President's Page A New Beginning: From Marshall to Mountwest

With spring upon us we see signs of new beginnings all around. This time of year brings many refreshing perspectives, attitudes, and initiatives. These same qualities are very evident here, at MCTC, as we begin a most significant venture, the branding for the new Mountwest Community & Technical College.

The choice of a name and subsequent development of a new identity has been a very deliberate and strategic process. Working with our many stakeholders, students, faculty, staff, and community members, our Board of Governors employed a highly disciplined procedure to gather input. Mountwest was eventually chosen from a list that included over two hundred suggestions. We feel it best represents our College in many ways. However, the main factor influencing the decision was the chosen location for our campus, in the westernmost portion of mountain state, situated atop a two-level summit. Additionally, the name will allow us to keep our very recognizable "MCTC" acronym. The decision process involved a spirited debate among many on our Board of Governors, each representing the stakeholders previously mentioned. We feel that Mountwest is an excellent choice and one that will allow us to grow with distinction.

Another important element in the branding of our Institution was the choice of a College logo. My hope is that the community will embrace the new college identity with the same pride that I feel. As with the naming process, we went through numerous options until the logo you see on this page was chosen by our Board of Governors. The identity is different from our previous mark in that we have new colors, a new icon that identifies the college, and a new, updated style.

The naming of the college and the accompanying identity is the beginning of an exciting period for Mountwest. Over the next year, our new campus will take shape on the picturesque hilltop above the 5th Street I-64 interchange. Our student population will continue to grow and we look forward to many new students joining the MCTC learning community. While we are certain that we will have hurdles along the way, we are confident that our leadership team, our Board of Governors, our exceptional faculty, staff, and students will all contribute to make Mountwest a truly remarkable, distinctive, and invaluable resource within our region.

Keith Cotroneo
Dr. Keith Cotroneo, President