PADUCAH, KY (10/26/2018) For the second year, West Kentucky Community and Technical College is accepting nominations to recognize pre-kindergarten through high school educators, administrators and staff members who have gone beyond their daily responsibilities and have worked tirelessly on behalf of students, parents and the community in our region.
WKCTC is accepting nomination beginning today through December 7.
In establishing the program, WKCTC President Anton Reece said Pre-K-12 teachers and staff play an important role in our community and in society. "This recognition program is just one way to show WKCTC's appreciation of our partnerships and support," Dr. Reece said.
One administrator (district or local guidance counselor or building administrator) award, two faculty awards, (one for faculty teaching Pre-K through 5th grade and one for faculty teaching 6th grade through 12th grade) and one Cornelia Reece Unsung Hero staff award (district or local other than administrator or faculty) will be announced at a reception March 7, 2019 in the Clemens Fine Arts Center.
In conjunction with the awards program, a scholarship for WKCTC students studying to become educators has been established to encourage and assist our region's future education professionals. Funded by program sponsors and private donors, four Future Educators scholarships of $500 each have been awarded to date.
Last year more than 60 nominations for 42 people were submitted. Of the 42 nominated, 28 people submitted applications and were honored at the March 2018 reception and program.
The Unsung Hero Award is named in honor of Dr. Reece's wife, Cornelia, who was involved in K-12 education in Paducah for 13 years with the Family Resource Center and 13 years in Knoxville, Tenn., with Project Graduation before returning to Paducah with her husband in 2016.
A special committee of individuals, from inside and outside the education profession, who are familiar with criteria for evaluation of services in secondary education, will make the recommended selections. All nominated individuals who complete a nominee application are honored during the reception.
Everyone who was nominated received a copy of the comments on their nomination. No names of nominators were included, only categories such as parent, fellow educator or student. "It was a blessing to see those," wrote one teacher who was not able to submit an application last year. "It meant so much to me because it's great to have parents recognize you but it's truly wonderful to see those sweet words that they said."
To submit a nomination, visit https://westkentucky.kctcs.edu/community/regional-educators/index.aspx
Anyone interested in contributing to the scholarship fund or serving as a sponsor for the 2019 Regional Educators Awards and Scholarship Program can get more information by contacting Lee Emmons at lee.emmons@kctcs.edu or 270-534-3084. Event sponsors will be featured in program publications.