It is a privilege and an honor to serve as the founding president of KCTCS and to launch our first major gifts campaign--the Fulfilling the Promise Campaign. KCTCS plays a pivotal role in addressing many of the challenges facing Kentucky, but only if we stay ahead of the curve and capitalize on the exciting opportunities that lie ahead. Business and industry must thrive in the globally competitive, information-based economy of the 21st Century. This will require Kentucky to expand access to postsecondary education and training to 80,000 more students just to remain competitive with surrounding states. It is predicted that at least half of these new students will enroll at a KCTCS community or technical college. We must be ready.

As a state-assisted institution, KCTCS must supplement its public funds with support from the private sector to meet the demands of students and our business and industry partners. Through the "Fulfilling the Promise Campaign," we have identified statewide initiatives that will ensure the success of our students, prepare workers to compete in the global economy, and enhance our ability to pursue new opportunities. Keeping KCTCS in the forefront of innovation and excellence holds great promise for the citizens and businesses of Kentucky.

I invite you to participate in the Fulfilling the Promise Campaign, a golden opportunity to invest in the enlightenment of education across the Commonwealth. Your strategic investment will ensure that our citizens and businesses fully realize the benefits of this new and dynamic system for many years to come. Thank you for your support and your commitment to a more promising future for all Kentuckians.