KnowHow2GoKy

Adults - Kentucky college success stories

When you're making college plans, it's normal to feel a little uncertain at times. After all, it's one of the biggest decisions in your life. It really helps to know that other students out there struggled with the same feelings and got through it. Here are the words of real students who have been there:

GED opens doors, changes generations

Meet Anthony Smith of LouisvilleAnthony Smith of Louisville grew up in a single parent home and dropped out of high school. After earning his GED, he enrolled at Jefferson Community and Technical College.

Anthony later transferred to Northern Kentucky University and became the first in his family to earn a bachelor’s degree. He worked his way through college while supporting himself, his wife, and their two young sons. In all, it took him seven years to earn his bachelor’s of arts degree in political science with a minor in legal studies. Read more about Anthony...

Beating the odds- Mom earns degree online, receives promotion

Meet Lauri Bodenbender of LexingtonLauri Bodenbender graduated high school a single mom of two. Over the next 10 years, she took classes toward earning her associate’s degree at various Kentucky community and technical colleges. In the early stages of her college career, she was only able to take one or two classes per semester.

However in 2002 she discovered online classes through Kentucky Virtual Campus. This enabled her to take more classes each semester, and helped her reach her goal of earning an associate’s degree from Bluegrass Community and Technical College in 2005. Read more about Laurie...

Navy vet and mom of two transfers to study geography

Meet Maria Church of GeorgetownMaria Church, of Georgetown, is a mother of two, a navy veteran and a graduate of Bluegrass Community and Technical College. Maria graduated BCTC in May 2007 with her associate of arts and associate of science degrees, earning a cumulative 4.0 grade point average.

While at BCTC, she served as president of the Alpha Phi Kappa Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, BCTC’s international honor society, and volunteered for the Hispanic Outreach program, the Peace & Justice Coalition, Fayette County Relay for Life, God’s Pantry food drives, and was classroom volunteer at Anne Mason Elementary. Read more about Maria...

Education without borders- student earns degree in Kentucky from across the globe

Meet Sebastian Coe of LexingtonAfter a brief stint at the Virginia Military Institute in 2000, Sebastian Coe had all but abandoned any hope of furthering his college education. Though he had attended VMI for a year, he lost motivation to continue, instead working as a low-level manager in a food services company.

In 2006, Sebastian learned about the Kentucky Virtual Campus and decided to go back to school online. A year later, he transferred to the telecommunications systems management online program at Murray State University. After a semester in the program, he applied and was chosen to represent Murray State in China as an English instructor, where he remains today. Read more about Sebastian...

GEAR UP student pursuing dream of teaching college math

Meet Josh Sparks Ever since he was young, Josh Sparks wanted to teach. He knew to achieve this dream, he had to go to college.

Born in New Boston, Michigan, Josh moved to Sandy Hook, Ky, his freshman year of high school. That year, his new school- Elliott County High School- was chosen to participate in the GEAR UP Kentucky program. Read more about Josh...