Mrs. Zita Eley graduated from Ashland Community College, a predecessor of ACTC, with an Associate Degree in Nursing and from Ohio University Southern with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. She is certified in wound care by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN®).
A lifelong Ashland, KY resident, Eley has worked for over 20 years at the VA Medical Center in Huntington, WV, where she is currently Wound Care Coordinator. She is dedicated to her patients and her profession. “I owe the veterans my freedom, and that is one of the reasons I love my job,” she said.
She is a member of the National WOCN Society and is active in Christ Temple Church. She is an advocate of higher education and encourages young people to make the most of their educational opportunities.
Upon completion of the physical therapy program, Hunt worked at the University of Kentucky outpatient department for thirteen years before joining Drayer Physical Therapy Institute, where she has worked for the last seven years. She also works as a lab assistant to Tony English Ph.D., where she provides clinical input and serves as a mentor for current and perspective physical therapy students. Additionally, Hunt works with Fayette County Public School’s Experienced-Based Career Education program for high school students, and with other student volunteers who have an interest in the physical therapy profession.
As a child, Hunt had to overcome significant academic challenges and a childhood spent caring for her ill mother. When she began college, she arrived with a strong desire to achieve, but lacked confidence in her academic abilities. She recounts, "I remember my notebook paper smudged and torn, by repetitive erasing, and soggy from tears . . . from my difficulties [with math]". But Kathryn's dedication to learning prevailed and today her occupational achievements in the field of physical therapy and her role as a mentor to young students across Fayette County make her a notable alumnus of Bluegrass Community and Technical College.
Reverend Pettigrew followed his life's passion and lives his dream. And, so can you.
Kinta Joseph graduated from Gateway Community and Technical College with an associate degree in criminal justice and transferred to Northern Kentucky University, where she plans to obtain a bachelor’s degree. A Hurricane Katrina survivor from the 8th Ward in New Orleans, Kinta did not believe she was college material when she moved to Northern Kentucky in 2005. A social worker pointed her to the former Urban Learning Center, now Gateway’s Urban Center, where she took a few college classes. This experience led her to become a full-time student at Gateway and to eventually obtain a degree. Along with her degree, Kinta scored A’s in all her classes and received the 2009 President’s Award as Gateway’s most outstanding graduate.
A few years ago, Kinta was locked in a succession of dead-end jobs. Now she looks forward to a future helping juvenile offenders rebuild their lives.
With hard work and determination, Kinta is climbing the ladder of success. So can you.
For Jarvis Williams, Hazard Community & Technical College was the first step toward his extensive academic career which resulted in his earning a doctorate degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) in Louisville.
While growing up in Red Fox in Knott County where basketball and baseball were the most important things to him at the time, he would not have guessed that he would now be an assistant professor of New Testament and Greek at Campbellsville University in Campbellsville.
Dr. Williams has high praise for the quality teaching he received at HCTC. “They were especially personable and compassionate. I am most fond of the English courses I took during the spring of 1997 and summer of 1999.”
Dr. Williams graduated from Knott County Central in 1996 where he was a sports standout. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the James P. Boyce College in Louisville; a Master of Divinity in Biblical and Theological Studies, a Master of Theology, and a Doctorate of Philosophy from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville.
Dr. Williams was attracted to teaching for several reasons; he said his top two were: “My love and desire to impact and shape the minds of the future with a Christ-centered, biblical worldview and my love for Christian scholarship.”
Besides being an author of several books and articles, Dr. Williams is a member of The American Academy of Religion, The Evangelical Theological Society, The Institute for Biblical Research, and The Society of Biblical Literature.
Michelle credits much of her success to the support of her family, friends and extended family at Henderson Community College and Owensboro Community and Technical College. They have mentored her through her journey and still are good resources to use if she ever has a problem or needs advice. Education is a key to her success and using the motivating message from her late grandmother, “Education is something no one can take from you; always get as much of it that you can.” She hopes to inspire her students with this philosophy.
Dr. Jahrael Burrell began his higher education endeavors at Hopkinsville Community College (HCC) in the spring of 1993. He then transferred to Kentucky State University (KSU) Kentucky’s only Historically Black College. In addition, he also attended Western Kentucky University (WKU) as a Visiting Scholar in the summer of 1996.
In 1998, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and History from KSU where he focused on cultural similarities, critical synthesis, and integrated studies. He graduated cum laude and was nationally recognized for his scholarship and research in the social sciences. His Senior Thesis was entitled, A Comparative Narrative: W.E.B. Dubois and Aristotle’s Talented Tenth.
Dr. Burrell earned a Masters of Science degree in human ecology from Kansas State University in 2003, where he focused his research on families and diversity looking at the perceptions of individuals and their commitment to strong families across race and ethnicity.
He earned his Ph.D. in family studies and human services in May of 2009 at Kansas State University. There he was an instructor, researcher, and mentor in the College of Human Ecology. He wrote his dissertation entitled, The Influences of Gender, Generation, and Race/Ethnicity on Hegemony in Contemporary America so the voice of minority groups will be heard and that their rights, their thoughts, and their ideas will no longer be silent.
Dr. Jahrael Burrell is currently serving as interim program coordinator and instructor for human services program at Hopkinsville Community College.
Sherman Bush received an associate degree from Jefferson Community and Technical College (JCTC), and his bachelor and master’s degrees from the University of Louisville.
He is a counselor and professor at JCTC.
“My life is much better because of my deciding to pursue a college degree. I learned so much, met wonderful people and sat at the feet of great instructors and professors. Further, it prepared me for life and the benefits a college education would provide.”
Over the years, Peeples has helped others by raising money, finding people jobs and helping them with affordable housing. He still believes in the value of hard work and education he learned at an early age, and said preparing for success should always be a goal for students.
Peeples was appointed in August 2006 by then Gov. Ernie Fletcher to serve a six-year term on the KCTCS Board of Regents. In 2009, he was elected to serve a two-year term as KCTCS board secretary and as a board vice chair in 2010. His new chair position will expire in June 2013. He is the fifth person to serve in this role.
On February 12, Madisonville Community College will host Super Sunday, a unique college fair promoting the many educational opportunities available to African Americans and individuals of color at the various colleges within the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.
As part of this initiative, KCTCS is honoring alumni for their achievements by inclusion in the Super Sunday Hall of Fame.
Doug Davis graduated from Madisonville Community College with an Associate in Arts Degree, and is continuing his education at Murray State University in pursuit of a degree in Social Work.
Just as higher education transformed Doug’s life, he hopes to make a difference in other people lives. Doug is employed with ResCare and Pennyroyal Mental Health Center where he mentors children and adults. He also works part-time at UPS.
With hard work and determination, Doug made it. And, so can you.
Melitta Williams graduated from Maysville Community & Technical College in 2004 with an Associate in Arts degree. She continued her education through Lindsey Wilson College in 2006 where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services and Counseling. In 2010, Melitta went back to further her education by completing a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Capella University. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Adult Education and will graduate in 2012.
“As I look back on my beginning journey at Maysville Community & Technical College,” says Williams, “I have learned it is important to have a mission and vision in getting to the next steps of my professional endeavors. I have been able to obtain success through hard work and determination. It is a great pleasure and honor to be acknowledged for success in life.”
Melitta is the mother of a five year old daughter. She plans to continue her education by completing a doctoral degree in the criminal justice field within the next six years.
After working in manufacturing all her life at 39 years old, Alitta Leachman found herself a divorced mother of two. She realized that she needed to take control of her life. Enrolling at OCTC she found she was eligible for the Ready to Work program. She served as a work-study student while earning her Associate in Science degree and became an employee of the college as a Transitional Specialist in the adult education program. Alitta continued her educational path while working at OCTC earning both a Bachelor’s degree in HR from WKU with a double minor in CIS and Entrepreneurship, then going on to earn a Master’sdegree in Human Development and Leadership from MSU.
Alitta applies that same dedication to her job helping students. “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to work with many students of various cultures and different backgrounds. I enjoy seeing the students achieve their educational, work and personal goals. It gives me great satisfaction to know that I had a part in helping someone take control of their life and achieve their goals.”
With hard work and determination, Alitta made it. And, so can you.
Jonathon Wilson a native of Somerset, Kentucky, Jonathon Wilson followed his dream of many years. After graduating from Somerset High School, he enlisted in the United States Army and underwent training that resulted in his becoming a Military Police Officer with specialized Airborne Training. This path led him to accept deployments to Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo; the Pentagon; and to Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan – all in his first stint in the service.
When Jonathon returned from service to Somerset, he immediately enrolled in Somerset Community College where he earned two Associate Degrees, one in Applied Science, and one in Criminal Justice. He also served Somerset Community College as its first Safety and Security Coordinator, responsible for safety and security for all six College sites.
As a transfer student, Eastern Kentucky University was his next location where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Police Studies and a minor in Psychology. There he was inducted into the Criminal Justice professional fraternity of Lambda Alpha Epsilon Chapter Lambda Omicron Pi.
Wilson briefly served in the U.S. Marshall Service in Washington, DC, and immediately followed this service as an Officer in the U.S. Army. He currently serves our country in Afghanistan and plans to return to Fort Knox, Kentucky in the near future. Following his enrollment and completion of degrees at Somerset Community College, Wilson made a successful transition to life. His life was transformed by his education in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.
Counselor! Scholar! Master Teacher! Advocate! Leader! Diplomat! Pioneer! Communicator! Achiever! All are fitting to describe Harlan County native Dr. Jerome (Ronnie) Ratchford.
He was born in Lynch the eldest child of Otis and Louvenia Ratchford. His journey has extended from Lynch West Main High School, class of 1960, to academic experiences and degrees earned at the University of Kentucky, Indiana University and Bowling Green State University, where he was awarded a Ph.D. in educational leadership. He began his collegiate studies as one the first students to enroll at Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College. That journey has also seen him hold academic and administrative posts at Talladega College, Emory University, Lincoln University and Kennesaw State University.
Dr. Ratchford enjoyed an exceptional professional career. He has taught graduate-level educational leadership and curriculum development courses to aspiring principals and career teachers. He has also taught graduate-level students in the area of working effectively with learners who are culturally diverse.
Overall, Dr. Ratchford has served professionally as an administrator in higher education. He has had administrative oversight over a number of units at the institutions he has served. Presently, he serves as Vice President of the Division of Student Success at Kennesaw State University in suburban Atlanta. Prior to this position, he served as the Dean of Students and Director of the Student Development Department.
Additionally, he has frequently been asked to serve as a presenter, keynote speaker, panelist, workshop facilitator and researcher. He is the recipient of numerous honors and special recognitions. One such honor was the “Jerome Ratchford Lifetime Achievement Award” which was established by the Executive Board of the African American Student Alliance (AASA). He is also the recipient of Kennesaw State University Administrative Service Award.
He is married to Dr. Cynthia W. Ratchford; they are the parents of two children.
On February 12, West Kentucky Community and Technical College will host its Second Annual Super Sunday event. This unique college fair promotes the many educational opportunities available to African Americans and individuals of color at the various colleges within the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. As part of this initiative, KCTCS is honoring alumni for their achievements by inclusion in the Super Sunday Hall of Fame.
Teresa Spann, pictured above, graduated in 1995 with an Associate of Science degree in education from the community college in Paducah, KY. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Western Kentucky University and is currently pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership from WKU and a principal certificate from Murray State University.
Spann, an eighth grade teacher at Paducah Middle School, believes in teaching her students about the importance of getting a college education and using God’s gifts to help them achieve their goals.
“I tell them that everyday is a learning moment and the decisions they make today directly affects their choices of tomorrow.” With hard work and determination, Teresa makes a difference every day.