A Heart for Service KYCO OSP with Determination for Success As UPIKE’s first student to complete the rigorous Optometry Scholars Program (OSP), it’s clear Ashley Richmond learned how to set goals for herself and surpass them. With a clear vision for her life and a passion for her community, Richmond is charting a path all her own in the field of optometry. The highly competitive Optometry Scholars Program allows qualified UPIKE students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree followed by a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree from the university's Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO). Having graduated from UPIKE and been accepted to KYCO, Richmond now focuses her determination on not only working toward her optometry degree to help serve the under-served in Appalachia, but to inspire future students to have the courage to discover and pursue their passion at UPIKE. “The people drew me here,” Richmond recalled from her first visit to campus in 2015. “They were so nice and welcoming and understanding. They sold me!” “From day one when I met Ashley on her campus visit, I knew she was a special person,” said her golf coach Nelson Scott. “I could tell she was a great fit for the university and the golf team.” “On the golf course, Ashley has played with integrity, respected others, and even on bad days Ashley always has a smile on her face with a positive attitude. She has truly been a blessing to coach for the last three years.”
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UPIKE MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2019
