Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (ECTC) will recognize eight alumni and two retired employees for their exemplary work at the annual Profiles of Excellence celebration.
The Distinguished Alumni program has now recognized the academic, professional and humanitarian endeavors of 170 former students.
Those recognized this year include two Grayson County residents: Dr. Darrell W. Witten, of Clarkson, and Amy Clemons, of Leitchfield.
ECTC said the following about 2026 Distinguished Alumni inductees Clemons and Witten:
Amy Clemons serves as case manager for Pallitus Health Partners. She worked part-time as a certified nursing assistant at Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center and attended ECTC from 1997 to 1998 to obtain a nursing degree. She first worked in surgery, obstetrics and home health before moving to palliative care.
She and her husband, Wayne, have four children and seven grandchildren and she is involved in her community by pastoring a church and offering Christian education. During her time at ECTC, Clemons remembers that the school was small enough that students felt seen and heard, yet large enough to provide an excellent education.
She lists Professor Martha Glutting as a favorite instructor, commending Glutting’s ways of positive reinforcement and presentation, which created lasting impact on Clemons’ career and self- esteem.
Dr. Darrell Witten serves as an adjunct professor and university supervisor for the University of the Cumberlands after retiring from Hardin County Schools after a 29-year career as a classroom teacher, school leader, principal, Kentucky Department of Education employee and district administrator.
He attended ECTC as an honors graduate from 1975 to 1976, transferred to WKU to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees as an educational specialist, then earned his doctorate from the University of the Cumberlands in 2023. He was elected to the Grayson County School Board in 2024, where he serves as its chair.
Witten and his wife, Sheila, have four children, 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, and he is a leader at Clarkson Baptist Church and vice president of the Leitchfield Lions Club.
Of his time at ECTC, Witten credits his excellent and caring instructors who instilled in him a drive for excellence and a passion for teaching and learning.
The Profiles of Excellence celebration will be held from 6-8 p.m. March 17 in the ECTC Student Center. Details and registration can be found at ectc.us/profiles-dinner. RSVP by March 10.
Names and photos of this year’s honorees will join others in the Hall of Distinguished Alumni, on display in the atrium of the Regional Postsecondary Center on ECTC’s Elizabethtown campus.
In addition, Dr. Jim Murley and Leslie R. Pike will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for their service to the college.
The Profiles of Excellence celebration will be held from 6-8 p.m. March 17 in the ECTC Student Center. Details and registration can be found at ectc.us/profiles-dinner. RSVP by March 10.
Other 2026 ECTC Distinguished Alumni
Chloe Anderson has served as the human resources manager for Kruger Packaging since its foundational startup phase in Elizabethtown in 2021 and has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s growth and workplace culture. Prior to serving in her current role, Anderson worked in human resources at Panera Bread and AGC Automotive. She attended ECTC from 2009-2011, then earned a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in human resource management at Western Kentucky University in 2014. She volunteers with local animal rescue organizations such as the Hardin County and Vine Grove animal shelters, and said her happiest moments involve time spent with animals. Regarding her years spent at ECTC, she said public speaking professor Katrina Eicher shaped how she communicates to this day, and that her guidance gave Anderson the skill set and the confidence to step into a career filled with public speaking opportunities.
Bobby G. Barker of Campbellsville joined the U.S. Navy right out of the high school in 1967. He was sent to Vietnam, where he served on patrol boats and completed several missions before being wounded. He attended ECTC from 1972-1973 and as a student was nominated by Dr. Linda Mayhew for Who’s Who in American Junior Colleges. Barker earned a Bachelor of Science in geology from WKU in 1984. He worked as an environmental scientist and training officer for Fort Knox for 30 years and was named a Kentucky Colonel in 1983. He designed inspection, estimate, and waste manifest forms that are still utilized to this day; and assisted several local Corps of Engineers agencies in procuring abatement companies at greatly reduced prices. Now retired, Barker pursues many interests such as music and photography, and enjoys spending time with his wife, Connie, fishing and hunting. He has volunteered for many organizations and has served the local Lions Club for the past 10 years. Regarding his time spent at ECTC, Barker said it was within those walls that he learned to support himself and intentionally pursue his education.
Nick Carter, Ed. D of Irvington serves as the superintendent of the Breckinridge County School District and has led with a strategic vision that prioritizes student success, staff development and community engagement. Carter attended ECTC from 2000 to 2002, then earned a Bachelor of Arts in social studies, a master’s degree in school administration, and certification as a school superintendent from WKU by 2012. He also earned a doctorate in educational leadership from Morehead State University in 2018. Throughout his career, he’s served in a variety of roles, from social studies teacher and coach to assistant principal at an elementary school, and principal of Breckinridge County High School, and was named the 2025 Superintendent of the Year by the Kentucky Association of School Administrators. Carter and his wife, Robin, have two daughters, Hannah and Chesney. Of his time at ECTC, he recalls the intense history lessons taught by Dr. Gary Sterns. He describes himself as arriving to ECTC’s campus as an 18-year-old kid with no confidence but leaving with the knowledge of his academic potential that propelled him to future success.
Charles F. deRoche of Radcliff serves as the director of facilities and purchasing for Abound Credit Union and has been instrumental in shaping its physical presence and member experience across Kentucky. He attended ECTC from 1978-1980, then earned a degree in electronics. He worked for 16 years at a local cable television company, then as a performance engineer for Bluegrass Cellular, before moving to Fort Knox Federal Credit Union, now Abound, in 2003. He is a devoted husband, father, grandfather, church volunteer and lifelong learner. He and his wife, Pamela, councilwoman for the City of Radcliff, are involved in their church and community, and deRoche has served as a music minister at St. Bridget Catholic Church since 1983. He credits ECTC for preparing him for a successful career by fostering independence and developing critical skills such as time management and accountability.
Barbara Lee Jones serves as human resources manager for the City of Elizabethtown. She graduated from Elizabethtown High School in May 1988 and began taking summer classes at ECTC before transferring to the University of Kentucky, earning a degree in accounting in 1992. Jones volunteers frequently, including with the marriage, women’s and children’s ministries at Severns Valley Baptist Church, has served on the boards of directors of CASA of the Heartland and Habitat for Humanity, and was named a Kentucky Colonel. Of her time the college, she recalls that after four semesters of calculus together, Dr. Linda Mayhew left the most lasting impression of any teacher she’s ever had. She credits her experience at ECTC with preparing her for her future role in human resources because working with students of different ages showed that everyone learns and works at different speeds and communicates in different ways.
Dr. Darrell Witten of Clarkson serves as an adjunct professor and university supervisor for the University of the Cumberlands after retiring from Hardin County Schools after a 29-year career as a classroom teacher, school leader, principal, Kentucky Department of Education employee and district administrator. He attended ECTC as an honors graduate from 1975 to 1976, transferred to WKU to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees as an educational specialist, then earned his doctorate from the University of the Cumberlands in 2023. He was elected to the Grayson County School Board in 2024, where he serves as its chair. Witten and his wife, Sheila, have four children, 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, and he is a leader at Clarkson Baptist Church and vice president of the Leitchfield Lions Club. Of his time at ECTC, Witten credits his excellent and caring instructors who instilled in him a drive for excellence and a passion for teaching and learning.
Tony York is the owner, operator and chef at Tony York’s on Main in Glendale. He attended ECTC from 1983-1985, and launched his restaurant in 2009, which also acts as a venue for artists to display and sell their work. He has served as a mentor through the years, providing first jobs for hundreds of young people and hosting special etiquette dinners to introduce them to fine dining. York credits ECTC with teaching him how to be an independent thinker, and he fondly remembers music classes with Camille Hill.
The 2026 ECTC Lifetime Achievement honorees include the following:
Dr. Jim Murley served as a professor of humanities and art history at ECTC from 1976-2018. He was a theater teacher, an education teacher, an art historian and the director of the Lifelong Learner Program. After graduating from Bellarmine University in 1969 and earning a master’s degree in English from Duke University, Murley returned to Bellarmine as an instructor and spent much of the summers hosteling in Europe until 1974, when he married his wife, Marilyn. Once his three children left for college, he resumed his education to study art history and humanities part-time, adding another master’s degree and a doctorate in 2011. He also taught in the Kentucky Institute of European Studies during this time, which allowed him to teach in the summer and winter programs in Greece and Italy. After 42 years, Murley retired from ECTC in 2018. He and his wife now reside in Kansas City to be near family, and he volunteers for conservation efforts with the Overland Park Arboretum and KC Wildlands.
Leslie R. Pike, known as Les, served as the Auto/Diesel department chair and program coordinator at ECTC from 1988 to 2013, where he led the program to achieve regional and national recognition as a top-performing technical program. Pike grew up working on cars and trucks because of his farm background. After graduating from Lincoln Technical Institute in Indianapolis and earning his Master ASE Certifications, Pike worked at Fort Knox as a mechanic before joining ECTC as an instructor in 1988. He attributes the program’s long-term success to a culture of viewing work as a vocation, rather than just a job. From his time at the college, he misses most watching students get excited about learning. He and his wife, Angela, live in Hodgenville.
By ECTC and Ken Howlett, News Director
