Students, community officials and faculty,both old and new, came together to celebrate a huge milestone; Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College just had its 50th anniversary.

Some call Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College a light in the mountains; one that shines both inward and outward.

"It provides students a hope and opportunity a place of calm, a place of safe harbor, a place that they can get something they'll always have. Something that can never be taken away from them," said Dr. Michael McCall, the KCTCS President.

And that's a quality education.

"Education is so needed for everyone because our pathway to the future depends upon a well educated society and this college brings education to where the people are; close to home and very accessible," McCall explained.

Something SKCTC has provided for people in the area for 50 years now.

"There's many students that come here that can't afford to go to university colleges so this helps them out because it's cheaper with tuition. It's a great college to go to," said Kenny Ledford, a current student at the college.

Officials say Southeast was a forerunner in promoting higher education in the mountains.

"Once we were founded and started and grew, the community college came into existance and many others followed in our footsteps," said W. Bruce Ayers, SKCTC President.

And those accomplishments are definitely something to celebrate
Southeast is just one of the 16 KCTC community colleges in Kentucky.