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Office of Alumni Relations 147 Sycamore Street Pikeville, Kentucky 41501 (606) 218-5268 Alumni@upike.edu
The UPIKE Alumni Association invites graduates to connect with one another and remain engaged with UPIKE by taking part in monthly events that are informative, interactive and inspirational. For more information on how you can become involved in the Alumni Association, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@upike.edu or at (606) 218-5276.
President: Kay Hammond ’68
Vice President: Danny Adams ’71
Secretary: Gayle Justice ’88
Treasurer: Amy Williamson ’10
Phillip Birchfield ‘94
Heather Birchfield ‘96
Jimmy R. Blackburn, II ‘93
Nathan D. Brown ‘05
Tommy Chamberlin ‘ 96
Erin Chamberlin ‘05
Jordan T. Charles ‘03
Twilia Charles-Duff ‘82, ‘87
Eddy Coleman ‘77
Lisa M. Compton ‘12
Gene D. Davis ‘63
Tiffany J. Fannin ‘09
Mindy L. Fleming ‘06
Lisa Forsyth ‘87
Stephanie R. Frazier ‘93
Timothy A. Hatfield ‘92
Jesse W. Hawkins ‘11
Thomas Hereford, III ‘66
Doug Hinkle ‘53
Judith Hinkle ‘52, ‘62
Tina L. Hurley ‘99
Lisa Johnson ’89
Ryan D. Jones ‘11
David Lester ‘71
Judy Lester ‘71
Brenda K. Maynard ‘89
Tivis Newsom, Jr. ‘83
Judi C. Patton ‘60
Katherine S. Petot ‘75
Betty H. Porter ‘62
Howard V. Roberts ‘78
Lois M. Rogers ‘04
Daryle M. Ronning ‘86
Jesse L. Rudd, II ‘00
Jean K. Shockey ‘49, ‘51
Eugene Sisco, III ‘08
Jessica K. Taylor ‘11
Michael Williamson ‘54, ‘58
Don Sulivan ‘50
Melanie Joyce ‘02, ‘16
Brandi Brown ‘14
Matt Day ‘03
Mitch Copley ‘11
Whitney Copley ‘08
Camilla Damron ’96
Tiffany Craft ’10
Whitney Hogg ’09
David Jewell ’97
Bryna Jewell ’02
Tammy Riley ’92
Ryan Stratton ’09
Ryan McCoy ’07
Ronnie Spence ’01
Duane Porter ’90
Greg Dempsey ’01
Jordan Gibson ’08, ’14 MBA
Justin Hall ’97
Gabe Penn ’14, ’15 MBA
Roger Wagner ’70
John Biery ’88
Lakia Bailey ’12
Kathy Hubbard ’03, ’13
Robert L. Chaney ’96
Conda Little ’95
2022 Alumni Award Recipients:
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The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented annually to an alumnus/alumna of the University. He/she must have been out of college for at least seven years. Nomination information should include specific activities, awards and promotions that demonstrate 1) professional prominence and 2) contributions made for the betterment of society, both of which bring honor and distinction to the University of Pikeville.
2022 Recipient:
Dr. Howard V. Roberts
Dr. Howard V. Roberts is the founding dean of the Coleman College of Business at the University of Pikeville. Before entering higher education as an accounting professor, his career began in banking. Later he worked in the chemical manufacturing industry and in the energy sector. Dr. Roberts earned a bachelor’s degree from Pikeville College, an MBA from Marshall University and a doctorate from the University of the Cumberlands. Additionally, he completed a fellowship in higher education leadership at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Roberts is a member and past president of the Pikeville Rotary Club, a member of the board and former chair of the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, a graduate of Leadership Kentucky (class of 2013), and an advisory board member for the Tug Valley ARH Hospital. Dr. Roberts is currently serving as the chairman of the Board for Big Sandy Community and Technical College. He served as a three-term board member and chair of the board for the Kentucky Humanities Council and is a member of the First Christian Church of Pikeville.
Past Recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award 1967 – William C. Hambley 1971 – Lillie Chaffin 1972 – Dr. Raymond Wells, Inez 1973 – John Waddell 1974 – Rediford Damron 1975 – Joe Sharpe 1977 – Charles B. Chrisman 1982 – Jewell Cline, Perry Cline 1983 – Walter P. Walters, Sr. 1984 – Carl Hatcher 1985 – Goldie Benedict 1986 – Jonathan Hiers 1987 – Franklin Day, Alice Kinder 1988 – John Paul Riddle, William C. Hambley 1989 – Georgia Muncy, Harold Edmonds, Ample Calhoun 1990 – Walter May, Lucille Saad Smith, Philip Vinciguerra (posthumously) 1991 – Charles E. Spears 1992 – John B. DuPuy 1993 – Otta Barton 1994 – Terry Dotson, Chester Goble, Irene Goble 1995 – William J. Baird, III 1996 – Jean Hale 1997 – Charles Robert Johnson, William Sullivan 1998 – Billie Jean Osborne 1999 – Doug Hinkle 2000 – Ron Terry, Frank Welch 2001 – Lois Esham, Benny Ray Bailey 2002 – Linda Scott-DeRosier 2003 – Willie Smith, Ruth Wheeler 2004 – Donnie Jones, Reed Anderson 2005 – Dr. Chauncey Rupe, Imogene June Johnson 2006 – Dr. Robert B. Sparks 2007 – Rhoda Jane Claytor, Jean Shockey 2008 – Roger Wagner 2009 – Gene Davis 2010 – Jed Weinberg 2011 Spring – Dr. Orville M. Clark Jr., Justice Will T. Scott 2011 Fall – Kitty Baird, Judith Hinkle 2012 – Wayne T. Rutherford 2013 – Della Dotson Griffey, David Lester 2014 – Dr. Raynor Mullins 2015 – Gene D. Davis, Judi Patton 2016 – Donnie Akers, Hubert Keen 2017 – Doug Branham 2018 – Marcy McClanahan Cassady 2019 – Kenneth Stiltner 2021- Thomas May Hereford III
The Rising Young Alumni Award is presented annually to an alumnus/alumna who is 40-years-old or younger. Basis for selection includes 1) career advancement, 2) service to others, 3) loyalty and commitment to the University, 4) strong personal character, and 5) proven leadership in his or her profession.
Mr. Chad Sellers
Chad Sellers, a native of Paintsville, Kentucky, is a 2001 graduate of Pikeville College. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration with an accounting emphasis. Sellers was part of the UPIKE tennis team from 1998 to 2001, where he was a two time all-conference and national tournament participant.Currently a district sales manager with Nevro, Sellers has been in the medical device industry for 15 years, having also worked for several Fortune 500 companies.He is a primary investor in RD1 Bourbon, along with current University of Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops. Sellers, along with his wife Brandei, are co-owners of Sterling Crate Home. They reside in Nicholasville, Kentucky, with their three children, Gage, Sterling, and Stella.
Past Recipients of the Rising Young Alumni Award
The Honorary Alumni Award is presented annually only if there is clearly a deserving and available candidate; and is normally limited to one recipient each year. Individual(s) must be a non-alumnus/alumna of the community-at-large. Nomination: Cite specific examples of 1) loyalty, 2) interest, and 3) service in the spirit of the University that are above and beyond the normal responsibilities of the individual. Honorary alumni have all the rights and privileges of traditional alumni of the University and become honorary members of the class graduating in the spring of the academic year in which the award is given.
Dr. Nancy Cade
Dr. Nancy Cade is the Davenport Distinguished Professor of History and Political Science at UPIKE. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Science from Ball State University. Soon after completing her degrees, she joined the faculty of Pikeville College in the fall of 1986. For the past 36 years, Dr. Cade has been an actively-engaged faculty member in support of the university’s mission. Over the years, in addition to her teaching duties as a faculty member, she has been involved with various student activities and organizations including serving as sponsor of Phi Alpha Theta, the history club, and the social sciences club. Over the years, she has served on just about every committee the faculty has and often was elected chair of those committees. She served as chair of the social science division for 12 years and worked as the pre-law advisor and campus coordinator for various scholarships and internships. In 1988 she helped found the academic team and served as the coach for eight years. More recently, she has focused her passion and energy on supporting students participating in The Washington Center Seminars and Internships. Since 2004, Dr. Cade has served as a faculty leader for 27 of the seminars and sponsored more than 125 UPIKE students for the Seminars in Washington, D.C. Teaching, learning, and traveling with UPIKE students has been Dr. Cade’s professional passion.
Dr. Cade is married to UPIKE Professor Emeritus Dr. John Cade and they have four cats and one dog.
Past Recipients of the Honorary Alumni Award 1980 – Creg Damron, Ed Elder, Bob Tarbeck 1981 – Mary Evelyn Rogers 1982 – Dr. Lee Scott, Ruth Scott 1983 – Paul Patton 1984 – Wilfred S. Martin 1985 – Ruth Chrisman 1986 – Alma Culton, Maurice Bailey 1987 – Vivian Day, Jim Andy Caudill 1988 – C.V. Snapp 1989 – Eddie Grigsby, Leon Huffman 1990 – Jackie Owens 1991 – Terry Fitzer 1992 – Lt. Gov. Paul E. Patton 1993 – Ed Love 1994 – Burlin Coleman 1995 – Djien & Leonor So 1996 – Paul Gearheart 1997 – William H. Owens 1998 – Father Ralph Beiting 1999 – Chad Perry 2002 – Dale and Martha McNeely 2003 – Karen Smith 2004 – Glenn Brown 2005 – Dr. Rakesh and Dr. Seema Sachdeva 2006 – Johnnie LeMaster 2007 – John Strosnider, JoAnn Strosnider 2008 – Margaret Arnett, Dr. Wallace Campbell, Jane Campbell 2009 – NA 2010 – Danny VanHoose 2011 Spring – Bruce Walters II, Kelly Wells 2011 Fall – Frank Justice, Mattie Justice 2012 – Leslie Combs 2013 – Wayne Martin 2014 – Donovan Blackburn and the Pikeville City Commission 2015 – Andrew Joyce, Rusty Justice 2016 – Boyd Buser 2017 – Kelly Wells 2018 – Tim Collins 2019 – Perry Allen
The Gary Thrash Outstanding Ambassador Award is presented annually in named recognition of alumnus and longtime Alumni Association Board of Directors member Gary Thrash, for his commitment and dedication to the University and its students. The award is presented to those whose service to the University and the alumni association exemplifies Thrash’s dedication to the mission of the University of Pikeville.
2022 Recipient –
Mr. John L. Biery
John Biery, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, is a 1988 graduate of Pikeville College where he played basketball and received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He has been employed by the college for more 30 years in many capacities including in admissions, student services, and athletics where he currently serves as the cross-country coach. He has served two terms as president of the Alumni Association Board, has twice been inducted into the UPIKE Hall of Fame, and was twice named Conference Coach of the Year for Cross Country. He was also part of the coaching staff of the NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship team. UPIKE Athletics recently created an annual “John Biery Service Award” in his honor due to his many years of service to the university. John, a father of two, resides with his wife Melissa, in Salyersville and is proud to be called Pop Pop by three wonderful grandchildren, Caroline, Kate, and Teddy.
The Volunteer of the Year award is presented in recognition of servant leadership, outstanding volunteerism and selfless commitment to the University of Pikeville.
Dr. Robert Royalty
Dr. Robby Royalty graduated from Pikeville College in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in biology and chemistry. In 2005 he graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. He completed an orthopedic residency at the University of Kentucky as well as an American Sports Medicine Institute Fellowship. He has been employed at Highlands/Appalachian Regional Hospital since 2012. He and his wife Melody Sturgill Royalty both played basketball for Pikeville College. They have three children: Gracie, Avery, and Jesse.
Past Recipients of the Volunteer of the Year Award 2016 – Amy Williamson 2017 – Sue Stanley 2019 – Joel Thornbury