A Promising Future

By Stacey Walters

The University of Pikeville has a proud tradition of opening doors to students for whom a college education may not have always been certain. Through the Pikeville Promise, a full-coverage, four-year scholarship that has awarded more than $12 million in aid to nearly 2,300 students since its inception, students are able to continue their education and embrace a bold dream.

Thankful for donor support, recent graduates and first-generation students share their gratitude for the assistance they received to help make their degree attainable.

Cynthia Handshoe - College of Arts and Sciences

Cynthia Handshoe - College of Arts and Sciences

Cynthia Handshoe ’23 graduated with a degree in criminal justice and psychology through the College of Arts and Sciences.

Earning a Bachelor of Arts from the university, Handshoe plans to work toward acquiring a mental health counselor license and achieving her Ph.D. in forensic psychology to study the psychology of criminals.

Handshoe believes the Pikeville Promise is a promise of a better education.

The Pikeville Promise Scholarship helped me greatly because I come from a low-income family,” said Handshoe. “Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to afford my education.

She expressed gratitude to the donors who helped create a jumpstart in earning her degree.

“Investment in education is unique because you’re not buying a tangible object, but rather enabling a young mind to start their journey with the best tools to do so. I cannot thank you enough for how your philanthropy directly impacts my life and the work I do. I hope to continue carrying the UPIKE legacy with pride and gratitude for those who have supported me along the way,” said Handshoe.

Brian Blackburn - Patton College of Education

Brian Blackburn - Patton College of Education

Patton College of Education graduate Brian Blackburn ’23 earned his degree in elementary education and is excited to begin his career.

“This scholarship has allowed me to pursue higher education that wouldn’t have been possible without it. The challenge of raising my four-year-old son and 17-yearold brother-in-law while earning my degree was difficult. But the Pikeville Promise gave me one less thing to worry about,” said Blackburn.

Due to the Pikeville Promise Scholarship, Blackburn had time to focus more on the essential aspects of learning and credited the donors that made it possible.

Your generosity has inspired me to help others and give back to the community,” said Blackburn. “I hope one day I will be able to help students achieve their goals just as you have helped my wife and me.

Alexa Crank - College of Nursing and Human Services

Alexa Crank - College of Nursing and Human Services

Alexa Crank ’23 graduated with a degree in social work through the College of Nursing and Human Services.

Crank plans on becoming a children’s social work counselor and furthering her education by pursuing her master’s degree in social work. As a first-generation student, she credits the Pikeville Promise Scholarship with paving her way to a successful future.

“I truly credit the Pikeville Promise with setting my life on the trajectory it is on now, and I couldn’t be more grateful,” said Crank. “Financing college was an issue for me, and receiving this scholarship was one of the reasons I chose UPIKE.”

Crank is genuinely grateful for the scholarship support that allowed her to focus on her studies.

I don’t take the generosity of the donors lightly, and I strive to honor it as I move through life,” said Crank. “My successes are also your successes.

Robert Keen - Coleman College of Business

Robert Keen - Coleman College of Business

Robert Keen ’23 graduated with a degree in business administration management through the Coleman College of Business and a minor in entrepreneurship. He plans to explore his options within the business world and hopes to own his own business within the family entertainment industry.

As a non-traditional student with a family, the Pikeville Promise removed the tuition barrier I faced and made it possible for me to return to college and pursue my dream of graduating,” said Keen.

“I have moved full steam ahead toward my goals from day one of receiving the Pikeville Promise Scholarship.”

Keen believes scholarships like these truly make a difference in students’ lives.

“I am the first of four generations of my family to finish high school and attend college. Graduating from UPIKE is the first step in accomplishing my dreams,” said Keen. “A dream that would not have been possible without the generosity, support and compassion of the donors who made it happen. Thank you.”