Anchor Intro
	Kentuckians between the ages of 25 to 50 have some college credit but no degree. Now a program called Project Graduate is offering them a second chance. Action New 36’s Kelly Wilson shows us how it’s helping one woman finally earn her degree.


Karen Cropper:	“My job could be in jeopardy.” 

Soundbite:	This worried Karen Cropper enough to convince her to come back to school. 

Karen Cropper:	“The degree's important.” 

Soundbite:	She is one of more than two hundred Kentuckians that will finally get her degree this year. 

Karen Cropper	“I started going back when Drew was in the first grade so we could do our homework together.” 

Soundbite:	Cropper dropped out due to financial reasons; since then shes been balancing family life and a job. 

Karen Cropper		“And that’s where I got overwhelmed.” 

Soundbite:	So she got involved in the [Project] Graduate program that targets adults ages 25 to 50 who already have 90 credit hours or more. It gets them back on track and back in class. 

Jerry Price:	“There are thousands, literally thousands, of students out there that need to graduate to further job opportunities.”

Soundbite:		So far it’s attracted a wide variety of people.

Jerry Price:	This past May there was a gentleman that was 77 years old that walked across the stage and picked up his University of Kentucky college diploma.”

Karen Cropper:	“And I always said I’d do it by the time I turned 40. Well, I turned forty in February.” 

Soundbite:		So despite her busy schedule, she made time.

Karen Cropper:	“Well you kinda have to make a choice."

Soundbite:		And this is one she won’t regret.

Karen Cropper:	“I did this for me. I got it done. I feel really good about it."

Soundbite:		Kelly Wilson, Action News 36.


14 adults received their degrees last month and more are on track to graduate this summer. Cropper receives her degree in August.  More than 200 adults are enrolled in summer and Fall classes.