Education reaches outside the classroom

April 5, 2017

The spring semester was an exciting and busy one for staff, faculty and students alike. Throughout the semester, the college hosted or sponsored a number of activities that show education goes beyond the classroom. We offered several Black History Month programs for the community, including a diversity forum, Gospel Night and A Night at the Apollo. Area youth participated in the SkillsUSA competition and the fifth annual ACTC/FIVCO Science and Engineering Fair.

Youth and adults were invited to our Emerging Technologies Conference, which highlighted innovations that are impacting business and industrial processes, information systems and communication methods. Our New Play Festival and Student Art Showcase was a success. We also hosted our first Young Men’s Conference with more than 300 local high school sophomore boys attending.

The semester then culminated in a record number of students — more than 700 — graduating from ACTC on May 5 at the Paramount Arts Center. 

ACTC’s BuildSmart renovation of the main classroom building on College Drive continued. Phase 3, which included work in the main hallways, was finished, and Phase 4, at the end of the hallways nearest the Goodpastor Building, began. Phase 5, the final phase of the project, also started this summer and includes the front wing where the president’s office, business office and some faculty offices are located. The end is in sight, with all construction to be completed by the end of the current calendar year. BuildSmart was made possible through the support of many individuals and organizations and is a testament of our value to the community.

ACTC is working with officials from Braidy Industries to develop training programs for its new aluminum mill that will be constructed in South Shore.

It was also announced this summer that a new Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship will provide free tuition for qualifying students in high-wage, high-demand career fields in Kentucky. Those fields are health care, advanced manufacturing, transportation/logistics, business services/information technology and construction/trades.

We look forward to beginning another academic year and welcoming new and returning students as well as visitors to our campuses. We also hope you will follow our calendar of events throughout the year and join us for activities that are sure to be enriching.