They Built Their Future—Now They’re Celebrating ItBCTC Students Celebrate Paths Built on Grit

They Built Their Future—

Now They’re Celebrating It

BCTC Students Celebrate Paths Built on Grit

Sasha Bush

The Ashland Beacon

The energy inside the Boyd Career and Technical Center this past Friday wasn’t just celebratory—it was long overdue.

For the first time in its history, BCTC hosted an awards ceremony and signing day, since being in their new building, shining a spotlight on students whose hard work often happens outside the traditional high school spotlight. The event marked a milestone not just for the school, but for the community it serves—one built on skill, grit, and real-world readiness.

“We wanted to have something that celebrated the achievements of these kids and what they have accomplished here,” said Tracy Caldwell, CTE Guidance Specialist. “You always see the Facebook posts of students and their big signing events, and we wanted to bring that to the students here at BCTC.” And celebrate they did.

BCTC, which offers nine programs, seventeen career pathways, and 12 dual credit CTE classes, and has quietly become a launchpad for students pursuing careers in the workforce, higher education, and the military. Their mission is simple but powerful: students leave Employed, Enrolled, or Enlisted.

But behind that outcome is years of discipline. “You got to work hard. That's a key factor,” said graduating welding student Brayden Coleman. “I had to put some hard work into it. The program takes three years to get through and that includes taking a lot of different classes. It wasn’t easy but you just got to push through.” That perseverance is a common thread among BCTC students.

“It's been a great experience,” added fellow welding graduate Taryn Tackett. “We've got a really good welding teacher. He teaches us a lot. Just got to come in here and work hard every day. Want to be better and work hard.”

For many students, BCTC doesn’t just teach a trade—it opens doors. Health Science graduate Taylor Culp spoke about the hands-on opportunities that shaped her experience. “We have so many opportunities. We've got to go to the Hospital for Hope program. We've got to go to Kingsbrook for clinicals. It's just, it's amazing.”

She emphasized that those real-world experiences have been the highlight of her time at BCTC—proof that learning here goes far beyond the classroom.

For others, the path leads to service. “I am graduating from like with ROTC and I'm enlisted in the United States Navy to go in as an operations specialist,” said Tylan Cantrell, who is preparing for a future filled with responsibility and opportunity.

“I'll be working with admirals, and I'll have a lot of clearances to stuff. And I just thought it would be the coolest job to do, and that was one that I was offered, so I chose it.”

Cantrell credits her leadership experience in ROTC as a defining part of her journey. “This year I had the honor of being the unit's executive officer, the second in command. And we just have a lot of fun. It really prepared me for the role that I'm going into… I got to learn valuable aspects of leadership.”

The ceremony itself has been years in the making. “It's been a collaborative effort. We've talked about doing this for several years,” said BCTC Director Courtney Bartley. “Our former counselor, Shelly LeMaster, it was always a dream of hers.”

Now, that dream is a reality. “We've had the idea, but it's just the time to make it happen,” Bartley said.

And the timing couldn’t be more fitting. As Bartley pointed out, many BCTC students are stepping directly into high-demand careers—paths that don’t always come with traditional recognition.

“Of course there always kids that are going to go to two or four colleges,” she said, “but a lot of people don’t realize that we've got some very successful kids going straight into the workforce that are going to make a very good living for themselves… they may not get honors over at the high school but they deserve recognition too.”

After the awards ceremony, students moved into the welding studio, where employers from across the region gathered to take part in Signing Day alongside them. Representatives from Kentucky Farmers Bank, Marshall University, ACTC, UK KDMC, and many others were present, offering encouragement, opportunities, and recognition for the next step in these students’ journeys.

Friday’s ceremony made one thing clear: recognition matters. It honors the early mornings in the shop, the long hours in clinicals, the discipline of ROTC drills, and the determination it takes to master a craft. It celebrates students who have chosen a path—and committed to it. And it highlights something even bigger.

“Our board, our superintendent, Mr. Boblett, is really why this building's here,” Bartley noted. “The fiscal court donated $2 million for the equipment.” That investment is now paying off—not just in certifications, but in futures.

These students are setting the tone for generations to come. They are welders, healthcare workers, service members, and skilled professionals in the making.

More than anything, they are proof that success doesn’t follow just one path—and at BCTC, every path is worth celebrating.