Kentucky Education Cabinet Secretary Virginia G. Fox presented the cabinet’s Education at Work scholarship to 34 Kentuckians July 21 in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort. The cabinet gave the $500 scholarships to students who are pursuing postsecondary education in Kentucky.
Secretary Fox said, “It’s an honor to recognize the 2005 Education at Work Scholarship winners today. The scholarship winners come from a cross section of Kentucky and represent the hope and spirit of Kentucky. As I read their winning ‘Unbridled Spirit’ essays, I felt their pride in our state and the hope that they have as they pursue their educational goals and career dreams. I’m encouraged by their sense of purpose and how they want to give back to their communities as they grow and accomplish their varied higher education aspirations.”
About 200 Kentuckians applied for the seventh annual scholarship competition. Including this year, the cabinet has awarded 180 scholarships totaling $90,000 for postsecondary education. The scholarship began under the former Cabinet for Workforce Development and has grown from 20 scholarships in 1999 to this year’s 34 scholarships.
Secretary Fox said she was impressed with the level of commitment the winners have shown toward achieving their goals.
“It’s exciting to see the dedication and determination that our scholarship winners have about pursuing their education and careers and for our cabinet to participate in their success. Our scholarship winners are at different places in their lives and careers. Some are just starting their postsecondary education while others are close to getting their diplomas, but they all realize that education is important and learning is a life-long pursuit,” Secretary Fox said.
Kentuckians qualified for the scholarship by using one of the services of the Education Cabinet’s Department for Workforce Investment or Kentucky Adult Education in the Council on Postsecondary Education, such as vocational rehabilitation, adult learning centers, GED preparation, secondary Kentucky Tech school, unemployment insurance, job placement, dislocated worker or Workforce Investment Act assistance. Scholarship applicants were required to write an essay on Kentucky’s new ‘Unbridled Spirit’ brand and how it relates to their educational and career goals. The $500 scholarships may be used for tuition, books and lab and technology fees.
“Some of our scholarship winners have returned to the classroom after years of being out of school while others are going straight from high school to postsecondary school. Many of these students are overcoming great obstacles to accomplish their goals and this is our way of recognizing their efforts,” said Department for Workforce Investment Commissioner Laura E. Owens.
“I also applaud our Department for Workforce Investment employees and service providers who have helped these students and many other Kentuckians succeed in school and the workplace. Many of the scholarship applicants wrote in their essays that the guidance, encouragement and assistance from their Workforce Investment service providers has given them the inspiration and help they need to overcome physical, financial and learning difficulties and earn their degrees,” Commissioner Owens said.
The following list of the scholarship winners includes information about them.
Marilyn Barnett, 48, of Clay City is studying business management at Lexington Community College. Barnett is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Frank Blevins, 22, of Nicholasville plans to study psychology at Lexington Community College. Blevins is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Wendy Burden, 35, of Owensboro is majoring in social work at Owensboro Community and Technical College. Burden is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Jennifer Claywell, 25, of Bardstown is studying radiography at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College. Claywell is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Vella Conner, 31, of Allen is studying business administration at Big Sandy Community and Technical College. Conner is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Samuel Cook Jr., 48, of Louisville is majoring in social work at Spalding University. Cook is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
James Dennis Jr., 19, of Caneyville is studying business management at Brescia University. Dennis is a customer of the Office for the Blind.
Leaetta Eaton, 54, of Corbin is studying early childhood education at Somerset Community College. Eaton is a customer of Kentucky Adult Education.
Byron Eldridge, 18, of Whitesburg is studying auto body repair at Hazard Community and Technical College. Eldridge is a customer of the Office of Career and Technical Education.
Jerry Evans, 18, of Paintsville is studying carpentry at Big Sandy Community and Technical College’s Mayo Campus in Paintsville. Evans is a customer of the Office of Career and Technical Education.
Michelle Good, 38, of Oneida is majoring in elementary education at Eastern Kentucky University. Good is a customer of the Office of Employment and Training.
Sandra Hammer, 42, of Glasgow is studying sociology at Western Kentucky University. Hammer is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Mona Jacobs, 45, of Pippa Passes is studying nursing at Hazard Community and Technical College. Jacobs is a customer of the Office of Employment and Training.
Mechelle Johnson, 30, of Manchester is majoring in elementary education at Eastern Kentucky University. Johnson is a customer of the Office of Employment and Training.
B. L. Kirk III, 54, of Lexington is majoring in social work at the University of Kentucky. Kirk is a customer of the Office for the Blind.
Carrie Klaber, 24, of Frankfort is studying law at Salmon P. Chase College of Law. Klaber is a customer of the Office for the Blind. This is the second year that she has won the scholarship.
Katrina Kleiber, 18, of Bardstown plans to study journalism and attend St. Catharine College. She is a customer of Kentucky Adult Education.
Melissa Lee, 27, of Woodbine is studying nursing at Eastern Kentucky University. Lee is a customer of the Office of Employment and Training.
Belinda Nicole Mann, 19, of Inez is studying business administration and accounting at Big Sandy Community and Technical College. Mann is a customer of the Office of Employment and Training.
James Meyer, 20, of Louisville is attending Jefferson Community and Technical College. Meyer is a customer of Kentucky Adult Education.
Kory Miller, 19, of Boston plans to study engineering at Morehead State University. Miller is a customer of the Office of Career and Technical Education.
Latonia Morrison, 29, of Inez is studying nursing at Big Sandy Community and Technical College. Morrison is a customer of the Office of Employment and Training.
Sara Mudd, 23, of Louisville is majoring in history at the University of Louisville. Mudd is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. This is the fourth year that she has won the scholarship.
Barbara Mullikin, 37, of Berea is studying nursing at Eastern Kentucky University. Mullikin is a customer of Kentucky Adult Education.
William Campbell Nance, 24, of Lexington is studying civil engineering technology at Lexington Community College. Nance is a customer of the Office of Employment and Training.
Vickie Pace, 48, of Corbin is majoring in nursing at Somerset Community College. Pace is a customer of the Office of Employment and Training.
Joel Rivera, 20, of Princeton is majoring in computer science at the University of Kentucky. Rivera is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Sarah Sherk, 25, of Brownsville is studying counseling and human development at Lindsey Wilson College. Sherk is a customer of the Office for the Blind.
Angie Stith, 35, of Florence is a business major at Thomas More College. Stith is a customer of the Office of Employment and Training. This is the second year that she has won the scholarship.
Tammy Tutt, 35, of Bowling Green is majoring in social work at Western Kentucky University. Tutt is a customer of the Office for the Blind.
Matthew Wampler, 22, of Pikeville is studying art at Big Sandy Community and Technical College. Wampler is a customer of the Office for the Blind.
Karisa Ward, 30, of Cave City is majoring in nursing at Western Kentucky University. Ward is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Maranda Watson, 28, of Stanton is studying nursing at Eastern Kentucky University. Watson is a customer of Kentucky Adult Education.
Trent Willoughby, 19, of Dixon is studying industrial safety at Madisonville Community College. Willoughby is a customer of the Office of Career and Technical Education.
The Education Cabinet coordinates learning programs from K-16, and manages and supports training and employment functions in the Department for Workforce Investment. For more information about our programs, visit www.educationcabinet.ky.gov or www.workforce.ky.gov or call 502-564-6606, or visit Kentucky Adult Education at www.kyae.ky.gov or call 502-573-5114.
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