JENNIFER McDANIELS
Harlan Daily Enterprise

WHITESBURG - Supporters of higher education gathered in celebration Wednesday at the Whitesburg campus of Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College as a significant financial contribution was made to the school's fundraising project.

Members of the Whitesburg Foundation Incorporated, which was instrumental in helping to establish a community college in their town, presented a check to SKCTCS President Dr. W. Bruce Ayers in the amount of $232,410 for the college's "Fulfilling the Promise Campaign."

"We come today to celebrate," said Ayers, who welcomed college supporters from Harlan, Bell and Letcher counties as they gathered in the Belinda Mason Building's auditorium for the check presentation. "Thank you on behalf of the students of Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. ... They are our future. They are the ones who's going to be serving on our city councils, who's going to be our next mayors, judge-executives and officials. "

Ayers also pointed out the complimentary flashlights that were handed out to those in attendance.

"At Southeast Kentucky and Community Technical College, we're lighting the way for young people," Ayers said. "The college is empowering people. It's changing lives."

"Fulfilling the Promise Campaign" was launched in 2001 to fund endowed student scholarships, student leadership workshops, the Southeast Scholars Program, as well as capital projects on each of the college's five campuses. With Wednesday's lead gift made by the Whitesburg Education Foundation group, the five-year campaign has netted over $3.7 million. It's the campaign's goal to reach $4 million.

Penny Ritter, who has worked with the Whitesburg Education Development Foundation Incorporated since the group's inception, spoke at Wednesday's check presentation, singling out Maynard Hogg, who has also diligently supported efforts to establish and maintain the opportunity for higher education in Letcher County.

"This college is the love of my life," Ritter said. "I adore it. It's my dream."

SKCTC began offering classes in Letcher County in the 1970s. Initially, classes were offered in the local high school, primarily in the evenings, and taught by adjunct faculty members. Community members like Ritter and Hogg began to pursue a site for a campus in the late 1980s.

In the fall of 1990, SKCTC opened its first permanent building - a former Coca-Cola Bottling Plant that had been renovated by the Whitesburg Education Development Foundation Incorporated and welcomed several full-time faculty members, a permanent staff and some 380 students.

Since that time, the Whitesburg campus has graduated hundreds of students, added two additional buildings, hired several new people and broadened its program offerings.