The Center for Rural Development and Forward in the Fifth"s latest live webinar yesterday afternoon featured professionals in the human services, education, and construction sectors as part of a week of live "College and Career Readiness: Moving Forward" web broadcasts in conjunction with the statewide Operation Preparation week in Kentucky. 

Host Michael Cornett, far left, director of marketing and public relations for The Center, welcomed panelists Carroll Ann Busher, second from left, director of Eastern Kentucky Child Care Coalition; Dr. Sandy Medley, staff psychologist at Bluegrass Oakwood; and Josh Branscum, director of marketing, estimating and design at Branscum Construction.

Students in 120 middle and high schools in 32 Kentucky counties have access to the week's live webinars, and even more, students will when the videotaped segments are made available to educators across the state and region.

Operation Preparation, which is being observed in Kentucky from March 12-16, helps students learn about a variety of careers directly from professionals in numerous fields.

The webinar project, funded by a United States Department of Education i3 grant, is presented by Forward in the Fifth, a nonprofit organization and affiliate of The Center; Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative; Green River Regional Educational Cooperative; WIN Learning; and Sonic Foundry.

Students within the primary service regions of Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative and Green River Regional Educational Cooperative in Western and Eastern Kentucky may submit questions to the panel via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..