GRIFFITH FINDS HIS WAY AT BSCTC
Two years ago, Kyle Griffith was at a crossroads many high school seniors find themselves
at this time of year.
He was an accomplished student, ranking third in his senior class at Allen Central
High School. He attended the Floyd County Area Technology Center while at Allen Central
and participated in SkillsUSA, a national partnership of students, teachers and industry
working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.
SkillsUSA and the Mayo campus of Big Sandy Community and Technical College have shared
a longstanding partnership in providing regional Area Technology Center students a
facility to compete in a regional competition. It was here that Griffith found his
passion.
I didnt want to just go to college, I wanted to find a career, he said. I think everything
happens for a reason, and when I toured the Mayo campus and saw the facilities, I
knew this was where I wanted to study.
Griffith met Stephen Music, an Industrial Maintenance instructor at BSCTCs Mayo campus,
during his senior year while competing in the Machine Tool Technology competition
with SkillsUSA.
Immediately, I knew he [Music] was genuinely interested in my success, said Griffith.
Music knew Kyle had something special when he met him.
You could feel he had a desire to learn, said Music. That has carried on over the
past two years. Hes an ideal student, and I have no doubt he will be very successful.
Griffith, 20, has made the most of his college experience. He was the first student
in a technical program to be named to the prestigious Honors Program at BSCTC. Created
in 2005, the Honors Program provides full-paid scholarships to recipients and focuses
on students as holistic individuals stressing open-mindedness, individuality, creativity
and free thinking.
Part of the scholarship also allows Griffith and other recipients to take an Honors
course taught by BSCTC President/CEO Dr. George D. Edwards.
Dr. Edwards is a man of great character and demonstrates the kind of leadership we
all strive for, said Griffith. The class has opened my eyes to a world of great opportunity.
Dr. Edwards said the course is a chance to engage students to discover their individual
possibilities, while reaching their ultimate potential.
We want to prepare our students for promising futures in diverse careers, said Dr.
Edwards. Students like Kyle show our future is in capable hands.
Griffith will graduate in May with an Associate in Applied Science degree in General
Occupational/Technical Studies. He will also earn a diploma as an Industrial Maintenance
Technician and certificates as an Industrial Maintenance Machinist/Mechanic, Industrial
Maintenance Electrical Mechanic, Industrial Maintenance Mechanic Level I and Industrial
Maintenance Mechanic Level II.
Charles Vanhoose, who teaches Electrical Technology on the Mayo campus, said Griffith
is a thinker and never afraid to tackle a challenge.
Griffith is modest of the accolades. Ive been fortunate to have many teachers who
have cared about me and my success.