have partnered with the University of Kentucky through a collaborative grant initiative. In February, we had the opportunity to meet with a UK agriculture specialist who provided valuable guidance to support the success of our campus gardening efforts.”
Student response to the rooftop garden has been overwhelmingly positive, with growing engagement and consistent utilization of the fresh, nutritious produce. Plans are already in place to introduce fall crops and to expand the garden further in the spring semester.
Food pantries on Kentucky college campuses, like BCTC’s HEART, are critical. Many students face financial hardships, including the rising cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses, making access to healthy food difficult. Initiatives like this rooftop garden provide essential support that enables students to focus on their academic and personal goals.
