Fourteen West Kentucky Community and Technical College students have recently been selected as student ambassadors. These students will serve both WKCTC and the community through various service learning projects. The ambassadors are listed below by county.
- Ballard County – Heather Cartney and Dylan Green
- Calloway County – David Moore
- Graves County – Lacie Watkins
- Livingston County – Brandi Bennett
- Marshall County – Samantha Puckett and Darrin Thompson
- McCracken County - Lauren Beane, Carolyn Cissell, Amber’Lee Douglas, Danita Fisher, Cheyanna Jude, Lindsey Lamb, and Eric Youngblood.
Students must adhere to a specific set of guidelines and requirements in order to be selected for the program. They are required to have earned 12 semester credit hours or more, earned a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and be able to serve as an exemplary role model for our student body, college, and community.
Cheyanna Jude, also a Commonwealth Middle College student at WKCTC, said being a student ambassador will definitely improve her college experience. “The Student Ambassador program will help me to unleash my leadership skills and allow me the opportunity to help my fellow students and those in the community as well – something I feel destined to do.”
Ambassadors must participate in a three-credit hour Service Learning (GEN 120) course that is designed to engage them in structured, community-based activities to acquaint them with the value of service and commitment to the community. WKCTC pays for this course as a student ambassador benefit. Some topics covered in GEN 120 include: professional etiquette, financial aid resources, academic support services, recruitment and retention, just to name a few. Ambassadors are required to participate in community activities as well. Some of the service organizations served include: Reading PALS with McNabb Elementary, Project United, and Start! Heart Walk.
Students are evaluated on their performance and are required to participate in training sessions and complete a service log of activities and dates. At the completion of the Service Learning course students must complete a four to six page reflective paper.
“Service learning and civic engagement is directly related to training and leadership,” said Dr. Belinda Dalton-Russell, WKCTC vice president of Student Affairs and the Student Ambassador program coordinator. “If colleges are to develop the next generation of leaders, they must provide opportunities for leadership and growth.” Dr. Russell encourages any WKCTC student to enroll in the GEN 120 course. “Learning about serving our campus and our community is important for all of our students,” she said. Course fees apply to students who enroll in GEN 120 and are not part of the Student Ambassador program. The Student Ambassador program is the first since the college consolidated in 2003.
More Information
Contact Dr. Belinda Dalton-Russell at 270-534-3081 or email belinda.dalton-russell@kctcs.edu
Submit Online Ambassador Request