UPIKE Magazine Fall/Winter 2021

MAGAZINE Fall/Winter 2021

MORE THAN A FAMILY TRADITION IN TH IS ISSU E

H O M EC O MI NG 20 21 H O M E I S W H ERE “ THE HI LL” I S T RU ST EE SPOT LI GH T: J EA N HA LE

Better preparing them for a time when quick reaction and appropriate interventions are needed, simulation labs allow Elliott School of Nursing students to experience and react to critical situations.

MAGAZINE STAFF David Hutchens

MAGAZINE Fall/Winter 2021 Volume 8, Number 1

Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations

EDITOR Katie Ray

CONTRIBUTORS Amy Charles, Laura Damron, MBA ’19, Michelle Goff, Sherrie Marrs, Kelly RoweJones, Brooke Thacker ’04, Stacey Walters

ART DIRECTOR Kate Hensley PHOTOGRAPHERS Larry Epling Matthew Lester Kandi Zadel

INSIDE THIS SSUE

Story ideas and letters to the Editor: Email: editor@upike.edu Mail: Editor, UPIKE Magazine Office of Advancement University of Pikeville 147 Sycamore St., Pikeville, KY 41501

Address changes: Email: alumni@upike.edu Online: upike.edu/alumni/alumni-update/ Phone: (606) 218-5276 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday

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President’s Letter

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Campus News

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Faculty and Staff News

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UPIKE First

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Homecoming 2021

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The Bears and the Bees

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Living the Mission

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Two Decades of Dedication

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A Source of Opportunity

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Crafting a Piece of History: Tiffany Craft

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Home is Where “The Hill” Is

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Writing Her Own History: Ann Bevins

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A Century of Service: Rev. Mildred Board Grubbs

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Must Love Herbs: Lauren May

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KYCO: Putting the Future into Focus

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A New Horizon: Enrico Marino

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Trustee Spotlight: Jean Hale

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Alumni Association

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Class Notes

Class notes: Email: alumni@upike.edu Online: upike.edu/classnotes Mail: Office of Advancement, University of Pikeville 147 Sycamore St., Pikeville, KY 41501

The University of Pikeville is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, masters and doctorate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of the University of Pikeville. It is the policy of the University of Pikeville that no student shall be excluded from participating in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in any program sponsored by the university because of age, race, color, creed, religion, handicap, sexual orientation or national origin. All other inquiries should be addressed to the University of Pikeville at 147 Sycamore Street, Pikeville, Kentucky 41501 or call 606-218-5250. *EOE

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UPIKE MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER FALL/WINTER 2021 2021

UPIKE's undergraduate Class of 2025 began their college experience walking up the infamous 99 – together – navigating a well-traveled path that has directed many to success. UPIKE President Dr. Burton J. Webb and Provost Dr. Lori Werth led the class forward, where they were greeted by faculty, staff, friends and family atop the steps.

T

here is a rhythm to running that has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Early in the morning, I lace up my shoes and head out the door. Rain does not deter me, neither does snow, nor cold, nor darkness. I have run with my father, my son, my sister and my dogs.

With each footfall, conversation flows from one topic to the next and like the run, you never know where the road might lead you. I have been injured while running, or more accurately, as a result of falling, and learned to pick myself up and run again. My father noticed his health was slipping during a run, and a year later, I grieved his death by running a marathon in his honor. For me, running has always been about two things — life and family.

Letter from the

PRESIDENT “The future is impossible to know, just as the past is impossible to change. With each turn in this race we call life, we only have a few things we can influence. The things we carry, the direction we go, and the family with whom we run.”

In the last two years, life has changed. We wear masks, talk about vaccines and variants, isolation and quarantine, and spend more time avoiding the crowded spaces we used to inhabit. There are new threats to our existence both as people and as institutions. If you sit too long, it is easy to lose sight of a world that is still moving, step-by-step, from fall into winter. The pandemic has changed some things, but the seasons of life still come and go. Summer heat will eventually dissipate into the cool mornings of fall and the chill of winter, just as students who enroll in the fall will eventually walk away from us a few springs later.

As I write these words, we have just slipped past midterms, it is homecoming week, and the life of the college is in full flow. Some classes are online, but most of our faculty and students are meeting face-to-face. Football, cross-country, soccer, volleyball, bowling and archery are in full swing, while basketball is getting ready to lace up their shoes for the season opener. Medicine and optometry are preparing for their third block exams and some students are thinking more about residency applications than their current rotations. These are the moments of our run, of our lives, together. What began as a sprint in August, has transitioned into the marathon of our lives on this hilly campus we call home.

This issue of the UPIKE magazine highlights family. As usual, we will celebrate our successes, we will laugh together and occasionally weep together. Like most families, the UPIKE family is imperfect and life can be messy, but we always work to make both life and family better — we run together.

The future is impossible to know, just as the past is impossible to change.

With each turn in this race we call life, we only have a few things we can influence; the things we carry, the direction we go and the family with whom we run.

Striving to serve, Burton J. Webb, Ph.D. President

UPIKE's newest Bears rolled up their sleeves to help others during Service Day. Together, more than 180 students, faculty and staff volunteered at 23 sites in seven counties.

FALL/WINTER 2021 | UPIKE MAGAZINE

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Campus News KYCOM’s Class of 2025 receives ‘white coat of compassion’ The Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine formally welcomed the Class of 2025 during a traditional White Coat Ceremony on September 11.

White coat ceremonies are rites of passage for beginning medical students, welcoming them to the profession and reinforcing the value of humanism as a foundation to medicine. The ceremony encourages a psychological contract for professionalism and empathy in the practice of medicine. Medical students are bound by the same professional commitments that bind all physicians.

“You were selected to enter this profession, our osteopathic profession, because you have demonstrated the abilities and the character necessary to succeed,” said Dean of KYCOM Joe Kingery, D.O., KYCOM ’06, MBA ’18, FACOFP, FAAFP. “I congratulate you on your achievements thus far, and I look forward to all those accomplishments which you will achieve in the years ahead.”

CLICK HERE to view KYCOM's White Coat Ceremony

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This year’s keynote address was delivered by Boyd R. Buser, D.O., FACOFP dist., former vice president for health affairs and dean of KYCOM (2007-2018), and former president of the American Osteopathic Association (2016-2017). Buser’s message focused on the future of healthcare and the challenges facing physicians today. He praised KYCOM for its continued mission of graduating competent osteopathic physicians to provide quality, community-based care.

“You have committed yourselves to make the world a healthier place for others,” said Buser. “And never forget, a degree in osteopathic medicine is much more than the accumulation of years of hard work or a fancy piece of parchment; it’s a covenant, a pledge to respond deeply to not only the medical needs of your patients, but to their entirety as human beings.”

Opening Convocation

On September 2, UPIKE officially proclaimed the start of its 132nd academic year with the 2021 Opening Convocation Ceremony. Pike County Public Health Director, 1992 alum and keynote speaker Tammy Riley spoke from her experience as a first-generation college student. She challenged students to dream big and follow three guiding principles in life to achieve their goals – passion, planning and persistence.

“Find something you are passionate about.

Plan for success, and most of all, be persistent.

Don’t be afraid to reach beyond your comfort zone when setting your goals,” Riley advised.

“You can push yourself further than you ever imagined possible, but you first must be willing to experience discomfort and overcome the anxiety that always comes with the unknown. It is through our willingness to experience discomfort that we achieve goals we never imagined for ourselves.”

UPIKE President Burton J. Webb, Ph.D., presented Riley with the Baird Family Service Award, which was instituted in 2018 to honor those who have devoted their lives to the service of others.

“Mrs. Tammy Riley continues to make a remarkable impact on the lives of others through her steadfast service, both to the university, to the region and all of humanity,” said Webb. “I thank her for all she has done for this institution.”

Riley is a Pike County native and is married to UPIKE Professor of English James Riley, Ph.D. She has spent her professional life committed to the betterment of the region. In addition to Riley’s service on numerous boards and committees, she has devoted the previous two years of her career to the health and safety of the community in the wake of the pandemic plaguing the nation.

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UPIKE student interns with congressman UPIKE senior and baseball player Austin Wetherington spent his summer interning with U.S. Rep. James Comer, who currently serves as the Republican Leader of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, where he advocates for reducing waste, fraud and abuse in government.

Wetherington is a political science/history major. He says his passion for politics started when he attended the Washington Center Seminar experience in D.C. through the university and found himself in the Republican National Committee building.

After interning on a campaign with Sen. McConnell’s regional field directors from 2019 to 2020, he was invited by the Kentucky state director to go to Georgia and work as a field organizer for the National Republican Senatorial Committee in the Northwestern region.

With the contacts he made working two elections, Wetherington decided he wanted to see the legislative side of things. He applied for the internship through the congressman’s website and began working in the district office in May. The day-to-day tasks differed. Wetherington visited 12 counties and met with local governments, agencies and businesses. He learned about grants and issues facing Western Kentucky.

“Through this internship, I’ve learned about what a field representative does and how to be the eyes and ears for the Congressman. I’ve learned about communities in Western Kentucky and I have gotten to meet the local officials who help run the counties,” said Wetherington. “Having the opportunity to intern for Congressman Comer has been a pleasure and one I will remember forever.”

Master of Social Work program receives new HRSA grant UPIKE’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program has been awarded a Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training grant in the amount of $1.2 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The focus of this grant is to educate social work students as behavioral health professionals with emphasized training in telehealth and youth services.

With more than $2 million in grants awarded by HRSA to the program in recent years, Coordinator of MSW Field Education Buford Edwards, M.S., M.Div., believes this helps UPIKE’s MSW program stand out from others in the region.

“This grant helps us to set our students up with all the tools needed to be successful, and by doing so, we are helping to populate the Appalachian region with qualified, master-level social workers,” said Edwards.

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The bulk of the money will be distributed as stipends, with 20 students per year over the next four years receiving $10,000. The remaining funds are being utilized for curriculum enhancement, professional development for faculty and students, and to purchase laptops and headsets for students to use in telehealth training.

“Financial hardships are a real issue when it comes to advanced degrees,” said Chair of Social Work and MSW Program Director Genesia Kilgore-Bowling, Ph.D. “These grants help to make graduate education accessible to more students, which is a priority of the MSW program.”

UPIKE archers chosen for World Archery Youth Championships The 2021 World Archery Youth Championships invited top youth talent from around the globe and hosted many competitions on the individual and team level, with just three athletes from each age and division qualifying. Two members of the UPIKE Archery Team, sophomore Anna Scarbrough and freshman Matthew Russell, represented Team USA in the compound category on the world stage in Wroclaw, Poland.

This was the second World Archery Youth Championships in which Scarbrough and Russell were able to compete, the first being two years ago in Madrid, Spain. This year, Scarbrough won two bronze medals in the mixed team and the women’s team, while Russell brought home a bronze medal for the men’s team.

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Scarbrough says there is nothing better than making longlasting friendships with people all around the world and is grateful for the opportunity to compete again.

Russell credits the coaches for helping him gain the confidence needed to compete. He says the archery team truly is a family and he would not trade it for anything else.

UPIKE Head Archery Coach Ellie Yocum says both athletes put in countless hours of practice and hard work to be prepared for the championship.

“I am extremely proud of Anna and Matthew. They knew what they had to do and followed the plan,” said Yocum.

“I expect great things for UPIKE archery this season. It should be our most winning season in university history.”

@UPIKEBears for up-to-date campus news.

FALL/WINTER 2021 | UPIKE MAGAZINE

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Faculty & Staff News

National eyes on the Kentucky College of Optometry In addition to being named Founding Dean of KYCO, Michael Bacigalupi, O.D., M.S., FAAO, FNAP, has also been elected to serve in an officer’s position as secretary of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), putting him on the executive committee.

Since the first students began classes in 2016, KYCO remains the only optometry school in Kentucky, with Bacigalupi proudly serving as dean since 2018. As ASCO secretary, Bacigalupi will serve as chair of the communications committee and act as the liaison to the applicant pool advisory committee and the fundraising advisory committee.

“As an organization, ASCO is committed to advancing optometric education and research,” said UPIKE Provost Lori Werth, Ph.D. “Dr. Bacigalupi has a passion for the profession that has not only benefited our region but extended to a national level.”

ASCO’s activities cover a wide range of programs, including applicant development and diversity, faculty and leadership development, advocacy, residency promotion and communications.

In August 2020, KYCO began to take the lead nationally to remove financial barriers and increase diversity in the optometry profession by providing grants for potential students to cover the cost of taking the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT).

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Since then, KYCO has covered the cost of the OAT for 43 potential optometry students, many of whom attended optometry schools across the country this fall. The total amount awarded to each student is $625, which includes the cost of the exam along with current study materials they may need to pass. The majority of the funds come from anonymous, local donors.

Bacigalupi says anyone in the United States who plans to attend optometry school is eligible for the assistance.

“It is important for KYCO to give back to the profession of optometry and take part in the overall process of improving and growing this specialty,” said Bacigalupi.

“The goals are to help people, do the right thing and take steps to increase diversity in the profession.”

The success of the grant program caught the attention of the American Optometric Association (AOA) during a campus visit from the AOA president. Since then, the KYCO model has been adopted by the AOA and is being showcased on a national platform.

Bacigalupi is delighted that the AOA chose to implement a comparable program.

“This is a wonderful program and I am thrilled it has been adopted by the AOA,” said Bacigalupi. “This will help increase the reach and support of underrepresented minority students interested in optometry.”

Stiltner co-authors college prep book

University of Pikeville Director of Family and New Student Connections Stephanie Stiltner ’10 joined thirteen other family relations professionals from major universities around the country to co-author the book, College Ready 2021: Expert Advice for Parents to Simplify the College Transition.

This book aims to serve as a comprehensive guide for families sending their students to college for the first time.

“This year, more than ever, families are looking to college professionals for guidance as they support their student through the process of becoming a college student,” said Stiltner. “College Ready 2021 provides practical guidance on what should be done during the summer, at drop-off and throughout the first semester.”

Each chapter addresses a top-of-mind concern and is written by a university official who works with families to enhance student success at the collegiate level. Stiltner wrote the chapter titled “How much stuff will fit in a dorm room? How to pack and prepare for college life.”

“Stephanie’s work is a testament to how important we consider family programming,” said UPIKE Dean of Student Success Mathys Meyer, Ph.D. “This chapter contributes to the national conversation about getting students ready to engage in higher education.”

Heading up the future of UPIKE athletics After an extensive search, UPIKE athletics welcomed Head Football Coach Corey Fipps and Head Baseball Coach Cody Andreychuk to their group of skilled coaches and staff.

Fipps came to UPIKE after four seasons as head football coach at Kentucky Christian University, where he led two of the best seasons in the Knights program history. He has carved a path through many levels of college football, beginning with his alma mater, NCAA Division II Harding University, where he played offensive tackle and obtained both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education and kinesiology.

“Itʼs humbling to serve at an institution committed to transforming the lives of its students on such a high level,” said Fipps. “I have full confidence in these athletes, but most of all, I hope our students graduate knowing what it means to have gratitude from the life lessons UPIKE has taught them.”

Andreychuk served on the UPIKE baseball staff as an assistant to former head coach Jim Pitt for the 2016 and 2017 seasons and returned to UPIKE after a threeyear stint as head coach at Lindsey Wilson College. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sport management from Tusculum University.

“I am beyond grateful for this opportunity,” said Andreychuk. “UPIKE is a first-class institution with a distinguished history in academics and athletics. I will do my part to uphold the tradition that makes UPIKE special.”

Cody Andreychuk and Corey Fipps

Athletics Director Kelly Wells says both coaches are driven leaders committed to supporting student-athletes on the field and in the classroom.

“We are thrilled to welcome Cody and Corey to the UPIKE family,” said Wells. “They bring a wealth of knowledge and are a great fit to lead these programs. The future is bright for UPIKE athletics.”

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“I am ready to begin my journey at UPIKE! I look forward to meeting new friends and experiencing the family atmosphere here.”

Bella Barrett

“Growing up, I would drive by UPIKE's campus every day and I knew that’s where I wanted to be. It was my dream to go to college at UPIKE, and now, here I am.”

Kyle Sturgill

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UPIKE welcomed 244 new Bears to campus the week before fall classes began. In a newly-rebranded program called UPIKE First, incoming first-year students were treated to a week of activities to help them to get to know each other and begin to build important connections on campus.

Students participated in numerous activities including “the climb” up the iconic 99 steps. The tradition of ascending the steps together symbolizes the beginning of their academic journey, with students descending the steps together in four years as a graduating class.

Another beneficial activity was a scavenger hunt, “Pikey’s Passport to Success,” where students visited various departments on campus to learn their way around. COVID-19 restrictions prevented many incoming students from receiving a full tour of UPIKE prior to their arrival. This activity helped students feel comfortable in these new spaces, learn about resources available to them and engage with staff.

“UPIKE First Week is more than a few days of fun. The sooner new students feel comfortable and connected, the better,” said Director of Family and New Student Connections Stephanie Stiltner. “The goal of all of these activities was to demystify college for our first-year students and help them feel comfortable using resources. I couldn’t be more pleased with how everyone on campus welcomed our new students. We really rolled out the orange carpet for them.”

Service lies at the heart of the UPIKE experience and is part of every student’s journey. The Saturday before classes began all incoming students participated in Service Day, led by UPIKE Chaplain Rob Musick. Students rolled up their sleeves to spend the day helping others and giving back to the community in more than 20 locations spanning over seven counties.

20 STATES

34 COUNTIES IN

59%

KENTUCKY

STUDENT ATHLETES

STUDENTS FROM

34%

FIRST-GEN STUDENTS

COUNTRIES

FARTHEST TRAVELED

4,413 MILES

49% FEMALE

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51% MALE

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HOMECOMING 2021

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CLICK HERE to view more Homecoming Week photos

ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME 2014-15 WOMEN’S BOWLING As one of the best in UPIKE history, the 2014-15 women’s bowling team was both the Mid-South Conference (MSC) regular season and tournament champions before winning the NAIA Invitational National Championship, outlasting 19 other teams.

The Bears nearly swept through the MSC Honors, filling nine of the 10 slots on the first and second teams. With 25 top-five individual finishes in tournaments throughout the season and five wins, the team also won 13 tournaments throughout the season.

B A S K E T B A L L KJ Manigault ’18 Transferring into UPIKE, Manigault was a member of the 2013-14 Bears who won the MSC tournament title and regular season MSC championship. The senior averaged 19.4 points and 7.3 rebounds a game for the Bears that season and scored 883 points in his two years at UPIKE. After the season, he was named First-Team AllConference, MSC Player of the Year, NAIA National Player of the Year, and was on the NAIA All-Tournament Team. Manigault is the only UPIKE men’s basketball player to ever be named the NAIA National Player of the Year. The 2014-15 Bears were MSC regular season champs and made it to the quarterfinals of the NAIA Tournament.

Manigault is currently signed with the Helsinki Seagulls of the Korisliiga. He has also played in Australia, Canada, China, Israel and Poland.

B O W L I N G Brianna Larson ’16 Larson was a member of two NAIA National Championship Teams in 2011-12 and 2014-15. She was also a member of a pair of runner-up teams in the USBC in 2012-13 and 2013-14. As a player, she was named First-Team All-MSC in 2012-13, Second-Team All-MSC in 2013-14 and first team in 2014-15. Larson also was named an NAIA All-American and a USBC All-American in 2014-15. She made great strides as a player during her time at UPIKE, going from a 186.595 game average in 2011-12 to a 200.421 game average during her senior season in 2014-15. Larson also bowled her way to 10 top-five tournament finishes.

B O W L I N G KT Simpson ’16, MBA ’18 During her freshman season in 201213, Simpson was named an NAIA AllAmerican, the MSC Bowler of the Year and MSC Freshman of the Year, and the team was the USBC National Runner-Up. In her second year, she was named an NAIA All-American and a USBC All-American.

She was once again named the MSC Bowler of the Year while UPIKE was the USBC National Runner-Up for the second consecutive year. In 2014-15, Simpson was named a USBC All-American, NAIA All-American and MSC Bowler of the Year, and the Bears won the NAIA Invitational National Championship, giving them their first such title since the 2011-12 season. Simpson was named the NAIA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Her final season in Pikeville brought her fourth straight NAIA All-American honor, fourth straight MSC Bowler of the Year and third straight USBC All-American honor. During all four years, Simpson was also named First-Team All-MSC. During the 2015-16 season, UPIKE was the NAIA Invitational National Runners-Up. In 201415, Simpson recorded the second-best all-time game average of 204.705 and the third-best all-time average differential of 34.485 in program history. She won 10 tournaments during her career.

F O O T B A L L Antwan Marsh Marsh was named First-Team All-MSC all three years he played for the Bears. In both 2004 and 2005, while also being named an NAIA First-Team All-American as a defensive back, he was named MSC Defensive Player of the Year. He helped UPIKE to a record of 19-12 while also being a part of the only team to ever make it to the NAIA Football Championship Series in 2005. Marsh’s football career did not end after that, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indianapolis Colts in 2006 before spending four years in the Arena Football League from 2010-13 with the Spokane Shock and Utah Blaze. During those four seasons, Marsh racked up 124 solo tackles, 15 pass break-ups, seven fumble recoveries, eight interceptions and one defensive touchdown. As a kick returner, he also had two touchdowns.

ALUMNI AWARDS

Tiffany Craft ’10

GARY THRASH O U T S TA N D I N G A M B A S S A D O R

Thomas May Hereford III ’66 D I S T I N G U I S H E D A LU M N I

Kansas Justice ’97, MBA ’13 R I S I N G YO U N G A LU M N I

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There is a secret around the University of Pikeville’s campus that junior biology majors Hailey Cornett and Nicklaus Spangler wish more people knew about. So, what’s all the buzz?

Four years ago, UPIKE Biology Professor Timothy Whittier’s sons gifted him with a beehive, which has since grown to five hives. This home for thousands of honey bees is kept on the roof of The Coal Building and cared for by Cornett and Spangler, under Whittier’s guidance.

Bees are an essential piece of our ecosystem. Even with global efforts to save the bees helping to increase their population numbers worldwide, bees are still endangered.

Whittier wishes more people understood how fragile bees can be, but is helping UPIKE do its part to help ensure their long-term survival in the Pikeville community.

“The hives benefit the community, allowing people to actually see the bees that are pollinating local plants and crops,” said Whittier. “People see them working and think they are little robots. Although they work hard, so many things can harm them.”

A short while after starting the bee project on campus, Whittier had a health issue that left him needing more help keeping the hives going.

“Hailey and Nick have been a godsend. When I became ill, they stepped in to help. Since then, they have taken 14

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excellent care of the bees,” said Whittier. “They have grown to love the bees, and they are great people, too.”

Cornett and Spangler visit the bees monthly to check on their health and make sure they are thriving. Their responsibilities include giving them food bars if needed and inserting a repellent to keep away mites that could harm them. From Whittier’s computer, the pair can also observe the bees in real-time with the aid of a camera placed strategically at the hive’s entrance.

“My favorite part is being able to look inside the hive and get up close and personal with the bees, learning about their social structure,” Cornett said. “I wish people realized that bees are helpful and necessary for human survival. They arenʼt out to hurt you.”

The duo cracks open the hives twice a year to harvest the honey, which typically takes an entire day and is hard work for these two busy bees. Spangler agrees that sometimes bees can be misunderstood and thinks there is a lot more to bees than just honey.

“I don’t think people understand how important bees actually are. Not just because they produce honey for us

to consume, they pollinate crops and flowers of all kinds,” said Spangler. “I feel like we are making a positive contribution to the bee community of Pike County.

Their work helps the ecosystem thrive.”

Both Cornett and Spangler are grateful for the opportunity Whittier has given them in this work-study experience and they are sure the lessons learned here will carry through to their careers in the biology field.

After graduation, Spangler hopes to start a career as a wildlife biologist in the swamplands of Florida. Working with bees has helped him learn to be more observant and aware of animal behavior.

“All the knowledge I have gained from taking care of the bees I can use in my future career,” Spangler explained.

“I have learned how important each animal is to the ecosystem, and I’ve become more observant of my surroundings. No matter what animal or insect you are studying, learning to pick up on signs and knowing when they are calm, frustrated or agitated is key.”

Cornett has plans to attend a specialized wildlife biology graduate program after graduation and then pursue a career at an animal rehabilitation center.

“I want to help injured animals recover and release them back into the wild when they are better,” said Cornett.

“Working with bees has helped me be sensitive to the needs of animals and learn about their own uniqueness and understand their social, behavior and environment changes.”

Bees are making a comeback in population numbers thanks to global efforts like those happening on campus.

More people can help bees thrive by planting bee-friendly flowers and lessening the use of pesticides.

By AMY Charles

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LIVING THE MISSION: A JOURNEY FROM STUDENT TO DEAN AND IN BETWEEN Fifteen years ago, in the spring of 2006, a young medical student named Joe Kingery was preparing to graduate from the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine with little to no idea about the exceptional future that lay ahead.

In July, Joe Kingery, D.O., KYCOM ’06, MBA ’18, FACOFP, FAAFP, was named the new dean of KYCOM. Since its founding in 1997, KYCOM has been a leader in medicine for the Appalachian region, where the guiding principle has been to educate physicians to serve underserved and rural areas and he is dedicated to that mission.

During his time as a KYCOM student, Kingery directly benefited from the small class sizes, the tradition of an open-door policy by faculty and staff and the individualized attention the students received to become the best physician possible.

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“One of the things I loved about being a student at KYCOM was how well the faculty and staff always treated me. I always felt like a person and not like a number.

They were very focused on teaching and making sure they were available, and all the students were on a level playing field with other students in the class because of the KYCOM advantage,” said Kingery. “I had the same laptop, books, medical equipment, OMT table and board prep. To me, we were all in it together.”

KYCOM Professor of Osteopathic Principles and Practices (OPP) Edward Stiles, D.O., FAAO, taught Kingery for two years and is proud that he continues to strengthen the academic mission.

“Dean Kingery was a student of mine during his two years of OPP and did remarkably well in his residency,” said Stiles. “After returning to KYCOM, he has made major contributions to the maturation of the school and has a well-grounded hands-on approach.”

In October 2016, Kingery found his way back to KYCOM as an associate professor of family medicine. Since then, he has served KYCOM in various roles, including chair of family medicine, assistant dean for osteopathic medical education and associate dean of osteopathic medical education. He also serves as a national faculty member for the National Board of Medical Examiners.

inner workings of the school. Knowing our history is one thing, living through it is something that goes deeper and is more meaningful. Students know that as an alumnus of the college, he truly has walked in their shoes,” said Webb. “His mixture of medical knowledge and business acumen, by also being an alumnus of the UPIKE MBA program, gives him additional wisdom and insight.”

Kingery has a passion for KYCOM and through his time serving as faculty, he had the privilege of working with many student-focused individuals that fueled his interest in pursuing the position of dean.

“I genuinely believe in the mission of KYCOM and want to see that mission continue. I want everyone to see what I saw when I interviewed as a student,” said Kingery. “It is my goal to help KYCOM continue to advance through teamwork, to be even greater than it already is.”

Rather than sending an acceptance letter in the mail, Kingery carries on the tradition put into place by Founding Dean John Strosnider, D.O., of calling each applicant and letting them personally know they “In my opinion, Joe is the right were accepted into medical school.

person, in the right place, at the right time to identify and empathize with the current generation of medical students as he leads the administrative team and faculty to innovate and evolve the college over the next few years.”

“John Strosnider, along with other visionaries, had the dream of training physicians in the mountains so they could stay in the mountains,” said Kingery. “I am proud of the fact that KYCOM is making this dream come to fruition.”

Kingery has plans to change the He is dual board certified by curriculum to be geared more Dana C. Shaffer, D.O., FACOCP dist., FAOGME the American Board of Family toward today’s learners and to Former KYCOM Dean Medicine and the American continue advancing with medical Osteopathic Board of Family training technology.

Physicians. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American “I believe KYCOM can become a national leader more than it already is. We have some of the best and brightest Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. He is also a faculty and staff who are genuinely dedicated and Certified Physician Executive and holds an MBA from regularly go above and beyond for our students,” said UPIKE in healthcare management.

Kingery. “The students are bright, energetic, and hardMany things on campus have changed since Kingery was a working and are notorious for helping each other out and medical student. holding each other up.”

“I think clinical education is one of the biggest He will let his experience as both faculty and alumnus changes I’ve seen. KYCOM now has a standardized influence his innovative, forward-thinking vision for patient program, 10 training clinical exam rooms, two KYCOM. simulation rooms, and a significant amount of simulation “Our graduates serve as proof that for more than 20 years, equipment,” said Kingery. “There was not any of that KYCOM has been educating primary care physicians for when I was a student.” rural Kentucky and other Appalachian regions, helping UPIKE President Burton J. Webb, Ph.D., says Kingery’s keep the promise made by our founders to the people vision and temperament are well suited to a growing, and communities of the region,” said Kingery. “We remain innovative medical school. diligent in those founding ideals, but with open minds “Dr. Kingery’s long history with the Kentucky College of to allow the diversity of our students, faculty and staff to Osteopathic Medicine gives him unique insight into the shape our vision for the program.”

By STACEY WALTERS

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TWO DECADES OF DEDICATION Thanks to grants from the U.S. Department of Education, each year more than 150 students are able to enroll in UPIKE’s Academic and Cultural Excellence (ACE) Program to start receiving help in achieving their dreams of becoming a college graduate.

The program serves as a valuable resource on campus for student support. In addition to providing peer mentoring and helping students develop study skills, the program also prepares students for life after graduation with interview training, résumé writing and post-graduation planning services. Over the years, ACE has given more than $400,000 in grant money to help eligible students alleviate the financial burden of a college education.

This September, the program celebrated its 20-year anniversary. Program founder and former director Harriet Blanton ’93, who worked extensively with UPIKE’s Upward Bound Program, realized the need for similar support for students at the collegiate level and was inspired to write the initial grant.

“When the opportunity arose for me to write the grant for the ACE program, I knew how much the institution and its students would benefit, and I took on the task.

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strong ever since,” said Blanton. “As the director, I was blessed to work with a wonderful, innovative and dedicated staff, and I attribute the continued success of the program to their tireless work ethic and desire to help students succeed.”

Newly-appointed ACE Program Director Cecil Williams Jr., MSW, CSW, took over after Blanton, who served as director for nearly two decades, retired earlier this year.

“Harriet promoted a family atmosphere and we want to keep that tradition going,” said Williams. “We are always open to new ideas and we continue to explore different ways of developing the program.”

Throughout the years, the ACE Program has evolved with changing technology and social trends. With the assistance of Zoom, student and family conversations take place during the summer, helping ACE staff fill all student spots prior to the first day of classes.

ACE boasts countless success stories through its rich history, including that of Larry Forester ’05 who was part of the program during his time at then Pikeville College.

Forester excelled with the help of ACE and went on to become a peer mentor during his junior and senior years.

“It’s a blessing to have someone who cares about you and your well-being.

The values ACE instills in you stays with you. I, along with others I know who have been supported

by ACE, hold it very, very close to our hearts.”

Larry Forester and Cecil Williams

“The program helped me develop leadership skills, focus and follow through. I was able to apply those concepts in my career,” said Forester. “I truly believe the ACE program played an integral part in my success.”

Forester has been in the banking industry for 16 years and now serves as senior vice president at Forcht Bank in Lexington, Ky. He continues to make contributions to the university by serving on UPIKE’s Board of Trustees.

He says anytime you can have someone mentor you for the right reasons, you will carry that advice with you for the rest of your life.

“It’s a blessing to have someone who cares about you and your well-being. The values ACE instills in you stays with you,” said Forester. “I, along with others I know who have been supported by ACE, hold it very, very close to our hearts.”

In its 20 years, ACE has helped more than 1,250 students grow into successful graduates ready to change the world and hopes to continue to make a difference in the lives of students.

By AMY CHARLES

Harriet Blanton

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A SOURCE OF OPPORTUNITY In an effort to provide opportunities for employers to fill gaps in their workforce needs, Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program launched a new initiative, the One Up internship. One Up works to match the skills needs of area employers with the career interests of current college students and provide them with real-world learning opportunities and the potential for employment if a solid match is made in an internship experience.

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As part of One Up’s pilot program, Pike County native, UPIKE junior and mathematics major Ashley Harrison was one of two participants who recently completed internships at Bit Source, a tech company that specializes in software development located in Pikeville.

“There is not a clear path from a mathematics major to a specific career, but there are plenty of opportunities for math majors, outside of education,” said Harrison.

“I wanted to explore careers in various industries that could use my knowledge of mathematics, and I know data science involves a lot of math, so I was excited to give it a try.”

Harrison says all her teachers have been influential to her to some degree, but her academic advisor UPIKE Assistant Professor of Mathematics Bang Huang, Ph.D., has helped guide her tremendously.

“Ashley is an outstanding student.

She is dedicated and hardworking.

She had a solid mathematical background before she came to UPIKE, but she was still working hard in all her classes,” said Huang.

“She loves to help other students get better, and she is good at explaining things to them. Ashley is one of the best students, and the type that all the professors want to have in their class.”

UPIKE Professor of Mathematics Michael Holcomb, Ph.D., says Harrison has a vast understanding of both computational and conceptual mathematics, even in the more complicated topics.

“She has a keen eye for detail and submits high-quality and organized assignments,” said Holcomb. “I have enjoyed watching her grow academically and personally in the math major.”

In addition to Bit Source, Co-Founder Rusty Justice also co-founded Jigsaw Enterprises, LLC, an applied engineering company. He says they saw a need to make their concrete inspection more efficient.

“We have a team that performs concrete inspections for Pikeville, and right now, those inspections take a long time to do and are labor intensive,” said Justice. “We saw an opportunity to automate this and bring down the cost to grow this as a business and a service that we can provide not only locally, but across the country.”

The internship began in June and ended in mid-August. Alongside Evan Hamilton, who is a senior computer engineering student at the University of Kentucky, Harrison worked on machine learning to improve the efficiency of concrete inspections.

Machine learning is the study of computer algorithms that can improve automatically through experience and by the use of data.

It is seen as a part of artificial intelligence.

like convolution, backpropagation and a variety of loss or activation functions.”

Bit Source Chief Operations Officer and Partner Payton May says there are a lot of different machine learning models out there, but each of them deploys a variety of mathematical principles to analyze data and look for patterns.

“Ultimately, it learns from the patterns it’s spotting. Utilizing machine learning and photo data to create models that can accurately predict and classify concrete issues into the four classes will cut down on a lot of time,” said May. “Ashley had a very successful presentation and several models with significant progress toward a final product.”

The model achieved a stable accuracy range of 75-80 percent.

“I worked to optimize the performance of a Convolutional Neural Network for concrete damage inspection, which is basically image classification,” explained Harrison.

“We collected images from the Pikeville and Paintsville areas and sorted them into four classes of damage that range in severity.”

Images were collected with an iPhone and the team used the data they recorded to teach the machine to analyze pixel information into groups and recognize patterns to automatically sort the photos into the categories necessary.

Harrison analyzed the model to discuss and present findings within data iteration of the entire training dataset the machine learning algorithm has completed. The model is trained and re-trained on this set of data and it continues to learn features from the data in each set.

“I worked to expand our training and testing sets through data augmentation. I tuned the hyperparameters based on cases of the model underfitting or overfitting our data,” said Harrison. “I provided insight on machine learning processes

“The data scientist we worked with said we should aim for 85 percent accuracy to prevent overfitting,” said Harrison. “We also had minimal loss.”

To Justice’s surprise, Harrison was unaware there was an opportunity for this type of work so close to home.

“Our goal is to reimagine our local area and create opportunities so our people can stay here. We need our best and brightest to stay local,” said Justice. “Ashley was an ideal intern.

She was disciplined and curious, very curious, which is a trait we value. She was friendly, kind and very intelligent. She was your typical hillbilly, which is something we truly admire.”

The next steps are to collect more data for the model to train on and deploy the model into production with GPS technology. The project will be continued by a Bit Source and Jigsaw Enterprises team, and hopefully, one day commercialized.

By KATIE RAY

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CRAFTING A PIECE OF HISTORY

By STACEY WALTERS

Tiffany Craft ’10 remembers what it felt like when she first came to then Pikeville College: eye-opening. Fascinated by the diverse opinions found on campus, she was eager for college to pave the way to her ambitions, unaware that the road would lead her to become the first woman in history to serve as mayor in the progressive town of Whitesburg, Ky. Raised in the pristine hills of Appalachia, in a small town about 35 miles south of Pikeville, Craft aspired from a young age to fulfill her dreams in Eastern Kentucky and make a difference for her community, leading her directly to the university.

“My family made frequent trips to Pikeville. The appeal of attending Pikeville College and staying close to home was one I couldn’t pass up. The environment is inviting and incredibly supportive,” said Craft. “I light up when I think about my time in college. UPIKE is a place where there is so much freedom to explore new ideas and friendships.”

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Upon graduating with a B.S. in communication, she married fellow alum James Wiley Craft ’67. They were married for 10 years and blessed with a daughter, Sammi Lauren Craft. James was a prominent attorney serving Kentucky for more than 50 years and the well-respected mayor for Whitesburg from 2007 until his death in June.

One of James’ many efforts serving as mayor was to restore some of the historic buildings in downtown Whitesburg. In August 2019, Reader’s Digest named Whitesburg one of the “25 Most Stunning Mountain Towns in America” on a list that included such

well-known travel destinations as Aspen, Colo., Sun Valley, Idaho and Asheville, N.C. He boosted tourism through special events and beautification projects and shepherded the legalization of alcoholic beverages in Whitesburg.

The passing of James left the seat of mayor open.

The decision of who would fill the vacancy fell to the Whitesburg City Council who, in July 2021, voted unanimously to have Craft serve out the rest of his term, making her the first female mayor in Whitesburg’s history.

“Not only was it a great honor to take over for my husband, but it made it even sweeter knowing that I was making history in one of the greatest little cities, not only in Kentucky, but in my opinion, the United States,” said Craft. “During all of the moments that I spent daydreaming as a child or planning what goals I would aspire to achieve never, not once, did becoming a mayor ever occupy a second of those thoughts.”

Whitesburg City Councilman Larry Everidge supports Craft and believes she has exceeded his expectations serving as mayor.

“Tiffany has taken over several projects that James had begun, in addition to beginning some of her own.

She negotiated for the city to acquire a new side-byside that can be used to reach people needing help that are not accessible by fire truck,” said Everidge.

“She has made herself available to all the people in the city and her door is always open. She has a kind heart and we all love her. She makes our city proud.”

Dean of the Coleman College of Business Howard Roberts, Ed.D., remembers Craft as being a driven, insightful and hardworking student.

“Tiffany will serve the City of Whitesburg with integrity and a spirit of collaboration. She understands the needs and values of the community and she is a compassionate, intuitive leader,” said Roberts. “Furthermore, she is insightful and in her tenure as mayor, she will accomplish great and innovative things.”

Craft’s love for UPIKE and the connections she has made have fueled her passion for her community.

“The little girl who at one time dreamed of becoming a doctor, then changed her mind and wanted to become a teacher, then changed her mind again to become an architect grew up and became a wife, mother and mayor,” said Craft. “God will always send us in the right direction doing exactly what we are meant to do. He has a plan for us. We may not end up anywhere near where we thought we would, and I am living proof of that.”

Craft and her late husband, James, attended UPIKE's alumni event at The Greenbrier in 2019.

One special alumni event that stands out to me is The Greenbrier event in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.,” said Craft. “This was our first trip with the alumni association and from that point forward, we enjoyed reminiscing about it because it allowed him to reconnect with several of his classmates that he hadn’t seen in many years. He enjoyed his time as a Bear just as much as I did.

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E M Ho L L i h

is

E h t E R is WhE

To some, UPIKE is more than a family tradition - it’s a special place where defying expectations and unique experiences make up the fabric of campus life. These Bears are passing along a legacy of ambition and inspiration, and an opportunity to continue to Move Mountains.

Fairy Coleman gets emotional when asked what UPIKE means to her. The young, single mother entered the workforce for the first time as the receptionist for the office of academic affairs in 1980. The warm, caring staff quickly became a second family to her and her daughter, Misty Asbury ’11, MBA ’20. The two spent much of their leisure time on campus.

overwhelmed with emotion when I think about how special UPIKE is.”

“Having Misty on campus was so much fun! There was no other place in town we would rather be. We went to ball games, Halloween parties and the campus swimming pool with other staff moms and their children,” said Fairy. “The people here have become my family. This place has been a huge part of our lives and I become

When Misty was in third grade, her mother married Roy Coleman, bringing with him four more daughters to the family. Being raised with UPIKE as so much a part of their family, Misty and sister Andrea Akers ’12, MBA ’21, pursued their degrees on “the hill,” much to Fairy’s delight. The two walked in the same graduation processional with Misty finishing her undergraduate degree in business administration in December 2011, later earning her MBA, and Andrea getting her associate degree in nursing in May of 2012, later earning her MBA with an emphasis in healthcare management.

Andrea’s son, Hunter, is a junior biology major at UPIKE, with plans to attend medical school after graduation. She is elated her son chose to become a Bear and stay close to home.

Immediately following graduation, Andrea went to work for Pikeville Medical Center and has since advanced to assistant vice president of surgical services. Misty followed in her mother’s footsteps and went to work for UPIKE, even before earning her degrees. She is now the disability resource coordinator.

Having spent the better part of her life on campus in some fashion, Misty has seen tremendous growth and progress at the university. Despite all the changes, one thing has remained the same — family.

“It makes me proud he decided on UPIKE,” said Andrea. “He wants nothing more than to be the best he can be, and I know that he can achieve whatever he wants to do at UPIKE.”

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Although Fairy has worked in various positions, she has primarily worked for the Patton College of Education and is now the administrative assistant to the director of teacher education and coordinator of field-based experience in the division of education.

“The family atmosphere persists and is perpetuated by the staff who have grown up here,” said Misty. “Regardless of what is changing around them, their hearts and attitudes remain the same. I hope we are sharing that feeling of home with current students and making them feel like family.”

Never Stop Learning Following in the pawprints of three generations of Bears before her, sophomore Skylar Stumbo knew there was no better institution in which to pursue her college dreams than the University of Pikeville.

“I truly feel at home at UPIKE,” said Skylar. “I didn’t apply to any other schools because I automatically knew I wanted to come here to keep the tradition going in my family.”

Skylar’s legacy on “the hill” began in 1946, when her late great-grandmother, Esther Stratton Blankenship, attended what was then known as Pikeville College Academy, a place where students could pursue a twoyear program with the mindset of finishing at a fouryear institution.

Joe Hubbard, Skylar’s grandfather, started at Pikeville College in 1964, with aspirations of becoming a social studies teacher. With just a few classes left to graduate, he was drafted into the Vietnam War. When he returned from combat, he went to work for Kentucky Power and remained employed there until his passing last year.

The tradition continued with Skylar’s mother, Kathy Hubbard, who earned her nursing degree from UPIKE in 2003. Kathy went on to become part of the first graduating class of the RN-BSN program and is now a nurse practitioner at BrightView Health, an outpatient addiction treatment program. She is currently working on her psychiatric and mental health certification. She fondly remembers her father, Joe, encouraging her to never stop learning.

“He was always adamant about having his children and grandchildren attend college,” said Kathy. “He regretted not being able to finish his degree and always encouraged Skylar to get as much education as she could. He may not have finished his degree, but he certainly inspired me to finish mine.”

Kathy and Skylar with Skylar’s great-grandmother’s letterman’s sweater that they kindly donated to the university archives in near-perfect condition

In the short time Skylar has attended UPIKE, she’s already making the most of her time on campus. She became a GROWL leader for admissions and was selected as a student ambassador. She is picking up where her grandfather left off, pursuing her education degree with intentions of teaching elementary school.

Kathy is proud of Skylar and knows her daughter will make her own mark at UPIKE. “From the time I graduated to now, the campus has grown tremendously, and Skylar is getting a wonderful education here. It has come full-circle for us,” said Kathy. “I appreciate that UPIKE is a smaller school giving her the opportunity to get to know her instructors on a more personal level.”

Esther

Joe

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For more than 40 years, a member of the Meade family has studied, taught or worked at UPIKE. The family’s legacy began when James Allen Meade ’69 attended then Pikeville College as a student studying secondary education and social studies. James’ means of transportation to campus on most days was hitchhiking, but that hurdle did not stop him from earning his bachelor’s degree.

James’ daughter, Conda Meade Little ’95, now serving as the manager and lead instructor for the UPIKE School of Dance, began dancing as a young student during the late ’70s. She taught the program when she was in high school and continued to be involved with the program throughout her college days.

Conda’s college experience was more unique than others since her mother, Diana Meade ’95, enrolled as a student during her junior year, studying business administration. Conda’s emphasis was business; therefore, they attended several classes together within those two years. Conda graduated with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education/business and her mother earned her associate degree in business administration.

“I recall the other students commenting that they couldn’t imagine going to college with their mom,” said Conda. “We had a wonderful time creating memories that we still reflect upon and laugh about today.”

Conda’s daughter, Alannah Little ’20, followed her mother’s path and began dancing at the UPIKE School of Dance at the age of 2 and started teaching there by age 16. She enrolled at UPIKE in 2016, where she continued as a dance instructor, and four years later, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communication and psychology. The family atmosphere and sense of community are why Alannah chose to attend UPIKE and begin her career as an admissions counselor for the university.

As an admissions counselor, I get to tell students all the reasons I love UPIKE and how they helped me to become successful. I have joked that ‘Go Bears’ has been my favorite saying, and now I get to use it every day.

- Alannah

1995: Diana and Conda’s Commencement

m left) o r F ( : 1 202 s, h, Jame a n n a l A d Conda n a a n Dia 26

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(From left) Audria, Gwen, Lisa and Lashawna

The Non-traditional way Four bold women, all non-traditional students, took the road less traveled and earned their degrees later in life.

It all began when Helena Gwen Kendrick ’83, who always had a passion for learning, attended then Pikeville College, graduating with a degree in business accounting and computer programming. Her degree came in handy while taking care of the bookkeeping for the familyowned business, Kendrick’s Machine and Radiator Shop.

“I was born and raised in Pikeville, and I was excited I could attend a local college and receive a great education,” said Gwen.

Gwen’s youngest daughter, Audria Kendrick Denker, DNP, RN, FAADN, ’88, dropped out of high school and was pushed by her sister, Lisa Kendrick Estep ’91, to obtain her GED and pursue her education at UPIKE. Audria earned her nursing degree from the Elliott School of Nursing.

Since 2005, she has served as the executive vice president of nursing at the Galen College of Nursing. She recently obtained her doctoral degree and was awarded a fellow in the Academy of Associate Degree Nursing. In 2018, she took the role of chair of the governance committee for the Kentucky Board of Nursing. She was also appointed to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing NCLEX examination committee.

“I had such a wonderful experience as a nursing student.

I was so fortunate to have Lisa to push me to better myself,” said Audria. “UPIKE set the tone and laid the foundation for me to go higher and higher. I was influenced to speak up, never stop learning and be a voice for others.”

Lisa took her own advice and chose to come to UPIKE after having had some professional, real-world experience. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education, and as an adult learner, she found that going back to school meant more independence, additional responsibility, extra accountability, better critical thinking and greater future opportunities. Lisa currently serves as the vice president of development at Pikeville Medical Center.

“I was a non-traditional student, married with two children, which is not the typical route for many attending college,” said Lisa. “To me, UPIKE means choices; a choice to further my education, a choice to set an example for my children and grandchildren about the importance of education, a choice to make good grades and to graduate with honors and a choice to be the best I can be.”

Lisa’s daughter, Lashawna Owens Pilz ’20, came to UPIKE as a single mother. After graduating with honors with her bachelor’s degree in psychology, she is currently focusing her time being a new wife and caring for her two children, Jayden and Alisha.

“I worked in the secondary education industry for many years and advised several students to complete their educational goals. Now, it was my turn,” said Lashawna.

“The Bear blood runs deep in our family, and I am honored to be a part of the UPIKE legacy with generations of intelligent and amazing women.”

“UPIKE taught me to believe in my abilities and live my life knowing I can do anything I set my mind to.” - Lisa

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A SIBLING BOND The relationship between siblings is one of the most enduring relationships in life. The bond between Bobby Norman, RN, ’99 and his sister Sarah Norman, RN, ’99, ’01 only deepened after becoming the first siblings to graduate together from the nursing program of then Pikeville College in 1999.

Becoming a registered nurse was not the first choice for either in this duo.

With a seven-year head start on Sarah, Bobby had wanted to become a teacher and coach after high school, and Sarah was a few classes short of earning her English and psychology degrees in Tennessee.

1999

“I worked a lot of different jobs but had no real path. It was never my dream to become a nurse,” said Bobby. “Back then, male nurses weren’t that common. I was the only male in my graduating class, even though the program started out with three.”

Sarah’s decision to become a nurse didn’t happen until halfway through her senior year of college.

“I was so close to graduating with my English degree and ready to pursue a career in journalism,” Sarah explained. “I panicked wondering what I was going to do after graduation to make money. My roommate in Nashville was a nurse and I realized I could graduate with a nursing degree in two years with a career making good money.”

Sarah moved back to Pikeville and was accepted into the nursing program.

Bobby decided to apply too, and both began their journey in the medical field. As non-traditional students, the pair was excited to be in school together for the first time, with Sarah being a little better prepared having just come from another college.

2021

“With such a big age difference, it never lined up for us to attend any school together. The most we ever saw each other was maybe on a school bus,” said Bobby. “Being in college later in life was very difficult and I think doing it together helped me. That first year we really challenged each other. I don’t think I would have made it without her being there with me, but she would have breezed right on through without me there.”

Bobby agrees that when it came to school, Sarah had him beat and without her motivation, he may not have graduated.

I’m very thankful to have been able to graduate from Pikeville College. I’ve enjoyed a great career and it’s all because of Pikeville College, the Elliott family and their support of the nursing program. It prepared me as well as any program ever could have.

To have lasted more than 20 years in an emergency room with evolving patient care and evolving technology, you’ve got to have the basic building blocks of nursing to be able to advance and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.” -Bobby

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“We had a little bit of a sibling rivalry, but he will admit that I had better grades than he did,” said Sarah. “Everyone else in our class was straight out of high school, so Bobby and I were the oldest in the class with more life experience.”

Since graduation, the Norman siblings have created impressive careers for themselves at Pikeville Medical Center (PMC), where they both began as nursing assistants before they graduated. Bobby has been with PMC for more than 23 years and is now the night shift supervisor for the Emergency Department. After working in the nursing field in various capacities, Sarah has been a chemotherapy staff RN for the past five years at PMC’s Leonard Lawson Cancer Center.

After becoming a nurse, Sarah returned to Pikeville College to finish the degrees she came so close to earning before her nursing journey with Bobby began. In 2001, she graduated with a double major in English and psychology.

A FAMILY TRADITION Orethia Miller ’54, ’72 sparked a family tradition when she began her journey to higher education. After completing her classes in only three semesters, she graduated from the Pikeville Junior College in 1954. In 1968, after taking time to focus on her family, she returned to then Pikeville College to seek a degree in elementary education.

“I like to joke and say it took me 20 years to graduate college. I worked in the library and the bookstore to pay my tuition,” said Orethia. “I remember having $10 to buy books for the semester. Back then, the students loved to hang out on ‘the 99’ and would go to Jerry’s for strawberry pie.”

Deborah’s daughter, UPIKE’s Title IX Coordinator Beth Stanley Bowersock, J.D., ’01, MBA ’19, was among the first to major in criminal justice at Pikeville College.

During her time as a student, she attended basketball games, joined and created clubs and served as the Appalachian Association for Justice club president. Upon graduation, she earned her law degree from the Appalachian School of Law in 2004.

“I don’t actively remember choosing to go to Pikeville College; it was a given. It was where our family went, no question. We were born to be Bears. UPIKE was familiar to me; it was home, it was safety and love, and this has not changed in the 20 years since I graduated,” said Beth. “UPIKE prepared me for law school, and there is no greater job in the world than having the ability to impact a student’s life. I look forward to serving the institution in the same way that I was supported as a student.”

Orethia’s oldest son, Doug Miller ’76, followed in his mother’s footsteps and came to Pikeville College in 1974. He majored in mining technology. Doug says his time at college is something he will always cherish.

After working in the banking business for 25 years Orethia’s daughter, Deborah Miller Stanley ’05, came to Pikeville College at the age of 42 to pursue a new career path. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English and went on to earn her master’s and Rank I.

For Orethia’s granddaughter, Kayla Justice ’06, attending Pikeville College was a chance to earn her degree in communication while staying close to home. She says the close community made her feel like a person and not just a number.

(From top, left) Orethia, Doug, Beth, Deborah, Kayla and Jennifer

“I’ll never forget that first day. The excitement and anticipation had awakened the butterflies in my stomach, dormant for so many years. I parked on the boulevard and anxiously began trotting up ‘the 99’ steps that I had heard so much about,” said Deborah. “My ultimate goal was teaching. Pikeville College led me back to where my education began, Johns Creek Elementary. I ended up teaching English there for fifteen years and recently retired.”

Joining Kayla was her cousin, Jennifer Baisden ’06, M.A. ’18, who also earned her degree in communication before returning for her master’s in teacher leadership. She says she grew up on this campus and she learned many things from her professors that she still uses today as an educator.

“No other colleges were even considered, we were born to be Bears.” - Beth FALL/WINTER 2021 | UPIKE MAGAZINE

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Writing Her Own History

By MICHELLE GOFF

Through her books and newspaper columns, author and historian Ann Bolton Bevins has shared her love and knowledge of history with readers across the commonwealth and the country. Through their generosity, she and her family have given the gift of learning to hundreds of students at the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine via the Dr. H. Clinton Bevins Clinical Skills Training and Evaluation Center.

Bevins, an Ashland native, met her future husband and Pike County native William “Bill” Bevins ’38 while she was a student at Georgetown College. While in college, she had a job writing feature stories for the Lexington Herald-Leader.

She had been a journalist since winning a contest the Ashland Daily Independent sponsored for high school seniors.

After marriage, she focused on raising the couple’s five children while Bill went into the automobile and farm machinery business. The couple also farmed.

The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, however, changed her life.

“The act mandated that every state had to have an office to conduct surveys of historic sites. Mrs. Ida Lee Willis, wife of former Kentucky Governor Simeon Willis, asked me to do the surveys in Scott County,” Bevins explained. “My friend, Betty Hollingsworth, and I did the surveys together. I would pick up Betty after the children went to school, our kids were the same age, and we would have our cups of coffee as we drove around. It was a learning experience.

We looked for anything that was old.

Pretty soon we could define what was old and we put those structures in the surveys.”

Bevins, who hadn’t completed her degree, considered returning to college. Her husband instead encouraged her to write. She wrote her first book, The History of Scott County, as well as historical columns for local newspapers, and developed a standing as a historian.

Her other books include Real Country Volumes 1 and 2, the first two installments in a four-part series on the history of Scott County.

Volume 3 is expected to be released later this year.

“I’m waiting on the publisher to send me the corrections on volume 3 so I can get on with volume 4,” she said. “Because of COVID, I haven’t been able to promote the books, but working on them has given me something to do.”

Not that she’s lacking something to do.

“My husband passed away in 2016.

In 2019, I decided I wanted to finish college more than anything else. I changed my major from history to English and for the next two years, I studied English and completed my degree. When my name was called during the online commencement ceremony, the faculty and everyone there was cheering for me.”

She continued, “I’m still deciding what I want to do next in my personal and educational development. I’d like to get a masters in English. I’ve also always had an interest in theology. I might get a seminary degree, or I might decide to do another book.”

As a lifelong learner, Bevins continues to support her husband’s alma mater and the university’s chancellor and family friend, former Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton.

“My husband thought a whole lot of

Gov. Patton. When the president (of UPIKE) resigned for personal reasons and Gov. Patton very generously offered to serve without salary, my husband thought that was such a wonderful thing to have done. He said, ‘Would you write Gov. Patton a letter and tell him we will do whatever we can to support him?’”

The couple provided a significant gift to fund the Dr. H. Clinton Bevins Clinical Skills Training and Evaluation Center, named in honor of Bill’s father, a doctor who practiced on Lower Johns Creek in Pike County in the early part of the 20th century. Located in The Coal Building, which houses KYCOM, the state-of-the-art facility features 12 exam rooms and robotic simulators.

It’s a gift that has not been forgotten.

“Ann and her husband Bill are two of the largest contributors to the University of Pikeville,” Patton said.

“Their dedication to the university and to the larger field of education is amazing. Ann finally received her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown College this past year. She is a lively and engaging individual and an accomplished writer. She is an inspiration to all who know her.”

UPIKE Vice President of Advancement and Alumni Relations David Hutchens said if not for them, our graduates would not have been able to serve millions of patients.

“Ann and Bill Bevins made a significant investment in the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine at a crucial time in the medical school’s existence,” said Hutchens. “They entrusted us with the gift. I did not have the privilege of meeting Bill, but I have had the honor of meeting Ann. She is a wonderful person and an example of a life well-lived.”

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A Century of Service

By AMY CHARLES

Reverend Mildred Board Grubbs turned 104 years old in November, making her UPIKE’s oldest living donor. Her tie to the university goes back decades. As a member of the Board of Christian Education, Grubbs was invited to then Pikeville College in 1961 to help lay the cornerstone for what is now the Record Memorial Building. Grubbs fondly recalls the fanfare of the day.

“The band, basketball team and organizations of students led a community-wide parade through the city streets up to campus where the program began,” Grubbs recalled.

Pikeville College President A.A. Page introduced her, giving her the opportunity to speak to the crowd. “I spoke of the importance of education in a church-related setting and of the opportunities to prepare for a vocation while remaining close to their mountain homes.”

Grubbs has led a remarkable life and is no stranger to setting records. After dreaming of becoming a Presbyterian minister in an era when seminary doors were closed to females, Grubbs became the first woman to be ordained and installed as a pastor in the East Iowa Presbytery in the early 1960s. She served the First Presbyterian Church (FPC) of Blairstown, Iowa, for 10 years before returning to FPC Tupelo in Mississippi, the very place she married her husband Bill in 1945.

Today, Grubbs continues her service to the FPC of Tupelo by leading the Mary and Martha Bible Study and Quest Sunday School classes. She continues to read, study and expand her deep knowledge of theology and religion, all while writing a book, The Light that Shines in Darkness – 150 years of FPC Tupelo, a chronology of the church’s history and influential members.

After all these years, Grubbs still keeps up with the advancements of the university.

Mildred (third from right) was invited to then Pikeville College in 1961 to help lay the cornerstone for what is now the Record Memorial Building.

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“This mission school, established by Presbyterian ministers in 1889 is now the University of Pikeville, a very important educational institution in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky,” said Grubbs.

A love for gardening and good food mixed with an admiration for Eastern Kentucky leads to one remarkable alum who plants seeds of inspiration for many – Pikeville native, garden and food blogger Lauren May ’14.

By Katie Ray and STacey Walters

CLICK HERE to visit Must Love Herbs Photography by Lauren May

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s a small child, May’s mother shared stories of beautiful fall days at the university while spending many hours reading chapters from textbooks to her.

Conscientiously following her mother’s footsteps, she enrolled at UPIKE to seek her accounting and business management degree.

A

“When I think of my college years, I have nothing but wonderful memories. My professors became like family,” said May. “I was a part of the first class to utilize the Coleman College of Business and was honored to be a part of such a beautiful piece of our town’s history.”

Leaving a lifelong influence on May was her mentor, Professor of Accounting Lois White, M.S.

“Sometimes my best accounting students end up doing something entirely different,” said White. “Laurenʼs attention to detail is evident in everything she does.

Despite her detour from a career in accounting, I am willing to bet she still does her own taxes. She has been doing them since she was a student.”

Upon graduation, she decided to follow her passion for gardening, foraging and cooking.

“I come from a long line of gardeners. My great paternal grandmother and paternal grandfather were both avid gardeners,” said May. “Gardening and cooking are therapeutic outlets for me. They help me be in touch with my ancestors, but they also help me be more in tune with myself. Each time I bring in something from my garden, I feel compelled to create something beautiful. That is where cooking comes to play.”

May tends to an approximately 1,500-square-foot garden where she grows vegetables such as heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, corn, radishes, beets, peppers, peas, beans, carrots, chard and everything in between.

“I do a spring, summer and fall garden,” said May. “We also grow many herbs as well as medicinal perennials that double as a pollinator garden. This helps keep the bees busy pollinating our veggies.”

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She earned the nickname “Herbs” from her friends since she added herbs to every dish she made, even her desserts.

In 2019, she created the cooking blog Must Love Herbs, a celebration of Appalachian heritage and traditions showcasing recipes with a modern twist that aims to combat stereotypical portrayals of Appalachia.

“The Appalachian region often gets a lot of publicity that isn’t very favorable. Those stories, movies and books do not paint an accurate depiction of who we are as an area,” said May. “It is my goal to create a legacy through my work that will honor the generation of Appalachian gardeners and cooks who came before me.”

Emerging in her blog are her many talents including gardening, foraging adventures, cooking, writing, recipe development and food photography. At an initial glimpse, Must Love Herbs displays the beauty of May’s creations upon the moment she enters the kitchen and shares her experiences.

May works with many companies including Burpee, Gurneys, Ale-8, Buffalo Trace, Vidalia, Victoria Distillery, Pampered Chef, Jones Soda and Otherland to develop recipes, as well as share gardening tips and photograph products.

She says she has been interested in photography for as long as she can remember, but started doing it professionally in 2019.

“I take all the photos on my page with the exception of a few taken of me,” said May. “Those are done by my husband. I get the shot set up for him and he does an awesome job at following directions while adding his own flare!”

Larry, May’s husband of 13 years, is one of her biggest supporters. Together, they have five dogs – Jack, Aggie, Winnie, Monte and Teddy. May currently works as a preschool teacher at Little Blessings Preschool in Pikeville, where she has been for the last five years. Between being a dog mom and a teacher, she uses her spare time to spark ideas for her many creations.

“Often an idea comes to me while I’m drinking my coffee in the morning. I’ll write it down and then proceed to make it happen,” said May. “I am very influenced by what is growing in the garden and in the woods around me. I try my best to use what I have that is in season.”

All of May’s hard work and dedication have led her to an impressive list of recognition.

Martha Stewart’s social media showcased May’s fried apple pie and Appalachian molasses pumpkin pie, with a handpainted mountain range for decoration, in the fall of 2019.

The Christmas 2020 issue of Folk Magazine featured her chocolate peppermint bark, cranberry, rosemary and orange bundt cake, fudge and almond pinecones, as well as an article about her and her Appalachian heritage.

Her forager’s focaccia recipe along with an article on her baking, gardening and foraging was featured in the fall 2020 issue of Faerie Magazine. Additionally, a detailed article on her garden was featured in the summer 2021 issue, which also shares her quick pickles recipe.

In July, May was named one of the Top 10 People in Southern Food by Taste of the South where her entire blog was highlighted.

Farmers’ Almanac shared her bourbon peach ice cream, apple butter cheesecake and leather britches on their website and social media feed. Together, they recently did a giveaway to launch the 2022 issue.

“I am always amazed when people enjoy my work enough to share it,” said May. “It feels reassuring knowing that I am doing something others find enriching!”

Throughout the years, May has carried the values and principles that UPIKE instilled in her and uses them to pave the way for her future endeavors. She credits her accounting degree for helping immensely with the business portion of Must Love Herbs. She is confidently able to interact with large corporations on photography and recipe development as well as keeping her books updated and taxes filed.

In addition to all of her accomplishments, she aspires to publish a cookbook that includes all the things that bring her joy and highlights her expertise.

“UPIKE taught me that if you are pursuing your passion, work will rarely feel like work. Figure out who you are and what brings you joy,” advised May. “Life has a way of showing you your path one way or another.”

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Putting the future into focus Since receiving full accreditation status from the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education in 2020, the Kentucky College of Optometry is now offering post-graduate training and education opportunities with newly-developed residency programs. Doctors of Optometry can gain an additional year of advanced clinical training by participating in a one-year, postdoctoral residency program. Residencies are a crucial part of optometry training and provide opportunities in research, specialty care and optometric education, while enhancing patient care abilities and exposure to career opportunities.

Residencies provide the space, opportunity and guidance for a resident doctor to evolve and grow professionally.

KYCO Assistant Dean for Student and Professional Development and Professor of Optometry Josephine Ibironke, O.D., M.P.H., FAAO, believes that the growth a resident experiences is above and beyond the entry level skills of a doctor who does not complete a residency.

“Our residency is particularly unique because as our resident works with our doctors and subsequently gains independence, the resident sees a broad range of ocular disease,” said Ibironke. “Because of our expanded scope of practice and state-of-the-art facilities, patients with complex eye diseases do not have to drive out of our community to receive care. Our residency helps the resident grow into a provider able to treat and manage various complex eye diseases.”

Selected as the first resident at KYCO’s on-site optometry clinic, Mohammed Naja, O.D., KYCO ’21 chose to pursue his optometry education at KYCO because of the expanded scope of practice granted by the Kentucky legislature. This gives the faculty the ability to train optometrists of the future, in a new facility with advanced equipment that sets KYCO apart from other optometry schools.

“All this makes it a perfect environment for students to learn the profession as it progresses into the future. KYCO gave me the tools I needed to become a well rounded optometrist in all facets of the profession, and then some,” said Naja. “I was honored to have been selected as one of the first in-house residents at the Kentucky College of Optometry. I look forward to the challenges ahead and am excited to provide the best care possible to the people of Eastern Kentucky.”

KYCO’s new residency program sharpens its focus on educating leaders in therapeutic optometry while providing new initiatives that deepen the mission of caring for the underserved. In addition to KYCO’s primary care residency, with an emphasis in ocular disease, other KYCO-affiliated residency programs are Huffman and Huffman Eye Care in London, Ky., and Milan Eye Center in Cumming, Ga.

By AMY CHARLES

MobileEyes Appalachia KYCO students within the Pikeville Lions Club, one of many service clubs on campus that focus on ways to best help the community, have collaborated with faculty and staff to start a mobile eye care unit. The mobile unit, MobileEyes Appalachia, will play a vital role in decreasing vision loss by helping to diagnose and treat eye disease in underserved areas in the surrounding communities of Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee.

Being from Eastern Kentucky, third-year KYCO student and Lions Club President Caitlynn Estevez has seen firsthand the negative effects of limited eyecare and lack of access to quality vision screenings.

From left: Caitlynn Estevez, Ashley Richmond, Dr. Ben Konig and Dr. Eilene Kinzer

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“I’m excited to be able to attend KYCO since its mission is to better serve this area. I want to play a role in combating the blindness that is plaguing the Appalachian region,” said Estevez. “I have been fortunate enough to continue my education and hopefully, one day I can be a leader in my community. I truly believe anytime we can offer more services and bring more awareness, we are impacting the community in a very positive way.”

Fundraising efforts have been underway all year to qualify the club for a match grant through the International Lions Club, which will be used to cover vehicle, equipment and supply costs for the new mobile unit. Match grants are conditional awards that require an organization to raise a specified portion of the grant through fundraising and contributions.

In addition to generous donations from alumni and the community, the club also hosted a golf scramble that took in nearly $5,000 to put toward their $100,000 goal.

“We finally have all the pieces in place and are now able to submit our application to get a matching grant,” said Estevez. “We have worked for over a year on this project and we hope to have the unit available next year.”

Once MobileEyes Appalachia is fully equipped and running, KYCO students will be able to screen patients for serious eye issues and systemic disease that lead to blindness or other complications that affect many people in rural areas, and then make physician referrals for further treatment.

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A N E W H O R I ZO N

As a young boy in Venezuela, Enrico Marino ’16 and his friends would watch American movies in awe of how different everything looked; how nice the schools, roads and homes were. Envious of the life he did not have and the place he might never go, Marino focused all his attention and energy into baseball, the thing at which he was great and might secure his future.

“Baseball was my life in Venezuela for many years. Where I’m from itʼs the national sport,” explained Marino. “Young men with athletic ability have two choices, you quit school and try to become a professional baseball player at 15 or 16 years old, or you stay in school. There’s no option to do both.”

With the infrastructure and economy of his South American home country in steady decline, Marino and his mother searched for something better. They heard about colleges in the United States where you could play baseball and go to school on an athletic scholarship.

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Marino’s journey to UPIKE was not a straight shot from his coastal hometown. In fact, his first stop in the U.S. was Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla.

Through a network of coaches, he was introduced to the baseball coach at UPIKE and later offered a scholarship.

who I want to be and take a walk anytime without worrying that I’ve placed myself in danger,” said Marino. “When I was 5 years old, my family could get a taxi and go somewhere with no problems. By the time I was 7 you couldnʼt do that without risking your life.”

“It was very hard to come from another country, being away from family and friends and living somewhere that is so different. It was a big challenge for me, with responsibilities that I wasn’t mature enough to handle at the time,” admitted Marino. “In the long run, focusing on school was the best decision for me. I developed a passion for learning and realized I didn’t need to rely on baseball to have a happy life.”

“I’m grateful for the sacrifices my family made that allowed me to pursue my dreams in the States,” said Marino. “I tried so hard and I couldn’t let myself fail because getting my education means that my mother’s sacrifices weren’t in vain.”

After transferring to UPIKE, Marino pitched for a year before hanging up his glove and deciding to step away from the sport to focus on academics.

After graduating with his bachelorʼs degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting and management and a minor in sociology, Marino went to work for Community Trust Bank in Pikeville as an auditor, where he met his future wife Kellie Varney ’20. The two were married a year later, then Marino began the lengthy, threeyear process of becoming a U.S. citizen.

“My last visit to Venezuela in 2014 was eyeopening. Seeing how bad things had gotten was so disappointing and so sad. I knew I didn’t want to go back,” said Marino. “I went home, but it wasn’t home anymore. The place I left was no longer there.”

The dream that began when Marino was just a boy was finally realized in January 2021, when he was finally sworn in at a ceremony in Frankfort.

“The best thing is the relief I feel now that I’m finally a citizen. When you grow up in another country, you grow up knowing that itʼs different in America,” explained Marino. “People here exist in a place where things have always been ok, peaceful and safe. Once I became a U.S. citizen, the fear of somehow messing up and being sent back was gone.”

Even though Marino’s dad was a mechanic and successful businessman, who provided a comfortable middle-class life, it was hard sometimes for the family to get basic needs met that people often take for granted. With his home country in crisis, there was scarcity in food and medicine at times, and long lines to wait in for certain goods.

“I left right before it got really bad, but it was still pretty rough when I was there. Being here is great because I know I can work to make money, be

It wasn’t easy for Marino’s mother to kiss her son goodbye and watch him leave to start a new life on another continent at the young age of 17. She knew leaving was best for him and he works hard each day to make her proud.

Working as the staff accountant for the City of Pikeville since 2018, Marino is responsible for handling payroll, reviewing tax documents, financial management of grants, and reconciling accounts and bank statements for the city. He credits his UPIKE education and helpful professors with preparing him for his career.

“You can’t learn everything in a classroom, so through the business simulations we engaged in with other schools. My professors exposed me to situations that helped prepare me for real work scenarios,” said Marino. “They also encouraged me to hone my interview skills, use everything I learned and turn it into practical applications I could use on the job.”

UPIKE Associate Professor of Business Brenda Maynard, M.S., Marino’s former academic advisor, recalls meeting him for the first time.

“I remember when I first met him several years ago. I thought wow, he is a leader and will be quite successful,” said Maynard. “I’m so proud of Enrico.

He has always had goals and knows how to achieve them. He is a true inspiration.”

Marino is grateful for the many people, too many to name, throughout his journey who helped him get to where he is today. At UPIKE, there’s an important lesson he learned about himself — there is no substitution for hard work.

“It doesn’t matter where you start, what your name is or where you are from,” Marino said. “If you show up to class on time and study, you’ll pass. If you show up to an interview determined and prepared, you might get the job. It’s all about putting in the work.”

By AMY CHARLES

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TRUSTEE SPOTLIGHT

A lifetime of leadership

By AMY CHARLES

T

he old saying goes “behind every great man is a great woman,” but UPIKE Trustee and Community Trust Bancorp, Inc., (CTBI) Chairman and CEO Jean Hale ’68 believes that behind a great, determined woman is a supportive man who did not hold her back.

After graduating from then Pikeville College, majoring in business and minoring in mathematics, Hale spent one year as a math teacher. She then immediately went to work in her planned career in the banking industry, where she spent the next few decades rising through the ranks and conquering her goals. Throughout the years, Hale broke down many barriers for women as she successfully competed in a male-dominated industry. Under her leadership, CTBI saw 152 percent growth in assets and became a $5.5 billion company.

Hale says she is fortunate that the management of CTBI was always more focused on the quality of the work rather than the gender of the person doing the work, but there were still challenges with often being the only woman in the room.

“I chose to focus on what my contributions were and not worry about anything else, and I have believed throughout my career that the only competition I have is with myself, doing the best job I could do,” Hale explained. “Upper management was very good at recognizing individual contributions and not looking at gender, which was very progressive for the time.”

Hale is the youngest of four children in a coal mining family. Her parents were determined for their children to receive a college education, which proved very difficult on a coal miner’s pay in the ʼ60s. Somehow, they managed, and Hale and her siblings completed their education without the burden of student loan debt.

“I have been blessed by wonderful parents who made such sacrifices to educate their children,” said Hale. “I truly am a coal minerʼs daughter. I vowed to make the most of the blessings and opportunities God has put before me and pay it forward. I want to give back to the communities and the people that have been so good to me.”

Throughout Hale’s impressive career she has not only made her mark, but has made a difference in the community and commonwealth she loves. She proudly serves on many boards where her volunteer work is focused on economic development and education.

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comment that the relationship between education and economic development is like the proverbial chicken and egg,” said Hale. “You need an educated workforce in order to attract business, but you need business opportunities and jobs to motivate the workforce to become educated.”

Hale is proud of CTBI’s growth and how many stable jobs the company has been able to provide for the past 118 years. The biggest driving force behind her work with CTBI has been the opportunity to play a part in creating jobs for individuals and offering products and services to help people achieve their dreams.

“Good jobs change people’s lives. They provide an opportunity for them to fulfill their dreams for the future,” said Hale. “In my 52 years with Community Trust, we have employed thousands of people. Currently, CTBI has almost a thousand employees, so we are touching their lives and the lives of their families.”

The Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce awarded Hale with the 2021 Lon B. and Mary Evelyn Rogers Lifetime Achievement Award, named for two former UPIKE trustees. As a young person, Hale remembers admiring them and other community leaders, watching them give through their work and service to make the community better.

“For the future of Eastern Kentucky, I hope that we can continue to grow in our cooperation and work as a region so we can create the jobs necessary to retain the young people in our communities who are our future leaders,” said Hale in her acceptance speech.

Hale credits her time on “the hill” with preparing her for a lifetime of leadership.

“Throughout my career, I have interacted with many individuals with advanced degrees from Ivy League colleges and universities,” said Hale. “I realized I received a very good education from Pikeville College because I have had no difficulties communicating and doing business with them. I believe education is very personal in what you make of it and you can get a quality education anywhere just by applying yourself.”

Hale and her late husband Jack instilled in their son Michael the same value for higher education. With a degree in mechanical engineering and minor in management technology from Vanderbilt University, Hale is most proud of her son, calling him her greatest accomplishment.

“Not only is he a successful businessperson, but he is also a good Christian father. He and his wife, Heather, are raising my granddaughters, Rachel and Claire, with the same values he was raised with,” said Hale. “They are amazing girls!

God continues to bless me with a wonderful family. I couldnʼt ask for better.”

Even though Hale plans to continue her volunteer work after her retirement from CTBI in February 2022, she is looking forward to splitting her time between Pikeville and Nashville where she will be able to attend her granddaughters’ sporting, singing and acting events.

Hale’s example redefining the role of women in business and showing the way for others will continue to inspire women and girls for decades to come.

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R E C O N N E C T. R E D I S C O The University of Pikeville Alumni Association is designed to foster a community of lifelong connections. For more than a century, thousands of students have charted their paths at UPIKE and have shared many inspiring stories about making a significant impact on the communities they serve.

Through the university’s alumni network that includes more than 12,000 active members, graduates find memorable alumni events that provide opportunities to stay connected and continue to show Bear pride and a commitment to 42

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support the UPIKE community. These events are available in multiple states and include various activities offering numerous benefits.

“My favorite part about attending these events is seeing all the different paths graduates take, visiting with new and old friends and making potential business connections.”

- Andrea Coughtry ’14, MBA ’16

VER. REUNITE. GET CONNECTED Contact Lisa Blackburn, director of alumni relations, at (606) 218-5276 for more information on events. To stay up-to-date on the latest alumni news, follow UPIKE Alumni on Facebook.

KYCOM and KYCO Alumni Contact Courtney Justice, senior director of advancement (graduate programs), at (606) 218-5276 for more information on events. To stay up-to-date, follow KYCOM's and KYCO's Alumni Associations on Facebook.

CLICK HERE to learn more about upcoming alumni events

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Class Notes 1980s

Harlan D. Howard ’85 and his wife, Tammy, celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary on June 6. They met on campus in the fall of ’84 and have two daughters, Rebecca and Hannah. Harlan owns Appalachian Insurance, Inc., in Paintsville, Ky. ________________________________________________________________

1990s

Phillip Johnson ’91 retired as continuous improvement manager from the Kellogg Company in June. He took the position of senior financial analyst at Beam Suntory, Inc., in Frankfort, Ky., in August.

In September, Stephen Thacker ’92 graduated from Lexington Healing Arts Academy as a yoga instructor. He says it has long been a goal to help people be healthy and feel better about themselves. Thacker works for the Pike County School System and occasionally teaches yoga at Pikeville YMCA where he is gaining experience teaching the physical and mental benefits of yoga as a holistic approach.

Robert Staggs ’92, MBA ’20 was recently ordained as a deacon at First Baptist Church Pikeville. He successfully completed treatment in January 2021 for tonsillar cancer. Besides the care he received at Pikeville Medical Center, Staggs credits his survival to God and the prayers and support of his softball team, UPIKE family and countless friends. This spring will mark Staggs’ 20th year as head softball coach at UPIKE. When he isn’t on the softball field, Staggs enjoys golfing, bicycling and spending time with his granddaughters. Staggs and his wife, Nanette ’96, reside in Pikeville.

This summer, Gary Justice ’96, MBA ’13 was appointed as UPIKE’s dean of admissions.

Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) Kansas Justice ’97, MBA ’13 was featured as one of the ‘Top Women in Business’ by The Lane Report. Her primary responsibilities center around ensuring PMC’s more than 3,000 employees have the tools and resources they need to carry out the organization’s mission to advance the health and well-being of the region through comprehensive care in a Christian environment.

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CLICK HERE to submit a class note

The Pikeville Independent School District appointed Kim Clevinger ’99 to the position of instructional supervisor and director of federal programs. She has been a member of the Pikeville Independent team since 2007 in various roles. ________________________________________________

2000s

Brian Sosnin, D.O., KYCOM ’02 became the president of the Greater Louisville Medical Society and will serve a one-year term as president followed by a one-year term as chairman of the board.

Brandon Blackburn ’04 was named principal of Pikeville High School.

Talbott Elementary School Principal Sandi Ramey ’04 was recognized at the Board of School Commissioners Meeting where the school earned the status of Reward School for the 2020-2021 school year.

After working six years for the Mary Todd Lincoln House, Jon Coleman ’05 has been named the executive director for the Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation. He says it’s an honor to join a team so passionate about Kentucky’s historical fabric and the continuing relevance of our shared past.

Vice President of the Georgia Osteopathic Medical Association Randy Durbin, D.O., KYCOM ’07 was recently promoted to statewide medical director for ReVIDA Recovery Centers in Tennessee. Durbin is also a delegate to the American Osteopathic Association House of Delegates.

Jack Keen ’68 recently checked something important off his bucket list. He and his wife Sheila ’70 hiked to the rock known as Lover’s Leap overlooking Pikeville during their first few months at then Pikeville College.

The couple was married on Aug. 1, 1970. Sheila passed away from breast cancer in 2019 and as a tribute to her, Jack took a trip down memory lane in his ’67 Chevy Corvette, the same car he drove to campus and took Sheila on dates in, to come and stand on that very rock one last time.

Bradley Allen ’08 was named assistant principal of Pikeville High School.

Justin Arms ’08 was named principal of Johnson Central High School. Arms began his tenure in the Johnson County School System more than 13 years ago as a mathematics instructor at Johnson Central High School. He has also served in the capacity of engineering instructor, SkillsUSA advisor, co-chair of the engineering department, assistant coach for both the football and baseball teams, BARR coordinator and assistant principal.

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President and CEO of the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Jordan Gibson ’08, MBA ’14 was elected to serve as the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives president for the 2022 term. ________________________________________________________________

2010s

Esther Brooke Tucker ’11 was named Dorton Middle School girls basketball coach.

Lakia Bailey ’12 accepted the assistant creative director position for University of Kentucky Athletics where her primary sports are women’s basketball, volleyball and softball. With such a wide, diverse skill set, Bailey has also been able to collaborate and lead the creative direction on some memorable designs for men’s basketball, football, gymnastics and other sports. She says working in the world of athletics has always been a passion of hers and she’s doing what she loves.

Brandon “B.J.” Hamilton ’12 and his wife, Desteni (Spears) Hamilton ’12, welcomed their son, Maxwell Atlas Hamilton, on January 23, weighing 7 pounds, 9 ounces. Desteni is a pharmaceutical specialist with IBSA Pharma and B.J. is the director of sales with Filtration Parts.

The family resides in Atlanta.

Brad Yoder ’14, MBA ’16 was promoted to assistant athletic director for Athletic Communications and associate head men’s basketball coach at Bethany College. Yoder was previously an assistant coach at Bethany during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. In between his stints at Bethany, he served as the director of basketball operations for Nicholls State University for the 2018-19 season.

Distinguished Educators Hall of Fame

Educators challenge, inspire and give unwavering support to their students. To recognize the career commitment made by educators in the region, UPIKE annually recognizes a select group of passionate and service-minded educators in its Distinguished Educators Hall of Fame.

Nominated by their peers, former students or community members, the prestigious recognition honors educators whose contributions to learning have inspired generations of students and made a significant impact in the field.

The 2021 inductees include (from left) Kimberly R. Clevinger ’99, ’07 of Pikeville, Paula Baldridge Smith of Pikeville, Mark Gannon ’95 of Belfry, Selena Cochran of Oil Springs, Shauna Lynn Patton ’06 of Stambaugh, Laura Castle of Oil Springs and James Coleman of Pikeville (not pictured).

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UPIKE MAGAZINE | FALL/WINTER 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the ceremony

Women in Education Leadership UPIKE’s Senior Director of Advancement Laura Damron, MBA ’19 and Assistant Provost and Associate Professor of English Amanda Jo Slone, Ph.D., ’07 were selected to participate in Harvard’s Graduate School of Education Women in Education Leadership program. The program empowers women to lead through adversity and provides a unique opportunity for growth and renewal among diverse groups of women.

Cory Gannon ’14, MBA ’19 was promoted to director of admissions at UPIKE. This mark’s his sixth year with the admissions office.

After graduating from the Elliott School of Nursing, Noah Hamilton, DNP, CRNA, ’15 began working in the medicine and pulmonary ICU at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center. The following year, while working full-time, Hamilton was able to obtain his BSN degree. This spring, he graduated from the Murray State University Baptist Health Nurse Anesthesia Program and is currently practicing anesthesia at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital in Somerset, Ky. The 2021 Appalachian Newspapers Inc., All Mountain Softball Team is composed of players from the 15th Region, the 14th Region’s 54th District and Mingo County, W.Va. All-Mountain Coach of the Year went to Pikeville’s Brandi Jo Howard ’15, MBA ’17. Howard led the Lady Panthers to a 29-11 record after several starters transferred to other programs after the 2019 season. In July, Howard was named Wolfe County High School head softball coach.

Eastern Kentucky native and Critical Care and Pulmonology physician Ashley Thompson, D.O., KYCOM ’15 returned home to treat patients at Pikeville Medical Center.

Mona Jade Branham, J.D., ’16 graduated from the Appalachian School of Law (ASL) in Grundy, Va., earning her Juris Doctorate on May 15.

While at ASL, she was a student ambassador and received the Angela Dales Spirit of ASL award in 2020. Branham was also a member of the Student Bar Association serving as an honor court justice her second year and as a senator her third year.

Nissona Hounshell ’16, MBA ’19 was named assistant cheerleading coach at UPIKE.

FALL/WINTER 2021 | UPIKE MAGAZINE

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Trey Rakes ’17 was promoted to associate head coach for the Colby Community College men’s basketball program in Colby, Kan. Rakes joined the Trojans as an assistant coach in 2019. Before arriving in Colby, Rakes worked on the staff at Coastal Carolina University. On the court, the Louisville, Ky., native starred as a guard from 2013 to 2017 at UPIKE, where he was a two-year starter and captain.

He became the all-time wins leader as a player (11223) and was a part of two Mid-South Conference championships. His teams qualified for the NAIA tournament all four years, two of which resulted in Elite 8 appearances. He also earned the Mid-South Conference Champion of Character award.

Andrew French, D.O., KYCOM ’18 joined the Holston Medical Group in Bristol, Tenn., as a primary care physician.

Cheyenne Harlow ’19, MBA ’20 was promoted to the assistant director of admissions at UPIKE. This marks her third year with the admissions office.

2020s

________________________________________________ Justin Bowling ’20 received the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses for the second quarter of 2021 at Clark Regional Medical Center in Winchester, Ky. Bowling had several nominations from visitors and patients, applauding him for his caring demeanor and willingness to reach out to family members to deliver results and give updates in an open and honest manner.

Bears in Production Film and Media Arts major Kyle Nagy ’19 worked the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards as the audio and video technician.

As the only tech on the red carpet, Nagy troubleshot issues in signal feeds. Nagy is currently working on an award show for Pepsi Co., with Total-Media, a company he’s worked with for multiple events such as the Puppy Bowl and Live Nation concerts, in addition to the Emmy Awards. Nagy lives in Covina, Calif., and is a technical director and audio-visual technician for Remote Digital Media, Inc. He also owns his own videography business and is partnered with schools in Los Angeles County to create video content that can be broadcasted to staff and families.

Taylor VanHoose ’20 was named the new head volleyball coach at Shelby Valley High School.

BriAnna Burbridge ’21 is currently pursuing a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling while assisting the women’s basketball team at Spalding University in Louisville, Ky.

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UPIKE MAGAZINE | FALL/WINTER 2021

In May, Claudette Enriquez ’20 joined the newsroom at WYMT as their first Latina news producer. As senior producer and weekend news manager, Enriquez determines which stories reporters will be covering, and all the scripts, graphics and the order in which a newscast is aired.

She also helps to create content for their websites.

Forever & Always Jeffrey Justice ’15 and Whitney Hogg ’09 were married on October 9. Jeffery is the business retention and expansion manager for the City of Pikeville and Whitney is the marketing director for Childers Oil/Double Kwik. The couple lives in Whitesburg, Ky.

After proposing in 2019 on UPIKE’s campus, Cody Allen ’17 and Molly Frank Stinnett ’17 were married on May 29 at Warrenwood Manor in Danville, Ky. The couple lives in Louisville, Ky., where Cody is a detective for Louisville Metro Police Department and Molly is a resident physician in pediatrics at the University of Louisville.

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Coming Soon Becoming a University The Story of UPIKE Picking up where Pikeville College Looks to the Hills by Alice Kinder left off, Becoming a University - The Story of UPIKE tracks UPIKE’s history from 1989 to 2021. From starting a medical school to becoming a university and establishing Kentucky’s only optometry school, UPIKE’s expansion and growth in the past almost 40 years have been historic. With the information gathered from carefully traced board reports and more than 30 interviews, learn from the key decision-makers who helped UPIKE overcome adversity and create the university we enjoy today.