Please click on http://www.kctcs.edu/foundation/cronkite.htm to listen to or download excerpts from the Walter Cronkite video and voice-over; or to download photographs of Cronkite in the studio and with KCTCS President McCall.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (November 13, 2002) -- Walter Cronkite, CBS Evening News anchor for nearly two decades, will serve as the voice of a major fund-raising campaign for the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS).

Cronkite taped the narrative for a video that highlights the accomplishments of KCTCS and its colleges, and states the case for private support for KCTCS education initiatives. At its recent President's Gala and Benefactors Awards Dinner, KCTCS announced its statewide campaign, called "Fulfilling the Promise," which will seek support for initiatives such as the new economy, student success, and new educational opportunities.

"As the sun rises each morning, it brings with it new opportunities for KCTCS to fulfill its mission and destiny -- to change the lives of Kentuckians," Cronkite says in the video. "And a golden opportunity for you to keep the enlightenment of education shining brightly across the Commonwealth."

Cronkite, who turns 86 this month, was once described in a major poll as the "most trusted figure" in American public life. His commentary defined issues and events in America for almost two decades. Each weekday evening from 1962 through 1981, Cronkite closed his newscast with his trademark line: "And that's the way it is."

Cronkite taped the KCTCS voice-over audio at a Manhattan sound studio, where he met KCTCS President Michael B. McCall; Vice President Timothy R. Burcham; and two representatives of Meridian Communications, which is providing marketing services for the "Fulfilling the Promise" campaign -- CEO Mary Ellen Slone and video producer Cindy Schroeder.

"He was the consummate pro," McCall said of Cronkite's performance.

After the taping, McCall and Cronkite discussed the importance of community and technical colleges, and differences between KCTCS and other states' systems of two-year colleges.

KCTCS approached Cronkite about doing the voice-over based on his credibility and his instantly recognizable voice. Cronkite, who does no commercial endorsements, agreed to work on the KCTCS project because of his support for education.

"My feeling has always been that education should demand our first priority in expenditures," he said. "Educators are the keystone of the successful continuation of our democracy."

In the video, Cronkite details the successes of KCTCS, including increased enrollment; university transfer and workforce training programs; partnerships with employers and other higher education institutions; and distance learning.

A couple of excerpts:

"It was an exceptionally bright day in 1997 when the Commonwealth took a historic step forward in its quest for a better future. The Postsecondary Education Improvement Act created the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) by combining the statess public two-year colleges into a more comprehensive, flexible and responsive system. KCTCS became the primary catalyst for economic development, community growth, and enhanced educational attainment of Kentuckians to meet the demands of the 21^st Century.

"The goal? To improve the employability and quality of life of all Kentuckians through associate degree courses of study, job skills training, and community-based education. The results?

"In a word: remarkable.

"The creation of KCTCS opened new doors of opportunity for all Kentuckians. Whether coming directly out of high school, from the workforce, or the ranks of the unemployed, students of all ages and backgrounds can achieve their dreams of a more fulfilling life. For some, it's a stepping-stone to a bachelor's degree. For others, it's their best hope of getting the education and training they need for employment or career advancement.

"And KCTCS is the gateway to higher education for many of Kentucky's best and brightest high school graduates."

Cronkite closed the voice-over in the same style that comforted Americans at the end of each of his thousands of CBS Evening News broadcasts:

"This is Walter Cronkite for the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. And that's the way it is."