ACTC employee earns degree and deepens commitment to student success
Published on Jun 9, 2026
Every ACTC diploma tells a story of perseverance. Behind every degree are challenges overcome, sacrifices made, and countless moments that require determination.
For Debra Pancake, senior administrative assistant at Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC), earning her associate in arts and science degrees meant navigating the demands of a full-time job, family responsibilities, and college coursework, all while experiencing ACTC from both sides as a student and employee.
“Working at ACTC inspired me to pursue my degree because I see firsthand the positive impact that education has on students and the opportunities it can create,” Pancake said. “As an employee, I wanted to continue growing professionally while accomplishing a personal goal of completing my degree.”
Pancake says that becoming an ACTC student allowed her to truly recognize the support systems that help students succeed every day.
“Experiencing ACTC from both perspectives has been incredibly rewarding,” she said. “As an employee, I have always appreciated the effort that goes into supporting students. As a student, I gained a deeper understanding of the challenges students face and the impact faculty and staff have on their success.”
Pancake chose both the Associate in Arts and Associate in Science programs because it provided her with a strong academic foundation while allowing her to explore new interests and future possibilities.
She says completing a degree while managing multiple responsibilities was not always easy.
“My greatest challenge was balancing my responsibilities as a full-time employee, wife, mother of two, and student,” Pancake said. “At times, it felt overwhelming to manage everything.”
Despite the obstacles, she credits organization, a strong support system, and remembering why she started to help her stay motivated.
“The support of my family, coworkers, and ACTC staff played a major role in helping me stay motivated and focused,” she said.
Among those supporters was advisor Jennifer Allen, who Pancake says played a significant role in her success.
“Jennifer made the enrollment and degree completion process simple and guided me every step of the way,” Pancake said. “She was supportive, encouraging, and always willing to answer questions.”
Pancake also attributes her success to the support of colleagues like Dr. Sara Brown, who shares an office suite at the College Drive Campus’ Goodpastor Building.
“She consistently encouraged me to keep going and reminded me to not give up, even when balancing school, work and family responsibilities felt challenging,” Pancake said.
Returning to school at age 35 to pursue an associate degree came with moments of self-doubt, she said, but Brown’s encouragement helped her stay focused on her goals.
“Dr. Brown helped me see that education has no age limit and encouraged me to be proud of my accomplishments rather than embarrassed by them,” Pancake said. “Her confidence in me gave me the motivation to continue working toward my goal and ultimately complete my degree.”
Earning her degree has strengthened Pancake’s confidence and enhanced her effectiveness in her role at ACTC.
Because she has experienced the challenges of balancing coursework, deadlines, family commitments, and full-time employment, she brings an added level of empathy and understanding to her work.
Her accomplishment also means a great deal to her personally.
“Earning this degree represents perseverance, determination, and the ability to overcome life’s challenges,” she said. “My journey took longer than expected because of various responsibilities, but I never gave up on my goal.”
Pancake hopes her children learned an important lesson by watching her return to college and complete her degree.
“I hope they learned that success is not about how quickly you reach a goal, but about continuing forward even when the path is difficult,” she said. “Completing the degree is a reminder that with hard work, faith, and persistence, anything is possible.”
For anyone considering returning to college, Pancake offers encouragement drawn from her own experience.
“Go for it. It’s never too late,” she said. “Life doesn’t always follow a straight path, but that doesn’t mean your goals are out of reach. The sense of accomplishment at the end makes the journey worthwhile.”
