Page 36 - 2020 Resource Guide

THE COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Every student in McCracken County has the opportuni-
ty to earn two years tuition at West Kentucky Commu-
nity and Technical College, thanks to the Community
Scholarship Program and the Paducah Rotary Club. To
qualify for the program, students must graduate with
a GPA of at least 2.5 and a 95 percent attendance
rate, have no major discipline violations, and complete
college orientation activities during their senior year.

A few days before orientation for the Community
Scholarship Program (CSP) at West Kentucky Commu-
nity and Technical College, Paducah teenager Travis
Myers lost one of his biggest supporters when his mom,
Angela Myers, suddenly died of a heart attack at the
age of 46.
(Pictured left to right) Jacksonville Florida Sheriff Mike
“The thought had entered my mind that maybe I should Williams presents his recruit officer badge during Travis Myer’s
take a year off (after his mother died,) but then I did a graduation ceremony in Jacksonville in December 2019.
little soul searching and talked to family who said she
(my mother) wouldn’t want me to take a whole year off
just to mourn and grieve,” Travis said. “I needed to get academic thresholds are eligible to receive “last-dollar”
up and get the college thing going.” scholarship funds. Funding sources include the Rotary
Club of Paducah, the City of Paducah, McCracken
A 2017 Paducah Tilghman High School graduate and
ROTC student, Travis pursued his interest in crimi- County Fiscal Court, and private donors.
nology at WKCTC, graduating in May 2019 with the Since starting in 2010, CSP’s public/private partnership
associate in arts degree. Only a few months later, Travis has raised nearly $4 million. (60% public/40% private).
also completed a 400-hour corrections academy in WKCTC staff begin reaching out to students and their
Florida. He is now a recruit officer in the Jacksonville families when the students are in the 8th grade. After
(Fla.) Sheriff Office. enrolling at WKCTC, students receive targeted services
including advising, coaching, and student engagement
“I’ve really been blessed with all the opportunities I’ve
until the student transitions to the workforce or trans-
been given in such a small amount of time,” Travis said,
fers. The first CSP cohort transitioned to WKCTC in fall
adding that the CSP program was definitely helpful to
2014; the sixth cohort enrolled in fall 2019.
him in defining and following his dream. “It really made
me dig deep as a person and really helped me become Compared to the 2013 baseline, graduation rates for
more mature and more responsible,” he said. “It taught high schools in McCracken County have increased 5%.
me to have more responsibility for myself.” After enrolling at WKCTC, CSP recipients have signifi-
cantly higher retention rates, cumulative GPAs, grad-
The Community Scholarship Program is a private/ uation rates, and transfer rates compared to non-CSP
public partnership that allows qualifying students in recipients. The combined graduation/transfer rate
all of the high schools located in McCracken County, for the 2016 cohort was 67%, well above the national
to become eligible to attend WKCTC with scholarship average.
funding for up to 60 credit hours toward a technical
certification and/ or an associate degree at WKCTC. But to Travis the biggest benefit to being able to stay
The CSP scholarship, the brainchild of the Rotary Club in Paducah for two years to earn his associate degree
of Paducah, pays the balance of tuition not paid by was the support he received as a CSP recipient. “If you
federal, state and other scholarship grants for which a need somebody, there’s always someone there to help
student is eligible. you as long as you make those connections in your per-
sonal life,” Travis said. “If I ever had a problem, I always
The goals of the Community Scholarship Program are had another CSP student or counselors to talk to. I had
to increase high school graduation rates, increase high the staff at WKCTC to talk to and they really were there
school transition rates to postsecondary education, to help me out throughout my college experience.”
and improve the quality and skill level of the workforce
in McCracken County by reducing financial barriers For more information about WKCTC, contact
to college. High school graduates meeting minimum 270-554-9200 or westkentucky.kctcs.edu

36 | PADUCAH AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2020 BUSINESS OVERVIEW