NEWS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS)
Date: December 4, 2007

John McGlone, 606-326.2400; john.mcglone@kctcs.edu
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ACTC raises $5.2 million in successful campaign

Ashland Community & Technical College closed its first major gifts campaign on November 30 with the announcement of $5.2 million raised for program enhancements and student scholarships.  

The "Fulfilling the Promise Campaign" by the Community and Technical College Foundation of Ashland Inc., ACTC's fundraising arm, formally kicked off in April 2006 with a $3.2 million goal.

"Exceeding the goal by $2 million is a great accomplishment by the campaign committee and by supporters from a broad cross-section of the community," said Dr. Greg Adkins, ACTC President and CEO. "The success of this campaign sets the stage for more exciting growth and development at ACTC."

 "The Campaign has been a wonderful experience," said Foundation President Robert Maher. "It's good to live in the Ashland area where good people support good things. That support leads us all to greatness!"

More than 1500 individuals, businesses and organizations contributed to the Campaign.  Major gifts are summarized below.


Real estate valued at $1.54 million will help the college better serve students and area residents. Some properties, such as the former Parson's Department Store Building, will be used to expand college offerings into the community.  Other properties, such as the seven-acre commercial site donated by Ashland, Inc., will be used to support future initiatives.
An Endowed Chair in Math & Science, funded with slightly more than $1 million, will recognize and reward outstanding math and science faculty.
Support of expanded health science and nursing programs by the Booth Foundation, Kings' Daughters Medical Center and Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital will expand opportunities for students seeking careers in nursing and other allied health fields.
Scholarship donations by the Saul & Harriet Kaplan Foundation, Lincoln & Katherine Scott Scholarship Fund and many other donors will help the college meet the financial needs of an ever-growing student enrollment.
The Campaign chairs were Guy Spriggs, an Ashland businessman, and Ms. Pat Goodpaster, a community activist and widow of former ACC President Dr. Robert Goodpaster.  

 "Many people put in a great deal of hard work to make this campaign a success," Spriggs said. "A great deal of our success is due to people like Pat Goodpaster who continue to believe in ACTC and the opportunities it provides for students."

Also involved with campaign direction were Frank Salisbury, ACTC Director of Advancement and Campaign Manager, former ACTC Board of Directors Chair P. Bruce Leslie, current ACTC Board Chair John C. Stewart, Jr., and Louise Shytle, Dean of Institutional Advancement and Assistant to the President.

With a fall enrollment exceeding 4700, ACTC currently has three campuses at College Drive, Roberts Drive and Technology Drive in EastPark.  As part of the Kentucky Community & Technical College System, it serves the five county "FIVCO" region in northeastern Kentucky, and the tri-state communities in Ohio and West Virginia.

"The college does an excellent job in providing higher education opportunities to our community and region," Maher said.  "As shown by this campaign, the community also does an excellent job in supporting the college."

The "Fulfilling the Promise Campaign" celebration was held in the Highlands Museum & Discovery Center which occupies three levels of the Parsons Building.

"As we celebrate a job well done, we also look ahead to the future," said Stewart. "I would like to start soon on plans to renovate the Parson's building and boost the downtown business community and bring more people back to downtown Ashland.  

"We keep moving forward," Dr. Adkins added. "While we were conducting this campaign, which garnered tremendous local support for the college, we also received state funding for expansion of the Technology Drive Campus into a $50 million state-of-the art facility for our students."

"We have much further to go in order to meet expanding higher education needs and goals, but today we celebrate how far we have come," Adkins said.


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For most Kentuckians, higher education begins at KCTCS. Our statewide system of 16 colleges and 65 campuses provides citizens throughout the Commonwealth with a quality education that is both accessible and affordable.