July 2021
Your News & Updates
Toyota donates 32 vehicles to KCTCS auto tech programs
Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Kentucky donated 32 cars for automotive technology programs to 11 of the colleges in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS).
 
Types of vehicles donated include Camry, Avalon and Lexus and range from 2018-2021 models including several hybrids. These vehicles provide KCTCS students the opportunity to learn the latest technology in the automotive world. Many of the colleges would not have been able to purchase vehicles as frequently as needed to keep up with technology, so Toyota’s donations ensure KCTCS students are at the forefront in the automotive field.
 
“We are extremely appreciative of this gift from Toyota,” KCTCS President Paul Czarapata said. “Technology changes rapidly so these new vehicles will help students be prepared to walk out of college and step into a high demand career.”
 
The automotive technology program provides students with knowledge in troubleshooting, performing preventative maintenance, servicing and repairing automobiles. The program prepares graduates for entry-level service technician jobs in the auto repair industry.
 
"We believe it's our responsibility to partner with educators to support career readiness programs that help develop our future workforce," said Kim Ogle, Toyota Kentucky corporate communications manager. “Our goal is help prepare students for future workforce success and expose them to an industry that is a vital component of Kentucky’s economy.”
 
Colleges receiving vehicles are:
  • Ashland Community and Technical College
  • Big Sandy Community and Technical College
  • Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
  • Gateway Community and Technical College
  • Hazard Community and Technical College
  • Jefferson Community and Technical College
  • Madisonville Community College
  • Owensboro Community and Technical College
  • Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
  • Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
  • West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Free college available for many Kentuckians
There’s a lot of talk about the idea of free community college. All across the U.S., higher ed leaders, elected officials and families are trying to determine what it will mean for individuals, their communities and our country if community college is free.
 
You might be surprised to know that many students attending one of the 16 colleges of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System already attend for free or nearly free. Here’s how they do it.
 
  • Federal Pell grants. This is not a loan so there’s no student debt.
  • Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship, which covers tuition for numerous programs.
  • Dual credit scholarships for high school students.
  • Learn and earn programs like KY FAME and apprenticeships.
  • Grants and scholarships through our colleges or outside organizations such as Rotary Clubs and the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.
 
To take part in most of these programs, prospective students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Every year, Americans leave money on the table by not filing a FAFSA. There are several reasons for this. One is that people don’t know about it. Also, some don’t think they qualify for aid, and some think it’s just for loans.
 
Although it’s clear there are people with a tremendous amount of student loan debt, that is not the case for our students. Only 16% rely on student loans and they borrow less than $5,000 annually.
 
For those who need to borrow, keep in mind our tuition is the lowest in Kentucky. And, because we froze tuition this year, students will pay the same low rate as last year. In fact, two years at a KCTCS college could save a student more than $32,000 when compared to the cost of two years at a university.
 
So the cost of college should not be a deterrent for anyone needing training or education to get to their dream career. We have numerous ways to get there and it could be free or nearly free.
 
For more information, Kentuckians can visit kctcs.edu or call the community college they'd like to attend and speak with a financial aid counselor.
Why our students stayed in college during Covid
We asked our students to send us a video about what motivated them to stay in college during the pandemic. We received more than 100 videos from across the state. Here's a brief summary that includes snippets from one video from each college.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wKL_GS8QfM
Dr. Paul Czarapata | KCTCS President