Bardstown man one of seven named to ECTC Hall of Distinguished Alumni

NC GAZETTE / WBRT RADIO
STAFF REPORT

Friday, Oct. 2, 2015 — Elizabethtown Community and Technical College will recognize seven alumni for exemplary service to their professions and communities by inducting them into the college’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni on Monday, Oct. 12.

The ceremony begins at 7 p.m. in ECTC’s Regional Postsecondary Education Center (RPC) and is followed by a catered reception, courtesy of ECTC’s Culinary Arts program.

The Distinguished Alumni program, now in its 10th year, celebrates the achievements and continuing contributions of former students in their academic, professional and humanitarian endeavors.

JAMES WILLIAM LEWIS JR.

Bardstown businessman James William Lewis Jr., master plumber and owner of Aluminum Pipewrench Plumbing of Bardstown, is one of the ECTC graduates who will be inducted in the Hall of Fame on Oct. 12.

Lewis received his diploma from Elizabethtown Technical College in 1995. He later completed an associate’s degree in general studies from Jefferson Community College. He has served on the advisory committee for plumbing at ECTC and as a preacher’s steward at St. John AME Zion Church in Bardstown. He and his wife, Judy, live in Bardstown and have three grown children.

“These distinguished alumni follow the tradition of exceptional graduates who began their higher education at ECTC and continued to grow academically and professionally, making meaningful contributions to society,” said Dr. Thelma J. White, ECTC President/CEO. “We honor them for dedication to their work and communities, and for representing the spirit of excellence at ECTC.”

The names and photos of this year’s honorees will join others in ECTC’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni in the first floor of the RPC building.

KEVIN DALE ADDINGTON

The other 2015 Distinguished Alumni honorees include:

Kevin Dale Addington, president and owner of Addington Transportation Inc., Elizabethtown. Addington received an associate’s degree in business from Elizabethtown Community College in 1982 and a subsequent bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Kentucky. He has been recognized as a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Kentucky School of Agriculture and as a Chamber of Commerce Businessman of the Year. He is a member and past president of the Rotary, board member and past chairman of Central Kentucky Community Foundation, and member of the Hardin County Library Board, Hardin Larue Community Health Clinic, Elizabethtown Police Foundation, Heritage Council, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and United Way of Central Kentucky. He and his wife, Lisa, live in Elizabethtown and have three children

JERRY LEE BEWLEY

Jerry Lee Bewley, Supervising Engineer, Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport, Tenn. Bewley received an associate’s degree from ECC in 1968, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from University of Kentucky, where he co-authored several papers. Bewley holds three U.S. patents and is one of only five engineers in the history of Eastman Chemical Company to receive the Perley S. Wilcox Award for innovation, long-term contributions to the company and mentorship of colleagues. He also is one of only four engineering fellows in the company’s history. In his community, Bewley has served on the board of directors of the Tennessee/Virginia Scholars Initiative and was a deacon in his church. He and his wife, Gloria Jean, live in Church Hill, Tenn., and have four adult children.

JOY TABOR CAMPBELL

Joy Tabor Campbell, Nurse Case Manager, USA MEDDAC Warrior Transition Battalion, Fort Knox. Campbell received an Associate Degree in Nursing from ECC in 1999. Subsequently, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Kentucky University and is pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (advanced nurse practitioner) at Eastern Kentucky University. She received the WKU Achievement Award Post RN, the Breckinridge Health Inc., Most Professional Award, Civilian of the Year Award and has received several certificates of achievement from Ireland Community Hospital, Fort Knox. In service to her community, Campbell has served as president of Hardinsburg Rotary Club, mission and advocacy chair for Breckinridge County Relay for Life, and a member of Coalition for a Change, Health Services Advisory Committee – Kentucky Technical School, Breckinridge County School Board, and others organizations. She and her husband, Tim, live in Garfield and have two adult children.

DONNA PARRENT RICKETTS

Donna Parrett Ricketts, DNP, Professor of Nursing, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond. Ricketts received an Associate of Science in Nursing from ECC in 1982 and subsequently earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Kentucky, a Master of Science in Nursing from Eastern Kentucky University. Recently, she completed her Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree at Northern Kentucky University. Ricketts was selected as a fellow for the Leadership Development Institute, has presented several podium and poster presentations at state and national nursing conferences and has published articles in nursing journals. She was selected to serve as an item writer for the NCLEX-RN, a national nurse exam, and trained as a site visitor for accreditation of nursing programs. She also served as a member of ACEN Evaluation Review Panel and currently is conducting research on cultural competency of nurse educators. Ricketts has given presentations on health-related topics in her local community and in Malta, where she went on a mission trip. She also has been recognized with several awards for volunteer service with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Home Meals Delivery, Habitat for Humanity and the Baptist Nurses Fellowship. She and her husband, Mark, live in Richmond and have two adult children.

JOELLA ROGERS SPATARO

Joella Rogers Spataro, Retired Senior Administrative Assistant, ECTC. Spataro received an Associate of Applied Science in secretarial administration with high distinction in 1979, and earned 23 hours beyond her AAS. She has served in various activities to support and enrich the ECTC community, including as vice chair of the 1993 capital campaign and on the 1997-98 presidential search committee. She also has served on self-study committees, staff council, and other committees. As senior assistant to the provost, she coordinated faculty convocations and meetings for adjunct faculty, and contributed to information gathering for the Leitchfield Substantive Change and the Five-Year Review by the college’s accrediting agency. She also designed and taught a scrapbooking class for the Center of Quality Training. For her contributions, she received the 2011 New Horizons Award of Excellence from the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. She and her husband, Chuck, live in Elizabethtown.

LISA LEE LANGLEY

Lisa Lee Langley Williams, Director, Kentucky Innovation Network, Elizabethtown. Williams received an Associate in Applied Science, business/banking option, from ECC in 1991 and continued to pursue professional training in banking. She graduated from the Weikel Real Estate School in 1983 and completed a Venture Capital Institute course at Emory University in 2008. She has been recognized among Outstanding Alumni of Hardin County Schools and was appointed by the governor to serve on the Kentucky Commission on Women. A graduate of Leadership Kentucky and Leadership Elizabethtown, Williams is a Workforce Investment Board member, past president of Leadership Elizabethtown Alumni, founder of Lincoln Trail Venture Group, and member of the WKU-Gordon Ford College of Business Advisory Board and Elizabethtown Rotary Club. Currently a magistrate for Hardin County Fiscal Court, she also is a past president of Hardin County Republican Women’s Club and has served on the Elizabethtown-Hardin County Heritage Council. Williams is founder of the “You Can Be Anything, Girl” event and the Sisters Investment Society. She lives in Elizabethtown and has two children.

-30-