Making a Difference
KET programs and services help people improve their lives every day. But you don’t have to take our word for it. On these pages, Kentuckians tell their own compelling and inspiring stories of how KET has helped them achieve goals, become more effective in their own work, or simply get more out of life.
2013
School House Rock
Music teacher Amy Bolar of Fleming County composes a symphony of instruction with KET Arts Toolkits.
Half a Lifetime in the Making
Christopher Lawrence of Anderson County earned his GED® diploma to set a good example for his son, and KET's GED Connection helped get him there.
The Difference of a Lifetime
Beth Cocanougher of Louisville says enriching programs on KET like Masterpiece Theatre give her a life-long education.
A Worthwhile Investment
Paducah banker Bill Jones, a board member of the Commonwealth Fund for KET, says funding for KET and public television is money well spent.
Drama Mama
Lee Sharp of Lexington says daughter Lucy of Masterpiece's "Downton Abbey" nurtured her love of theater by watching dramas on KET.
2012
Connecting the Commonwealth
Commonwealth's Attorney Tim Coleman turns to KET's public affairs programs and educational services to tie his hometown to the rest of Kentucky.
Engineering the Future
Engineering student Stephen Parsons got a leg up on his studies with online physics courses from KET.
Independent Filmmakers
Kentucky filmmakers like Kiley Lane Parker flourish thanks to support from KET.
Going Public
KET's public affairs programming keeps Frankfort community organizer Maria Bush informed about the latest news and opinions.
Lifesaver
Educators Beth Lee and Virginia Thomas say KET instructional resources fill critical needs in Garrard County schools.
Back in Focus
KET's GED Connection gives adult learners like Steven Oney new opportunities.
KET Courses Go the Distance
Katherine Magnuson, facilitator for all four KET Latin courses used at Christian Academy of Louisville, says KET's Distance Learning courses help students excel—both now and into the future.
Big Concepts for Small Fry
Carol Hughey, principal of Oldham County Preschool, says KET's Everyday Science for Preschoolers gets pupils hooked on learning.
Leading by Example
KET members like photographer and pilot Bill Kight help KET soar into the future with their membership gifts.
Window on the World
Pikeville librarian Donna Anderson says KET's EncycloMedia provides a window on the world for her students.
Adult Education
Joe Steier's Signature Healthcare company fosters learning among the employees at its long-term care facilities with KET's GED Connection and Workplace Essential Skills.
2011
Best Friends Forever
Volunteers with Friends of KET have been using their influence to support the work of KET through fund-raising projects and awareness campaigns for the past 40 years.
Back to Nature
Joyce Bender of the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission says KET's Kentucky Life helps spread the word about the state's natural beauty.
KET's 'Born Too Soon'
The KET documentary Born Too Soon is part of the March of Dimes' campaign to lower the rates of late preterm birth. And Katrina Thompson of the Kentucky March of Dimes says the documentary is reaching a large audience.
Rooted in Tradition
Monroe County School Superintendent Lewis Carter says KET is a key component of education for rural citizens. Resources like KET's EncycloMedia and GED® Connection open doors for children and adults in rural areas.
KET Transmitter Towers
A total of 23 agencies and other public entities rely upon the KET transmitter towers—the statewide network of silent sentries that touch the sky as well as so many lives across the Commonwealth.
Kids' Fitness is Looking Up
Donna Benton uses the KET documentary More Than Child's Play to show educators how to incorporate exercise into the classroom routine.
Home Sweet Homeschool
German and Latin instruction from KET Distance Learning proves to be a valuable addition to the homeschool curriculum for Stephanie Weber's family in Casey County.
Lifelong Enrichment
As a musician and educator, Tanya Bromley believes there's no more valuable resource for music and humanities enrichment than Kentucky Educational Television.
A Passion for the Past
Fifth grade teacher Laureen Laumeyer of Hardin County brings history alive for her students with MISSION US, a new interactive online American history game offered to Kentucky teachers through KET.
British Import
English native Marion Smith of Franklin County returns to her homeland each week, thanks to the bounty of British comedies, dramas, and other entertaining programs airing on KET.
Making Their Voices Heard
Dan Griffith of Owensboro, a longtime supporter of KET, believes it's important that political leaders understand how much public television benefits society, and that is why he's joined 170 Million Americans to advocate for the continuation of public funding.
Tackling the Technical
Library media specialist Jessica Holmes teaches schoolchildren 21st century communication skills. She stays on top of her mission by using the professional development resources offered by KET.
Previous Years
(Alphabetical by last name)
Kentucky Filmmakers
Morgan Atkinson, an independent filmmaker who has produced documentaries for KET, says KET's support is vital for the state's struggling filmmakers.
KET's GED Preparation Program
Bible college student John Bates, once a high school dropout in juvenile detention, says KET's GED preparation program helped lead him to where he is today.
Exceeding Expectations
Tonya Bentley-Williams credits KET educational services with helping Knott County’s May Valley Elementary reach state academic goals.
Mountain View
When she hungers for the cultural wealth of the world, Rena Brashear of Letcher County turns to KET to fill a need for beauty and knowledge beyond her beloved hills.
Write All About It
Competitions like the KET Young Writers and Illustrators Contest give young authors like Maxton Cantrell an opportunity to shine.
Spreading the Word
As president of the KET Friends Board, Carrie Cinnamond was proud to be Pikeville’s “Miss KET.”
Staying Up to Speed
Tony Cipolla and the Louisville Fire Department have improved both training and emergency communication with KET DataCast.
David Couch
David Couch of the state Office of Education Technology credits programs like KET EncycloMedia for helping the Kentucky Department of Education create the technological avenues for student success.
Enriching Rural Communities
Jim Crawford and Ruth Baxter, husband and wife attorneys and community leaders in Carroll County, find that KET programs and services enrich rural communities in many ways.
Finding a New Path
Getting his GED was the start of a dramatic turnaround for Hasan Davis, a former gang member turned youth advocate.
Looking It Up
Both Mary Davis and her students take frequent advantage of KET EncycloMedia’s high-quality, in-depth research material.
Giving Back
Larry and Martha Deener support their community through their financial and volunteer support of KET.
Finding Answers
A Kentucky-produced program on KET led Lisa Doyle to help for her son’s learning disability.
Growing Up With Art to Heart
Margaret Evans-Dulin finds that KET’s Art to Heart program enriches child development at the St. Benedict Center in Louisville.
Using Technology in the Classroom
Fairview High School teacher Jeff Fletcher makes his social studies classes more interactive with help from KET EncycloMedia and KET Education Consultant Missi Baker.
Learning about Kentucky’s Musical Heritage
With Jubilee as his viewing mainstay, University of Kentucky ethnomusicologist Han Kuo-Huang has found plenty of enriching musical programs on KET. And Han’s musical expertise has been featured in the KET Music Arts Toolkit.
The Value of KET Membership
Longtime viewer Bettie Harris says her love for KET programs has led her to become a KET member and offer her financial support.
Miss Western Kentucky
As president of the Friends of KET Board of Directors, Cheryl Lawson of Paducah relishes her volunteer work spreading the word about KET resources to teachers and other members of her community.
Meeting the Challenge
The KET Arts Toolkits helped visual art teacher Garlene Layne-Abshire take on drama and dance, too—while raising her school’s test scores.
e-Learning for Teachers
A love of learning keeps sending teacher Michelle Lee back to school for online professional development courses offered by the Kentucky Department of Education and KET.
Teaching the Teachers
The Kentucky Department of Education’s Starr Lewis helps KET develop professional development resources that teach by example.
She Means Business
KET’s CommonHealth of Kentucky series helps Teresa Lovely advocate for workplace wellness to Kentucky businesses.
Handy with the Blues
Dorin Luck, chief coordinator of the W.C. Handy Blues and Barbecue Festival, appreciates the national exposure the Henderson event receives from KET’s Jubilee.
Passing It On
KET’s Art to Heart helped Michelle Lustenberg’s high school students share their love of the arts with younger kids.
Sharing Ideas
Teacher Edie Mariani lends KET her real-world expertise to build training tools for Kentucky classrooms.
Feeding the Soul
Lifelong explorers Robert and Judith Marlowe find treasure in KET’s diverse programming.
Hooked on the Classics
KET Latin tutor Ben Mize fell under the spell of the ancient language as a high school student when he took a Distance Learning course offered by KET.
Preserving Our Stories
When Keeneland President Nick Nicholson heard about the KET Endowment for Kentucky Productions, he knew it was an idea whose time had come.
Learning from Afar
Daniel Noble relied on the flexibility of KET Distance Learning for the German instruction he wanted.
A Sense of Wonder
Nancy Redden and Melinda White use KET's Everyday Science for Preschoolers in their Greenup County day care center to build a foundation for school success.
A Great Way to Teach
High school teacher Chris Renfrow uses KET EncycloMedia to get students hooked on history.
TV for Children
Laura Richardson of McCracken County, an elementary school teacher who is currently staying home with her two young sons, appreciates PBS Kids programming for its educational content and values.
Leading the Way
Educator John Russ uses the Literacy Leadership interactive learning tool to prepare his aspiring elementary school principals for their work.
Dropping Back In
The flexibility of KET’s GED study materials helps adult educator Stephanie Scheer meet the varied needs of her students.
Engaging Students
For science teacher Rebecca Schwab, KET EncycloMedia is an invaluable tool for getting and holding students’ attention.
Successful Teaching
Literacy Strategies in Action is among the KET professional development materials that are used by Clay County reading coach Denva Smith.
Learning and Doing
The KET Arts Toolkits bring a whole world of arts to Rhonda Smith and her rural students.
Finding Lost Works
KET’s documentary and web site on Mayfield-born artist Ellis Wilson has led curator Albert Sperath to many a previously unknown painting.
Improving Public Health
Dr. Adewale Troutman, director of Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, says KET’s health-related programming is critical to improving public health.
Opening Doors
Involvement in KET outreach projects is helping Lavel White pursue his dream of becoming a filmmaker.
A Road Trip to Scale City
Math teacher Julie Williams uses KET's Scale City to take middle school students on an interactive road trip through Kentucky to learn proportional reasoning.
Nurturing the Arts
Author Sheila Williams turns to KET arts programming like Kentucky Muse to nourish her soul.
Staying Informed
Connie Wilson depends on KET’s public affairs programs to keep up with issues throughout her state and her world.
Leveling the Playing Field
Campbellsville school superintendent Diane Woods-Ayers relies on KET EncycloMedia to give students in her small town the same learning opportunities as their urban counterparts.