What a Difference a Day Makes!

On December 20, 2020, WKCTC announced it had received an historic $15 million MacKenzie Scott National Philanthropic Trust Grant—the largest gift from a single donor in the college's history.

WKCTC’S PRESIDENT ANTON REECE, WITH input from his cabinet team, college boards, faculty, staff and students, created and developed the plan for the best ways to utilize Scott’s intent and vision for the funds—a continued focus on enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion at the college and in area communities.

From these discussions was born The WKCTC Guarantee—a sevensector framework that includes increasing educational opportunities for diverse regional populations, low-income individuals, and others who face barriers to education.

Part of the Guarantee is the Adult Promise Scholarship and the MacKenzie Scott Opportunities Scholarship (S.O.S.), each for new students to WKCTC. The Adult Promise is for students aged 25 years old and older, and the S.O.S. is for students 24 years old and under. These scholarships are making a difference in the lives of students such as Ricky Martin and Treshawn Hines. Martin’s journey began at WKCTC almost five years before he first received the Adult Promise. Suffering from addiction and depression most of his life, Martin didn’t think college would ever be in his future. But after completing Four Rivers Behavioral Health’s (FRBH) short- and long-term rehab programs, Martin said his “attitude and outlook on life completely changed, and I’ve never looked back.”

Earning his GED through WKCTC’s Adult Education Center in 2019, Martin, who just celebrated his sixth year of sobriety, has worked at various locations/ capacities at FRBH, and he wants to help others like himself.

“That’s why I want to earn a degree in social work—a career where I can set an example for other people in this world that have struggled like me. I want to show it’s possible to change your life around and do some good in this world,” said the 43-year-old from Graves County. Martin began taking classes online at WKCTC in the fall of 2022, the first semester the Adult Promise Scholarship was awarded. He also received the scholarship in the spring 2023.

“I’m very thankful to MacKenzie Scott for allowing this to be possible, and to WKCTC for creating the scholarship program with the funds. What a blessing!” Martin said.

Treshawn Hines, 20, is a recipient of the S.O.S. “It means a lot! I am thankful and so are my parents,” Hines commented.

Hines first began playing basketball during his freshman year of high school in Alabama. Self-taught to play the game he now loves, Hines poured many hours into executing moves and techniques he studied on YouTube of his favorite NBA player—Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks.

Several years ago, he also struck up a close friendship with Solomon Robinson—a fellow West Kentucky Stars basketball teammate— through a popular online basketball simulated video game. When it came time to go to college, Hines was accepted to a university close to his home a year after he graduated high school. But the more Robinson shared about WKCTC and the Stars, Hines decided to come to Paducah, where he enrolled to study welding and joined the Stars roster in the spring of 2023.

“I’ve been interested in welding since I was a young kid watching my dad repair cars,” said Hines, who sports the #2 jersey (the same as his idol, Irving). “I want to someday open my own car shop and work with my dad.”

Of the S.O.S. that will continue to help him pay for college in fall 2023, Hines said, “It’s nice to know there are people like MacKenzie Scott who care so much and give to help others.”

To learn more about the Adult Promise and the S.O.S., visit westkentucky.kctcs.edu

WKCTC ★ by J.T. C RAWFORD