Muhlenberg County Students Enjoy Local Scholarship Opportunities During 2011-2012

Enjoying a long history of philanthropic and community service successes, Madisonville Community College continues to benefit from the consistent, long-term support of friends all across Muhlenberg County; private giving has enabled MCC to provide adequate tutorial coverage, student support activities and numerous scholarship opportunities to help Muhlenberg County college students earn a degree, certification, or diploma.

Over $75,000 in annual scholarship gifts and interest is available for Muhlenberg residents either on the college s main campus, the Health Sciences Campus next to Trover Clinic, or the P.A. amp; Pauline Shaver Center near Central City. For Academic Year 2012 60 students are receiving scholarships, with an average approximate award of $1,115. All adult students taking at least 9 credit hours cam apply for $700 each semester; with appropriate faculty referral Muhlenberg students in their final semester of study who are enrolled in nursing or allied health fields receive some scholarship assistance. Over the past decade MCC leadership has attempted to increase scholarship awards at least 4% each academic year.

Tutorial hours have also been expanded over the past three academic years in the Irene Sadler Learning Center. Madisonville Community College recently announced that a portion of an estate gift provided by the late Brown Badgett, Sr. has been designated to the Sadler Center to make sure that tutorial coverage, particularly in math and reading areas, remains constant for students attending classes at low demand times. Almost all tutors at the Muhlenberg Campus are supported through designated endowments.

During the past 24 months the Student Affairs Office and the Advancement Office have made increases in transfer-related scholarships a true college priority, especially among those students who plan to earn a four-year degree and return to their hometown to start a career and a family. Increased transfer rates are a priority not only of MCC, but of the entire Kentucky Community amp; Technical College System as well. Jay Parrent, Dean of Student Affairs, states that transfer continues to be a critical part of MCC s mission. Graduating and moving on to earn a baccalaureate degree contributes so much to a community and increases a person s career earning power.

MCC thanks all of its private contributors who have supported Muhlenberg higher education endeavors over the past 20 years. Supporters have helped Madisonville Community College maintain some of the highest retention and graduation rates among the 16 KCTCS districts. In 2011 and 2012, MCC was selected as one of the top 120 two-year colleges nationally by Washington D.C. s Aspen Institute and the charitable foundations of both Bank of America and JP Morgan Chase.