KCTCS HONORS 2011 ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM

Versailles, Ky. (May 18, 2011) Thirty-two of Kentucky's top college students were honored as members of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System's 2011 All-Academic Team during the 10th annual KCTCS Student Academic Achievement luncheon held recently at the Lexington Convention Center.

Students from each of the 16 KCTCS colleges were chosen for the All-Academic Team based on a rigorous selection process that focuses on academic performance and campus involvement. Each member of the All-Academic Team received a $500 gift from their college, as well as scholarship opportunities to continue their education from 15 Kentucky public and private universities. Together, the scholarships are valued at more than $500,000. Students were honored during ceremonies held Monday, May 16.

The 2011 KCTCS All-Academic Team Scholars are part of a national program sponsored by national honor society Phi Theta Kappa, USA Today and the American Association of Community Colleges.

In addition, Natalie Chris Garland was the recipient of the KCTCS Martha C. Johnson Scholarship for $2,500. Martha Johnson is a native of Ashland and a graduate of Ashland Community and Technical College. She is retired from Ashland, Inc. and is the founding chair of the KCTCS Board of Regents.

Garland graduated from Somerset Community College (SCC) on May 6 with an associate of applied science degree in the physical therapist assistant program. In 2010, she was named the recipient of the James H. Anderson Award, a peer-selected award based upon the expectation that the recipient will make a significant and lasting impact upon the physical therapy profession. Earlier this year, she was named the recipient of the Total Rehab Award for Outstanding Second-Year PTA Student.

The list of the All-Academic Scholars include:

Ashland Community and Technical College: Cheryl Cook and Kenneth Cline
Big Sandy Community and Technical College: Chelsea Lafferty and Lisa Rutherford
Bluegrass Community and Technical College: Iwona Alford and Rachel Mack
Bowling Green Technical College: Jacquelyn Plested and Kimberly Reasoner
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College: Paula Walls and Richard Distler
Gateway Community and Technical College: Robert Dennis and Teresa Meyer
Hazard Community and Technical College: Kristen Coots and Mattie Lykins
Henderson Community and Technical College: Heather Fulkerson and Nicole Blair
Hopkinsville Community College: Danielle Aguillard and Dawn Kramer
Jefferson Community and Technical College: Allison Hickey and Jennifer Ellis
Madisonville Community College: Brandi Bloodworth and Justin Lewis
Maysville Community and Technical College: Chris McKenzie and Lisa Harmon
Owensboro Community and Technical College: Donna Pedley and Nicole Shelton
Somerset Community College: Cecil West and Natalie Garland
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College: James Harris and Michele Becerra
West Kentucky Community and Technical College: Kerrie Peck and Mathew Petersen