Lt. Governor visits local schools to encourage students to go after dreams, marks playing drums off of bucket list

Posted October 26, 2016 at 9:29 am


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Lt. Gov Drums.psd

Kentucky Lt. Governor Jenean Hampton had a big smile during a visit to Clinton County High School last week when she accompanied the band on the drums, something she noted had been on her bucket list. At far right, she speaks to the student body and faculty.

The Clinton County High School student body welcomed a special guest speaker last Thursday, October 20.

Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Jenean Hampton arrived on campus and delivered a positive message to students and teachers alike.

She also took advantage of the chance to fulfill a wish that she noted had been something that was “on her bucket list.”

As Hampton entered Lindle Castle Gymnasium, the Clinton County Band, under the direction of Doug Sell, began playing.

After the band played the National Anthem and the JROTC Bulldog Battalion Color Guard had presented the American Flag, Hampton expressed gratitude and then added “One thing that’s been on my bucket list is to play the drums,” Hampton said.

At the conclusion of the assembly, Hampton suited up a set of drums and the CCHS Band fired up a song so the Lt. Governor could play along with the students.

During Hampton’s visit to Clinton County, she also visited the Foothills Academy. With education being in the top of her priorities as Lt. Governor, Hampton’s visit had a warm welcome by the schools.

Hampton was born in 1958 in Detroit. She said she came from a very financially humble household and with three sisters, times were hard growing up.

Hampton earned an Industrial Engineering degree in 1985 and then joined the U.S. Air Force as a computer systems officer. Her main job in the military was writing code and testing software for the Air Force.

During her military service, she was on a tour of duty in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm. When she got out of the military, Hampton worked in the corrugated packaging industry for 19 years.

Hampton is married to retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Dr. Doyle Isaak and they reside in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

“I knew when I became an adult, I could chart my own course,” Hampton said. “I just tuned out all those negative voices. You are going to meet people in your lifetime who don’t want you start to do well, it seems like they are hell bent on dragging you down by the ankles.”

Hampton’s message to the student body at Clinton County High School was to go after whatever dreams they had.

“Surround yourself with people who lift you up,” Hampton said to the student body. “Avoid the people who suck the joy out of your life.”

Hampton said she worked her way through college and entered the Air Force soon after.

“I really developed a love for programing,” Hampton said. “We are born and blessed to be born in the United States of America. We are so blessed to live in this nation at this time. We truly are. I don’t know any other country with the amount of freedom we have here. If I go back far enough in my family there are probably slaves. I have a freedom that those ancestors prayed to have.”

Several of the platforms Hampton is passionate about is education, aviation and aerospace. “Aviation and aerospace is Kentucky’s largest export … and it is growing fast,” Hampton said.

Hampton went on to talk about her entrepreneurship program that has kicked off in Kentucky.

“It’s open to ninth through twelfth graders in Kentucky. If you have an idea, get a team of two to four people with two adult mentors. What’s at stake is serious scholarship money,” Hampton said. “The top three teams in Kentucky … the winning three teams, will split a pot that is now approaching $100,000.”

Hampton said the money can be spent anywhere in Kentucky on any post secondary educational institute.

“We divided Kentucky into five zones. The top two teams in Kentucky from each zone will go forward to compete in the finals,” Hampton said. “The competition is starting to spread. Maybe the winning team is in this high school.”

Hampton said she is truly blessed to be the Lt. Governor.

“This is all about service. I’m in a position to serve the people of Kentucky,” Hampton said.