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Office of Alumni Relations 147 Sycamore Street Pikeville, Kentucky 41501 (606) 218-5276 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
Each year during UPIKE Homecoming the university celebrates the accomplishments of individual Alumni for their achievements and commitment to the university.
2021 Alumni Award Recipients:
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.
2021 Recipient:
Thomas May Hereford III
In 1966, Thomas May Hereford III graduated from Pikeville College where he served as vice president of the student council. He continued his education at Eastern Kentucky University, earning a master’s degree in counseling. Tom retired after 33 years from the Cabinet for Human Resources as regional administrator for Eastern Kentucky. Tom currently serves on the UPIKE Alumni Association Board.
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 2017 – Doug Branham 2018 – Marcy McClanahan Cassady 2019 – Kenneth Stiltner
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.
Kandi Justice graduated from Pikeville College with a bachelor’s degree in medical technology in 1997 and graduated from the University of Pikeville with an MBA in 2013. She has spent more than 24 years working to improve healthcare in our region. Since 2018, Kandi has served as senior vice president and chief operating officer of Pikeville Medical Center, where she has managed more than $100 million of growth and expansion projects. Some of these monumental projects include outreach clinics, the Leonard Lawson Cancer Center, the PMC Heart and Vascular Institute and the development of the region’s first and only children’s hospital, which will open later this year. Kandi was recently named one of the top women in business in Kentucky by the Lane Report. She and her husband Ray live in South Williamson, Ky., with their daughters, Makena and Meredith.
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.
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.
2021 Recipient –
Tiffany Michelle Craft
Tiffany Michelle Craft is a 2010 graduate of Pikeville College, receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in communication. She has spent the last 11 years working with the City of Whitesburg tourism as well as Letcher County tourism as an events planner and organizer.
Tiffany serves on the UPIKE Alumni Association Board, local advisory board for Whitesburg ARH, the Whitesburg Housing Authority Board, and the board of directors for the Kentucky River Area Development District as well as the transportation committee and Regional Water Management Council.
Tiffany was married to prominent attorney James Wiley Craft, who served as mayor for the City of Whitesburg from 2007 until his death in June 2021. On July 13 Tiffany was unanimously chosen by the Whitesburg City Council to fulfill the remainder of her husband’s term, making her the first female mayor of Whitesburg.
Tiffany and James were married for 10 and a half years and they have one daughter, Sammi Lauren Craft, who is 10 years old.
The Volunteer of the Year award is presented in recognition of servant leadership, outstanding volunteerism and selfless commitment to the University of Pikeville.
Past Recipients of the Volunteer of the Year Award 2016 – Amy Williamson 2017 – Sue Stanley 2019 – Joel Thornbury