GLASGLOW, Ky. (AP) — Western Kentucky University is partnering with Barren County High School to offer college credit to students in the areas of agriculture and chemistry.
Barren County Schools Superintendent Bo Matthews told the Glasgow Daily Times (http://bit.ly/S7Pfol) that the Capstone Scholars in Agriculture Program will help change the shape of agribusiness education and give new opportunities to youth.
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“It just simply shines a light on the Barren County agriculture community,” he said. “We have all the data to support that we are a number one agriculture-producing community. We’re looking for ways to create new opportunities for our young people, to reinvest in our community in agriculture, and this a whole new level of learning and opportunity that WKU is going to help us to provide.”
Students can begin participating in the program in the spring. They will be allowed to take up to 19 credit hours from the WKU’s Ogden College of Science and Engineering.
“This is a great day for Barren County High School and we hope that it’s a great day for Western Kentucky University,” said Principal Steve Riley. “We’re the second program in the state to work out a capstone program with them (WKU), and we’re very excited.”
The newspaper reports that Barren County is the state’s primary producer of cattle, hay, milk and burley tobacco.
The high school’s Future Farmers of America President, Sheldon Burks, called the program an exciting opportunity for students.
“With this program, we hope to improve the future of agriculture,” he said. “We hope to prepare students for what they want to do with their lives, and we want our students, in whatever they might do, to be the best of the best. We believe we can make our students the best representation of agriculture.”
WKU President Gary Ransdell said he was happy to partner with the school and give students a new option to improve their future.
“The students will prepare for something that not only gives them a head start, but really prepares them well for a dynamic degree from Western Kentucky University,” he said.
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Information from: Glasgow Daily Times, http://www.glasgowdailytimes.com
