April 25, 2018
PIPPA PASSES, Ky. (WYMT) – For the next week, WYMT will be announcing winners from the East Kentucky Leadership Foundation’s annual award ceremony.
For the Private Individual Award, we went to Alice Lloyd College to talk with a man who has worked tirelessly to have the college recognized in two national publications. And that is just the beginning of his accomplishments.
Many years ago, when Alice Lloyd came to this region, her goal in life quickly became offering children in Appalachia a character based education. Her goal was that they would one day bring their skills and knowledge back home.
Joe Stepp became the president of Alice Lloyd 19 years ago and today, he continues to carry that mission with him.
He says one of the ways he grows students to their full potential is through a work-study education.
“Our students do everything from work in the cafeteria, to cut the grass, they work in offices, they work in the tech lab, the IT department, they’re teacher’s aids”, said Alice Lloyd College President Joe Stepp. “I’ve got two students that work in my front office out here. And when they graduate, they get a regular diploma and they get a work diploma. And so they’re building a resume in their four of five years here on campus.”
Stepp says requiring students to work helps them to be better prepared for life after Alice Lloyd. He says it also helps Alice Lloyd provide for students.
“Alice Lloyd College makes a greater financial commitment to it’s students than any college in the United States.”
Alice Lloyd covers the full cost of tuition for students. Stepp says he also has a system in place to pay for students who continue their education at the next level.
“We track our students. Where are they 10 months after graduation? I just got my report from last year. 96% of our graduates, 10 months after graduation, are in either graduate school, professional school, or they have a job”, said Stepp. “Very few of them, and they owe very little, and in many cases, no money, they’re debt free. It’s just a remarkable model and that’s kind of what’s kept me here. And that’s kind of how you talk about measuring success at the school. So yes, I put a whole lot of emphasis on that.”
Stepp does not measure success by individual accomplishments like being recognized by U.S. News & World Report as being the top college for graduating students with the least amount of debt or by growing the endowment nearly 200% and landing the college in Forbes Magazine as one of the 100 most financially fit colleges in America.
He measures success through his students.
“Close to 83% of our graduates do return to Appalachia”, said Stepp.
A goal in line with the vision established by Alice Lloyd herself; educate them to come back.
The 2018 EAST KENTUCKY LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL goes to Joe Stepp.
