Higher Education

A Clark County man is among the 2007 graduating class of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky Inc.'s "Reach for the Stars" program. Michael Arnett of Winchester received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Midway College. He is a team member in paint at TMMK and has been with the company for 19 years. Toyota announced that 24 team members have been awarded post-secondary degrees while maintaining a full-time job at TMMK's Georgetown facility. Graduates were recognized at a special ceremony attended by team member's families and Toyota management.

President Bush has signed into law a measure that ensures low-cost student loans will remain available from The Student Loan People, Kentucky's only public, nonprofit student loan provider, through June 30, 2010. "Providing low-cost student loans is critical in making higher education accessible for Kentucky students," said Gov. Steve Beshear. "With the passage of this legislation, The Student Loan People can continue to do its part to ensure economic prosperity for all of our citizens.

FRANKFORT - The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority and Career Cruising will host free Individual Learning Plan (ILP) training for private school, home school and adult students in September, October and November. Training will be offered through webinars and at five private schools across the state. Webinars focusing on student use of the ILP will be: - Tuesday, Sept. 27, 4 to 5 p.m. - Wednesday, Oct.  19, noon to 1 p.m. - Monday, Nov. 21, 3 to 4 p.m. Webinars focusing on school administrator use of the ILP will be: - Thursday, Sept.

Casey County's Linda Hatter is one of three school superintendents honored by Kentucky Education Development Corp. as outstanding superintendent for 2008. Lonnie Morris of Powell County and Charles Mitchell of Menifee County also were recognized. KEDC, Kentucky's oldest and largest educational cooperative, said Hatter's philosophy that "a superintendent should be visible and involved not only in school but community activities" is evident in the many community programs she is committed to. For example, she created a districtwide recycling program through working closely with the local city and county administrators.

While leading the American effort to rebuild Iraq's university system, John Agresto spent nearly a year in Baghdad following the U.S. invasion. He had high hopes, but faced daunting challenges and great danger, and returned home knowing much more needs to be done. Agresto, Humana Visiting Professor at Centre College, will talk about his experiences Monday. His presentation, "Eyewitness Iraq: Lessons Learned, Lessons Lost," will take place in Newlin Hall at 7:30 p.m. A former president of St. John's College in New Mexico, Agresto served as the chief U.S. adviser to Iraqi higher education.

William G. Bowen will speak today at the dedication convocation of The College Centre, the new state-of-the art academic and athletic facility at the college. Bowen, the co-author of The Game of Life, a bestselling book on college sports, will speak about how a liberal arts education can bring together the life of the mind and body. The convocation, which is free and open to the public, will take place in Newlin Hall of the Norton Center for the Arts at 8 p.m. From 1972 to 1988, Bowen was president of Princeton University, where he was also professor of economics and public affairs.

You gotta hand it to Randy Dunn.The Murray State University president didn't have to hold a face-to-face with students concerning next year's tuition increases. He did anyway. But if Dunn used the forum to gauge student reaction, it barely registered on the alarm meter. The event Feb. 16 drew few students - only about 20. The students were outnumbered by faculty, administrators, regents and news reporters. Of course, it was a Friday afternoon, and there was that John Mayer concert that night at the Regional Special Events Center.

Something is very wrong with higher education governance, and it has been wrong for a long time. The persistent decline in undergraduate quality and the steady increase in cost per student are proof that governing boards are not serving the public interest. The University of Kentucky governing board provides us with a recent case in point. The rate of increase in college costs routinely exceeds increases in health care. Over the last three decades, the real financial burden imposed on students, parents and taxpayers grew steadily.

Sun Staff ReportThe Bluegrass Community and Technical College honored two venerable local institutions Saturday for their support of the college and its efforts to raise money to build a Winchester campus. The Clark County Community Foundation and The Winchester Sun were named Benefactors of the Year by BCTC, two of 34 honorees from around Kentucky recognized at the Kentucky Community and Technical College System President's Gala and Benefactors Award Dinner, a black tie event at the Mariott Downtown in Louisville.

Guitar to be raffled to raise money for Project Graduation A guitar signed by Nicholasville natives John Michael and Eddie Montgomery is being raffled to help raise funds for Project Graduation, a celebration for seniors graduating from the county’s three high schools — East, West and The Providence School. The annual event is a coordinated volunteer effort by parents, students, businesses, school, law-enforcement agencies and churches. The purpose is to offer an inviting, rewarding and exciting alternative to any drug or alcohol use by Jessamine County seniors on graduation night.