ACTC alum to speak at MSU commencement
December 8, 2021
ASHLAND, Ky. – A graduate of Ashland Community Technical College (ACTC) will experience an honor that few ever have a chance to this weekend.
Anthony Kyle Gibson, of Ashland, will be the speaker representing the Caudill College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Morehead State University’s (MSU) commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 11.
Gibson earned his Associate of Arts degree at ACTC in 2019 after what he describes as a rough start.
I came to ACTC the first time in 2010, but I experienced consequences due to substance abuse disorder and left the college in 2011,” he said. “I returned in 2017 and completed the prerequisites required to enter the social work program at MSU.”
While at ACTC, Gibson was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society on campus.
He said completing his associate’s degree at ACTC afforded him opportunities he might not have had otherwise.
“I am a recipient of a transfer scholarship that I was able to use towards my degree at MSU. It will also carry over into my graduate work at the University of Kentucky.”
He also says he chose ACTC for his general education courses because of the affordability and convenience.
“Tuition costs were really affordable, and faculty and staff were understanding of working individuals,” Gibson said. “The online platform of my classes made it easy to do my coursework.”
Following the completion of his associate’s degree, he completed his coursework for his bachelor’s at the MSU at Ashland remote location at ACTC’s College Drive Campus.
“When I was nominated to be commencement speaker, I had no idea how big of a deal it was,” he said. “I am a non-traditional student who attended college at a remote location, so I am humbled by this opportunity.”
Gibson has worked in human services for the last six years.
He credits his success to role models like Andy Thompson, a social worker that Gibson worked under in his latest role as a peer support specialist at Pathways, Inc.
“Andy was a great example of what a social worker can look like and how they treat other people,” Gibson said.
With his Bachelor of Social Work degree, Gibson says he will gain a couple of licensures that he currently needs supervision for.
He says one of his short-term goals is to help create the first integrated care model for recovery in eastern Kentucky.
He has also been accepted to the Master of Social Work program at the University of Kentucky and will begin classes in the spring.
Gibson and his wife, Courtney, have four children. Courtney is a student at ACTC in the LPN to RN bridge program.
