ACTC Presents Black History Month Programs

Ashland Community and Technical College will commemorate February as Black History Month with programs on the theme of “Voices –from the Past to the Future.”
 

These programs illustrate the influence of African Americans on our society and culture and are supported by ACTC and a number of community partners, including the Boyd & Greenup Branch of the NAACP, City of Ashland Human Rights Commission, Highlands Museum & Discovery Center, United Communities to Advance Our Neighborhoods, Inc., and members of the medical community.
 

All programs are free and open to the public.
 

Reverend Newton Bush
 

“Reverend Newton Bush: Freedom at a Terrible Price” will be presented Thursday, Feb. 7, at 12 noon in the J. B. Sowards Theatre on ACTC’s College Drive Campus in Ashland.
 

In 1864, Kentucky became the last state to allow slaves to join the Union Army. Newton Bush was one of 24,000 men of color from Kentucky who joined the Colored Cavalry to fight for their freedom and a better life.
 

The Colored Calvary’s loyalty to the Union and bravery in battle eventually earned the respect of the white soldiers. But their fight didn’t end when the Civil War was over. They had risked their lives to preserve the Union, yet they spent the rest of their days in fear of being harassed and killed while fighting for freedom and equal citizenship.
 

Newton Bush is portrayed by Robert Bell, a Chautauqua Speaker for the Kentucky Humanities Council.  He is a living historian and charter member of the 12th U.S. Heavy Artillery, Reactivated. He is a life member of the Camp Nelson Heritage Foundation.
 

For more information, contact Al Baker, ACTC Director of Cultural Diversity, 606-326-2422.

A Night at the Apollo

A Night at the Apollo will be held Friday, February 15, at 7:00 p.m. in ACTC’s J. B. Sowards Theatre.

Harlem’s Apollo Theatre has long been a stepping stone for famous performers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and Patti Labelle.  A Night at the Apollo gives amateur Tri-State performers a chance to share their talents in music, dance, poetry, comedy and drama.

A local version of the TV program “America’s Got Talent,” A Night at the Apollo is both a performance venue and a talent contest. Amateur solo and group performers may enter the contest. Prizes are $200, $100 and $50 for adults and $75, $50 and $25 for youth up to age 12.
The contest entry fee is $5 per act, and registration is through the Highlands Museum & Discovery Center, 606-329-8888 or email: Christine@highlandsmuseum.com.  The registration deadline for performers is February 8, and the number of acts is limited to 20 on a first-come basis.

Last year’s first place winners in the adult and youth categories are ineligible to compete but are invited to perform during the show.

Gospel Night

Gospel Night will be held Thursday, Feb. 28, at 7:00 p.m. at the Highlands Museum & Discovery Center in Ashland.

From humble beginnings as negro spirituals, the sound and spirit of black gospel music has become a profound force in American music and culture. 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.

Previous performers have included the Antioch Male Chorus from Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Huntington, Christ Temple Choir from Ashland, Spiritual Expressions from Full Gospel Assembly in Huntington and the Men’s Chorus of First Baptist Church of Burlington, OH.
For information about performing at Gospel Night, contact the Museum at 606-329-8888.
Super Sunday

ACTC will hold a “Super Sunday” college fair on February 24 at 3:00 p.m. at Christ Temple Church in Ashland. The fair is free and open to the public.

Super Sunday is a Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) initiative to increase the college-going rate of African-American students.  All 16 KCTCS colleges are partnering with African-American churches to reach out to parents and students to promote higher education.

Dr. Kay Adkins, ACTC President & CEO, will speak about the role of parent involvement and early preparation in preparing for college. College representatives will share information on the college planning process, admissions, degree programs, financial aid, scholarships, university transfer and more.

The fair is designed for people who may be considering college for themselves or members of their family. For more information, contact Al Baker, ACTC Director of Cultural Diversity, 606-326-2422 or email: alvin.baker@kctcs.edu.

Nursing Program Accreditation Visit

The Ashland Community and Technical College Associate Degree Nursing Program is currently seeking the continuing accreditation of its nursing program through the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. (NLNAC).

In preparation for the reaccreditation, the nursing program is involved in a thorough self-study process designed to strengthen educational quality and assist in program improvement. A team of NLNAC site reviewers are scheduled for a three day visit in February to meet with College administration, nursing faculty, students, and the community.

As a part of the reaccreditation site visit, individuals in the community are invited to meet the visit team and share their comments about the program in a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 6, from 3:00 to 3:45 p.m. in the Teleconference Room at the College Drive Campus, 1400 College Drive, Ashland,.

The NLNAC invites third party comments for the Associate Degree Nursing program being reviewed for continuing accreditation.  Comments must be received by NLNAC prior the site visit.  The NLNAC welcomes comments from interested individuals from the nursing community as well as the public at large.  Please contact Roxanne Neal at (606) 326-2086 for questions or confirmation.

The third party comments must be in writing, signed and dated and addressed to: Dr. Sharon Tanner, Chief Executive Officer, 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850 Atlanta, GA 30326, Phone: 404-975-5000, Fax: 404-975-5020 or www.nlnac.org.

Coots Chosen for Leadership Seminar

Kevin Coots, ACTC Professor and Registrar, has been selected to participate in the 2012-13 KCTCS President’s Leadership Seminar.

He will join a faculty or staff member from each KCTCS college in the leadership development program, exploring national issues, educational trends and leadership traits.

An Ashland resident, Coots joined the college in 1988 as an English instructor.  He became a professor in 2011 and later served as the Humanities Division Chair.  He has been an AP Reader for the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program in English and a National Endowment for the Humanities scholar.

As an English faculty member, he received several ACTC Learning Excellence Awards and was a National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Excellence Award winner.

As Registrar, he is responsible for overseeing operations of the Admissions and Records Office. He is ACTC’s primary contact for the Blackboard Student Service Call Center and a member of the College Council and the Super Sunday Committee.

Coots has a Master’s Degree in English from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and is working on a Doctor of Education Degree at the University of the Cumberlands.

Office Procedures Class Reminder

Office Procedures Training, an evening class for six college credits, will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays, Feb. 5 to May 4, from 6-9 p.m. at the ACTC Roberts Drive Campus. The class will cover entry-level job skills in document formatting, word processing and office policies and procedures.

The college tuition fee is $840, and financial aid is available to those who qualify. For more information or to register, email Workforce Solutions Specialist Jessica Lucas at: jessica.lucas@kctcs.edu.

For other Workforce Solutions classes and programs, go to the web at: ashland.ktcs.edu/Workforce_Solutions.

Jane Lowe: Singing Her Way Through the Years

By Shelby Preston

To retire, or not to retire—that was the burning question for the 2012-2013 school year.  Jane Lowe had been teaching for 34 years, and last year she announced she would not be returning for my senior year.

However, she had always known that she wanted to teach.

“I passionately love music,” she says, “so it has been a most perfect marriage of my two loves.”

During our interview, she told me she felt a positive impact on some students had been made by her 34 years in the classroom, but sometimes you don’t really know until years later.

“I definitely feel I have influenced the schools music program,” she said. “We are one of the most respected choral programs east of Lexington. It was not that way when I first came to Lawrence County.”

My freshman year, Ms. Lowe had told her students at that time she would retire when her “babies”, the class of 2013, graduated.

Last year, her classes and increased responsibilities pushed her to the limit, and she was ready to retire.

Her babies were devastated.

Ms. Lowe regularly directs a Christmas chorale as well as several other eventsWho would be our choir director next year? Who would take us under their wing my senior year?

I completed my junior year with doubts of choir being one of my classes because of the loss of leadership of “The Great Swahili Master, Ms. Lowe.”

As my senior year approached, I read a post on Facebook that made my heart skip a beat.

Ms. Lowe would be my choir director just one more year! She tells me that she is very glad she did not retire, and is not sure that this will be her last year.

“That remains to be seen,” she said.

So, here we are—my senior year—and I get to have the best choir director to end it with me! She has helped me develop into the singer I am today. I’m so glad that I get to keep choir as not just one, but two of my classes.

Finally, Great Swahili Master, your choir students of today and yesteryear thank you for all you’ve done for us, and will continue to do for us until we conclude our final year of school.

Feature by the LCHS Communications Department

Scott Osborne, sponsor

The Center for Rural Development is accepting applications for Rogers Scholars program through Jan. 31...

The Center for Rural Development is now accepting applications from rising high school juniors in Lawrence and Martin counties for the 2013 summer sessions of the Rogers Scholars youth leadership program.

The program provides leadership and scholarship opportunities for high school students within The Center’s 45-county primary service area in Southern and Eastern Kentucky to receive the skills needed to become the region’s next generation of leaders.

“The Rogers Scholars program gives high school students an experience of a lifetime to grow their leadership skills, while also securing scholarships for college,” said youth programs coordinator Delaney Stephens. “Each graduate earns access to exclusive college scholarship offers from some of the state’s top-ranked colleges and universities.”

Students apply during their sophomore year in high school and are selected through a competitive screening process to attend one of two summer leadership sessions of the Rogers Scholars program.

“The bonds and friendships students make while at Rogers Scholars continue long after the week has ended,” said Stephens. “We have graduates all across Southern and Eastern Kentucky striving to make a difference in the lives of people in their home communities and in our region.”

Applicants may download a copy of the application form by visiting the Rogers Scholars website at www.rogersscholars.com.  All application forms must be completed and mailed to The Center for Rural Development, 2292 S. Highway 27, Suite 300, Somerset, Ky., 42501, by Jan. 31, 2013.

The Rogers Scholars program is provided free of charge to participants. Lodging and meals for the week are included in the program.

For more information, contact Delaney Stephens, youth programs coordinator, at 606-677-6000 or email youth@centertech.com.

Since 1998, approximately 872 high school students have graduated from Rogers Scholars, and potential scholarships valued at more than $7.2 million have been offered to graduates from 18 participating partner colleges and universities.

Established in 1996 through the vision of U.S. Congressman Harold "Hal" Rogers, (KY-05), and other leaders, The Center for Rural Development is a nonprofit organization fueled by a mission to provide leadership that stimulates innovative and sustainable economic development solutions and a better way of life in Southern and Eastern Kentucky. In its 45-county primary service region, The Center provides innovative programs in leadership, public safety, technology, and arts and culture. The Center is committed to constantly expanding its capabilities in order to deliver a range of key services throughout Kentucky and the nation.

JROTC Bulldog Battalion News

By Major (RET) Siembor

The first semester of the school year is complete and traditionally it is time for promotions in the Bulldog Battalion. Although all cadets are eligible traditionally about 30 % of the upper class (LET II – LET IV) meets the standards to get promoted. Only two of the eight Officers meet the criteria and they are; Shane Rickman being promoted from Major to Lieutenant Colonel and Brook Pigg-LeMaster to 1st Lieutenant.

There was also only two promotions in the Senior NCO positions and they are; Ken Piper from Sergeant Major to Command Sergeant Major and Tyler Seacrist from Master Sergeant to First Sergeant. All four of those cadets holds significant positions in the Bulldog Battalion and have distinguished themselves above their peers to be promoted. So a hardy congratulations goes out to these find individuals, Shane “Racer” Rickman, Brook “BW” Pigg-LeMaster, Ken “Pied” Piper, and Tyler “Leatherneck” Seacrist.

Also meeting the difficult challenges of making the grade and getting promoted from Sergeant to Staff Sergeant are; Justin “Courting” Courtney, Jess “GATE” Napier, Bryan “Hair today gone tomorrow” Maynard, Zaria “Dig” Moore, Braden “Blondie” Silcott, Evan “Hoops” Spaudling, Patrick “Know” Whitt.

The promotion criteria for upper cadets to get promoted are as follows; NCO promotions the cadet must meet high academic standards in JROTC and score a 240 or above on the physical training test. To be promoted to 1SG and CSM one must have high academic standards and score a 265 or above on the physical training test. And to be promoted as an Officer you must maintain the highest academic standards (top ten percent of the class), score a 270 or above on the physical training test and must perform your staff job in a satisfactory manner.

The following LET I cadets also have meet the criteria to be promoted Private First Class:

Billy Dindal, Tyler Horton, Sean Churchwell, Jennifer Cyrus, Gregory Fugit, Cole Mosley, Elizabeth Terry, Andrew Wheeler, Brittany Bishop, Blaine Brewer, Brittany Brooks, Morgan Miller, Joshua Moore, Derek Prater, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Rose.

The promotion criteria for LET I to get promoted a cadet must be passing all their classes, wear the uniform properly, maintain a high academic standard in JROTC, and meet the physical training standards.

So if you see any of the above students pat them on the back and congratulate them on a job well done, for they accomplishment more than their peers.

Double Hooah to all.