West Kentucky Community and Technical College

Located in the depths of historic Paducah, Kentucky, the West Kentucky Community and Technical College was recently named one of the top five community or junior colleges in the United States. It provides the opportunity for education to a diversity of students, many of whom attend WKCTC part-time. While nursing and megatronics are popular focuses of study, in keeping with Paducah's historic celebration of education in the arts as well as technology, the college offers a wide variety of courses and encourages students in all of their pursuits - including through the unique Paducah School of Art & Design.

WKCTC primarily services the counties in and surrounding the Purchase area; unsurprisingly, it is a leader and shining star of the Kentucky Community and Technical College system. Like the other schools in the KCTC, this college focuses on academics, social integration and artistic development equally, providing opportunities for students to participate in a variety of community activities regardless of their age. While there are no clubs with strict age boundaries, there is an adult students club – aptly named "New Beginnings" - intended to provide support and community for adults who have enrolled to continue their education a little bit later in life. Additionally, there are a number of clubs focused on supporting students aspiring to enter different fields, including cosmetology, criminal justice and education. For those whose dedication to their studies results in particularly high grades, there is also a chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society present on campus.

With an awareness that has certainly contributed to their high standing as a community college, WKCTC actively cooperates with local businesses to provide relevant, dynamic workforce training and preparation to its students. The focus on the 'community' part of community college doesn't stop there: WKCTC also works with business leaders to improve their on-site employee training programs. The employees that go through these programs are encouraged to pursue their education through the GED and Transition2College programs offered. College-level learning experiences are often awarded credit through WKCTC; the value of outside experience is acknowledged and emphasized throughout community interactions and prospective students are encouraged to submit prior work portfolios which help the college assess how much credit will be awarded and in which areas of study. The Accelerated Degree program also offers its part-time students who work during the day the ability to attend class only one night a week while still receiving their Associate's with embedded certificate in a timely manner.

Its strong history and indelible relationship with the surrounding communities, not only in Paducah but also the surrounding Purchase area, makes West Kentucky Community and Technical College a popular choice among area residents for a myriad of fields of study. The community investment makes WKCTC what it is: almost all graduated students go on to either attend the University of Kentucky or return to their local workplace.