BC Thomas isn't your traditional college student. But then again, Leadership KCTCS isn't your traditional school.
The 27-year-old Henderson Community College sophomore was selected to take part in the inaugural class of the NewCities Institute and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System's leadership program. The program will focus on promoting civic engagement and leadership through service on boards and commissions, volunteer efforts and running for elected office.
That means that Thomas and 15 others will get to rub shoulders with people like Dr. Michael B. McCall, the president of KCTCS, and former Georgetown, Ky., mayor Tom Prather, who helped bring Toyota Motors to that city.
"It gives the students an opportunity to meet and network with people that they wouldn't normally get" an opportunity to meet, Thomas said. The Corydon resident added that participants can learn from someone other than a professor.
The seminars revolve around themes that relate to people, place, prosperity and perspective, among other things.
Thomas was nominated for the program through the college's leadership team. His involvement means that he will take part in one two-day session per month until his inaugural class graduates in May.
The program is also teaching him about himself. Thomas took two separate personality tests stating his strengths and weaknesses that were then developed into a full work profile.
The tests showed that he is, among other things, more goal oriented, he said. But the others in the program are a full range of diverse personalities, he said.
"I'm really excited to go forward in the program," he said, adding that the next meeting in Somerset, Ky., will focus on how and what to do to make a community better.
