ACTC Recognized Students and Award Recipients at Graduation

Ashland Community and Technical College recognized a record number of 681 students at the Commencement Ceremony held May 8 in the Paramount Arts Center. The students were August 2014 and December 2014 graduates and May 2015 and Summer 2015 graduation candidates.

Dr. Kay Akins, ACTC President and CEO, welcomed the audience and congratulated the graduates on their accomplishments. This evening you join a special group of individuals who have used the college as a stepping stone to their dreams, she said. At the conclusion of the ceremony you will become an alumnus of a college that has stood the test of time.

ACTC alumnus Richard Sonny Martin, JD, was the Guest Speaker. He is Senior Partner of Martin amp; Vincent, PSC in Ashland and has been City Attorney for the City of Ashland since 1978. He was a member of the college Board of Director from 1989 to 2006 and was named the colleges Distinguished Alumnus in 2003.

Student speaker Jeremiah Maynard, a Louisa resident, earned an Associate in Science Degree with distinction. He thanked his family and ACTC faculty and staff for their support in helping him through college. He challenged his fellow graduates to use the knowledge and training gained at ACTC to better the world. He will transfer to the University of Kentucky in fall as a mechanical engineering student.

The Distinguished Alumnus Award was presented to Ann Brown Perkins, Executive Director of Safe Harbor of Northeast Kentucky, a shelter and services agency for victims of domestic violence. She serves on the Advisory Boards for Community Trust Bank, River Cities Harvest, Paramount Arts Center and the ACTC Board of Directors.

The Distinguished Service Award was presented to Kentucky Power in recognition of its long history of supporting the college. This support has included help in developing Power Plant Operator and Linemen Technology options to prepare students for power industry jobs, donation of equipment for technical programs, and funds for scholarships and college initiatives. Greg Pauley, President and Chief Operating Officer of Kentucky Power, accepted the award.

The eighth annual Gussler Family Endowed Chair in Math amp; Science Award was presented to Mathematics Professor Hossein Mohebbian. A Wheelersburg, OH resident, he has taught at ACTC since 1990. The Award recognizes a faculty member who has empowered and motivated students to succeed beyond their expectations and experiences. The Award was established by Dr. G. Gordon and Dixie Gussler in 2007 in recognition of exemplary college teachers who inspired Dr. Gordon to go on to medical school.

You can see the graduation ceremony in at https://youtu.be/xi3jI54fqD8 and at http://youtu.be/_X1EhnXXt0M.