Paducah Mayor Gayle Kaler will be the featured speaker at the 2013 West Kentucky Community and Technical College Graduation Ceremonies.
More than 230 candidates for graduation are expected to participate in one of two ceremonies at the Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center in downtown Paducah Tuesday, May14. The ceremony is open to the public. No tickets are required.
More than 1,500 students are eligible to receive at least one associate degree, diploma or certificate this year. Graduation candidates receiving an associate in science degree or a credential in clinical laboratory technician, cosmetology, dental assisting, dental hygiene, diagnostic medical sonography, health science technology, associate degree nursing, practical nursing, nursing assistant, paramedic technology, pharmacy technology, physical therapist assistant, radiography, respiratory care, polysomnography or surgical technology will attend the ceremony at 5 p.m.; with all other attending at 7:30 p.m.
Elected as Paducah's mayor in November 2012, Kaler previously served three terms as city commissioner beginning in 2007. Kaler has owned Chantillies, a beauty salon in Paducah, for 42 years. Her community involvement includes membership in the following boards: Commissioners of Waterworks, Paducah Riverfront Development Agency (PRDA), Paducah Rotary Club, and Greater Paducah Sustainability (GPS)-Recycle Now. She also served a four-year term as the first president of the LowerTown Renaissance Association.
Graduate candidates Roy Henley of Mayfield and Kevin Quinn of Grand Rivers, both All Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) Academic Team members, are the student speakers for the ceremonies. Henley will receive an Associate in Arts degree with high distinction. Quinn will receive an Associate in Applied Science degree with high distinction in information technology with the computer support specialist option.