Paducah UK Engineering: 20th Anniversary Today

On Friday, the University of Kentucky College of Engineering Extended Campus at Paducah will celebrate its 20th anniversary. 

As founders and donors reflect on the campus’s history and values, they’ll remember how it all began: a problem encountered by Steve Polston.

In 1992, Polston worked as the plant manager of the Lockheed Martin Uranium Enrichment Plant in Paducah. Each year, about 20 percent of his engineering staff would leave, typically moving to obtain the continuing education necessary to advance their careers.

“Getting engineers there in the first place was a challenge, and we often paid bonuses to move people to Paducah,” says Polston. “Then, with no place nearby to go for an engineering education, they would leave. It was breaking us and crippling the region as a whole.”

In the face of a serious economic crisis for an important region of the Commonwealth, Polston came up with a seemingly questionable solution, an engineering school in Paducah.

Immediately, Polston got two key players on his side: Fred Paxton, the owner of Paxton Media, and Len O’Hara, the president of Paducah Community College. Together they led the initial drive, meeting with lieutenant governor Paul Patton and pitching the idea to the local Chamber of Commerce. The playing field then shifted to Frankfort, as they lobbied with state legislative committees, many of whom staunchly opposed the idea.

“It seemed impossible at the time, and no one thought we could do it. There were many hurdles,” says Polston. “All my life, I have tried to push good causes as far forward as I could, and this was one of them.” 

To tackle this challenge, the men understood the need to get influential leaders on their side. They met with UK president Charles Wethington and College of Engineering dean Thomas Lester, earning their essential support. Lester took a lead role in the action.

“I was responsible for identifying and hiring faculty and staff, securing program approval and preparing the programs for accreditation by the Engineering Accreditation Commission and approval by the state's Council on Higher Education,” says Lester.  “I also contacted companies and individuals interested in financially supporting the program, and worked with civic and political leaders in convincing the members of the General Assembly to authorize $1.3 million per year for the program's operation.”

Six years later, the Paducah campus opened its doors. Today, 200 students call it their home. The campus offers undergraduate degree options in chemical and mechanical engineering, as well as several graduate student options for mechanical engineering. Located on the West Kentucky Community and Technical College campus, Crounse Hall, the Crisp Building and the Fred Paxton Engineering Research Wing, the campus houses thousands of square feet of classroom space, award-winning offices, and advanced research facilities.

“We originally focused on attracting and educating students from the Purchase Region for positions in local industrial plants and engineering firms. I am happy to say that more than 70 percent of graduates have secured employment in the Purchase Region,” says Lester. “Local industries continue to thrive and to seek engineering employees from the Paducah engineering program.”

The UK Paducah program will celebrate 20 years of success and value to the local region with a reception and ceremony. Director David Silverstein has been planning the event for the past two years.

“We have invited those whose vision and passion for the economic development of the Purchase region resulted in the program’s creation,” says Silverstein. “And, we’ll be honoring the individuals who were critical in that process, without whose leadership there would be no Paducah program.”

During the event, Silverstein plans to discuss the program’s achievements and cast a vision for its future.

“The success of our graduates as they meet and exceed employer expectations is the strongest evidence of the success of the Paducah programs,” says Silverstein. “As we celebrate the past 20 years, we look forward to advancing the UK Paducah Engineering programs to new heights to impact our students, our region, our state and beyond.”