ECTC celebrates milestones at annual community breakfast

Jennifer Swope received the Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Chancellor’s Pathfinder Award in recognition of her impact in the community and on the college. ECTC established the award to recognize college partners who have created paths to better lives throughout the region. ECTC Chancellor Dr. Juston Pate presented the award Tuesday at the college's annual Community Breakfast.  

“It is our honor to recognize Jennifer Swope,” Pate said. “Her leadership means a great deal to this community, the college, and countless students and families. Few people have worked as hard as she has for ECTC.”

Among many other contributions to the college, Swope serves on the board of the ECTC Foundation and chaired the ECTC Home for Hope campaign that helped make Family Scholar House housing a reality. 

“I’m deeply honored to receive the Chancellor’s Pathfinder Award. Of all the work I’ve been fortunate to be a part of, bringing Family Scholar House to ECTC through the foundation board and with the incredible support of our community has been one of the most meaningful,” Swope said. “Together, we’ve opened doors for families that will make an impact for generations. In many ways, my work with the foundation has also helped forge my own path as a community leader, making this recognition especially meaningful to me.”

At the breakfast, Pate provided an update on recent ECTC accomplishments and plans for the year ahead. Highlights included major construction projects such as the renovation of the Occupational Technical Building, a second building at the Leitchfield campus, and most prominently the expansion of the Science Building.

The event ended with a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of a $16 million expansion at the west and south sides of the building, which is expected to be completed in 2027.

“This is a moment to celebrate. When we add value to students' lives and return that value back to the community, it is largely evident in the careers students build,” Pate said. “These science programs, particularly biology and chemistry, are very important to the healthcare field, and we know we have healthcare worker shortages across our service region. So, by both expanding and providing more relevant experiences through this renovation, we're really enhancing our workforce.”

Pate also updated the community on the college’s focus on ensuring students have a clear career path and a clear educational plan developed earlier in their time at ECTC. In addition, the college will continue to focus on removing academic and nonacademic barriers.

Pate highlighted the Student Success Circle, a program that allows donors to the college’s Unstoppable Fund to hear faculty and staff program proposals and vote to award funds. For example, the Student Success Circle funded the Laptop Lending program, which provided laptops to 264 students.

To learn more about ways to support ECTC’s growing facilities, visit ectc.us/grows. To learn more about helping students through the Student Success Circle, visit ectc.us/student-success-circle.