ACTC hosts a successful fall lecture series

Published on Nov 14, 2024

Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC) recently hosted its Lecture Series from Oct. 29 to Oct. 31. 

The Lecture Series is associated with the Transfer Program Fair that is offered at ACTC each semester, which helps students explore academic pathways after graduating from ACTC.

The three-day event features a range of speakers providing a multi-faceted platform for faculty, staff and invited guests to share their unique experiences and passions, inspiring students to pursue career paths they may not have known existed. Students are provided with a unique opportunity to get direct advice on how to make their goals a reality, meet new friends, and engage in dialogue. 

“This fall, our theme was ‘Become a Storyteller’, so our lectures were about becoming an author, pursuing degrees related to storytelling like English, communication, history, education, astronomy, and marketing/public relations,” said Megan Horne, ACTC director of program facilitation, student support services/TRIO and transfer initiatives. “The transfer events theme for next semester will be ‘Become an Investigator’, so I look forward to finding some interesting speakers for our spring Lecture Series!”

The Lecture Series is open to the entire ACTC community and can be attended in person or remotely. Many faculty and staff attend the event as well, as they are presented with the opportunity to learn from their colleagues and community members in ways they normally would not get to experience. 

“I had the privilege of speaking to students about how I use storytelling as part of my job at ACTC,” said Megan Smedley, ACTC assistant director of public relations. “Throughout the lecture series, students were able to see how storytelling is used in a variety of professions, from public relations to fields they might not have considered. It was exciting to show them how powerful storytelling can be in connecting with people, building trust, and even changing lives. The series provided a great opportunity for students to learn, ask questions, and really see the value of a well-crafted story in the real world.”

Other speakers included Dan Bailey, Valerie Briggs, Victor Chupryna, Kathy Edwards, Coy Hall, Rebecca Hemlock, Megan Horne, Warren Howard, Pam Klinepeter, Dale Queen, Lauren Ratcliff, Janet Thompson, and Steve Woodburn.