Education

Through Community Connections, Graves County and Mayfield Independent students interested in food service toured A&B BBQ, the WKCTC Culinary Arts program, and The Catering Company to see the work behind culinary careers.

Paducah & Louisville Railway visited upper-level welding students at the ATC through Power in Partnership to share rail industry careers, work requirements, and potential salaries.

Fox & Company CPAs visited the ATC's upper-level accounting class through Power in Partnership to discuss their work, changes to the CPA exam path, and public versus private accounting.

GCED salutes the local businesses sponsoring the Mayfield/Graves County ATC's monthly Student of the Month awards during the 2026/2027 school year.

Chris Grooms, President of Rick's Electric, met with upper-level electricity students at the ATC through Power in Partnership to share his career journey and what to expect from the electrical apprenticeship program.

Thirty local high school students toured MRCOOL, FNB Bank, the Mayfield-Graves County Chamber of Commerce, and Mayfield-Graves County Tourism as part of the Community Connections program, meeting with business and marketing professionals from across the community.

Greg Wilson, founder of Murray-based HempWood®, met with ATC carpentry students through the Power in Partnership program to discuss his hemp-based building materials and the math behind them.

Alex Cunningham, CFO of Fran Bearing Co., met with second-year machine tool students at the ATC through the Power in Partnership program to share how their work relates to what local manufacturers look for in new hires.

Progress Rail employees visited ATC welding and machining students to share career advice and insight into the company's hiring process, continuing GCED's Power in Partnership initiative.

MEWS linemen Geoffrey Beck and Rex Coleman visited the ATC's electricity class through Power in Partnership, sharing storm-response stories and career advice with students.

GCED's newest video recaps a successful 2025/2026 school year for Power in Partnership and Community Connections, which connected hundreds of Graves County students with local employers through classroom visits and career-shadowing trips.

A new video spotlights local employers like Dairyman's Supply Co. and the Graves County Health Department, showing how their partnership with GCED's Power in Partnership and Community Connections programs connects ATC students to real career opportunities.

A new video spotlights how the Power in Partnership program is turning classroom training into real career opportunities for local students. Recent Graves County High School graduate Luke Grantham shares how a program field trip to Universal Compressor Solutions led directly to an internship — and a promising start to his career in manufacturing.

Dale Usher and Brian Webb from Usher, Inc. visited ATC electricity students through Power in Partnership, sharing career advice and highlighting major upcoming electrical projects — including two uranium enrichment facilities — that could bring significant local job opportunities.

More than 400 high school juniors met with representatives from 28 local companies at the Community Connections Internship Fair, bringing resumes and exploring internship, part-time, and summer job opportunities across Graves County.

PADD Finance Director Alayna Champion visited ATC accounting classes through the Power in Partnership program, sharing her career path and insights on governmental accounting, fraud prevention, and the future impact of AI on the field.

High school students explored animal science careers through a Community Connections field trip to Murray State University's Equine Center, Riley Livestock, and a lunch presentation by a local veterinarian.

GCED and the Mayfield/Graves County Area Technology Center announce a new Power in Partnership video showcasing how the program connects ATC students with local career opportunities and supports workforce development for Graves County business and industry.

Jackson Purchase Energy Cooperative brought live electrical safety demonstrations to ATC students on April 2 as part of the Power in Partnership program, illustrating the dangers of electrical contact and introducing students to career paths in the electrical industry.

Graves County High School JROTC cadets visited Fort Campbell through the Community Connections program, gaining firsthand exposure to military career opportunities, specialized units, and the wide range of roles that make up one of the nation's premier military installations.

The Community Connections program recently organized a field trip for local high school students interested in architecture and real estate, with visits to Riley Architect Services, Barger Realty, and Trifecta Real Estate to explore career paths in design and property.

Graves County Economic Development and the ATC coordinated a field trip for advanced welding students to explore career opportunities in rail and river transportation, responding to projections that the industry will need 330,000 new welding professionals in the next two years.

Power Truss Vice President Brad Power visited ATC carpentry students through the Power in Partnership program to demonstrate how digital design technology integrates with truss manufacturing, offering students a look at modern construction careers in Graves County.

The Community Connections program organized a field trip for 18 Graves County High School students to explore local healthcare career opportunities, with visits to the Graves County Health Department, Baptist Health, and the Mayfield Fire Department.

Joe Venice, Director of Sales and Marketing at Mid-America Machine Inc., visited ATC machine tool students through the Power in Partnership program to discuss the rewards of a machining career, including opportunities to travel the world as a compressor service technician.

Mayfield Electric & Water Systems linemen Geoffrey Beck and Drake Oliver visited ATC advanced electricity students through the Power in Partnership program, sharing their daily work experience and offering practical advice for students pursuing careers in the electrical field.

Adams Construction Owner Barry McDonald returned to the ATC classroom where he studied architectural drawing more than 50 years ago, sharing his journey from student to business owner with current carpentry students as part of the Power in Partnership program.

Representatives from Universal Compressor Solutions visited ATC machine tool students through the Power in Partnership program to explain the centrifugal compressor industry, the precision skills required, and how students can prepare for careers in this specialized field.

ATC accounting students visited local banks and financial institutions as part of a Power in Partnership field trip, gaining firsthand insight into accounting career opportunities and beginning to build professional relationships with local business leaders.

Upper-level ATC carpentry students toured Goodman Lumber & Flooring, Kendor Wood, Power Truss, and Dairyman's Supply Company through the Power in Partnership program to explore career options in the lumber and wood manufacturing industries.

FNB Bank Vice President Jessica Tucker, herself an ATC alumna, visited the school's accounting class to share her career path and emphasize the growing demand for accountants, demonstrating that successful careers can begin with ATC training.

ATC machine tool students visited six local companies — including Progress Rail, Fran Bearing, Universal Compressor Solutions, and Mayfield Consumer Products — through a Power in Partnership field trip to see machine tools in action and explore job opportunities.

The Community Connections program brought approximately 28 local high school students to Jackson Purchase Medical Center and the Graves County Health Department to explore the wide range of healthcare careers available locally and begin building industry relationships.

Local high school students with interests in media visited news and communications businesses through the Community Connections program, getting an inside look at available local media careers and beginning to build professional networks that may lead to internships.

Laura Clifford and Megan Vinson from Fox & Company CPAs visited ATC accounting students through the Power in Partnership program to discuss the daily work of a CPA, how to prepare for the CPA exam, and accounting degree opportunities at Murray State University.

Alex Cunningham from Fran Bearing Co. met with ATC machine tool students through the Power in Partnership program, explaining the company's history, demonstrating the parts machinists produce, and connecting students' current training to real-world job requirements.

Brad Smith of Smith Home and Design shared his journey from retired Kentucky State Police officer to successful woodworking entrepreneur with ATC carpentry students through the Power in Partnership program, illustrating unexpected paths to rewarding trades careers.

Graves County Economic Development and the Mayfield/Graves County Chamber of Commerce released a new Community Connections video highlighting the program's collaboration with local schools and businesses to connect students with career opportunities in Graves County.

MEWS linemen Geoffrey Beck and Rex Coleman brought a bucket truck to the ATC campus for upper-level electrical students, offering hands-on equipment experience and career advice through the Power in Partnership program on August 29.

Progress Rail representatives Justin Clapp and Brittany McMinn visited ATC welding students through the Power in Partnership program to discuss job opportunities at Progress Rail, walk through the application process, and explain the skills assessments involved.

The Community Connections program recently arranged for local high school students interested in engineering to visit YEC, Inc. and BFW/Marcum Engineering, answering questions about career paths, daily work, and local job opportunities in the engineering field.

Upper-level ATC carpentry students visited HempWood facilities in Murray through the Power in Partnership program, touring production operations with founder Greg Wilson before an afternoon session with Power Truss exploring engineered truss manufacturing.

Mayfield Consumer Products staff demonstrated real-world applications of Microsoft Office tools for ATC Microsoft Office Specialist students through the Power in Partnership program, including a facility tour that showed how these skills support daily production operations.

Accounting professionals from Mayfield Electric & Water Systems visited ATC accounting students through the Power in Partnership program to demonstrate the range of companies that rely on accounting skills and the career opportunities available locally in that field.

The Community Connections program brought Graves County High School students on a finance career exploration day, with visits to CFSB, FNB Bank, Heartland Capital Investments, US Bank, and Wade Farm Financial Services to learn about local opportunities in banking and finance.

ATC Machine Tool Technology students learned about Graves County's centrifugal compressor industry and local career opportunities through a Power in Partnership visit from Joe Venice of Mid-America Machine, Inc., one of the world's largest manufacturers of aftermarket compressor parts.

Youngblood Excavating & Contracting staffers visited the ATC introductory welding class through the Power in Partnership program to emphasize the strong job market for skilled tradespeople and encourage students to pursue welding and construction careers.

HempWood CEO Greg Wilson visited ATC upper-level carpentry students through the Power in Partnership program to share his experience as an entrepreneur and inventor of an eco-friendly alternative construction material, encouraging students to consider innovative career paths.

The Community Connections program took local high school students on a two-day business career exploration, visiting company owners and managers to help students visualize the transition from their current coursework to professional careers right here in Graves County.

The Community Connections program hosted Agriculture Day for Graves County High School students, with visits to Lowry Farms, C&C Ag Solutions, Hutson, Inc., Nutrien Ag Solutions, and Workman Bins to explore the diverse career opportunities in one of the county's top industries.

Electrical contractors Rory Brewer of J. Brewer Electric and Chris Grooms of Rick's Electric visited ATC advanced electricity students through the Power in Partnership program, sharing their experiences as skilled artisans and successful entrepreneurs in the trades.

First Kentucky Bank's Brad Dame visited ATC accounting students through the Power in Partnership program to demonstrate how accounting skills translate directly into a banking career, offering a behind-the-scenes look at commercial lending and banking operations.

In an early installment of the Power in Partnership program, FNB Bank's Nick Johnson and DEVsource's Jeremy Blackford introduced ATC computer science students to local career paths in technology, covering pay, advancement, and the skills needed to succeed in the field.

Representatives from WKRECC, Salient/Trystar, and Usher Inc. visited ATC upper-level electricity students through the Power in Partnership program to share career insights, discuss post-high school training paths, and connect students with local industry opportunities.

Brad Power of Power Truss, John Hale of Bill Adams Construction, and Joel Crider of the Associated General Contractors of West Kentucky visited ATC carpentry students through the Power in Partnership program to discuss career opportunities in the construction trades.

Centrifugal Technologies Inc. and Universal Compressor Solutions visited ATC machine tool students through the Power in Partnership program, connecting students with local employers in the region's centrifugal compressor industry and outlining available career paths.

Representatives from Progress Rail visited ATC upper-level welding students through the Power in Partnership program to discuss career pathways, skills requirements, and the job opportunities available to skilled welders in Graves County and the surrounding region.

Local professionals visited ATC accounting students in an early Power in Partnership session to outline career pathways in accounting, covering day-to-day responsibilities, compensation, advancement opportunities, and the post-secondary training options available.