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John Sykes from DataMart
By Monica Pattison
HR Branch Manager
At the heart of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet lies a dynamic workforce of IT professionals, engaged in projects that span a plethora of diverse operational needs. The role of the IT Systems Consultant is essential to those operations, encompassing responsibilities that extend across physical and data security, inventory management, website development, data visualization dashboards, and even the wireless optimization of traffic signals.
MEET JOHN
One of these consultants is John Sykes. John brings a unique skillset to the table with a background in graphic design. His creative expertise assisted him in the creation of the KYTC Data Mart, a multifaceted data dashboard. This dashboard serves to aid KYTC personnel and the public in viewing a large collection of data in an organized and easily accessible manner.
This data ranges from electric vehicle statistics to the number of state-maintained bridges in each of Kentucky’s 120 counties.
Did you know that there are 9 times more motorcycles than RVs and motorhomes registered in the state of Kentucky? You can find that information there too!
DATA MART ACTIVITY
Before you begin, find out what county you live in. Go to Data Mart and find the answers to these questions:
Question 1
How many BRIDGES does KYTC maintain in your county?
Question 2
How many vehicle CRASHES happened last year in your county?
Question 3
How many MILES of road does KYTC maintain in your county?
Question 4
In 2022, how many registered ELECTRIC VEHICLES are in your county?
MEET CALEB
Another IT Systems Consultant, Caleb Young, can be found working within a completely different area of IT. One of his responsibilities is to ensure employees are equipped with various technological hardware and assist them the set-up of these items. Modern computer systems can be very complex as it works with the massive design files that create and maintain roads.
Caleb can also be found setting up audiovisual systems for conferences or managing physical security elements like badge access and surveillance cameras. He even works on equipment that will be installed in traffic signals and cameras to enable remote access and control of those devices!
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In today’s ever-evolving digital landscape, the versatility and expertise of our KYTC IT professionals make their role pivotal to the success of KYTC’s many operational functions. As the world around us changes, the need for these experts will continue to grow as we involve technology in more and more aspects of transportation.
 Letter to Students
Hello!
My name is Travis Wagers, and I am the Operations Manager for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) Office of Information Technology (OIT). It is an honor and privilege to write to students and educators regarding the applications of Information Technology within the KYTC. Like many of you, I am from a small rural town in Kentucky, and I was uncertain about where the future would take me. I had a passion for science, math, and technology, but I was unsure where I would find a career in the field I was extremely passionate about.
I made one of the best decisions of my life by accepting an Information Technology position within the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. I work in one of the most interesting and technologically diverse environments in Kentucky, and I go to work every day to help make Kentucky a better place!
By far the most fulfilling thing I have done at KYTC Office of Information Technology has been working with my colleagues during the recent Western Kentucky tornado and Eastern Kentucky flooding events. KYTC OIT assisted in deploying portable cell towers to aid in the response efforts, outfitted temporary housing with internet and communications for who lost their homes, used our new portable driver's license units to provide government identification to those who lost everything, and used GIS mapping technology to help aid in rescue efforts! I have never been more prouder to call myself a Kentuckian than I was while watching how we all came together during these crises.
If you also have a passion for S.T.E.M., the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet would be an amazing choice for your career. It has changed my life, and I am certain it will do the same for you! Lastly, remember the next time you drive over a bridge, under a traffic light, or by a salt truck, there is a team of us in KYTC Technology working everyday to make sure you get home safely.
Sincerely,
Travis Wagers
Before you dig. Know what’s below!
Did you know that the space our roads are built on are also filed with utilities? Utilities are goods and services that our communities use every day. They include water to drink, electricity to illuminate our homes, gas for heating and cooking, internet access to stream the next blockbuster movie, and many other types of utilities. The companies that provide these goods and services use our road right of way because it provides a clear path to serve your home!
When we build a road or maintain an existing road, we have to carefully consider these utilities. We try to avoid them with our planned construction work, if we can. However, they are often underground, which makes then tough to find and therefore even tougher to avoid. That’s why we call Kentucky 811. It's a clearinghouse that will contact owner utility companies, which in turn will help us locate the facilities they own in the area of our project. Then, we can work to avoid damaging those important utilities during our road construction. KY 811 offers this service to anyone who is going to be digging, for organizations like KYTC that build multi-million dollar projects all the way to homeowners planning to install a mailbox along the road. So, if you are going to dig, know what’s below and call KY811.
If you want to learn more about how these utilities are located without digging them up, KEEN has a presentation. We even bring some of the equipment used in real life to demonstrate how utilities can be located when they can’t be seen. If you would like to test run your underground utility-locating skills, give them a call at 811!
Visit their website call811.com BEFORE YOU DIG!
Invite KEEN to your classroom for a hands-on demonstration for locating utilities underground!
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Scholarship Recipient Highlight
Hello! I’m Trystin Perkins.
As a First-Generation and Financial Need Student, college seemed to be an insurmountable task for someone of my background. While the process of getting accepted into a university was difficult, it wasn’t impossible. When I graduated high school, I attended the University of Louisville’s Speed School of Engineering. Thanks to hard work and good grades, I was eligible for scholarships from the university and was also able to obtain financial aid.
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During my first internship with KYTC, I was informed about the scholarship and was encouraged to apply for it. I submitted my letters of recommendation and the short essay for the scholarship. I almost forgot about my application for the scholarship during my second internship, but then I received a phone call from the KYTC scholarship coordinator to schedule an interview. The interview process was phenomenal, my interviewers made me feel comfortable about the work environment and I gained a better understanding of how my future coworkers help nurture future engineers coming to work at the Cabinet. |
As I continued to work my second internship with the Cabinet, I received another call from the KYTC scholarship coordinator. This time, it was to confirm that I was chosen as a recipient of the KYTC Civil Engineering Scholarship for the University of Louisville and that I would be working in the District that I planned to live in after college.
During my time with KYTC, I have participated in four internships (currently on my fourth rotation). Two of the four were especially beneficial – working during the Western Kentucky tornado outbreak and the Eastern Kentucky flood emergency missions.
These valuable two rotations working during the Western Tornado and Eastern Kentucky Flood Emergency Missions. My role was Field Coordinator for the Travel Trailer Program, in which I worked hand in hand with the Chief District Engineer and the Branch Managers as well as the Kentucky Emergency Management team.
My job was to inspect and prepare travel trailers for the families affected in Western Kentucky and assisted engineers with building/planning sites for future travel trailers in Eastern Kentucky. My time with everyone really expanded my knowledge and experience as an engineer, something most engineers would not have had the chance to do, let alone an engineering student.
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Tristyn Perkins receiving the Calvin Grayson Award from State Highway Engineer James Ballinger during the 75th Anniversary Scholarship celebration
During my fourth rotation, I attended the 75th Anniversary Event, and to my surprise, was awarded the Calvin G. Grayson Award for my contributions in the Western and Eastern Kentucky Emergency Missions. This award was an immense honor to receive. It was also a distinguished honor to represent Calvin G. Grayson who has made such a huge impact on the Cabinet and the entire state of Kentucky.
My rotations with the Cabinet as an engineering student helped me greatly to understand how big of an impact I can make in my community. The scholarship has assisted me to pay for college as well as to give me a guaranteed job with the Cabinet after graduation. Thanks to my rotations with the Cabinet, I know that whichever department I end up in will have experienced and highly knowledgeable coworkers to learn from.
Tristyn
Scholarship Program Awards 34 Students
This year, the KYTC Transportation Scholarship program has awarded college scholarships to 34 promising students from across Kentucky to help further their pursuit of careers in civil engineering, construction management and engineering technology!
Learn more about the program by watching the video below that featuring some of KYTC's current employees!
 The Transportation Cabinet offers three scholarships for engineering and construction management. All programs include summer internships and a full-time job upon graduation. The deadline to apply is February 1. Check out our website for more information and to download an application.
1. Civil Engineering Scholarship
The Civil Engineering Scholarship awards up to $59,200 for students pursuing a four-year degree in Civil Engineering.
2. NEW Construction Management Scholarship
For the first time, a limited number of scholarships will also be awarded for a four-year degree in Construction Management.
Just launched for the fall 2023 semester, this scholarship will pay up to four years of education at Northern Kentucky University, Eastern Kentucky University, Western Kentucky University, Morehead State University, or Murray State University and is worth up to $59,200 (before taxes).
3. Civil Engineering Technology Scholarship
The Civil Engineering Technology Scholarship awards up to $14,800 ($3,700 per semester) to complete an Associate’s Degree in Civil Engineering Technology from BCTC or BSCTC.
The scholarship programs provide employment during the summer and after graduation. Visit our website for more information.
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