MOOREFIELD — “Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising,” said the humorist Mark Twain more than a century ago. And over the past 100 years, countless hours of human effort devoted to foolish, futile and trivial pursuits — like pet rocks, junk bonds or Paris Hilton — have proved the timeless wisdom in Twain’s wit.

But advertising isn’t always hype and propaganda: The best of it can provide key information that seeds the mind and changes lives forever — and for the better. Just ask Fort Ashby’s Christie Keplinger. Five years ago, advertising led this mother of three to follow a path that resulted in two college degrees and, because of the knowledge and skills she acquired, to a pivotal job promotion.

In a flyer that came with her newspaper, Keplinger read about the learner-friendly programs at the newly-launched Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College. “I saw that they have video-conference courses and online classes,” she said. “And I thought, I can do this, and with a family too, and still work fulltime.”

Keplinger had graduated from Frankfort High School in 1993 with the goal of getting a college degree. But with a young daughter at home, she said, after only two semesters at a more traditional college, she had to leave school to work fulltime.

“Traditional colleges that usually offer classes at fixed times and places throughout the semester are excellent for folks who can afford them, and who don’t have to meet the daily demands of a growing family and a fulltime job,” said Cindy Drumm, Eastern’s learner support counselor. “But here in the Potomac Highlands, there are a large number of folks who need a more flexible, accessible and personal approach, if they’re ever to gain the knowledge and skills to compete in today’s job market.”

Getting skills and knowledge for jobs in the new economy appealed to Keplinger, too, especially as her family grew with the birth of her son and second daughter. “If you are to get ahead anywhere in life, you need to get an education, and that’s why I decided to go back to school,” she said. “I had three children at the time I started at Eastern: my youngest, a 3-year old girl; my son, 5; and my oldest girl, 9.”

Eastern’s flexible format of online and real-time, interactive video-distance classes let Keplinger schedule her college learning around her busy life. “I went to the access center at Hampshire High School, because it is convenient to my home,” she said. She also transferred her earlier credits from another college to Eastern, and there, in the spring of 2004, earned an associate in applied science degree in individualized career studies, with an emphasis on business classes.

Then, she took advantage of another Eastern program — its partnership in the Community College Alliance with Franklin University of Columbus, Ohio.

“The Community College Alliance lets Eastern students build their associate degree into a four-year bachelor degree awarded by Franklin University,” said Drumm. “And they can do it all online, right from their own hometown, and in a format and on a schedule that fits their individual lifestyles.” This online learning partnership also offers students considerable savings on transportation and housing costs, she said.

“Christie Keplinger earned her four-year, bachelor of science degree in accounting last December,” said Seyed Mirkhani, Eastern’s academic program director for business technologies. “And the college takes great pride in her commendable achievement as Eastern’s first graduate to complete a four-year degree through this program.”

The skills and credentials Keplinger acquired through her college learning brought direct and immediate benefits in her job at Allegany Teachers Federal Credit Union in Lavale, Md. “My degrees from Eastern and Franklin absolutely improved my job prospects,” she said.

First, her associate degree bettered her employment and salary prospects. And then, less than one month after receiving her bachelor’s degree through the Eastern/Franklin partnership, “I was promoted to vice president of Member Services in January of this year,” she said.

Keplinger found the whole process so convenient and rewarding that she is now considering continuing on for a master’s degree in accounting.

“Eastern allows the normal person to get the degree they want, in my case by giving me the convenience I need to work with. Along with Franklin University, they gave me the chance to finish my education as I planned. It’s absolutely wonderful.”

In a congratulatory letter, Franklin president Dr. Paul J. Otte said, “Since 1998, the CCA program has enrolled more than 7,702 students and this term alone we had 151 graduates. Working with Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College continues to be a success and we thank you for your continued support and involvement.”

For more information about Eastern’s financial aid opportunities, programs of study and workforce and community education, or the Community College Alliance with Franklin University, call toll free: (877) 982-2322; or check the college’s Web site: www.eastern.wvnet.edu.