Butler Community College Early College Academy Receives Career and Preparedness Award

Butler Community College’s Early College Academies were honored by the ACT’s College and Career Readiness Campaign for creating an outstanding foundation to help its students achieve academic success. Butler was the only Kansas College chosen for this honor. The Early College Academies also were named as one of four national semifinalists in the country. The other three semifinalists are programs at the University of Arizona, the University of Alaska and Western Nevada College.  Butler sent representatives to the ACT State Organization Symposium that was held at Wichita State University on April 11 and was presented with the Career and Preparedness Award.

The ACT College and Career Readiness Campaign is a program that acknowledges the exemplary efforts by high schools, postsecondary institutions and individual students. The criteria that goes into consideration when selecting college recipients is student success and the opportunities the institution creates for students to develop problem-solving, responsibility, goal-setting and career-planning skills. Student success includes retention, graduation and four-year college transfer rates.

“These semifinalists are an encouraging group of innovators and problem-solvers who seek success in college and career readiness for everyone in their communities,” Scott Montgomery, senior vice president of public affairs at ACT, said in a press release. “We hope their stories serve as enlightening examples of what is being, and what can be done to shape the education and career landscape for years to come.”

Butler Community College Early College Academies is a collection of career-specific cohorts where high school students can earn their Associate’s degrees in specific career and technical fields. These students earn dual credit and participate in job shadowing and internships to prepare them for higher education and the workforce.

“This is a great recognition for Butler’s Early College Academies and the work that is being accomplished under the leadership of Christy Streeter, Associate Dean.  It is an excellent example of collaboration between the faculty and staff of the program and the area secondary schools.  Since inception of the program, 100 percent of Academy graduates have continued on to some form of educational placement the following fall,” said Bill Rinkenbaugh, Vice President of Student Services at Butler. “To be recognized as a Kansas exemplar and a national semifinalist is a great honor!”