Similar footsteps, separate paths

Adyson and Gavin Rase carry on their parents’ MSU legacy with solid bonds and different directions

Jeffrey (Class of 1992, 1999) and Chinnetta Rase (Class of 1992, 1999) came to MSU as students. Jeffrey came from across the river in Wheelersburg, Ohio, and Chinnetta came from Johnson County. They became a couple and ended up on similar paths professionally.

The couple got engaged as students, and both earned their bachelor’s and master’s degrees from MSU in education-related fields. Living in Wheelersburg, Chinnetta is a K-3 Title I teacher and technology teacher for the Wheelersburg School District, while Jeffrey is a school counselor in nearby Lucasville, Ohio, and returns to campus regularly as a member of the MSU Alumni Board.

Adyson Rase (Class of 2023) still remembers the fun time she had coming to campus for a college visit as a high school junior with her parents and a friend that included taking a pontoon boat out on Cave Run Lake and an overnight stay.

Due to the sense of community and her desire to be involved in Greek life, Adyson applied to MSU and was determined to leave with a degree in anything other than education. However, after changing her major twice, she felt a tug in that direction, switching to elementary education – the same major as her mother – her sophomore year.

“I kind of started leaning towards children, and I knew I wanted to help people,” Adyson said. “The more I kept thinking about it, it was...I want to be a teacher. It just kind of hit me one day.”

Adyson enjoyed her education classes and the sisterhood she found as a member of the Chi Omega sorority. The hands-on experience in the classroom she gained at McBrayer Elementary School in Morehead only validated her decision.

“My favorite thing is just kind of seeing when they get it,” she said. “The children are so passionate about learning. It’s really nice to see that light bulb kind of go off over their head.”

Adyson found her calling thanks to MSU. She appreciates her parents’ love for their alma mater and the connection they’ve formed.

“I never get tired of the stories, even if they get told over and over and over,” Adyson said, joking. “Your parents know what they’re talking about, even if you don’t want to believe it.”

That trip that Adyson took as a junior in high school to tour MSU with her parents and friend also had another, younger passenger ... a passenger who was convinced from that point he needed to become an Eagle.

“I’ve kind of made up my mind since then,” Gavin Rase said about that trip to campus. “I was kind of like, this is the place for me.”

Gavin gained experience that would end up shaping his educational direction at MSU when he took a summer marketing job with Eagle Athletics before he started his first semester. Currently, he works for Senior Associate Director of Athletics Kenna Allen Gauche (Class of 2008, 2009).

“Being able to work in that realm, it’s kind of what I attribute to changing my major,” Gavin said, choosing to major in marketing and minor in social media. “I’ve always loved sports ... being able to keep my fingerprints on it here has been really good.”

Gavin said his relationship with his older sister grew and changed when she was an MSU student.

“Honestly, being down here has brought us way closer together. Kind of like back when we were really young,” Gavin said.

Gavin said getting closer to Adyson and connecting with his parents during frequent visits helped him to appreciate his family’s remarkable legacy at Morehead State.

“Honestly, with the amount of times they’ve come down here and my sister living here, this place has become a second home,” Gavin said.

Building the next generation of Eagles

The Eagle Legacy Program is an exclusive benefit to MSU alumni for children and grandchildren that connects your future Eagle to your alma mater at any age!

The program features birthday cards, milestone age-specific gifts, and special event invitations. As your Eagle gets closer to making their college decision, the Alumni Scholarship provides a great incentive to continue the family tradition!

Enroll today at alumni.moreheadstate.edu/legacy.

Left: Bryan (Class of 2008) & Lindsay (Class of 2010) Gray and their future Eagles

Calling alumni home

For more than 30 years, MSU students have been the voice of the University to alumni across the country. Though the alumni staff meet and talk with hundreds of alumni each year at various events, no single staff member has as many conversations with alumni as the students who work in what is now known as MSU’s Digital Engagement Center.

Formerly known as the Call Center, the Digital Engagement Center (fondly referred to as “The DEC”) is a unique employment opportunity for students that builds desirable communication skills and raises critical funding for the University. These students spend their evenings making phone calls, sending text messages, or recording personalized videos for alumni and friends of MSU. They share the exciting updates happening on campus and give alumni and friends the opportunity to pledge their continued pride in MSU with a gift. The students in the DEC are responsible for tens of thousands of dollars in support each year.

“The DEC has been such a fun opportunity for me,” said Madison Teegarden , a junior social work major from Maysville. “At first, the job was a little daunting – calling people I don’t know and encouraging them to give back is scary! But it’s been so rewarding. I’ve had amazing conversations with Eagles, who were in my shoes 10, 20, 30 years ago. Despite our differences, we have a major thing in common, and that’s our love for MSU! Even if someone ultimately doesn’t make a gift, I’ve still made a valuable connection.” The position isn’t only rewarding in terms of seeing the impact a gift can make, but it’s also allowing these students to add desirable skills to their resume.

“I know that the work I’m doing is going to be hugely beneficial when I’m searching for a job after graduation,” said Jules Davis , a sophomore legal studies and political science major from Salyersville. “Being able to list on my resume that I can build relationships and have productive conversations is great, in addition to the fundraising experience. I’m also learning how to have difficult conversations – not everyone wants to give and that’s okay. But I’m building communication skills that make a ‘no’ less awkward for myself and the alum on the other end of the line.”

The next time your phone rings – it could be Madison or Jules. They’re the voices of MSU – will you answer the call?