Two Nelson County residents named as ECTC Distinguished Alumni

NC GAZETTE / WBRT RADIO
STAFF REPORT

Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, 8 p.m. — Two Nelson County women are two of eight Elizabethtown Community and Technical College alumni who will be recognized for exemplary service to their professions and communities at an induction ceremony at the college Monday evening, Oct. 10.

BRENDA C. HAGAN

Bardstown resident Brenda C. Hagan is founder and administrator of Crocus Learning Center, a childcare facility offering preschool and kindergarten programs. She attended ECTC in 2004 and 2005, earning a Kentucky Child Care Provider credential in 2004 and a Kentucky Director’s in 2006.

Hagan started Crocus Learning Center in 2003 in Bardstown with a vision to provide quality early education and child care in the community. Since then, the business has grown to three locations, including Bardstown, Elizabethtown and Louisville.

As a participant in the STARS for Kids Now Quality Enhancement Initiative, all three locations are ranked 3 out of 4 stars.

Hagan has served on local Child Care Councils and serves on the ECTC Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education advisory council. She and her husband have four children.

Author, poet and creative writing instructor Bobbi Buchanan of Cox’s Creek attended Elizabethtown Community College from 1983-1985. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Kentucky in 1987 and a master of fine arts in writing from Spalding University in 2004.

BOBBI BUCHANON

She is a member of Green River Writers, received the Seven Counties Services Champion for the Community Award in 2015, the Agent of Health Artist Fellowship and Kentucky Foundation for Women Summer Residency 2015. She is founding editor of e-zine New Southerner and author of three books.

She created and runs the Art for Inmates in Recovery Program at the Bullitt County detention Center. Buchanan lives in Cox’s Creek and has two adult children.

Hagan, Buchanon and six other ECTC alumni will be honored at the special induction ceremony, 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, at ECTC’s Regional Postsecondary Education Center (RPC) and followed by a catered reception, courtesy of ECTC’s Culinary Arts program.

The Distinguished Alumni program is now in its 11th year of acknowledging the contributions of former ECTC students.

“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 ECTC’s interim president and CEO, Dr. Gwen Joseph. “We honor them for dedication to their work and communities, and for representing the spirit of excellence at ECTC.”

Claudio Monzon of Elizabethtown, chair of the college’s board of directors, said the recognition program also celebrates the college’s impact on the 12-county region it serves.

“For more than 50 years, ECTC has provided quality, affordable academic and workforce training opportunities to help the residents of its service region attain their educational and professional goals,” Monzon said.

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.

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