EDITORS NOTE: Downloadable photographs of the winners who attended the ceremony are available at ww.educationcabinet.ky.gov\Ed_at_work_photos.htm.
Kentucky Education Cabinet Secretary Virginia G. Fox presented the Kentucky Department for Workforce Investment’s Education at Work scholarship to 25 Kentuckians July 15 in the Capitol Rotunda. The department, an agency of the Education Cabinet, gave the $500 scholarships to students who are pursuing postsecondary education in Kentucky.
Secretary Fox said, “It’s an honor to recognize the 2004 Education at Work Scholarship winners today. They have discovered the importance and the joy of learning. Their stories should inspire other people to dream and make goals for themselves. As they seek to improve their lives and the lives of their families through education, they also improve Kentucky and make their communities better places to live and work.”
Secretary Fox said she was impressed with the level of commitment the winners have shown toward achieving their goals.
“While these students represent a variety of backgrounds, ages, interests and career goals, they all have something in common – they all value education. Some of them want to be teachers while others are pursing their dreams in law, medicine, business, journalism or engineering, but they all recognize that education is the vehicle to get them where they want to go,” Secretary Fox said.
Each of the scholarship winners has used at least one of the Department for Workforce Investment’s employment and training programs or services, or the Kentucky Department for Adult Education. Scholarship applicants were required to write an essay on “How Education Will Help Me Succeed at Work.” The $500 scholarships may be used for tuition, books and lab and technology fees.
“As you read the essays that the Education at Work winners wrote for the scholarship applications, you can’t help but feel their excitement about learning and the future. Some of them 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 have faced financial setbacks, physical problems and other road blocks to going to school, but they are determined to finish school and achieve their goals,” said Department for Workforce Investment Commissioner Laura E. Owens.
“I also commend the Department for Workforce Investment employees and service providers who have helped these students and many other Kentuckians to succeed in school and the workplace. Without their guidance and encouragement, many Kentuckians who face education and work barriers would give up,” Owens said.
The Department for Workforce Investment assists Kentuckians through a wide variety of services including vocational rehabilitation programs, unemployment insurance, job search, secondary technical education and federal job training programs for dislocated workers.
The following is a list of the scholarship winners and some information about them.
David Lee Begley, 34, of Vancleve is an engineering student at Lexington Community College. Begley is a customer of the Kentucky Department for Adult Education.
Allison M. Berger, 19, of Hebron is an accounting and business student at Morehead State University. Berger is a customer of the Office for the Blind.
Michael Brent, 25, of Pendleton is a journalism student at the University of Kentucky. Brent is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. This is the second year that he has won the scholarship.
Tonya Renea Coffey, 29, of Tyner is a practical nurse student at Somerset Community and Technical College. Coffey is a customer of the Workforce Investment Act program funded by the Office of Employment and Training.
Eric Clay Conway, 18, of Frankfort is studying civil engineering at the University of Kentucky. Conway is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Nicholas Thomas Dunn, 19, of Hustonville is studying civil engineering at the University of Kentucky. Dunn is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Kathleen Frances Foley, 21, of Campbellsville is studying theatre arts and psychology at the University of Louisville. Foley is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. This is the second year that she has won the scholarship.
Henrietta Elaine Harris, 51, of London is a carpentry student at Somerset Community College. Harris is a customer of the Workforce Investment Act program funded by the Office of Employment and Training.
Deborah Ann Jenkins, 28, of Bowling Green is studying accounting at Western Kentucky University. Jenkins is a customer of the Workforce Investment Act program funded by the Office of Employment and Training.
Johnna Kendall, 20, of Louisville is studying communications at Bellarmine University. Kendall is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Carrie Elizabeth Klaber, 23, of Frankfort has bachelors’ degrees in business and communications and plans to study law at Northern Kentucky University. Klaber is a customer of the Office for the Blind.
Jenna Lindsey Macy, 19, of Hardinsburg is studying chemistry and music at Transylvania University. Macy is a customer of the Office of Career and Technical Education.
Michelle Marie Manning, 36, of Bowling Green is an applied technology student at Western Kentucky University. Manning is a customer of the Workforce Investment Act program funded by the Office of Employment and Training.
Sharon Diann Newby, 48, of Frankfort is an administrative assistant student studying desktop publishing at the Central Kentucky Technical College. Newby is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Curtis Ray Orme, 19, of Foster is studying diesel technology at Gateway Community and Technical College. Orme is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Amanda Marie Otten, 18, of Fort Wright is studying cytotechnology at Bellarmine University. Otten is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Angela K. Rowlett, 21, of Murray is an interior design student at the University of Kentucky. Rowlett is a customer of the Office of Career and Technical Education. This is the third year that she has won the scholarship.
Ronald Wesley Ruth, 20, of Manchester is a physical therapy student at Hazard Community and Technical College. Ruth is a customer of the Workforce Investment Act program funded by the Office of Employment and Training.
Shawana Denise Baker Slone, 40, of Garner is an early childhood education student at Hazard Community and Technical College. Slone is a customer of the Workforce Investment Act program funded by the Office of Employment and Training.
Cyndi Denise Staples, 34, of Shepherdsville is an elementary education student at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College. Staples is a customer of the Office of Employment and Training.
Angela Lynn Stith, 34, of Hebron plans to work in the health care field and attends Thomas More College. Stith is a customer of the Workforce Investment Act program funded by the Office of Employment and Training.
Melissa Ann Sturgill, 32, of Jenkins is a social work student at Eastern Kentucky University. Sturgill is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Jacqueline Anita Terrell, 47, of Richmond is a medical practice management student at Eastern Kentucky University. Terrell is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Jennifer Lynn Watts, 33, of Blackey is a nursing student at Hazard Community and Technical College. Watts is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Aynsley Joan Weddle, 21, of Danville is a communication disorders major at Eastern Kentucky University. Weddle is a customer of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
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.