WKCTC Recognizes Former Board Members

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PADUCAH, KY (11/30/2018) Three former members of West Kentucky Community and Technical College's Board of Directors were recognized during a joint luncheon meeting of the WKCTC Board and the Paducah Junior College Board of Trustees Thursday at the college. PJC, Inc., is the foundation that supports WKCTC.

Governor Matt Bevins appointed new members to the WKCTC Board in August after the terms of the three members of the 10-member board expired.

Paducah resident Dr. Shirley Menendez was recognized with a plaque presented to her by WKCTC President Anton Reece during the meeting. The other former board members, Jason Jones of Benton and Jennifer Smith of Mayfield, were unable to attend the meeting.

Dr. Menendez said being associated with other board members and receiving reports from the professional personnel at the college gave her an appreciation of what is required to maintain "an institution of accomplishment" like WKCTC. Appointed to the WKCTC board in 2009 by then Governor Steve Beshear, Dr. Menendez has also served on the Paducah Junior College board for 13 years and previously served on the Council on Higher Education and the Council on Postsecondary Education - for a total of more than 30 years serving on higher education boards.

"Education is my passion," Dr. Menendez said. "Serving in a role to study the dynamics of the college and what it accomplishes is quite significant in the KCTCS profile since KCTCS has the largest student population of any higher education institution in the Commonwealth. From passing the budget to seeing the joy of students and families at graduation is a wonderful passion."

Former board member Jason Jones served on the WKCTC board four years, spending two years as board chair. In a recent interview Jones said a big part of his time on the board was spent in the transition from former WKCTC President Dr. Barbara Veazey who retired in 2016 to current president Dr. Anton Reece. "I felt that was one of the best transitions I have ever seen at that level," Jones said.

A Marshall County High School graduate, Jones also graduated from Paducah Community College (a predecessor to WKCTC), Murray State University and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin. He said he was proud to be a part of WKCTC's history. "As the landscape of higher education changes, WKCTC is poised to continue to make huge strides in our region," Jones said. "WKCTC is also invaluable to our region due to the economic impact it has in so many areas. There are so many areas where WKCTC holds the key to our region's future - health care, engineering, the river industry, technology and the list goes on. We need this school to continue to be an economic driver of our community!"

Registration for spring classes which begin in January is underway now. For more information, visit the college's web site at westkentucky.kctcs.edu.