Like Father, Like Son by mark baggett
Generations at the University of Pikeville reflect the university’s consistent mission, but also its everchanging future. UPIKE remains steadfast in the commitment of preparing students for the future while creating intellectual, cultural and economic opportunities for Appalachia. Despite the remarkable progress Gary Justice has seen at UPIKE since he entered then-Pikeville College as a freshman in fall 1992, he says UPIKE’s mission remains the same as the one that attracted him. UPIKE recognizes the worth of each student, faculty member and staff member. “I was a first-generation student and didn’t know where I was going to attend college. Even though I was only a few minutes from campus, I didn’t know much about Pikeville College,” said Gary. “I chose it so that my father could see me play baseball, but also because of how at home I felt the first time I stepped on campus. It was a small school in a small community that cared about you. The professors wanted you to succeed. You weren’t just a number to them. They were preparing me not just for my college experience, but for the rest of my life.” Almost 30 years later, his feelings for UPIKE are echoed by his son, Kevin, a senior business administration major and baseball player, just like his dad. Kevin’s life intertwined with UPIKE from an early age, and Kevin thinks of it as a second home. “I remember going to the basketball games with my father and brother Blake,” recalled Kevin. “We both loved to go with our dad, and the college just became a place where we really felt like a family.”
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UPIKE MAGAZINE | FALL/WINTER 2019
