Meet Katherine

Katherine Tounge is a woman on a slightly different career path. She is enrolled in the Aviation Maintenance Technology Program at Somerset Community College.

Katherine is an excellent student. She has been awarded a Mattie Helen Elliott Scholarship at SCC.

Katherine was named a Distinguished Chapter Officer for Omicron Zeta, the SCC chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the academic honor society for two-year colleges.

However, she is most proud of the scholarship she earned to study the advanced composite materials used in the most modern aircraft.

The scholarship was awarded by Abaris Training in Griffin, Georgia, a company known for its refined techniques and the use of the latest technology in the manufacture and repair of advanced composite materials for the aircraft industry.

“This scholarship will help me develop expertise manufacturing and repairing composites such as fiberglass and Kevlar®, carbon fiber, Nomex® honeycomb and foam core materials,” Tounge said.

Tounge will graduate from SCC with an Associate Degree in Applied Science and an Airframe and Powerplant Certificate in May, 2010. She plans to continue her education at Eastern Kentucky University and obtain a bachelor’s degree is Aviation Management.

"My Associate Degree from Somerset Community College and the scholarship to study advanced composite materials will give me a leg up as I pursue my career in Aviation," Tounge said.