KCTCS and Herff Jones partner to enhance graduation experience
June 30, 2022
Herff Jones becomes the official graduation regalia provider for KCTCS.
Versailles, Ky. – The Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS) announced today that it has selected Herff Jones as its official graduation regalia provider for the next 10 years. The arrangement is designed to increase participation in graduation and enhance the student experience by providing quality graduation items at lower costs due to economies of scale.
The agreement is the first system-wide sponsorship for KCTCS and includes support for all 16 KCTCS colleges. Financial components include scholarship funding for KCTCS students, a bank of funds to help disadvantaged graduates pay for their caps and gowns, an annual sponsorship fee and opportunity for growth rebates over time as the program matures.
“KCTCS is excited to partner with Herff Jones Company, as all of our colleges are expected to benefit from additional support with graduation fairs and programs and the ability for all students to receive a fixed and affordable price point,” said Vikki Parman, KCTCS assistant vice president of Business Services/Chief Operating Officer. “We are especially pleased to be able to contribute to this special occasion that honors our students who have worked so hard to graduate.”
The exclusive partnership will also create consistent, affordable pricing for caps, gowns, diploma frames and other graduation products, increase sales through Barnes and Noble campus bookstores and elevate KCTCS college commencement through in-kind support and experiential engagement at key graduation related events on each campus.
The flagship agreement was brokered by The Superlative Group from Cleveland, Ohio, the exclusive sponsorship valuation and sales agent for KCTCS.
“A 10-year partnership with KCTCS is meaningful because it proves their trust in our ability to meet their needs and help celebrate their students’ achievement year in and year out,” said Zach Baird, vice president, College Division, Herff Jones. “We appreciate the work and support of the KCTCS teams, The Superlative Group and Barnes and Noble to bring this partnership together, and we are excited to serve the students and faculty of the KCTCS system.”
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The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is the Commonwealth’s largest postsecondary institution with 16 colleges and more than 70 campuses. We also are Kentucky’s largest provider of workforce training, dual credit classes and online education. Through partnerships with business and industry, we align our programs to meet the needs of local employers. Our colleges are united in their commitment to making life better for our students, communities and the citizens of Kentucky. Since our creation, we have served more than one million Kentuckians.
Connect with KCTCS: kctcs.edu | Facebook.com/kctcs | Twitter @kctcs
ABOUT HERFF JONES
Indianapolis-based Herff Jones is the leading provider of graduation and educational products and services designed to inspire achievement and create memorable experiences for students. A division of Varsity Brands, Herff Jones’ products include class rings and jewelry, caps and gowns, yearbooks, diplomas, frames and announcements as well as motivation and recognition programs. Focused on building long-term relationships through a nationwide network of over 2,000 employees and sales partners, the professionals at Herff Jones have been helping elevate the student experience throughout the lifelong journey of education for more than 100 years. For more information about Herff Jones or Varsity Brands, please visit www.herffjones.com or www.varsitybrands.com.
