Shields recognized at philanthropy breakfast

November 29, 2022

ASHLAND, Ky. – Ms. Bennie Shields was recognized earlier this month during Ashland Community and Technical College’s annual Celebration of Philanthropy, hosted by the ACTC Foundation. 

Bennie’s husband, Dr. Ted Shields, was a chemistry instructor at ACTC for twenty years. Bennie also taught school for 17 years, with the last position being a chemistry teacher at Boyd County High School.

The Theodore C. & Bennie J. Shields Scholarship endowment began in 2004, following the passing of Dr. Shields.  In the 18 years of the endowment, ACTC has awarded 42 students in an amount of $22,845.  

The recipient of the award is a graduating senior at Boyd County High School. 

“Every year, Ms. Shields presents this award to the student in person at the school’s award ceremony,” said Brooke Seasor, Director of Resource Development.  “I can personally and professionally say they don’t make a better role model and human being than Ms. Bennie Shields. Not only was she a tutor to so many, but myself as well when I was in high school.” 

She added, “Her husband has been deceased for quite some time now, but they both always believed in our local students receiving the best education.”

“This community is about the same size as the community I grew up in,” Bennie, a native Texan, said. “I know what the community college system can do for a student, and I cannot imagine my life without community college.”

For more information about scholarships, visit https://kctcs.academicworks.com/ or email as_foundation@kctcs.edu.