SKYCTC to Celebrate Grand Opening of Robert and Mary Tincher Campus Community Center

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) will celebrate the official opening and ribbon cutting of its newly renovated Robert and Mary Tincher Campus Community Center on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, at 10 a.m. on the College's Main Campus.

The $5 million renovation transformed the former Building D into a modern, state-of-the-art campus gathering space that will serve students and the broader community for generations to come. The ceremony will also honor the extraordinary legacy of Robert and Mary Tincher by formally dedicating the facility in recognition of their unparalleled generosity and commitment to education.

Designed as the heart of campus life, the Robert and Mary Tincher Campus Community Center features a public art gallery, auditorium, meeting and event spaces, and areas that support student engagement, educational programming and community events. The facility reflects SKYCTC's commitment to creating welcoming spaces that inspire learning, collaboration and community connection.

"At SKYCTC, we believe college is about more than earning a degree. It's about creating opportunities that change lives and strengthen communities," said SKYCTC Chancellor Michelle Trawick. "The Robert and Mary Tincher Campus Community Center will be a place where our students, employees, and community members can come together, connect, and build relationships. We are incredibly thankful for the impact the Tinchers have had on SKYCTC through their commitment to student success. Their scholarship support has helped hundreds of students pursue their educational goals, and naming this center in their honor recognizes a legacy that will continue to inspire and benefit future generations.”

The Tinchers have played an extraordinary role in the growth and success of SKYCTC. Over the years, Mary Tincher and the Robert and Mary Tincher Charitable Foundation have contributed more than $3.2 million to the SKYCTC Foundation, making them the largest single donors in the College's history. 

Robert "Bob" Tincher served as chief executive officer of Monarch Environmental for 25 years and was widely respected as a self-made businessman known for his wisdom, humility and generosity. Passionate about helping others succeed—particularly those pursuing careers in the skilled trades—Bob supported numerous organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club, Hospice and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. His wife, Mary Louise Tincher, worked for Western Kentucky Gas Company before retiring from Bowling Green Parks and Recreation, where she also demonstrated a lifelong commitment to serving others. Together, the couple quietly made an enduring impact on Bowling Green through their philanthropic efforts.

Following Bob Tincher's passing in 2009, Mary established the Robert and Mary Tincher Charitable Foundation to ensure their shared commitment to helping others would continue. The Foundation focuses on expanding access to higher education through scholarships while also supporting programs that benefit children and senior citizens throughout the region.

Mary Tincher's partnership with SKYCTC began in 2010 with a generous contribution to the College's "Fulfilling the Promise" Campaign. She continued to invest in student success through annual scholarship support, gifts to the student emergency fund and a significant contribution to the college's BuildSMART Capital Campaign in 2018. Thanks to the Tinchers' generosity, nearly 1,000 SKYCTC students have received scholarships, with many more expected to benefit in the years ahead.

"The Tinchers believed education changes lives," said Heather Rogers, executive director of the SKYCTC Foundation. "Every scholarship they have funded represents an opportunity for a student to pursue a better future. Naming this building in their honor ensures that everyone who walks through its doors will be reminded of the incredible difference one family's generosity can make for an entire community."

The Robert and Mary Tincher Campus Community Center stands as a lasting tribute to the Tinchers' legacy of philanthropy and their enduring commitment to student success. Through both the building and the scholarships it will help support, their generosity will continue creating opportunities and strengthening the college's mission for generations to come.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony is open to the public. Community members, alumni, students and friends of the College are invited to attend.