HCTC success story: Robert Thompson

Hazard Community and Technical College is a family affair for Robert Thompson of Knott County, a 2014 Licensed Practical Nurse graduate from HCTC; his wife, an employee at HCTC; and their son, a student at Cordia High School and HCTC.

Thompson has two master s degrees and a bachelor s degree but he said his best college experience was from HCTC.

Even though he has several degrees he wanted something more. I enrolled at HCTC because I wanted to understand the mind and body, he said. That additional training paid off with an increase in pay.

In his current job, Robert is employed by Kentucky River Community Care. His primary job responsibility is evaluating psychiatric patients who come to the emergency room at Hazard ARH. Robert finds his training at HCTC has enhanced his ability to evaluate patients. I can understand lab reports now, he says. I am able to understand more what is going on with the patient. Through HCTC, I feel I have gained a holistic approach to my job, noted the 53-year-old.

Thompson appreciates his experience at HCTC and the faculty members, in particular. They encouraged me, and even though I was older, they never made me feel any different than others in the class, and they always patiently answered my multitude of questions, he said gratefully, naming each of his instructors one by one.

Robert is a strong voice for HCTC, and his message for other students is this: The faculty here challenge people, and students who are willing to be challenged are going to have a really fabulous experience.

One other thing that is truly remarkable is how welcoming the Nursing Program is to everyone. I really appreciated that, Thompson said.

Robert Thompson; his wife, Dana Werstler; and their son, Daniel, live in Knott County.