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We are practitioners of the healing arts defining the standard for excellence in optometric education and vision care.
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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
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.
2019 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.
2019 Recipient: Kenneth Stiltner
A 2001 graduate of Pikeville College, Ken Stiltner continued his education at East Carolina University where he earned his Masters in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Ken has spent the last 14 years with the Kellogg Company in various roles in Human Resources. He is currently the Senior Director of Human Resources and Labor Relations for Kellogg North American Supply Chain. He lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan with his wife Amanda Stiltner, also a Pikeville College Alum. The couple have one son, Collin.
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
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.
Drs. Stacy and Jason Hunt grew up in Pike County, KY. Both graduated from Pikeville College and attended Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine. Stacy graduated from PCSOM in 2003. After medical school, Stacy completed her residency at the University of Kentucky East Kentucky Family Medicine Residency Program in Hazard, KY.
Prior to attending PCSOM, Jason worked as an admissions counselor for Pikeville College. He graduated from PCSOM in 2005. Jason completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Saint Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City, OK.
They reside in Tampa, Florida. Stacy practices family medicine with Advent Health Medical Group. Jason owns OrthoLinks an orthopedic surgery/sports medicine practice. They have one daughter, Jayla (11 years old) and one son Jax (soon to be 2 years old). They fondly remember and are thankful for all the years they spent on “the Hill”.
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.
2019 Recipient – Perry Allen
A native of Eastern Kentucky, Perry P. Allen has worked for U.S. Bank for 35 years. Since 2013, Perry has been a regional president of the bank, serving Central, Northern and Eastern Kentucky’s 36 banks and 230 employees in 17 counties, including Pike and Floyd.
Noting that he has been fortunate to develop relationships throughout the state, Perry’s active community involvement includes serving on boards for Leadership Kentucky, Bluegrass Council of Boy Scouts of America, and the Pikeville Chamber of Commerce. He is also involved with REACH, a non-profit affordable housing provider.
Perry lives in Lexington with his wife Robin. They have four daughters, one granddaughter and one grandson.
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
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.
2018 Recipient – Danny C. Adams
Danny C. Adams is a Pikeville College, class of 1971, graduate. He completed his graduate work at Morehead State University. He has spent 33 years in education; 26 as a classroom teacher and basketball coach, three years at Pikeville high school and 23 years at Magoffin county high school. He served as an admissions counselor, director of admissions and financial aid and assistant men’s basketball coach at Pikeville College. Danny was inducted into Pikeville College Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994 and was inducted into UPIKE Distinguished Educators Hall of Fame in 2015. He was married to Rebecca Ann Sanders for 33 years until her death in 2002. They have three children; Neil Adams of Magoffin County, Jayne Fontana of Long Island NY and Hester Hopson of Morristown, Tn. They have four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Danny currently resides in Magoffin County.
The Volunteer of the Year award is presented in recognition of servant leadership, outstanding volunteerism and selfless commitment to the University of Pikeville.
2019 Recipient: Joel Thornbury
Joel Thornbury is a third-generation pharmacist. He and his family have provided valuable access to care for Eastern Kentucky communities for over 50 years. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy and past president of both the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy and the Kentucky Pharmacists’ Association. He remains extremely active in those organizations today. Actively involved in our community, Joel is a member of the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and also serves on many committees for the City of Pikeville. The Chamber selected him in 2011 as Small Businessman of the Year, and in 2015, he was selected Pharmacist of the Year in Kentucky. In his spare time, Joel enjoys running, golfing, cooking, inspiring others to achieve their goals, and spending time with his family. Joel happily married his college sweetheart, Sandy, who is also a pharmacist, 26 years ago. They have two daughters, Phoebe, who is presently a junior at the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in elementary education and Jade, who is a freshman at the University of Kentucky, majoring in Kinesiology. He and his family are strong supporters both financially and through volunteerism of Bear Nation.
Past Recipients of the Volunteer of the Year Award 2016 – Amy Williamson 2017 – Sue Stanley