HCTC leaders win big at district NCMPR conference

Published on Oct 9, 2024

Hazard Community & Technical College (HCTC) leaders received awards at this year’s National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) District 2 conference in Lexington, Ky. 

Lindon recognized for setting the pace at HCTC 

HCTC President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Jennifer Lindon earned the Pacesetter of the Year Award for her support of the college’s marketing and public relations efforts. Dr. Lindon accepted her award during an awards luncheon on Oct. 9. 

The award is presented to a community college president or CEO who demonstrates exceptional leadership and support in college communications and marketing.

“As a college president, I know it is so important for our students to have access to accurate, timely information. To me, that’s what our marketing and public relations efforts are all about,” she said. “I am honored to earn this award, but it is not mine alone. It reflects our institution’s commitment to quality community engagement and responsiveness to local needs.”  

Since becoming president in 2016, Dr. Lindon has launched numerous enrollment-related efforts to increase access to affordable, high-quality higher education. The HCTC Promise Scholarship and Forge Your Way Forward Debt Forgiveness Program are among the initiatives that Dr. Lindon has led. 

Dr. Lindon also participated in a panel for community college presidents, during which she joined colleagues to discuss the importance of communications, marketing and public relations at community colleges. 

Taylor recognized for economic contributions booklet 

Tara Taylor, HCTC’s marketing coordinator and graphic designer, accepted a Gold Medallion for HCTC’s Jobs — Economic and Workforce Impact on Our Community booklet during the awards ceremony on Oct. 8. 

"I am honored to receive the award and am happy to represent the hard work and attention to detail that the entire marketing team provides at HCTC," she said. 

The booklet focused on HCTC’s $81.8 million annual impact. According to a 2022-23 academic year impact study, HCTC's alum impact constitutes $65.5 million in income, with 1,128 jobs in the region being filled by those individuals or one out of 21 jobs. 

Delcie Combs, director of marketing at HCTC, said she is grateful for her team’s exemplary work. 

“Our marketing team at HCTC does exemplary work to highlight our college’s contributions to its service communities. I’m so incredibly proud,” Combs said. “Dr. Lindon has a vision for marketing and supports our team as we spread the good news about all that HCTC has to offer.” 

NCMPR District 2 includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, along with Bermuda (British Overseas Territory), Puerto Rico (an unincorporated U.S. territory) and the U.S. Virgin Islands (U.S. territory). 

To learn more about the NCMPR, visit the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations website.