The St. Louis-based Lay Family Foundation has donated an additional $60,000 to the Commonwealth Middle College at West Kentucky Community & Technical College.

	WKCTC President Barbara Veazey, Charles Luber, CEO of the Lay Family Foundation, and Dr. Donna Mattingly, Commonwealth Middle College counselor

Charles Luber, CEO of the Lay Family Foundation, presented two checks to WKCTC President Barbara Veazey Wednesday at Carson Hall, which will be used for staff and to establish a textbook lending library for the middle college students.

In April 2008, the Lay Family Foundation announced the donation of $620,000 to establish the Middle College on the WKCTC campus to help more high school students pursue college. Officials from McCracken and Marshall county public schools joined forces with Paducah Junior College, Inc., the Lay Family Foundation, and the College to develop and implement the Middle College on the WKCTC campus.

Beginning this fall, selected high school students will take high school classes at the Middle College while also being enrolled in WKCTC courses.  The program will begin with 50 students - 20 selected from Marshall County High School and 30 from high schools in McCracken County School District.  These students will have the opportunity to complete a minimum of 36 college credits – free of cost. The estimated cost savings per student is $5,000.

WKCTC President Barbara Veazey, Charles Luber, CEO of the Lay Family Foundation, and Donna Wear, Commonwealth Middle College principal.

Financial support from the Lay Foundation and the school districts has defrayed the costs, including the hiring of the Middle College’s first principal, Donna L. Wear.

The additional donation of $40,000 will be used to make the current part-time counselor’s position, held by former Heath Middle School Counselor Donna K. Mattingly, into a full-time position.  Also, $20,000 will match contributions from the Marshall and McCracken county school systems to provide a book scholarship program. Through the program, a lending library of college textbooks will be established so students at the middle college will not have to purchase college textbooks.

"The generosity of the Lay Family Foundation for the Commonwealth Middle College is phenomenal.  We appreciate Mr. Luber and his commitment to this new, innovative endeavor,” Wear said. “From the four high schools, we have had 97 students who have applied for admission.  The response from students and parents has been tremendous."