Cheryl Cook Is The Graduation Student Speaker

The student speaker at ACTC's Graduation Ceremony May 14 will be Cheryl A. Cook, a Catlettsburg resident who is graduating with an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education with high honors.

Cook is a non-traditional student who earned a 3.9 GPA and served as Vice President of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honors society while taking care of two children, one of whom has autism.

All of my experiences at ACTC have been great, Cook said. At the time I started college, my children were young, and ACTC offered both evening classes and online classes which have been very beneficial. My instructors have been very flexible in working with me, and my program advisor, Mary Lou Forman has been very supportive in helping me complete this degree.

For the 2010-2011 academic year she was named to the All-KCTCS Academic Achievement Team.. She also received a PTK Distinguished Chapter Officer Award and completed Level 5 of the PTK Competitive Edge professional development plan.

A Catlettsburg resident and Boyd County High School graduate, she is Chapter Vice President of the River Cities Autism Society and has been involved with the Society for nine years. Cook plans to go on for a Bachelors Degree in early childhood education with the goal of becoming a lead preschool teacher.

I have a lot of experience with Autism because of my son, and I want to share that knowledge, Cook added. I feel that I can benefit the child in the classroom and help the parents obtain the services the child needs to be successful in life.