BCTC Receives $417,952 Supplemental Grant to Expand Paid Internships and Work-and-Learn Opportunities; Funding will strengthen Career Center services, remove financial barriers and connect at least 100 students with real-world workplace experiences

Published on Oct 15, 2026

LEXINGTON, KY — Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) has received a $417,952 supplemental award through its Title III Strengthening Institutions Program grant to expand paid internships and other work-and-learn opportunities that prepare students for successful careers while strengthening Central Kentucky’s workforce.

The one-year supplemental award builds upon the college’s ongoing investment in career services by creating additional opportunities for students to gain meaningful, hands-on experience with employers before entering the workforce.

“Internships and work-and-learn experiences are critical bridges between the classroom and the workplace,” said Dr. Greg Feeney, Chancellor of BCTC. “Our responsibility extends beyond helping students earn a credential. We want them to leave BCTC prepared to enter the workforce with confidence, relevant experience and the skills employers need. This investment allows us to expand those opportunities while removing financial barriers that can prevent students from participating. At the same time, it strengthens our partnerships with business and industry and helps build the highly skilled talent pipeline our region needs to thrive.”

The supplemental funding will expand paid work-based learning opportunities by creating a dedicated Internship Placement Coordinator position and launching a comprehensive student support initiative designed to remove financial barriers to participation. Wage supplements and stipends will help ensure that students can take advantage of career-connected learning opportunities regardless of their financial circumstances.

Through the initiative, BCTC plans to connect at least 100 students with internships and other hands-on learning experiences while developing new partnerships with employers throughout the region. The project will place particular emphasis on expanding access for low-income, and first-generation students who may otherwise face barriers to participating in internships and similar workplace experiences.

“This funding will significantly enhance the Career Center’s ability to connect our students with employers and create meaningful experiences that complement what they are learning in the classroom,” said Dr. Tracy Spotts, Director of Career Services and principal investigator for the grant. “By expanding our employer partnerships and providing students with paid internships and other work-and-learn opportunities, we can help them develop professional skills, build networks and gain the real-world experience employers value. Just as importantly, the wage supplements and stipends will help ensure that financial circumstances do not determine whether a student can take advantage of these transformative opportunities.”

The initiative will also strengthen BCTC’s engagement with business and industry partners by developing additional pathways for employers to connect with students, provide experiential learning opportunities and help prepare their future workforce. These partnerships will allow students to apply classroom knowledge in professional settings while gaining insight into workplace expectations, career pathways and the skills required within their chosen fields.

The supplemental award supports BCTC’s broader commitment to student success and workforce development by helping students make a stronger connection between education and employment. By providing career-connected experiences before graduation, BCTC aims to improve students’ preparation for the workforce while helping regional employers develop a stronger pipeline of skilled and experienced talent.

The project will be administered through the BCTC Career Center, with Dr. Spotts serving as principal investigator. The supplemental award will support the initiative for one year.

To learn more about the Career Center and the award, please contact Dr. Tracy Spotts at tracy.spotts@kctcs.edu.