Funding to help low income students with food and funds while at SKYCTC coming from both public and private sources, even while many sources of funding for colleges to operate and students to study at them have been taken away this year,
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) expresses its heartfelt gratitude to Houchens Food Group (HFG) for their generous contribution of food items to the College’s Pathfinder Pantry. This donation helps ensure that students facing food insecurity can continue their education with fewer obstacles.
Through the SKYCTC Foundation, a formal partnership has been established between SKYCTC and Houchens Food Group. As part of this partnership, Houchens has committed to donating food items annually, with contributions spread throughout the year. The first installment of this ongoing support was delivered on July 15 at SKYCTC’s Main Campus on Loop Drive in Bowling Green.
The Pathfinder Pantry was created to provide essential food items to SKYCTC students in need, helping them remain focused on academic and career success without the burden of hunger.
Houchens Food Group became aware of the pantry through its longstanding relationship with SKYCTC’s Workforce Solutions division. For over three years, SKYCTC Workforce Solutions has delivered customized leadership training to Houchens employees, providing more than 2,000 training hours to company leaders across its subsidiaries. It was through these conversations that HFG senior leadership learned about the pantry and expressed a strong desire to support its mission.
“Houchens Food Group’s generosity will directly impact the well-being and academic success of our students,” said Dr. David Travis, Director of Student Life and Engagement at SKYCTC. “We are incredibly thankful for their continued support—not only through leadership development but also through their investment in the daily lives of our students.”
Headquartered in Bowling Green, Houchens Food Group is a diversified company operating more than 400 retail, grocery, and convenience store locations across 15 states, including Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio, and Georgia.
For more information about SKYCTC’s Pathfinder Pantry, contact:
Dr. David Travis
Director of Student Life and Engagement
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
Phone: (270) 901-4348
Email: david.travis@kctcs.edu
The LoJO
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) has been awarded a $1.36 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education under the Federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program. The grant will provide $272,364 annually over a five-year period to support first-generation, low-income, and disabled college students as they pursue higher education.
The funding will allow SKYCTC to serve 140 eligible students each year through the TRIO SSS program, which is designed to increase college retention, graduation, and transfer rates. The project is 100% federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education.
“The Student Support Services program is a vital part of our institutional commitment to student success,” said Dr. T. Chris George, Director of SKYCTC TRIO Programs since 2020. “This funding will allow us to continue providing targeted support to students who may face academic and socioeconomic barriers on their journey toward degree completion.”
TRIO SSS offers participants a range of comprehensive services including individualized academic advising, tutoring, career exploration, financial aid assistance, transfer planning, and cultural enrichment opportunities. The program’s goal is to remove barriers to academic success and provide students with the tools, resources, and encouragement they need to thrive.
With the renewal of this grant, SKYCTC continues to expand its commitment to student success. In addition to Student Support Services, the institution is home to two other federally funded TRIO initiatives: the Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) and Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS), creating a robust support network that serves students in high school, adult learners and traditional college students through college graduation and beyond.
The Federal TRIO Programs are a set of educational opportunity outreach initiatives designed and funded by the U.S. Department of Education to support individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO programs have become a cornerstone of student success at SKYCTC, helping hundreds of students navigate the complexities of higher education.
For more information about TRIO Student Support Services or TRIO Programs at SKYCTC, please contact the TRIO office at (270) 901-1178 or visit https://southcentral.kctcs.edu/about/student-life/student-support-services/index.aspx