February 26, 2019
Ashland Community and Technical College is seeking nominations for the 2019 recipient of the Gussler Math and Science Endowed Chair Award. Established in 2007 through a gift to the college foundation, the award recognizes outstanding full-time math and science faculty who have made a difference in the lives of their students.
Faculty eligible for this year’s award are Jame C. McCumbee, professor; Mohebbian Hossein, professor; Mark S. Riggs, professor; Cynthia Shelton, professor; Frances S. Martin, professor; Ralfred J. Hall, professor; Mary C. Flath, professor; Richard R. Conley, professor; Aschalew Mengistu, associate professor; and Richard P. Merritt, associate professor.
Nominations may be submitted by current or former students or any member of the ACTC community. Nominations should include the name of the faculty member, how the nominator is familiar with the nominee and how that faculty member has helped his or her students.
Nominations can be mailed to: Mr. Robert J. Maher, Community & Technical College Foundation of Ashland, Inc., 1400 College Drive, Ashland, KY 41101. Nominations must be postmarked by March 31.
A committee of college and donor representatives will review the nominations, and the recipient will be announced at ACTC’s 2019 Commencement Ceremony. For more information, email brooke.seasor@kctcs.edu.
February 21, 2019
The National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE), the nation’s leading organization focused on promoting entrepreneurship through community colleges, has announced that Dr. Larry Ferguson, president of Ashland Community and Technical College, has taken its Presidents for Entrepreneurship Pledge. Through the pledge, presidents of community colleges throughout the country pledge to take five action steps that will increase their focus on entrepreneurship and the impact these colleges have on the economic well-being of the communities they serve.
With the economy still lagging in many regions of the United States, more than 200 community colleges throughout the country have signed the entrepreneurship pledge, and by doing so, have committed to playing a greater role in stimulating economic development in the communities they serve.
"ACTC is heavily engaged with fostering, growing and supporting entrepreneurial activities in northeast Kentucky,” Ferguson said. “The community utilizes the partnerships and resources of ACTC’s Workforce Solutions unit to create and sustain the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region. ACTC provides space for an office and incubator and co-worker space at the Workforce Solutions Office on its Roberts Drive campus.”
The Presidents for Entrepreneurship Pledge is in response to the Obama Administration’s Startup America call to action to stimulate economic growth state by state by encouraging entrepreneurs to start their own businesses. NACCE is a founding affiliate of the Startup America Partnership, an alliance of the country’s most innovative entrepreneurs, corporations, universities, foundations, and other leaders.
“As part of Global Entrepreneur Week, ACTC sponsors events to bring together successful entrepreneurs with high school students,” Ferguson said. “ACTC is committed to helping college students to pursue entrepreneurial ideas through instructional activities and presentations. Just recently, ACTC made a formal commitment to support Shaping our Appalachian Region’s (SOAR) initiative to establish an innovation office in Ashland to support high tech entrepreneurs. The college also led the effort to form the Tri-State Angel Investment Group, a regional angel investment group, vital to the driving investment into high tech ventures.”
According to NACCE President and CEO Rebecca Corbin, the Presidents for Entrepreneurship Pledge is a way for community colleges to advance entrepreneurship and create jobs across the country. Community college presidents who take the pledge commit to these five action steps:
• Develop transparency of community college and community assets;
• Create internal and external teams dedicated to entrepreneurship;
• Increase entrepreneurs’ engagement in community colleges;
• Engage in industry cluster development; and
• Create broad exposure to their college’s commitment to entrepreneurship.
“The five action steps were developed based on NACCE’s observations of what was working best on member campuses,” said Corbin. “After observing the entrepreneurship-related activities of our members over a period of years, we started to see commonalities among the more successful institutions,” she said. “One of the major things that clearly makes a difference is the commitment by leadership to entrepreneurship.”
The National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) is an organization of educators, entrepreneurs, and distinguished business development professionals providing quality programs and services in entrepreneurship education and serving as advocates for community-based entrepreneurship. Founded in 2002, NACCE is at the heart of the "entrepreneurship movement.” Through membership, an annual conference and exhibition, a quarterly journal, monthly webinars and podcasts, a dynamic list-serv, and other resources, NACCE serves as the hub for the dissemination and integration of knowledge and successful practices regarding entrepreneurship education and student business incubation. These programs and courses advance economic prosperity in the communities served by its member colleges. For more information, visit http://www.nacce.com.
February 19, 2019
Gospel Night will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21 at the Highlands Museum and Discovery Center. This event is part of Ashland Community and Technical College’s free Black History Month community programs.
At Gospel Night, choirs and individual singers from African American churches throughout the Tri-State will sing the songs that have inspired generations of Americans. From humble beginnings as Negro spirituals, the sound and spirit of black gospel music has become a profound force in American music and culture.
This year’s performers are from Christ Temple Church in Ashland, First Baptist Church in Burlington, Ohio, and Mt. Olive Baptist Church and New Jerusalem Christian Center, both in Ironton.
Following the performances, refreshments will be served, provided by Mary’s Kitchen Catering. Other sponsors of the event are the Boyd and Greenup Counties Branch of the NAACP and Pathways.
For information about performing at Gospel Night, contact the museum at 606-329-8888.
February 13, 2019
A two-time graduate of Ashland Community and Technical College has been named vice president of operations for the Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
Matthew Hinkle graduated from ACTC in 2004 with an associate of applied science degree and in 2007 with an associate nursing degree.
In his new role, Matthew will be charged with setting financial, operational and leadership direction for designated clinical and support departments.
“ACTC was and still is an incredible institution with dedicated educators and faculty,” Hinkle said. “The pre-requisite classes for the nursing program were great. I vividly remember Mary Catherine Flath’s anatomy and physiology classes as very engaging.”
Matthew joins RMC from HCA Tampa Community Hospital, where he was vice president of operations, overseeing numerous departments including surgical services, cardiac services, radiology/imaging, food and nutrition services, environmental services, plant operations, laboratory services, respiratory therapy and behavioral health. Matthew previously served as director of clinical operations and director of surgical services at HCA Tampa Community Hospital; manager of cardiac surgical services/CARE unit and manager of cardiac surgical services at Sentara Heart Hospital in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia; operating room director and operating room nurse at HCA St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah; and operating room nurse at Cabell Huntington Hospital (Marshall University Medical School Hospital) in Huntington, West Virginia.
In addition to his credentials from ACTC, Hinkle earned a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MHA) and Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management from Bellevue University in Bellevue, Nebraska. He also has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Sentara College.
“The nursing program at ACTC helped prepare me for clinical nursing at Cabell Huntington Hospital, where I worked post-graduation in the operating room,” Hinkle said. “It also prepared me for continuing my education in healthcare administration through Bellevue University’s bachelor and master’s programs. I also obtained a BSN while working in Virginia to promote nursing leadership and Magnet status designation. ACTC is the foundation of science and nursing education that set me up for success in healthcare. I truly enjoyed my time there.”
February 4, 2019
Ashland Community and Technical College raised more than $13,000 during its inaugural Wine, Women and Jewels event on Jan. 22.
A sold-out crowd attended the event at the Jockey Club for wine, hors d'oeuvres and a silent jewelry auction. All proceeds from the event will go toward ACTC scholarships for women.
The event was hosted by ACTC Director of Resource Development Brooke Seasor, retired Paramount Arts Center Director Norma Meek and 21 other local sponsoring hostesses: Mayola Boykin, Holly Canfield, CJ Cieraszynski, Terri Clark, Lori Cooksey, Juanita Ditty, Brooke Elswick-Robinson, Sheila Fraley, Julie Klein, Jane Layman, Patsy Lindsey, Kim McCann, Willie McCullough, Leslee McLeod, Ann Perkins, April Perry, Kathy Setterman, Pat Steen, Mae Deane Torgrimson, Heather Van Deren and Barbara Wheeler.
“This event was a first of its kind here in Ashland and it was a huge success,” Seasor said. “The venue made it very unique and everyone who attended seemed to really enjoy themselves. Norma Meek was a huge asset to help the college with this fundraiser. The goal was to raise funds for women at the college and with a sold-out event, we definitely made that happen.”
“I enjoyed working with the staff at ACTC in bringing this inaugural event to the community,” Meek said. “It was heartwarming to see the gathering of women whose sole purpose was to help other women’s future.”
Donors for the silent auction were: Lori Cooksey, A Boutique/ Carolyn Runyon, Juanita Ditty, La Tee Da Boutique, Heather Vanderen, Corbie’s, Holly B’s, Pollock’s, Tri-State Pawn & Jewelry, Purse-N-Ality, Bella Boutique/Rachel Adkins, Leslie McLeod, Sheila Fraley, Holly Canfield, Second Hand Rose, Patsy Lindsey, Mayola and Bill Boykin, Zella Rose, Rose Tree, Second Hand Rose/ Sam Perkins, Elaine Corbitt, Cheryl Spriggs and Erin Bounds.
Sixty-three “Jewel of a Guy” sponsors also donated to the event: Rocky Adkins, Joe Allen, Cory Boggs, Mike Bowling, Dr. Bill Boykin, James Bradley, Dr. Leon Briggs, Tom Burnette, Darrell Caldwell, Matt Canfield, Ronald Cartee, Brent Clark, Rick Clark, John W. Clark, Ben Cooksey, Dr. Mike Couchot, Wes Crawford, Bruce Davis, Mark Dillon, Dr. Jack Ditty, Bill Ewing, Dr. Larry Ferguson, Dolf Fischer, Paul Fraley, Dr. Robert Fried, Dr. E. B. Gevedon, Stephen Graham, Dr. Carter Gussler, Mitch Hall, Shawn Heck, Clayton Hill, Virgil Hoback, Andrew Jones, Dennis Klattenberg, Dr. Roger Klein, Dr. Jeff Lopez, E. B. Lowman, Jeff Lyons, Mike Mccann, Ron McCloud, Lance McComis, Tom McLeod, Tyler Meek, David Mussetter, Bernard Onan, Sam Perkins, Don Perry, Judge Scott Reese, Brad Robinson, Mike Robinson, Lance Seasor, Dr. Bruce Shaffer, Marty Torgrimson, Dr. John Van Deren, Stuart Webb, Michael Wheeler, Jay Whitlatch, Sean Whitt, JC William, Todd Young, as well as Build Ashland, Griffith DeLaney Hillman & Company and Summit RV.
January 18, 2019
The Boyd and Greenup Counites Branch of the NAACP will host a Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Monday, Jan. 21.
The event, co-sponsored by Ashland Community and Technical College and Pathways Inc., will be at 10 a.m. at the Ashland Transportation Center. There will be singing by Mount Olive Baptist Church in Ironton, New Joy Gospel Singers of Columbus and Susan Taylor of Ironton.
The Rev. Stanley McDonald, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church and transportation director of the Ashland Independent School District, will be the keynote speaker.
McDonald is a native of Masontown, Pa. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in March of 1985 and served on active duty until Dec. 31, 2011, when he retired honorably after serving more than 26 years. In hindsight, he said he recognizes his time in the military as the start of his missionary journey. In 1996, he accepted his calling to the ministry while attending Best Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Goldsboro, N.C., and preached his first sermon in April 1997.
In August 1999, he received his ordination certification from Canaan Full Gospel Baptist Church, Goldsboro. Rev. McDonald was blessed to be able to preach the gospel throughout God’s missionary field while being stationed throughout the United States and overseas in Okinawa, Japan; Misawa, Japan; Kosovo; and South Korea.
During his active duty service, he spent 18 years as a logistician specializing in inventory management and eight years as a first sergeant. He finished his military career in South Korea where he was the senior minister at the Osan Air Base Chapel. After retiring from the Air Force he moved to Ashland in March 2012, after getting hired at the Veterans Administration Regional Office in Huntington, W.Va.
As a staunch believer of higher education, he’s received associate degrees in logistics and human resources, a bachelor’s degree in religion and business and a master’s degree in pastoral counseling. He currently serves as vice president on the Four Winds Christian Ministries Inc. board of directors, San Antonio, Texas; a board member of Shelter of Hope non-profit organization, Ashland; an active member of the Boyd and Greenup Counties NAACP council; and the newly elected president of the Ashland Area Ministerial Association.
Following the celebration, attendees are invited to participate in a “freedom march” from the transportation center to First Presbyterian Church.
January 18, 2019
Feb. 1 is the application deadline for ACTC’s Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program that begins next fall. Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination to become registered nurses.
This is a selective admission programs, and nursing applications are available online at ashland.kctcs.edu under Academics, Programs of Study, Nursing. New students must also submit an ACTC application.
Application to the program does not guarantee acceptance. For information, visit the ACTC website and click on the nursing tab. Anyone with questions is welcome to stop by the nursing office room 463 or email Natalie Robinson, program coordinator at Natalie.robinson@kctcs.edu.
January 18, 2019
Ashland Community and Technical College is offering 12-week classes online this spring to give new and continuing students additional options for earing college credit. The 12-week classes have the same content as semester-long classes but cover the content in less time.
Online classes offered are History of the U.S. since 1865, Intro to Art, Intro to Biology, Writing I, Principles of Macroeconomics and Intro to Humanities. These classes can help students fulfill basic education requirements for degrees and diplomas.
Jan. 28 is the application deadline. The session starts Feb. 11 and ends May 12. New students must complete the application process, including orientation and placement testing before registering. Admission forms and program information are online at ashland.kctcs.edu/admissions. For help with enrollment, call 606-326-2040 or 606-326-2228.
New students enrolling only in the 12-week session may be eligible for financial aid. To apply for financial aid, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov. Current students cannot receive additional financial aid for bi-term classes added to their schedules. For more information on financial aid, call 855-246-2282.
Elementary, middle and high school students from five counties showed off their creativity and ingenuity during the sixth annual ACTC/FIVCO Science and Engineering Fair on Jan. 25.
The fair, coordinated by Ashland Community and Technical College, showcased science projects throughout six different categories of science. Those categories were Biomedical and Behavioral Health Sciences; Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences; Engineering and Mathematics; Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy; and Robotics and Computer Science.
Participants were judged on five criteria — originality and creativity; scientific method or technological design; thoroughness; skill and clarity; and approval forms and data notebook.
“This was our seventh year, and we placed a major emphasis on middle school STEM exploration in efforts to strengthen student retention through their high school years,” said Mia Brown, fair director. “Each year we increase in participants and in fun. This year we are thrilled to have Kentucky Science Center (KSC) to join us for a day of learning and exploration.”
After students presented their projects to judges, each school level participated in a variety of hands-on science experiments and demonstrations led by the Kentucky Science Center.
“Elementary school students learned about electricity generation and conservation with KSC’s own energy-saving superhero, Captain Current. Middle school students completed engineering design challenges and got messy with chemistry. High school students got to the heart of STEM by learning about the cardiovascular system and dissecting sheep hearts,” said Dr. Alison Hill, assembly program coordinator, KSC.
This year’s fair sponsors were King’s Daughters Medical Center and ACTC.
First, second and third place awards were given in each category. First and second place winners will advance to the Regional Science and Engineering Fair at Northern Kentucky University.
Award winners are listed below by category and grade level.
Biomedical & Behavioral Health Sciences
Elementary School – First Place: Myah Hamilton, Crabbe Elementary; Second Place: Hunter Evans, Catlettsburg Elementary; Third Place: Mya Sarver, Russell McDowell Intermediate.
Middle School – First Place: Samuel Tibbitts, Ashland Middle; Second Place: Laney Fannin and Macie Bevins, Ashland Middle; Third Place: Miracle Sammons and Bailey Blevins, McKell Middle.
High School – First Place: Erin Borders and Lillian Jones, Boyd County; Second Place: Emma Dowdy and Olivia Allen, Paul G. Blazer; Third Place: Hannah Taylor and Dustin Gifford, Boyd County.
Chemistry
Elementary School - First Place: Mia James, Star Elementary; Second Place: Alyssa Cordial and Zoey Melvin, Hager Elementary; Third Place: Cadee Crum and Cerella Williams, Carter City Elementary.
Middle School – First Place: Myla Hamilton and Grace Delaney, Ashland Middle; Second Place: Sawyer Edens and Larry Moore, Ashland Middle; Third Place: Terrence Mayse, East Carter Middle.
High School – First Place: Morgan Lewis, Boyd County; Second Place: Keyarin Montgomery and Alexis Adkins, Elliott County; Third Place: Cameron Robbins and Ashley Boggs, Greenup County.
Animal, Plant & Environmental Sciences
Elementary School – First Place: Jaxson Parnish, Argillite Elementary; Second Place: Diego Ruiz-Celedonio, Lakeside Elementary; Third Place: Addison McGlone, Prichard Elementary.
Middle School – First Place: Abby Meek and Aubree Hay, Ashland Middle; Second Place: Ella Crum and Audrey Biggs, Boyd County Middle; Third Place: Raini Hall, Wurtland Middle.
High School – First Place: Emily Stapleton and Matilyn Shavers, Boyd County; Second Place: Haley Stroud and Sara Hatzel, Boyd County; Third Place: Natalee Harris and Landon Lewis, Elliott County.
Robotics & Computer Science
Middle School – First Place: Kaden Jones, Fallsburg; Second Place: Connor Amos and Grant Smith, Ashland Middle.
Physics & Astronomy
Middle School – First Place: Ashton Tiller and Cason Adams, East Carter Middle; Second Place: Karis Adkins and Ruby Randolph, Elliott County; Third Place: James Morrow-Prater and Luis Chicko, Louisa Middle.
High School – First Place: Austin Jordan, Greenup County; Second Place: Chloe Dickerson and Scott Hackworth, Elliott County.
Engineering & Mathematics
Elementary School – First Place: Michael Brickey, Prichard Elementary; Second Place: Colton Thomas, Isonville Elementary; Third Place: Ava Kazee, Cannonsburg Elementary.
Middle School – First Place: Samuel Sherrard, East Carter Middle; Second Place: Cambria Burke, McKell Middle; Third Place: Alex Stamper and Jacob Waddell, West Carter Middle.
High School- First Place: Ian Woods, Greenup County; Second Place: Hayden Mulkey, Greenup County.
Ashland Community and Technical College has named 387 students to the dean's list for the fall 2018 semester. To be eligible for the dean's list, a student must complete at least 12 semester credits (of 100 level courses or above) or more for the semester and earn at least a 3.5 GPA for the semester.