ACTC Dedicates New Child Development Center

Ashland Community amp; Technical College held a dedication ceremony October 29 for the new Guy amp; Lisa Spriggs Child Development Center.

Located across Ramey Street from the College Drive Campus, the 6500 square foot building is designed to serve more than 100 students from birth through pre-school.

At the ceremony, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear said Investing in early childhood development and education helps our young people hit the ground running when they enter kindergarten, and this Center will help many children succeed in school.

I congratulate the Ashland Childhood Development Center on their dedication to helping young people and their commitment to enhancing the quality of life throughout their entire community, Beshear added.

The Center was envisioned, planned, and designed to promote childrens health, development and creativity, with dedicated space for both learning and play. The Center has dedicated observation and classroom space, and serves as the model for the ACTC Interdisciplinary Early Child Education Program.

The center was constructed by the Community and Technical College Foundation of Ashland, Inc., the foundation which serves ACTC. The foundation began purchasing properties along Ramey Street for the center in the late 1990s, and construction began in June 2011.

The cost of designing and constructing the Child Development Center was provided through gifts and pledges to the Foundation that included the 2011 gift by Guy amp; Lisa Spriggs of their Ashland residence.

I thank Guy Spriggs and his wife Lisa for helping to make this project possible, said Dr. Kay Adkins, ACTC President and CEO. This Center is evidence of the tremendous support our college receives from the community.

Walker Fressola Architects of Ashland, KY amp; SME Engineering of Lexington, KY designed the Center, and work was completed by CTB, Inc. from Catlettsburg and Lights Enterprises in Ashland.

Appraised for over $1.6 million, the building has room for infants, toddlers and pre-school children. The facility is licensed by the Cabinet for Health amp; Family Services for child care and is currently operated via agreement with Boyd County Public Schools.

Our new learning center is a real gift to our children, parents, and caregivers, said Jewel Malik, Center Director and a graduate of ACTC's Interdisciplinary Childhood Education Program. It provides a bright, modern and productive space for our caregivers to help the children grow and develop."

Our parents know that each day their child comes to one of our classrooms, they have access to educational resources that facilitate learning and communication, Malik said. We couldn't be happier with our new facility.

Children of students, college employees and area residents moved into the new building last month. They were previously served in a renovated classroom area on the first floor of the Main Administrative Building at College Drive.

For more information on Center facilities, contact Malik at 606-324-2280.

Shown below at the Dedication ceremony are (from left): Dr. Michael McCall, KCTCS President; Robert J. Maher, President of the Community and Technical College Foundation of Ashland, Inc.; John C. Stewart, Jr., Chair of the ACTC Board of Directors; Andrew Light, representative of Lights Enterprises of Ashland; Dr. Kay Adkins, ACTC President; Vincenzo Fressola, Walker Fressola architectural firm; Governor Steve Beshear; Guy Spriggs, Ashland businessman and donor; Shawn Walker, Walker Fressola architectural firm; Dr. Gregory D. Adkins, former ACTC President; Frank Salisbury, ACTC Director of Advancement; Howard K. Osborne, Boyd County Schools Superintendent; and Dr. Pat Lake, former ACTC Interim President.