Writer: Jeff Noble
Breathitt County Voice (Jackson)

Saying that "The quality of life is critical for a community to grow," Hazard Community and Technical College President Dr. Jay Box addressed the monthly meeting of the Jackson-Breathitt County Chamber of Commerce Tuesday afternoon. Dr. Box told the audience at the Old Country Inn that while the "Fullfilling the Promise" fund drive has surpassed its goal of $4 million, "We still need contributions from the public to support scholarships for part-time students", and contributions to build the planned Intergenerational Center on the Lees Campus.

"Breathitt County has been very responsive to the campaign," Dr. Box stated after the meeting and luncheon. "And we'd like to see more support in funding to help the scholarship fund, as well as make that new center at reality. The center will be the centerpiece for the re-invention of this campus."

With about 35 persons in attendance watching a video presentation on HCTC narrated by broadcast news icon Walter Cronkite, Dr. Box told of the progress the college has made in reaching it's monetary goals. "Right now, we're at $4.2 million, and our campaign will go on through the end of May. As for the Intergenerational Center at the Lees Campus, we already have $1.5 million in private funding for that building. We still have another million dollars left to go."

Along with the ten-minute video were architect's drawings of the new facility, which will be located where Meteer Hall currently is on campus. The center will contain a 300-seat performing arts auditorium, visual arts studios, and a student center, among other amenities. In addition, a new amphitheatre area will be located next to the new building, where the present tennis courts are located. "We want to make this center a performing arts center, and that's part of our four priorities with the college's campaign."

The first priority would be scholarships, especially for part-time students. The second is getting and upgrading technical equipment, such as in the college's Science department. Public outreach is the third priority, like reaching out to qualified Juniors and Seniors in high schools in the city, county, and region. And the fourth priority is investing in the arts, which is part of Dr. Box's goal of making the Lees Campus "an educational village".

"Education is number one here, and HCTC is the center of everything we do," Dr. Box told the Chamber. "With the new center, we will be linked within walking distance to the city's downtown, the Breathitt County High School and Jackson City School. This is why we're working with the both school systems, the city government, and the county Fiscal Court on the new building."

As for the actual building of the Intergenerational Center, Dr. Box said to the group that "Hopefully, it will go to the General Assembly during the 2008 Session. If they get the funding from the state at that time, the construction would begin from 2008-2010." After receiving applause from all those present, the HCTC President reminded them that "I believe the college is successful because of the people who work there." Dr. Box then asked those who were from the Lees campus to stand, which they did to another large round of applause.