HCTC holds Governors Minority Student College Preparation Program

Governor s Minority Student College Preparation Program at Hazard Community and Technical College included, front row, from left, Carmeletta Higgins of Knott County, Mashayla Higgins of Knott County, Whitney Adams of Perry County, Cecilia Smith of Perry County, Cheyenne Green of Perry County. In back from left are Elbert Hagans of Perry County, Autumn Campbell of Perry County and Dominique Carter of Perry County. Not pictured: Kiara Walker of Perry County, Keisha Evans of Perry County and Linda Williams of Knott County.

Whitney Adams, age 14, has one wish for Hazard Community and Technical College that the Governor s Minority Student College Preparation Program be opened to older students so she can participate next year.

Whitney is just one of the participants who experienced a taste of college life during a week-long camp for sixth to eighth graders. The camp was open to those living in the college s service area.

The schedule included workshops on history with Stephen Bowling in Jackson, snakes and spiders with Professor Dell Sasser, sculpture at the Kentucky School of Craft with Director Jeff Adams and faculty member Cam Choy, diversity with Elbert Hagans, 3-D modeling with faculty member John Handshoe, and studio recording at the HCTC Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music in Hyden with Director Dean Osborne and faculty member Chris Mullins, and career awareness with the Admissions Department s Jama Griffie and Cortney Caudill.

Elbert Hagans, HCTC Director of Cultural Diversity, organized the week along with HCTC s Linda Williams. HCTC President Dr. Steve Greiner met with the students and thanked Hagans and Williams for their work. Hagans said he appreciated the experience. It is a joy working with our young people. They are very intelligent and I learn so much from them. Their minds are open and they absorb information like a sponge, he said.

Dominique Carter, age 13, said she especially enjoyed learning about the snakes and was thankful for the educational week. Autumn Campbell, age 13, was asked what she liked about the experience and she replied Everything!