Cloyd Naylor and adult daughters Carla Martin and Donna Hammons never lack for inspiration at Eastern Kentucky University's Danville Center.

They've always got each other.

Naylor, of Lancaster, is a part-time interactive TV facilitator at the Center, where Martin and Hammons are pursuing baccalaureate degrees in office systems technology and interpreter training, respectively.

The daughters' stories are similar and not at all uncommon at the Center, where about 60 percent of the students are of non-traditional college age.

Martin, who earned her GED 10 years ago, enrolled at the Center in January 2000 shortly after being laid off from Matsushita.

"I could see my life going down the drain," the Junction City resident said. "But I had two inspirations - my mom and (Danville Center Director) Cindy Peck. My mom wants to see all her kids achieve their dreams, and I was determined to get a better education so I could support myself."

In a sense, Peck is part of that family support system, which also includes a fiance, and daughters ages 21 and 10. "This is a family atmosphere here," Martin said. "They make you feel very welcome and will help you with any problem."

Martin's sister, Hammons, comes by her interest in interpreting naturally. Twenty years ago, when her mother was hired at Kentucky School for the Deaf, Hammons learned some sign language, too, just to be able to help Mom practice. Then, three years ago, the youngest of

Hammons' three children was born deaf. Doctors determined the cause was fluid behind the ears and the hearing problem was soon corrected, but the experience stayed with Hammons.

A 1984 graduate of Garrard County High School, Hammons earned a degree at an area business college in 1995 and held a retail position for about a year.

"Once the opportunity presented itself to go back to college and earn a bachelor's degree, we had a family pow-wow, and we talked about how it would be rough for the next four years, but everybody would have to pitch in," she said.

And pitch in they have, from husband Jerry Hammons Jr. to the other two children, ages 15 and 13. Fifteen-year-old Jessica is in the Upward Bound program at EKU this summer.

Like her sister, Hammons enjoys the "relaxed" and congenial atmosphere at the Center. "If you're having a bad day, there are 15 people who'll pat you on the back and say, 'Don't worry, honey, it'll get better.'"

Naylor said she's very proud of her three children, including a son who graduated from 2-
Lexington Technical College.

"It was always my dream for my kids to go to college," Naylor said. "My dad instilled this in me. He only had a fourth-grade education, my mom finished eighth grade, and I was the only one of eight to graduate from high school."

Still, there was discouragement at every turn. "I was told in high school that I'd never amount to anything, that I would be a factory worker all my life. When I graduated from high school, that's all you needed. We didn't go to college. Now it takes a college education and two people working in order to have the finer things of life. I want the finest things for my children."

Naylor reared her daughters as a single mother from their teen years on. "My house wasn't always the cleanest," she said, "but I gave them memories that no one can take away. I tried to give them a well-rounded family life even though there was only one of me. I wanted all of them to graduate from high school."

And now she has a front-row seat to cheer them on to a college degree.

Fall classes begin at EKU's Danville Center on Monday, Aug. 19. The admission deadline for degree-seeking students is Aug. 1. Center staff members are on hand Monday-Saturday to assist students with admissions, registration, advising, financial assistance and textbooks.

Summer hours are 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays.

New Student Day will be held Thursday, Aug. 15 from 9 a.m. to noon for those students new to the Center. The event features free food and T-shirts, as well as sessions on study skills and time management. To register for New Student Day, call 859-236-6866.

About 750 students are expected to enroll in about 140 courses this fall. In addition, students from area high schools continue to take courses in the Jump Start Program, which allows high school seniors to take one free class in the fall and spring semesters. These classes are fully transferable.

New at the Danville Center this fall are expanded work study opportunities for students, a large television in the student lounge, regular visits by Student Health Services staff and an enhanced advising system.

EKU's Danville Center is located at the intersection of US 127 and the US 150 By-Pass at the southern edge of the city. For more information, call 859-236-6866.