BSCTC holds homecoming for alumni

Many retirees, former employees and students attended the fourth-annual Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC) Alumni Homecoming on September 13, which began with a reception and culminated with a free concert featuring Republik Steele.

The Homecoming, coordinated by a 12-member alumni committee, was a time for reconnecting with friends and colleagues while focusing upon the caring and dedicated faculty and the thousands of successful students who have graced the halls and classrooms of Prestonsburg Community College, Mayo Technical College and BSCTC.

Judy Howell, who works as a librarian on the BSCTC Prestonsburg campus, read the words of Ken Fuller, who retired as a faculty member of Prestonsburg Community College and Big Sandy Community and Technical College in 2008.

Upon reflection, those 33 plus years of teaching passed very quickly. While cleaning my office prior to retirement, I spent a lot of time remembering each of the students whose advising folders I had kept since 1975, Howell continued. There were so many of those PCC advisees who passed through my classes and later became doctors, dentists, pharmacists, vets, physicians assistants, physical therapists, nurses, researchers, engineers, teachers, etc. My students did not have to be pre-professional to be successful, and I always prayed that my influence upon their lives was positive. To me, teaching students and affecting their lives never became stale, and I was still learning how to be a better teacher up to my retirement.

Victoria Hampton, a sophomore at BSCTC, recited the appreciation felt by Patricia Cieslak, a 1976 graduate. Attending PCC and BSCTC has been and continues to be a family affair BSCTC is an important thread that runs through our family and many families in our region. We are so blessed to have BSCTC, Dr. Edwards and the professors and staff, who go the extra mile to help our people to prepare for a brighter future. My hope is that you continue to grow and expand in the years to come.

Brooke Slone, a BSCTC graduate and employee, stated how Keith Shannon, who attended from 1973-1975, felt about the long-term effect of PCC.

As an instructor in a community college, I am inspired daily by the memory of the professors I had at PCC. I remember the significant impact they had on my life they taught with a unique combination of academic professionalism and personal involvement that made a huge difference to me. I try to bring that type of approach to my teaching at Central Piedmont Community College. I wouldn't trade my experience at PCC for anything.

Full transcripts of these comments and those of other retirees and former employees can be found at http://bsctcanniversary.com/ and
http://bigsandy.kctcs.edu/About_Us/Alumni_Association.

Clayton Case, Director of Fine Arts at BSCTC, sang for those in attendance. Mazola Salmons, Chair of the Alumni Committee, introduced BSCTC President/CEO Dr. George D. Edwards, stating that his collaboration with business and industry, four-year universities and secondary schools provides the impetus to effectively change education. Dr. Edwards discussed the long history of the three colleges and the anniversary celebration plans recognizing BSCTC (10 years of existence), PCC (50 years) and Mayo (75 years). He invited everyone to attend the Presidents Gala on October 26.

The program ended with the Alumni Committee members asking questions pertaining to the colleges and gave door prizes to those with the correct responses.

For more information on the BSCTC Alumni Association, please call Salmons at (606) 889-4729 or email Mazola.Salmons@kctcs.edu.