Campus News

Can You Bear the 99?

The university hosted its fifth annual Bear the 99 5K on March 16. This beloved event brought together participants who journeyed through Benefactors Plaza to the City of Pikeville, conquering the iconic 99 steps at the finish line.

This year, the race boasted an impressive turnout with 100 dedicated racers. Emerging victorious were UPIKE freshman Kelvin Kurgat, age 19, clocking in at 17 minutes and 5.5 seconds, and Jayda Hilton, age 16, completing the course in 22 minutes and 29 seconds.

Thanks to the generous support from the community and sponsors, the event garnered nearly $14,000 in funds. These proceeds will contribute to the Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund, which aids two deserving students with $2,000 annually, easing their financial burden on their educational journey.

The UPIKE Research Symposium entered its fourth year with the aim of cultivating research interest and promoting scholarly activity. Serving as a platform to exercise scientific communication and exchange ideas, the event offers invaluable networking prospects, facilitating connections among students, professors and participants. The day showcased the diverse research endeavors of the campus community, with 48 poster presentations from KYCOM, KYCO and undergraduate students, along with 11 faculty poster presentations.

Digging into Truffle Research

The North American Truffle Growers Association (NATGA) promotes awareness, growth and development of the truffle industry by organizing research, setting standards, sharing information between growers and educating the public. Maker’s Mark, a bourbon distillery in Kentucky and a member and sponsor of NATGA, donated 140 truffleinoculated oak and hazelnut trees to UPIKE, dubbed “Kentucky Winter Whites.” Thanks to the help of Assistant Professor of Biology Byron Meade and Biology Instructor Peyton Prater, alongside nine students, a temporary orchard sprouted behind the president’s house, with plans for a permanent home on Bear Mountain come fall.

A truffle is the spore-bearing fruit of a fungus. Unlike mushrooms, truffles develop entirely underground. Beyond their culinary allure, truffles offer research opportunities and financial promise. The price for these truffles can be more than $800 per pound, and this will be one of the few truffle research orchards in the nation. The Kentucky Winter White truffle, currently classified in the Tuber lyonii family, is particularly interesting as it is native to Kentucky, in contrast to earlier efforts to grow truffles in North America with European species. In growing Kentucky Winter Whites, Maker’s Mark and UPIKE have opted to support and build culinary value for a native Kentucky species.

“The truffle industry is relatively young in the U.S. There are many research questions that need to be answered and a burgeoning truffle industry that desperately needs support from research institutions. We are fortunate as an institution to be able to quickly pivot and tackle industry needs and look forward to working with regional and international partners to help the truffle industry progress,” said Meade. “Student involvement is another key area that sets us apart, and this project wouldn’t have been possible without their time and effort. Biology students Daniel Flores, Kolby Newsome, Alex Rogers, Grant Lumpkins, Noah Helphenstine, Casey Peavler, Jacob Rubado, Sydney Thompson and Colby Cooley helped tremendously with the project. These students, along with others in the future, will be gaining hands-on training and research opportunities, positioning them as competitive applicants for professional program applications.”

KYCO’s Class of 2026 Receives White Coat of Compassion

Embodying a tradition upheld by health professional schools nationwide, the Kentucky College of Optometry held its White Coat Ceremony on April 6, where fifty-three members of the Class of 2026 received their white coats before a gathering of family, friends and university faculty. The transition from classroom learning to clinical practice serves as a significant milestone in the journey toward becoming optometrists.

Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Associate Professor of Optometry Cliff Caudill, O.D., FAAO, FNAP, coated students and led them in reciting the KYCO Professional Conduct Pledge.

“This ceremony represents the next phase in our program in which students begin their role as clinical optometrists in training, where they begin to learn the art and science of vision and healthcare in a clinical patient care setting,” said Caudill. “The white coat ceremony symbolizes and affirms the student’s commitment to the care and well-being of a patient’s vision, eye health and overall wellness.”

Lights, Camera, Action!

Andrew Stratton ’24 premiered his more than two-hour feature film “They Can’t Take Their Eyes Off You” last fall at the university. The story follows protagonist Mark’s quest to save his friend Joe from an evil photograph, all while evading suspicion of murder. Stratton wrote, directed, edited and starred as the main character in the film. Stratton first created a five-minute short, “I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” for UPIKE’s Horrorfest in 2020. The following year, he created an 11-minute sequel, “We Can’t Take Our Eyes Off You,” winning first place in the horror competition.

Despite a tight budget of $200, creative resourcefulness drove production with practical effects and community support for filming locations. Stratton acknowledged the project’s invaluable lessons and expressed gratitude to the cast and crew, comprising 36 students and professors. All three films are available on Stratton’s YouTube channel, Werdna Nottarts.

“I believe this experience has helped me grow as a filmmaker. I have learned a lot about what I should and shouldn’t do when tackling a project of this magnitude,” said Stratton. “I will always be thankful that it helped me learn so much that I can apply in the future. I hope to be able to create bigger and better projects in the years to come. This film was a stepping stone toward that goal.”

KYCOM Advocating for Appalachia

The American Medical Association (AMA) is one of the nation’s largest medical school coalitions whose goals are to promote advocacy. To help raise funds for a student-led free clinic, KYCOM’s newly founded AMA chapter organized the AMA Gala: An Evening for Advocacy. Aimed at increasing healthcare visibility in Appalachia, the event earned recognition as AMA’s Section Involvement Grant Event of the Month for November 2023.

Rimsha Afzal, second-year KYCOM student and president of the chapter, spearheaded the inaugural gala in November with help from AMA executive board members Justine Casola, Kane Ferguson, Nicole Werner and Kloie Nutt. More than 170 students, community members and physicians attended the event. Attendees engaged in interdisciplinary discussions among representatives from the medical, social work, dental, optometry and nursing programs at UPIKE, as well as a local pharmacy.

“This is the first time KYCOM has had an AMA chapter and we wanted to make sure we centered around a cause that was true to Pikeville,” said Afzal. “The gala and the clinic are prime examples of the need and the palpable change we hope to see in improving access to healthcare for patients in Eastern Kentucky.”