Surgical Technology program honored

$urviving
Valentine's Day
page 8
Grapple with this
page 6
Established 1998
February 2008
Surgical Technology
program honored
Student performance nets
ranking of 7th best in U.S.
By JUDITH STEPHENS
Courier Staff
BCTC Assistant Professor Kevin Craycraft
has several reasons to be smiling.
He is the coordinator of BCTC’s Surgical
Technology Program which is now ranked 7th
out of the 435 accredited surgical technology
programs in the nation.
Because of this accomplishment, he has also
been appointed to the Education and Professional Standards Committee.
The Accreditation Review Committee on
Education in Surgical Technology determines
a program’s rank based upon student performance on the Program Assessment Exam. Accredited programs take the exam to show they
have followed the 5th core curricula, which establish the standards which must be taught.
Being recognized for such a high rank is not
new for this program. Last year, they entered
the rankings at number 11.
“Before I came, this was a solid program—
but it didn’t have the structure that I brought to
it,” Craycraft said. He attributes the program’s
success to the incorporation of technology into
the classroom. Through the years, Craycraft
has found newer ways to utilize online learning
and PowerPoint for the learning benefit of his
students.
Online learning was one of the topics he
spoke about at the Association of Surgical
Technologist National Conference for the past
two years in Las Vegas and New Orleans.
Craycraft’s role on the Education and Pro-
Photos by LAURA LYNCH | Staff
Surgical technology student Summer
Earlywine (left) along with fellow student
Lisa Bledsoe, and Kevin Craycraft, surgical
technology program coordinator, flashed
smiles upon completing a lab training session earlier this month.
fessional Standards Committee includes helping
to arrange educational opportunities for surgical technologists, helping to develop the first
comprehensive Standards of Practice book for
surgical technology, and approving the textbook
that the Association of Surgical Technology
publishes.
Craycraft has high hopes for the future of this
program. He is pushing for all of his students to
become nationally certified so they can practice
in every state. When asked if he thinks his program will ever reach the No. 1 rank, he replied,
“No doubt in my mind … within the next three
years by my watch.”
SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
continued on page 7
Black history
month events
scheduled
By ASHLEY WELSH
Courier Staff
The United States and Canada celebrate Black History Month every February and have done so since
1976. Black History Month is a celebration dedicated
to recognizing the works of influential African-Americans throughout history. So what is BCTC doing to
participate?
The Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Learning Resource Center have teamed up to bring students
read-ins. They hope to have students and staff read
selections from African-American authors and follow
up with discussion about the readings. The read-ins
will be held at Cooper campus on February 2-3:30 in
the Oswald Building lobby and at the Leestown campus library on February 21 from 2-3:30.
The BCTC Office of Multicultural Affairs has plans
to show the movie Prince Among Slaves, winner of
the Best Documentary at the 2007 American Black
Film Festival. Prince Among Slaves is a true story of
an African prince who endured 40 years as a slave in
America before he finally regained his freedom. The
film is based on a biography by Dr. Terry Alford and
is narrated by hip-hop artist Mos Def. The movie will
be shown on February 25 from 1-3. Discussion will
follow. The location for this event will be announced
later this month.
Students looking for events outside of BCTC can
attend a Blind Boys of Alabama concert hosted by the
University of Kentucky at 8 p.m. on Sunday, February 20 at the Singletary Center for the Arts. Tickets
will be $22 for general public admission. The Blind
Boys of Alabama have been performing since 1939
and sing a blend of traditional and contemporary gospel music.
"I think multicultural affairs is about inclusion ...
and we've lost a lot of African-American history," said
BCTC vice president for Multicultural Affairs Charlene Walker. She hopes the activities taking place this
month will teach students more about this history.
For more information on activities, dates, locations
and times, check the Office of Multicultural Affairs
website or stop by the Office of Multicultural Affairs
in the Cooper campus’s Oswald Building, room 206.
Page 2
February 2008
From the
President’s Desk
Dr. Augusta Julian
Reporters
Elizabeth Bellamy
Katie Crowe
Shaheen Gani
Stephen House
Matt Labriola
Laura Lynch
Shelby McCuddy
James Robert Nguyen
Jon Prickett
Wesley Robinson
Rachael Sisk
Judith Stephens
Ashley Welsh
Lani Whitehead
Sharlie Wilkin
Courtney Wills
Design Advisor
Faculty Advisor
Lucie MacDonald
Tammy Ramsey
The BCTC Courier office is located
on the Cooper Campus
in MB 240. Contact us with story ideas,
opinions or suggestions at (859) 246-6361
or via e-mail at
tammy.ramsey@kctcs.edu.
Spring
Break
Mar 10-16
You Have a Voice
You have heard it and read it.
The official budget news from
Frankfort is grim. Just as you know
about the difficulties in the Commonwealth budget-falling tax revenues, an economic downturn, and
the housing crisis - you may also be
dealing with personal budget woes
such as higher gasoline prices and
rising costs for food and household
items. Now, students are facing
higher tuition costs.
Governor Steve Beshear made
the case for drastic measures in
his budget address. It looks likely
that higher education will be taking
a significant cut in the 2008-2010
biennium to help balance the state
budget. The 12 percent cut contained in the Governor's budget is
on top of a 3 percent cut already absorbed by Bluegrass Community &
Technical College (BCTC) and other higher education institutions this
year. This translates to a reduction
at BCTC of around $3 million.
BCTC administrators are considering how to deal with this difficult
budget situation to make as few reductions in services and programs
as possible. Please understand,
however, that a cut of this magnitude will affect the entire BCTC
family including faculty, staff, and
students.
The 16 colleges in the Kentucky Community &Technical
College System (KCTCS), including BCTC, have the flexibility of
developing individual plans based
on local resources and needs, while
adhering to KCTCS guidelines.
We hope the revenue picture for
the state will improve in the coming months, particularly in light of
the budget session under way in the
Kentucky General Assembly. And
we can influence what happens and
how higher education fares in the
state budget.
You can be an important part of
this process. You are constituents
with a voice. You can contact your
state legislators and let them know
how the proposed budget cuts will
impact your opportunity to build a
better life or to gain education or
skills on a path to a career. You
can locate and contact your state
representative or senator by calling
(800) 372-7181 or going to the web
site http://www.lrc.ky.gov. You
can click on "Capitol Notes" for a
regularly updated Web log of legislative news.
Call and email your elected representatives in the General Assembly; call and email the Governor;
visit your legislators; participate
in student-led activities to let your
voice be heard. Tell them how important higher education is in Kentucky.
The KCTCS Plan for a Competitive Commonwealth is available at http://www.kctcs.edu and
lays out goals in improving basic
skills, workforce development,
and transition to college that would
serve the Commonwealth well into
the future. BCTC has come a long
way as a consolidated college providing excellent transfer courses
as well as up-to-date career and
technical skills training. We need
stable funding from the Legislature
to keep developing as a top-notch
educational institution. Without
adequate support, we cannot meet
the challenges of a globally competitive marketplace, nor can we
meet the needs of the communities
we serve. Make your voice heard
and help to ensure that education
remains available and affordable at
BCTC and all across the Commonwealth.
Dr. Augusta A. Julian
President & CEO
February 2008
Page 3
Open House honors accomplishments
of non-traditional students
Inspiration is closer than you think
Stories and photos by
LAURA LYNCH
Courier Staff
Despite being 63 years of age,
GED student Edith Smyer, a retired
worker from the Lexington Veterans
Affairs Medical Center, stepped to
the podium at the Bluegrass Community & Technical College (BCTC)
Downtown Education Center Open
House with the confidence of a high
school valedictorian.
One of four student speakers,
Smyer shared her feelings of embarrassment at not having completed
high school and her pride about being a student in the Adult Basic Education program.
Smyer’s, is one of many success stories at the BCTC Adult Basic Education program that in 2007
served over 6,150 students from 34
countries with family literacy, GED
preparation, English as a Second
Language, civics education and college courses.
The Downtown Education Center at 120 West High Street, Lexington, recently underwent a renovation
to serve an expanding population
and held an Open House in celebration.
The Adult Basic education provider for Fayette County since 1998,
the Downtown Education Center
employs 27 faculty and staff members in eight locations across Fayette
County, including one at the Fayette
County Detention Center.
In 2006-2007 the BCTC Adult
Basic Education program was so
successful with growing their enrollment that they were awarded over
$62,000 through the state’s enroll-
From retiree
to student
The mother of five children, Edith Smyer
was always embarrassed she had not finished high school. As a child she dreamed
of being an airline stewardess. As an adult
there were always reasons not to return
to school like working or caring for a sick
brother, sister and her own husband.
Smyer, who retired in 2006 at the age of 62
from the Lexington Veterans Affairs Medical
Center, enrolled in the Downtown Education
Center over a year ago after seeing an adult
education
sign on the
side of the
building.
Smyer’s
advice,
“Don’t give
up because
you are
older and
use that as
an excuse.
Don’t get
comfortable
push yourself to do
your best.”
Smyer
ment incentive program.
“I love the fact that I am working with such a diverse group of the
population, from young adults in
their late teens, to my oldest student
who is getting ready to turn 83,” said
David Sturgill, assistant professor of
Adult Basic Education. "I learn as
much from the students as they learn
from me.”
According to The Fiscal Consequences of Adult Education a 2007
national report prepared for the National Center of Adult Literacy, the
mean annual income of adults without a high school diploma or GED
is $14,400 a year versus those with
a high school diploma or GED at
$23,000 or those with one to three
years of college at $32,000.
“We serve students who may not
have had the opportunities that many
take for granted,” said Kristin Tiede-
Disability leads
to pursuit of an
education
A life of heavy
work and back
injuries left Nadia
Jenkins legally disabled at 31 years of
age. The mother of
two children, Jenkins decided sitting
at home feeling
sorry for herself
was not the example she wanted to
set for her children.
So she began attending classes at
the Downtown Education Center to
Jenkins
complete her GED.
Jenkins felt she was not encouraged
in public school. Her motivation and encouragement to succeed now she believes
came from her belief in God and attendance
at St. Johns Missionary Baptist Church.
Upon completion of her GED, Jenkins
plans to attend the BCTC Cosmetology
program.
man, BCTC director of Adult Basic
Education. “For our students this is a
second chance, it is the starting point
to going on to college for a certificate, diploma or degree.”
The department of Kentucky
Adult Education is part of the Kentucky Council for Postsecondary
Education (CPE) and in 16 locations
across the state Adult Education is
partnered with the local community
& technical colleges. Kentucky ‘s
Adult Education budget currently is
$25,026,000 and CPE has requested
a budget that includes a $2 million
increase for Adult Education in
FY2008-2009 and another $2 million increase in FY2009-2010. If
enacted by the legislature and signed
by the Governor, this would raise the
state general fund appropriation for
Adult Education to $29,026,000 in
FY 2009-2010.
Desire to learn
provides strong
motivation for student
At 82 years of age, GED student Flora Overstreet is a living example of the
old saying “your never to old to learn.”
Overstreet, born in Lincoln County was
the oldest of 11 children and was never
encouraged to attend school. She has
spent her life working different jobs that
include being a maid in both a boarding
house and private homes. While she desired an education she was discouraged
by employers and people all along the way.
Finally two years ago at the age of 80, all
three of her children grown, she
decided to go
to school and is
thrilled she did.
Initially intimidated by the thought
of
attending
class with younger
students,
she found they
Overstreet
embraced
her.
“If you have an opportunity to learn,
take it no matter your age or circumstance.” Overstreet said “I never gave up
on my desire to learn and look at me now.”
Page 4
Improve
your
FORECAST
for the
semester
By LUCINDA WHITE
Special to the Courier
February has begun with a whirl
wind. We have fluctuated from warm
temperatures and very cold, from
snow to rain, and sunshine to cloudy
skies. We have little effect on the climate and weather. And, those of us
that have lived for awhile in Kentucky
we know the weather changes regularly and dramatically. However, you
can have an effect on your forecast for
your Spring Semester. Prepare now
for a smooth semester by implementing some simple strategies and establishing some good habits. Strategies
to consider are: Be sure to read your
syllabus. Know what is expected of
you for the semester. Establish regular
study times. Attend and participate in
class. Check the Academic Calendar
for important dates such as the deadlines for priority registration and withdraw dates. Check your college email
account regularly for important reminders and emails. Tap into resources to
help you succeed such as tutoring services. Tutoring schedules are available
at http://www.bluegrass.kctcs.edu/sa/
studyskills/tutoring_schedules/.
If you are not sure how to begin or
need some advice, please contact
me, Lucinda White, at lucinda.white@
kctcs or by phone at (859) 246-6537.
Together we can talk about issues
such as how to take notes, techniques
for reading textbooks, how to prepare
for tests, time management, and establishing good study habits. We can
meet and talk about your individual
needs as well as discuss how to implement a plan for a smooth, successful
semester.
February 2008
KIIS PROGRAM
Nation's cheapest study abroad
program available at BCTC
By SHELBY MCCUDDY
Courier Staff
Don’t miss the deadline to apply for the Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS)
2008 Summer Program, February 15.
This program is designed to give serious students an opportunity to study abroad in one of 17
countries.
The application requires a $150 fee along with
a letter of recommendation from a professor and
the signature of the campus representative.
Students can choose to pay for airfare through
the KIIS program or book their own flight. The
cost for each country ranges in price, from $1,900
in Mexico (w/o airfare) to $5,600 in China (with
airfare). This may sound like a lot of money, but
the KIIS program is the cheapest study abroad
program in the nation, according to Ninfa Floyd,
Cooper campus representative.
Included in the cost is tuition, lodging, an international health card, and two to three meals a
day. Not included are textbooks, additional meals
or transportation.
Also, financial aid can be applied for your
summer abroad, if you plan to take at least six
credit hours.
It’s unique for a community college to offer
students the chance to study abroad. In fact,
BCTC is the only member of KCTCS to belong
to the KIIS consortium.
But why should students fork over so much
cash for summer school?
If you are in your first or second year of Spanish, you know that the only way you’re going to
learn anything is to read from your book nightly,
and you better not miss too many classes or else
you will fall far behind.
Imagine putting your libro down to grab a bite
to eat. Everywhere you go you hear Spanish.
Kids half your age are more fluent than you.
“Emersion into the culture is how to learn a
language,” says Floyd, also a language teacher
on Cooper campus. Not only will your language
skills improve, she says, but traveling abroad
“will open your eyes to the world.”
If you are not taking a second language, no
problem. All non-language courses will be taught
in English. KIIS offers other five-week courses
in art, history, sociology and even music.
A complete listing of courses by country along
with the application can be found online at KIIS.
org.
The main office for KIIS, located at Murray
State University, makes it easy for the students
to transfer their credits to any school associated
with the program.
Those schools include: UK, WKU, Centre,
Georgetown and Transylvania along with three
universities in Tennessee and one in Indiana.
“I’m so proud to be among this consortium,” said Floyd. “Every year when the program guides come out, I look to find us on the
list.”
Through KIIS, Floyd has taught in both
Mexico and Spain numerous times. She was
quick to point out that this is also a good experience for faculty to participate in professional
development.
Most programs arrange for students to live
with a host family, allowing students to interact
and witness up close and personal the experiences of living in another culture. While the
transition can at first be awkward, many students return home with new lifelong friends.
Other than what you will learn about a foreign culture, studying abroad will also change
the way students perceive their own culture.
Anyone interested in the KIIS summer program should contact Ninfa Floyd, (859) 2466314 to obtain a program guide, or visit www.
KIIS.org for more information.
Study abroad in...
Argentina
Austria
Brazil
China
Costa Rica
Denmark
Ecuador
France
Germany
Greece
Italy
Japan
Mexico
Poland
Prague
Spain
Turkey
February 2008
Page 5
Shortcuts to
graduation
There's
money
waiting to
be claimed
Testing can get you on the fast
track to earning your degree
Three new scholarships
available to BCTC students
By RACHAEL SISK
Courier Staff
Interested in earning your degree in up to half
the time? Thanks to CLEP and DSST testing
opportunities now available at BCTC, some students can.
CLEP and DSST tests are offered as an alternative to taking courses in which students may
already be fluent. KCTCS recognizes that college-level learning can be achieved outside the
classroom, and therefore accepts passing scores
on these tests as credit hours for college-level
courses.
Including BCTC, there are 2,900 colleges that
recognize CLEP scores and 1,800 that recognize
DSST scores for class credit. If you don’t plan
to receive your degree from BCTC, check with
the school in which you plan to transfer to see if
they are one of these colleges.
CLEP, or College Level Examination Program, offers 39 different testing titles in categories including business, composition and
literature, foreign language, history and social
science, and mathematics and science. For a
complete list of CLEP testing titles visit, www.
collegeboard.com/clep.
DSST, which is actually the formal name of
the test, has 37 different titles to choose from in
the areas of social science, business, mathematics, applied technology, humanities, and physical science. For a complete list of test titles,
visit www.getcollegecredit.com.
Mary Maggard, manager of assessment and
testing, helped to shed a little light on the origin of the name DSST. DSST “formerly stood
for DANTES Subject Standardized Tests.
DANTES is a group within the Department of
Defense that uses the DSST program. Originally the testing was for military only, but it is
now open to the general public.”
Benefits of taking CLEP and DSST tests
include saving time and money, graduating
quicker, and being able to jump right into the
meat classes of your major. Who really wants
to take courses that are unnecessary?
Each CLEP test can be taken for $65 by credit or debit card for the actual test and an additional $20 service fee to BCTC. DSST tests
are available typically for $70 per test and the
same service fee to BCTC.
“Because of its (the DSST test's) military
ties, some military personnel may take the
test at no cost except for the proctor fee,” says
Maggard.
These tests are vastly more affordable than a
class on campus or a distance learning course
through BCTC which runs about $345 ($115
per credit hour) plus the cost of books.
Not a good test taker? Don’t worry, there are
study materials available. Just go to the websites mentioned above and review the suggestions for studying and preparing for the tests.
When asked for further comment about the
testing opportunities Maggard said, “This is an
excellent opportunity for students … We have
given 38 CLEP and DSST/DANTES tests and
look forward to providing service to more students within our community.”
CLEP and DSST testing is available at the
Leestown campus in the CCD Assessment
Center, Building N, room 210. Appointments
can be made by calling (859) 246-6669.
By JAMES ROBERT NGYUEN
Courier Staff
College can be one of the roughest times
in a young person’s life with there being so
many things to take into consideration. One
of the most important concerns is personal finance because, as we all know, college isn’t
cheap.
Luckily, three new scholarships are being offered by BCTC, and though they are all
different, to qualify for any of them, students
must demonstrate a financial need.
The BCTC Alumni scholarship will provide an applicant with $500 for school. A student must be enrolled for a minimum of three
credit hours; however, priority will be given
to students with six or more credit hours. In
addition to a 2.5 GPA, students will need a
letter of recommendation from a high school
teacher, college faculty member, or a current
or former supervisor.
The Dr. Jim Kerley scholarship was named
after the former BCTC president who left to
become the president of Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Florida. Students
must be first-generation college students, and
enrolled for at least 12 credit hours. Preference will be given to students who qualify for
a Federal Pell Grant.
The Lexington Moose Lodge #215 Governors scholarship is offered to residents of
Fayette County and bordering counties who
have graduated from a high school in the
area.
These are merely three of many scholarships being offered. If students do not meet
the requirements for these scholarships, they
can go to http://www.bluegrass.kctcs.edu/sa/
financialaid/scholarship_application to find
a scholarship they do qualify for. There, students can also find additional information
on the Alumni, Dr. Jim Kerley, or Lexington
Moose Lodge #215 Governors scholarships
and submit an application.
Page 6
February 2008
BCTC student
to participate
in grappling
tournament
Grappling Challenge
Some students wrestle with more
than just homework after school
By JAMES ROBERT NGUYEN
Courier Staff
The referee calls the two combatants to the center of the mat; they
shake hands as a sign of respect. Both
men assume a good athletic position
with their feet shoulder-width apart
and their lead foot forward. The referee yells “fight” and the match begins.
Both men circle each other before
clinching up like two boxers trying to
stall, only this isn’t boxing, and clinching is not only allowed it’s where the
match really gets started.
One of the fighters, who is
dressed in black shorts
and a red T-shirt,
drops to
o n e
knee and attacks his opponent’s legs
taking him to the ground. In wrestling
this would mean that the man in red
just scored points; but this isn’t wrestling, and almost instantly the man being taken down has maneuvered to his
opponent's back and sinks in a choke.
The man in red tries to fight his
way out but it’s too late, the choke
is in deep and he is slowly losing his
ability to breathe, and the only choice
now is for him to tap out. The match
is over as quickly as it began.
This must sound like something
straight out of a Van Damme movie,
but it’s not. It’s submission grappling,
or more precisely it’s the Hayastan
Grappling Challenge.
Grappling training session between BCTC student Robert Nguyen
and training partner Kyle Agee starts in a clinch.
Many people either do not know
exactly what grappling is, or their
knowledge of grappling is limited to
their experiences wrestling in the back
yard with friends or what they’ve seen
watching the professionals of the ultimate fighting championship also
known as the UFC.
Grappling is one of the oldest and
perhaps most technical sports known
to man. A typical grappling match
starts off with both participants standing; now because grappling is mainly
ground fighting both men/women
will try to put his/her opponent on the
ground. This is achieved by use of a
leg attack or throw and by successfully using one of these techniques to
initiate the ground battle you achieve
what is called a takedown.
As opposed to high school wrestling where a match consists of
three rounds each lasting two
minutes and the entire match is
scored in the event that no one is
pinned, the rules at the Hayastan
are much different.
There are three rounds. The
first round lasts three minutes and
is unscored, which means that the
only way to win in the first round is to
submit your opponent. A submission
is any type of hold, lock, or choke that
forces an opponent to tap out or else
be placed in further pain, experience
a bone break, or temporarily lose consciousness.
There are two ways to tap out, either
by physically tapping the mat or your
opponent three times, or by verbally
saying the word "tap."
GRAPPLING
continued on page 7
By JUDITH STEPHENS
Courier Staff
On February 16, BCTC student and
Courier staff member James Robert
Nguyen will compete in a grappling
tournament at the Radisson Hotel in
Lexington.
Nguyen looks forward to attempting to place high this year. He placed
2nd in the lightweight intermediate
division last October. The tournament is expected to have a turnout of
nearly 100 competitors.
“I’m pretty confident, but I know
the competition will be stiff. There
will be more people for me to compete against this year,” he explains.
To prepare for the event, Nguyen
has undergone a rigorous conditioning routine and diet.
“You basically have to work every muscle in your body,” he says.
His routine consists of cardiovascular exercise, boxing, and practicing
grappling with fellow competitors
two to three times a week.
Although Nguyen puts in a lot of
effort at the gym, he wanted to make
one thing clear; “The hardest thing
about preparing for the tournament
isn’t the training—it’s the diet. You
have to gain or lose weight to fit into
a certain weight class.”
The pressure of keeping a consistent weight can be stressful, so
Nguyen tries to follow a strict diet
that consists of low sugar and sodium, many vegetables and lean protein.
“There’s cutting weight, and
there’s losing weight. I try to lose
weight the healthy way,” he says.
Nguyen encourages others to get
involved with grappling as well. “It’s
a great sport because it is fun, and
it’s a type of exercise that never gets
boring.”
Aside from grappling, Nguyen has
participated in mixed martial arts,
kickboxing, wrestling, and jiu-jitsu
for over three years.
“Grappling is a big focus for me
right now, but I try to just think of it
as something fun to do,” he says.
Nguyen is currently in his second
year at BCTC studying journalism,
and plans to transfer to Eastern Kentucky University after he receives his
associate’s degree. There he will pursue a degree in film studies.
February 2008
SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
continued from page 1
GRAPPLING
continued from page 6
Radisson
tournament set
for February 16
The second round is two minutes
and is scored, meaning that you can
gain points and win a match by taking your opponent to the ground and
advancing to a dominant position.
Dominant position is any position
in which you are in control of the
other person. Even though you can
win in the second round by racking
up points, you may also still win by
submission. However, if the second
round ends in a tie, then the match
goes into a third round in which there
is no time limit, and whoever gets the
first takedown wins the match.
Like all combat sports, the participants are divided into weight classes
which range from 130 lbs. and under
to 221 lbs. and above. The participants are also divided into three different skill levels which are beginner,
intermediate, and advanced.
There are two portions of the tournament; the first being double elimination meaning that if you lose once
you still have a chance to place. This
determines a champion in each individual weight class and skill level.
The second portion of the tournament
is called the absolute division which
is open to all the champions of all the
different weight classes to determine
an overall tournament champion. The
absolute division is single elimination which means that if you lose
once you are out of the tournament,
but the winner of the absolute division receives a title belt along with a
cash prize.
The last Kentucky tournament was
held in Somerset, Kentucky, in October 2007, and the next tournament
will be held on Saturday, February
16, at the Radisson Ball Room in
downtown Lexington.
There is a $10 admission fee for
spectators and the tournament starts
at noon. The last tournament attracted over a hundred people, and grapplers from all over the country, and
this tournament may prove to be even
bigger and more exciting.
If you come to watch and cheer
on the competitors, here's a word of
advice: Don’t blink. You might miss
something.
Page 7
Coordinator strives
for No. 1 ranking
BCTC student Robert Nguyen practices boxing technique
with training partner Kyle Agee to develop stamina.
Nguyen adds knees to the mix to increase the difficulty of
the workout.
Craycraft originally graduated from Central
Kentucky State Vocational-Technical School in
1987. This school is now part of Bluegrass Community & Technical College. Prior to his work
at BCTC, Craycraft was a surgical technologist
at St. Joseph East, UK Hospital, and Waldman’s
Plastic Surgery Center. He took over the very
program he graduated from in July of 2002.
“Common people think that to be in the health
field, you have to be a doctor or a nurse, but this
is so far from the truth,” he explains, “Surgical
techs are back behind closed doors where miracles are worked … we’ve got a strong program
that just needs a little love!”
Surgical technology student Summer Earlywine (left) assisted Kevin Craycraft, surgical
technology program coordinator (center),
while student Lisa Bledsoe passed instruments during lab training.
Send us your
story ideas!
Training partner Kyle Agee catches Nguyen in a submission called a triangle choke during a training session.
Photos taken February 2, 2008 Performance Edge Training Center,
Lexington , by LAURA LYNCH, BCTC Courier Staff
(859) 246-6361
or via e-mail at
tammy.ramsey@
kctcs.edu
Page 8
$weetheart$
By ELIZABETH BELLAMY
Courier Staff
Flowers and chocolates and
cards, OH MY! If there’s one
sure way to drain your bank account, it’s Valentine’s Day.
Throw in the jewelry, lingerie
and maybe the cute new valentine pink iPod nano, and you’ll
definitely be in the red (with your
bank). However, avoid some
pitfalls and you may end up
having the best Valentine’s Day
ever! And maybe even hold on
to a little of that spare change for
something you really want.
Cards certainly seem to be the
way to go, with the U.S. Greeting
Card Association estimating that
approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second
largest card-sending holiday of the
year behind Christmas.
Flowers, especially red roses,
are a very popular valentine’s gift,
and boy do florists know it. When
five florists in Lexington were
asked the price of one dozen roses a month before Valentine’s Day,
and then again on the big day, the
February 2008
don't have
to break the
bank
SWEETHEARTS
continued on page 9
By COURTNEY WILLS
Courier Staff
Love may be
hard to find,
but that's no
reason to
mope
S/W/F/19
Doesn’t everyone wish it were that easy to find
a date? Just take out a singles ad in the newspaper,
and you’re set. Really, who wants to be alone on the
most romantic day of the year? It’s enough to make
you feel like the biggest loser in the city. The cynics
out there might tell you otherwise, that it is really the
most commercialized day of the year, a way for card
and candy and flower companies to make money.
Romantics at heart, on the other hand, will tell
you what everyone already knows: if you’re alone
on Valentine’s Day, it’s actually a little depressing.
There’s no way to escape it when it seems like everyone you know is part of a couple, or at least has
a date.
So what is the solution, you ask? Well, there are a
few different options out there for the dateless (and
the desperate). First, why not choose your favorite
single girl (or guy) friend and ask them if they already
have plans for the big night? Same or opposite sex,
it really doesn’t matter. If you’re alone, and they’re
alone, why not be alone together? You don’t have to
go on a date; you could watch movies and bake cookies, play Guitar Hero, or just talk. Go to a movie, go
to Starbucks, go to McDonald’s for goodness sake,
but don’t sit at home with Ben and Jerry. Gaining five
pounds on one lonely night isn’t going to help anyone
with their Spring Break figure.
So why don’t we all challenge ourselves to give
loneliness on Valentine’s Day a new spin? Just don’t
do it! Facebook and MySpace have helped college
singles out immensely; it’s almost impossible to not
find someone to spend time with. Happy hunting!
February 2008
SWEETHEARTS
continued from page 8
price variation was huge. Most florists’ regular price on one dozen roses
was around $60, but when asked what the price would be for Valentine’s Day, they were anywhere from $75 to $100. Roses may be an
extremely popular gift choice, but you may want to steer clear of them if
you can get away with it.
There are many other good options for gifts whether you choose
to go the traditional route with the store-bought card, flowers and
chocolates, and an expensive dinner out or choose to be more inventive with a homemade card (think red construction paper), your
favorite takeout with candles at home, and perhaps a gift certificate
for a spa treatment.
The National Retail Federation reports that American consumers
spend more than $30 million per year on Valentine's Day. So option
two may be good for you if you don’t want to contribute too much to
that $30 million this year.
Now, don’t worry if you wait until the last minute to even start thinking about Valentine’s Day. According to Hallmark research, over 50
percent of all Valentine's Day cards are purchased in the six days
prior to the observance, making Valentine's Day a procrastinator's
dream.
Whichever way you decide to go, it’s the thought that counts,
right?
Valentine Trivia
1. Does the date of Valentine's Day ever change?
2. How did sailors send
messages to their loved
ones while at sea in the
old days?
3. What fruit is also
known as the "love apple"?
Page 9
Eateries
cater to
lovers
Even White Castle
breaks out of take-out
for Valentine's Day
‫۝۝‬
‫۝۝‬
‫۝۝‬
No
Yes
Maybe
By SHARLIE WILKIN
Courier Staff
‫۝۝‬
‫۝۝‬
‫۝۝‬
Bottle
Sea Post
Carrier Pigeon
As we all know Valentine’s Day
is just around the corner. If you’re
worried about where to take your
sweetheart this Valentine’s Day,
worry no more, here are a few spots
to eat on Valentines for any budget.
Now if you’re looking to really impress your sweetheart there’s
Sal’s Chophouse, located off of Tates
Creek Road in Lansdowne Center.
They will be serving a four course
dinner at $49.95 a person. This will
include a signature appetizer, the
Lexington wedge salad, your choice
of a steak or seafood entrée, choice
of one side, and a decadent dessert.
For all of you that are of age, that enjoy a glass of wine with your dinner
they have a great wines-by-the-glass
selection which range in price from
$4.95 a glass to $9.75 a glass. Make
note there will be limited seating
available, reservations recommended by calling (859) 335 6500.
If you miss that momma's home
cooking, you should try Winchell’s
sports bar located on Southland
Drive. Floor manager Alvaro Fernandez says they will be featuring
fresh homemade food for the lovers.
That includes their regular menu,
plus featured specials and a special
Valentine’s Day Soup compliments
of the Chef. Prices range from $6.95
‫۝۝‬
‫۝۝‬
‫۝۝‬
‫۝۝‬
4. What date was the first
‫۝۝‬
recorded Valentine sent?
‫۝۝‬
5. Who are Shake‫۝۝‬
speare's "star-crossed
‫۝۝‬
lovers"?
‫۝۝‬
6. What happens to some- ‫۝۝‬
one struck by Cupid's
‫۝۝‬
arrow?
‫۝۝‬
Apple
Grape
Tomato
1838
1415
1972
Romeo & Juliet
King Tut & Cleopatra
Fred & Wilma
Headache
Measles
Lovesick
7. According to English
tradition, what happens
to the first man a woman
sees on Valentine's Day?
She kills him
She marries him
She kisses him
‫۝۝‬
‫۝۝‬
‫۝۝‬
Valentine Trivia Answers
1. No
2. Bottle
3. Tomato
4. 1415
5. Romeo & Juliet
6. Lovesick
7. She marries him
Trvia source: http://www.kidsturncentral.com
to $14.95, serving food from 8
a.m. to 1 a.m.
A local favorite is Charlie
Brown’s, located in the heart of
Chevy Chase. The lights are low
with the fireplace on. Their menu
ranges from $6.25 to $7.75, featuring pub like fare from burgers and
fries to chicken fingers and chips.
An entrée is served with one side.
Beer starts at $2, and well drinks
start at $3. For those 21 and older,
the first happy hour starts at 4 p.m.
and ends at 7 p.m. The second
happy hour runs from 10 p.m. to
close. Food is served from 11 a.m.
to 12:30 a.m.
Young or old, we all have heard
the term “sliders,” which are a mini
version of the everyday hamburger
from White Castle. White Castle
located on Reynolds road right off
of Nicholasville road is one of the
hottest spots to be on Valentine’s
Day 2008, because unlike any other restaurant in the Lexington area
it changes its entire system of operation from takeout, to white table cloths and flowers. No reason
to walk up and place your order on
this magical evening you will be
greeted by a waitress. They will
be serving their traditional menu
at the same everyday price. People
who met 30 years ago at this actual location still come every year
for Valentine’s Day. Do make sure
to make reservations immediately
at (859) 272-6176, they only have
room for 25-30 couples.
Page 10
February 2008
Ain't got no cents?
Never fear, one-on-one tutoring won't cost you a penny
By LANI WHITEHEAD
Courier Staff
Falling behind in your classes? Need
to raise your placement test scores?
Luckily, help with homework and free
tutoring in math, writing, and reading
are now available at the Student Success Center at BCTC’s Leestown campus.
The center is open Monday through
Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and
is a great place to study. Students are
encouraged to come at any time and
ask questions at will.
Three teachers are offering their services to students needing assistance.
Just about anyone is eligible. The only
disqualifiers are: under the age of 16,
currently enrolled in high school, or
testing over a 12.9 on the TABE test.
When students first come to the center for help, they are given an entrance
exam- the TABE- which points out
their particular weaknesses so that the
instructors can help remediate. This
test is purely a diagnostic tool for the
instructors to know on what, specifically, the students should focus their
studying.
The instructors also help students
with homework. By getting involved
at the beginning of the semester, they
hope to prevent the student from ever
falling behind in the first place.
“We are trying to make life-long
learners out of people,” said John
Ridener, one of the instructors at the
Student Success Center, “and hopefully
create within them a desire for knowledge that goes even beyond college.”
These tutors are more than qualified- each having a bachelor’s degree,
and background work in diverse fields.
Other instructors include Ann Bishop
and Amy Akima.
So why go to the Leestown campus?
Between the three tutors and the extensive hours of the center, there is almost
always someone available. And- as
aforementioned- it is free.
A person is able to continue in the
program as long as they like, or until
they score high enough on the TABE
exam. A score above 12.9 indicates
that the student is above a 12th-grade
level in that particular subject.
Even after hearing that she had scored
too high on the TABE, one student
sounded almost to be in disbelief and
somewhat disappointed. She wanted to
continue in the tutoring program.
“A lot of it is confidence building,”
adds Ridener, who has a background in
social work, “letting them know they
really can do it on their own.”
That’s why the instructors try not to
exclude anyone wanting help. Sometimes special accommodations are
made to ensure that every single person seeking help gets something out of
the program.
The center aims to make a substantial contribution to the goal of retaining BCTC students by giving them an
opportunity to better their college educations. It is no wonder, then, that the
Student Success Center at Leestown
campus is located at 164 Opportunity
Way.
For more information, contact John
Ridener, instructor, Adult Education
Program, Student Success Center, Leestown campus at (859) 246-6614.
For information on tutoring at the
Cooper campus, contact Amy Akima
at (859) 246-6612.
Transfer Center
Spring 2008 Calendar of Events
February 27 February 28
March 4-6
March 18 Meet MSU Day
UK Day at BCTC
How To Workshops
UK How To Workshop A.T. Lobby
11-2
extended campuses 9-3
TBA
TBA
TBA
UK
2-5
Transfer Fair
A.T/outside
10-1
Multicultural Transfer Fair Cooper
2-6
EKU How To Workshop
March 28
April 16
UK Campus Tour
October 4
11-2
TBA
March 20
OB Lobby
12/19/07
** Dates and events subject to change
February 2008
Athena Club
When: Thursday, Feb 14
Time : 1-2 p.m.
Where: OB 210
Cooper Campus
All BCTCS students are welcome
Athena Club is an opportunity for all students to
discuss topics that surround people with disabilities
For more information contact: Misty Hess (859) 246-6531
Helping kids take care
of their pearly whites
Dental hygiene event set for March 3-5
By STEPHEN HOUSE
Courier Staff
PEDO week is an exciting week here at BCTC
for students and children alike. PEDO week is the
week of March 3 through 5 in recognition of National Dental Health Month, when any child in the
4 to 12 aged ranges can make an appointment for a
free dental cleaning. The cleaning will include dental supplies, X-rays, exams, and fluoride treatments.
Any child in the community can make an appointment to get his or her teeth cleaned.
This program serves two purposes. One, it promotes dental hygiene; and two; it gives our soon-tobe dental hygienists an opportunity to practice on
children.
Dental hygiene is being promoted more than ever
in the elementary schools today. A study done by the
Children’s Dental Health Survey showed that in children ages, 8, 12, and 15, dental decay has decreased
to its lowest recorded level since 1983. The percentage of children having dental decay has fallen from
42 percent in 1983 to 13 percent in 2005. The use of
cavity-preventing sealants has also fallen drastically
in all the age groups. The problems that existed several years ago are less common today
Whitney Rice, a sophomore dental hygiene student, says that they are going to put up balloons and
decorate the rooms so that the children will feel more
at ease which, in turn, will make them easier to work
with, and a lot less of a headache for mom or dad to
have deal with while waiting for their appointment.
Children are harder to work on because if they are
uncomfortable, scared, and nervous or are in any
other discomfort for any myriad of reasons they are
not easy to work with.
“This is going to be a fun week for everyone involved, we are going to have the Tooth Fairy come
by and it is a good opportunity to educate kids on the
importance of dental hygiene and it gives us some
great practice!” said Rice.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Debbie Kelly at (859) 246-6857. The
BCTC Dental Hygiene Clinic is also open to the
community by appointment Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. for discounted dental examinations and cleanings.
Page 11
African-American
History Month is a
time to remember, to
learn and to
celebrate. The
Learning Resource
Center is
acknowledging this
important time by
featuring a display
of books by AfricanAmerican authors and
on African-American
history near the
circulation desk
through February.
Selected
bibliographies are
available in hard copy
and online at http://
www.bluegrass.kctcs.
edu/lrc/aahm/.
Bookmarks
featuring famous
African-Americans
will be distributed
throughout the month.
There is also an
exhibit in the
foyer of the
Manufacturing
Building on
Leestown campus.
It is entitled,
"Free At Last: A
History of the
Abolition of Slavery in
America."
February 2008
sign language source:
www.lifeprint.com
Page 12
American Sign Language fulfills foreign language requirement
sign language source: www.lifeprint.com
While previously offered only
during the spring and fall semester,
ASL will now also be offered in the
summer starting this year. The faculty has decided to do so because the
classes always fill up quickly.
Interestingly, ASL also fulfills
the foreign language criteria for all
Kentucky universities. The course
is catalogued under the SED section
but will be offered as ASL starting
in the fall of 2008. It is comprised of
four levels, and students can then go
on to take classes in deaf culture and
areas related to it.
ASL offers students an opportunity to step outside of their everyday
world and embrace another that is
different yet interesting and knowledgeable.
“The classes gave me an insight
By SHAHEEN GANI
Courier Staff
Who would have thought that
signs made with hands could be
called a language?
And, for those of you who believe that communication can only
be achieved using the vocal cords, a
course in American Sign Language
could be an awakening.
Being offered at the BCTC for
nine years, the class aims at teaching students ASL as it is used by the
deaf community of the United States
and Canada.
“ASL is an amazing, full and
beautiful language,” said Connie
Meck, ASL adjunct professor at the
Regency campus.
into the deaf world and have provided me with an understanding of
their culture,” said Tammy Gross,
staff support at the University of
Kentucky, Human Development Institute.
Many students take the ASL classes simply because they have a genuine interest in learning the language.
Others do so because it benefits their
careers, or because they have a deaf
relative or friend.
Parent Consultant Melissa Stamper, who works with the Kentucky
Commission for Children with Special Health Care Needs, has benefitted from ASL because she often encounters deaf children and parents in
her professional life.
“ASL gave me a very in-depth
look at the deaf culture and also how
deaf people view our culture,” said
Stamper. “Deaf culture is visual,
and so deaf people are more open to
one another. They share information
easily and are close to each other.”
While the 100-level courses do
not prepare students to fluently converse with the deaf community, they
do enable students to understand
and communicate at a basic level.
And, if you are planning to attend ASL classes, especially at the
100 level, get ready to turn off your
vocal cords. Instructors encourage
visual communication among students, and lessons are taught so as
to incorporate an almost complete
use of the language.
“If you are going to learn a visual language, you have to immerse
yourself in it,” explained Meck.
Student Development & Counseling '08 Workshops
Date
Presenter
Workshop
Room
Time
2/20/08
Laura Williams
Tips on Learning to Relax
OB 246
11 – 11:30
2/27/08
Donna Murphy
It’s Time for an Advising Check-up
OB 246
10 – 11
3/4/08
Karen Mayo
Alcohol 101
OB 246
9 – 10
3/6/08
Kirk Knott
Stress Reduction
3/28/08
Donna Murphy
An AA or AS Degree may be for you
OB 246
10 - 11
4/16/08
Donna Murphy
I'm not sure where my classes are
leading me to - I need Help!
OB246
10 - 11
4/21/08
Karen Mayo
Domestic Violence
OB 210
2–3
4/22/08
Kirk Knott
Test Anxiety
OB 246
10 – 11
If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Shoemaker,
OB 103, (859) 246-6530, kshoemaker0002@kctcs.edu
2–3
February 2008
Actors share Theater
talents in
students
showcase compete
Theater students
to perform at
library on Feb 21
By COURTNEY WILLS
Courier Staff
They look like a group of regular college kids, but
the BCTC Theater Student Organization could make
you believe you just sat down on the front row of
Broadway if you were assessing them on their acting
alone. Preparing at the Downtown Library Theater,
the BCTC Theater Student Organization is gearing
up for a showcase that will take place on February
21, also at the theater.
BCTC students Ashley Pennington and Courtney
Carr first got the idea to put together an organization
for students interested in gaining some extra acting
experience outside of classes in 2006. The girls said
that the main reason they wanted to create the culturally diverse organization was because they wanted to
change the stigma that Lexington theater caters to an
older, more conventional crowd. "We want to bring
younger people out to the theater," Pennington said.
The showcase, geared toward college students and
young adults, will hopefully do just that.
A sneak peek of "Sure Thing" makes it clear
that Pennington and Carr meant business when they
stated that they have many future plans. Pennington serves as the stage director and Carr the actress.
Neither, however, fails to give 110 percent to their
specific tasks at hand. Along with Carr and Pennington, there are many other actresses and actors, Zack
Hightower included, who headlines the show along
with Carr.
Entitled "Waiter" the showcase is a laugh-outloud type of performance, and one that promises to
keep theater-goers well entertained.
The showcase will feature four other acts as well
as "Sure Thing," titled as follows: "Mrs. Sorken";
"Kennedy's Children"; "English Made Simple"; and
"Beyond Therapy." The showcase will last about an
hour and a half and is a free event. There will be a 10
- minute intermission and a reception immediately
following the show in front of the theater. For any
additional information, you can watch Channel 27
News at 12:30 p.m. on February 19 or Channel 18
News at 12:30 p.m. on February 20, when the BCTC
Theater Student Organization will be featured on an
afternoon segment.
Winners will walk away
with acting scholarships
By JON PRICKETT
Courier Staff
The Night Thoreau Spent In Jail, a production put
on by theater students of BCTC, proved to be a significant endeavor for four of the students involved
with the play.
Three student actors and one student stage manager from the play have been nominated to participate
Page 13
duction, the judges selected four BCTC students to
participate in the competition.
Jeremy Brown (actor), Zach Dearing (actor) and
Ashley Pennington, as student stage manager, each
brought along partners: Zack Hightower (actor), Zach
Moseley (actor) and Courtney Carr. Another nominated student withdrew due to prior obligations.
In addition to being Pennington’s partner, Carr
serves in another aspect of the competition – as literary critic for the critics institute. She will read scripts
and storyboards and critique the play from a “behindthe-scenes” standpoint.
“I’ve done my best to bring Kentucky in to the
fold,” states Davis. “Morehead and Northern Kentucky have been in it for a number of years but, like
UK’s first time was this past year.”
Davis, who is expecting his second child at any
time now, conceded the travel and participation in
South Carolina to Teresa Tope associate dean of academic instruction at BCTC and, as described by Davis, “our fine arts champion.” Tope will accompany
the students to the competition.
“It’s so nice to be in a school that supports what we
do,” Davis says. “This is a big commitment for these
kids. They worked hard and they’re representing our
school. I’m really proud of that.”
Encouraging advice from Davis was carried in
two sentences: “Just be confident in the work you’ve
done. Enjoy the process and learn from this.”
Irene Ryan
Competition
Breakdown
3 Rounds
in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship competition in
South Carolina this February.
Irene Ryan, or perhaps a more familiarly titled
Granny Clampett, was an accomplished stage actress pre-Beverly Hillbilly fame. She performed
on Broadway as well as many other storied stages
throughout her career. Upon her death, the Irene
Ryan Foundation of Encino, California, was established, providing aspiring actors with the ability to
learn and grow with the industry.
Tim Davis, a professor at BCTC and circuit coordinator for the 4th region of the acting competition,
nominated Thoreau for the competition.
“(I felt) like the show really mirrors both politically and environmentally what’s going on today,”
he said. It’s like I thought to myself, you know, this
play could’ve been written 15 minutes ago.”
Although the play was nominated as an entire pro-
1st
Round
3-minute
scene of
nominee’s
choice
2nd
Round
5-minute
Nominee and
scene of
Partner
judges choice
contrasting
scene of
preliminary
scene
3rd
Round
6-minute of
“Evening of
Scenes” including mono
logue or solo
musical performance
Nominee and
Partner
Nominee and
Partner
(however
nominee
must perform
Solos)
Page 14
February 2008
Viewpoint
Student
Government
Education wants you!
really does pay
By WESLEY ROBINSON
Courier Staff
“Education Pays” and education
reform are two of the larger initiatives
that our government has undertaken.
I heard that my entire academic career and it took a real life experience to
really understand that principle.
Personally, I have been on the academic rollercoaster going from an honored high school student with many
academic achievements to a year and
a half college dropout … and unlike
Kanye West, it wasn’t working out.
During that time I had to experience
the real world; entering the ruthless job
market with adequate skills, but no resume or qualifications to obtain a position that would support an adult out on
his own.
I was a student in limbo without a
degree, and with an indefinable future.
I finally landed a job and was working at a local warehouse which was
pretty nice, and paid well.
But the greatest payment I received
was being educated on the importance
of education.
Within the warehouse a few managers and supervisors knew the right
people and worked less strenuously or
held slightly more prestigious hourly
and salaried jobs.
But there were the common warehouse associates who really were the
shining light. These people were kind,
hard working, and genuine people with
good intentions—and no degrees.
Some of the associates worked two
jobs to support families; others took
classes during the day and worked at
night to get better opportunities, and
still others worked during the day, took
classes at night or online and worked
another job—in order to get a degree.
Without that degree, I like the other
individuals without degrees, was rel-
egated to an hourly wage of $10. As far
as advancement within that company,
there was very little opportunity. As a
normal warehouse associate the $14.60
ceiling came after two and a half years
service; a difficult feat to achieve due
to a high turnover rate, facilitated by
the company’s desire to keep from paying associates the maximum.
Factor in health and dental insurance
to the equation along with taxes and I
would only take home a whopping 60
percent of my gross earnings—just
enough to pay rent, utilities, basic bills
and necessities, groceries, and maybe
an occasional date, if I had the time.
Imagine trying to support a family on
that wage!
That experience completely showed
me the importance of education, because many of my co-workers were in
their mid to late 30’s or older depending
on a check from a corporation making
billions of dollars, trying to cut every
cent of cost dealing with the common
worker.
I had little job security, didn’t make
much, and the best opportunity I could
have was to be a seasonal ambassador
which helped with orientations of incoming employees.
Oh what an education that was!
Not every job situation is that bleak
or as bad as that particular warehouse,
but why take that chance?
An education opens up the doors so
that you can walk into a job interview
and say you have put in the work and
paid the dues to get where you have to
go.
Some careers take more education
than others, but trust me it’s worth it.
Would working an unstable job,
barely making it, and having a limited
future really be the way you want to
go?
Think about that the next time you
feel like skipping class, not turning in
a homework assignment, or giving up
on education.
From movies to elections,
organization offers many
chances to get involved
By KATIE CROWE
Courier Staff
Mechanical bulls, sumo wrestling,
sparring and indoor rock climbing.
These are not the typical activities
you hear about on the student calendar of events at BCTC. Some of
these events take place, but advertising and activities are limited due
to budget cuts.
Luke Taylor, an information
technology and electrical engineering major as well as president of
BCTC’s Student Government, admits "there are some insurance issues, but for the most part we keep
the events pretty safe." Sadly, one
of the insurance issues was the mechanical bulls, which never got approved.
Every semester the Student Government officers from all of BCTC’s
campuses plan to hold 35 events
which include game day, picnics,
socials or just hanging out and
watching movies. For example, last
month at the Cooper campus "The
Pirates of the Caribbean" movies,
"Wild Hogs" and "Breakfast Club"
were shown.
The officers use previous calendars of events to decide what
worked and what offerings need to
be changed. Student Government
officers, students and faculty vote
on these events at the monthly meetings. The next meeting is scheduled
for Monday, March 3 at 2:30 on
Cooper campus in Oswald Building,
room 304.
February events have included
movies and a Monopoly Marathon
on Cooper campus. Valentine's Day
events will be held at the Cooper
campus from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the
Oswald Building lobby and at the
Leestown campus from 10:30-12:30
in the M Building lobby. Get information on these activities at the Student Government’s website: www.
bluegrass.kctcs.edu/sa/studentactivities/calendar_of_events
Student Government isn't all fun
and games. Being a part of this association means you get to make
a positive impact on student life.
Other projects they are working on
include a crosswalk between Greg
Page housing and the Stadium and
a bus stop at the Leestown campus
since the students have to walk almost half a mile to get to the Lextran stop. Another positive activity
planned is a safety day with the UK
police covering campus, bike and
personal safety.
Curious about being a part of the
Student Government Association?
Every year elections are held in the
spring, a week before finals.
“I encourage anybody to come to
student government meetings if they
have the time," Taylor said. He also
wants students to know "anyone
can run for office." The students of
BCTC vote for the officers. All you
need is a current student ID. Student Government even provides incentives to vote such as a T-shirt or
"prize."
February 2008
Play to Win!
By MATT LABRIOLA
Courier Staff
Playing to win is what these Bluegrass Community
and Technical College students do.
Within the past two years BCTC has developed an
annual basketball program. The program has been
put together by a professional basketball player.
James Chambers played college basketball at Eastern Kentucky University and followed up his college
career by playing professionally in France for 15
years. Who is better qualified to put an intramural
basketball program together than a pro with a sports
administration degree?
The program is offered to all Bluegrass Community and Technical College students through emails
on their student account. BCTC basketball is intense
and each game hard fought, “the players that have
signed up this year are extremely motivated and have
a lot of talent, some even have Division 1 potential,”
Chambers said.
The number of teams has dwindled from seven last
year to just four teams this year.
The program is only $5 to join and the games are
held at the House of God church. They have found
a spacious gym to play in so that they avoid injuries
and have plenty of room around the side of the court.
The basketball program offers a double elimination
tournament, so you may only play a couple games if
you don’t put together an athletic team. At the end of
the tournament ten of the best players from the program will be selected to an All-Star team. The team
will travel to western Kentucky for an All-Star game
to be played against another team from a community
college in Bowling Green.
The four teams pick their team members and
choose a name then they are in the double elimination tournament. The four team names are Dynasty,
Hoops, Slam N Jam and Shooters. In recent weeks
the defending champions named the Dynasty were
defeated by Slam N Jam. Slam N Jam’s Steve Wathan hit a last second three pointer in a tie game to
seal the victory 70-67 against the defending champi-
Page 15
$5 and some
basketball shoes
are all you need to
compete in BCTC
intramurals
ons. The Dynasty is in the loser’s bracket along with
Hoops who they beat 90-81.
This basketball program that has been developed
for students of Bluegrass Community and Technical College is a great way for competitive people
to get together and compete. Chambers is hoping
to expand the league and have more teams for next
year’s tournament. The program has limited financial availability and could do even better if more becomes available. Chambers is very driven and has
great goals set for the BCTC basketball program. He
is working on and would like to set up a junior college, school team that would benefit the school and
its students. Many community colleges have their
own basketball and football teams and he would like
BCTC to become one of them.
The basketball program at Bluegrass Community
and Technical College is exciting and competitive.
Chambers has put this together for the students to
compete. Competition is part of human nature and
is needed in everyone’s life. These motivated hoopsters are ready to play ball!
Winter Wonderland?
A wintry storm on February 11
left everything from lamp posts
to cars covered with a layer of
glittering ice. By afternoon, all
was melting nicely. Oh, "2 Be"
home under a quilt with a cup
of hot cocoa!
photos courtesy of RACHEL WIER
Page 16
February 2008
Dental Hygiene
Clinic
Keep a Healthy Smile Forever
Regular dental care is important to your appearance as well as your dental
health!
The Dental Hygiene Clinic at Bluegrass Community and Technical College
offers low cost dental examinations, x-rays, and teeth cleaning procedures.
Teeth Whitening and Sealant procedures are also available for an extra fee.
Please park in a designated Dental Hygiene space and obtain a parking pass
from the Dental Hygiene Clinic located in the Oswald Building, Room 250 on
Cooper Drive.
Please call 859-246-6857 to schedule an appointment.
Spanish Language Interpreter Available!
Cost:
Age 13-59: $35
Age 60+: $20
Age 4-12: $20
Cost includes: dental exam, dental x-rays, dental cleaning, and fluoride
treatment, regardless of amount of visits required to complete treatment.