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AIKCU will make its annual report to the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education at the July 18th CPE meeting, to be held on the campus of Berea College.

E.ON U.S. officials pose with E.ON Named Scholars at the AIKCU banquet. L-R: David Freibert, Director, External Affairs, E.ON U.S.; Cliff Feltham, Statewide Media Relations Manager, E.ON U.S.; E.ON Named Scholars; Ed Staton, Director, Transmission, E.ON U.S.; Jan Rose Coleman, Manager, Business Offices, E.ON U.S.

E.ON U.S. took center stage as the featured funding partner during AIKCU’s recent recognition banquet. The annual event brings together students, presidents, staff, friends, and supporters to honor AIKCU’s corporate and foundation partners.

E.ON subsidiary Kentucky Utilities was one of the founders of the Kentucky Independent College Foundation in 1952, one of two organizations that combined in the 1990s to form AIKCU. Since then E.ON U.S. has given nearly $1.4 million dollars to AIKCU in support of independent higher education.

“We’re extremely grateful for the continued support that E.ON U.S. has provided our students for more than half a century, through a number of corporate changes,” said AIKCU President Gary S. Cox. “The scholarships that E.ON and our other corporate partners fund truly is an investment in Kentucky’s future.”

E.ON has contributed $50,000 this year in support of the AIKCU Named Scholars program to fund student scholarships at member institutions located in areas served by E.ON and its subsidiaries. The Named Scholars program allows corporations and foundations to support multiple students attending AIKCU member institutions through a single gift to the association.

“Not only has E.ON been committed to turning on lights across our state, but they’ve been committed to turning on minds across the state,” said Evan Kuhl, a Bellarmine University freshman and E.ON Named Scholar.

E.ON US Chairman, CEO and President Vic Staffieri, who recently chaired the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s Task Force on Postsecondary Education, addressed the assembled crowd via recorded remarks.

“In today’s knowledge-based economy, a postsecondary education is of vital importance – not just to you, the individuals who benefit directly from higher wages – but to the economic well-being of the entire Commonwealth,” said Staffieri. “Nearly two-thirds of all high-growth, high-wage jobs created in the next decade will require a college degree – a degree only one-third of Americans and one-fifth of Kentuckians have.”

“This crucial connection between education attainment and economic development is why I volunteered my time over the past year as chair of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s Task Force on postsecondary education,” Staffieri continued. “It’s also why E.ON U.S. is proud to support the AIKCU Named Scholars Program – because helping you achieve your dreams will pay dividends for Kentucky businesses and for all of Kentucky.”

Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President David Adkisson praised E.ON for their commitment to postsecondary education in Kentucky and lauded Staffieri’s efforts as head of the Chamber’s task force.

“Just about the time you hear and are convinced that business leaders in the country are only interested in their quarterly returns and what Wall Street thinks and about what the stockholders are going to do at the next meeting, occasionally you see a glimpse of hope in someone like Vic,” said Adkisson. “He took this on as a civic chore…because he believes in the power of higher education and wanted to do something to contribute.”

Other AIKCU Named Scholars partners recognized during the event include Ashland, Inc., the Gheens Foundation, the Keeneland Foundation, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, and UPS. For more on AIKCU and all of its funding and business partners download the 2007 AIKCU Annual Report.

Pikeville College President Hal Smith passes the chair’s gavel to Centre College President John Roush

Watch a video of the ceremonial gavel passing on AIKCU’s YouTube channel.

John Roush, President of Centre College in Danville, has been elected to serve a two-year term as chairman of the AIKCU board of directors. Roush succeeds Pikeville College President Hal Smith as chair. The AIKCU board is composed of the presidents of Kentucky’s 20 independent colleges and universities and two at-large members from Kentucky’s business community.

Chairman Smith passed the ceremonial gavel to incoming Chairman Roush during AIKCU’s annual recognition banquet on April 22. Before handing over the gavel, Smith reflected on a life and career path that began as a student at Centre College in the 1960s before leading into higher education administration at Centre and ultimately to the presidency at Pikeville, where he has served as president for eleven years.

“One might say that I’m a believer in independent higher education. And if you said that, you’d be right,” remarked Smith. “I believe in the value of the independent higher education experience. If it’s right for the student it cannot be beat. In fact, for most it’s a life-transforming opportunity.”

In accepting the chair position Roush thanked President Smith for his service as AIKCU chair and for “his leadership in independent higher education in Kentucky over his entire professional life.”

“This is an exciting time for independent higher education in Kentucky,” said Gary S. Cox, AIKCU President. “Independent colleges and universities are thriving and in a terrific position to help move Kentucky’s economy and people forward. But there are some serious challenges, and President Roush is the type of leader who can really bring our folks together to focus our efforts on our common interests.”

Kentucky’s independent colleges and universities have committed to playing a significant role in the Council on Postsecondary Education’s “Double the Numbers” plan to double Kentucky’s number of bachelor’s degree holders by 2020.

“The Commonwealth of Kentucky finds itself at a point in its history when it must decide how much it values higher education - public and independent,” said Roush. “The independent sector stands ready to provide the citizens of this state with education of the highest quality, yet still accessible to young people of lesser means. That is the tradition of private colleges and universities in Kentucky.”

Bill Huston, President of St. Catharine College in Springfield was named chair-elect and will succeed Roush at the end of his two-year term. John Weber, CFO of Graeter’s Ice Cream, KY was reelected as treasurer.

Commencement season officially began this past weekend, with Union College and University of the Cumberlands both holding ceremonies on Saturday, May 3. Congratulations to all of this year’s graduates!

Alice Lloyd College
Baccalaureate: Saturday, May 10, 10:30 a.m., Grady Nutt Athletic Center
Bacc. Speaker: Lawrence Baldridge, pastor of Caney Baptist Church in Pippa Passes, KY since 1964.

Commencement: Saturday, May 10, 12:15 p.m., Grady Nutt Athletic Center
Commencement Speaker: Dr. Marylee James, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean at Alice Lloyd College

Asbury College
Baccalaureate: Sunday, May 11, 9 a.m., Hughes Memorial Auditorium
Bacc. Speaker: Dr. Donald Adams, superintendent of the United Methodist Church

Commencement: Sunday, May 11, 3 p.m. (doors open at 2:30), Luce Physical Activities Center
Commencement Speaker: Dr. Lloyd J. Ogilvie, former U.S. Senate Chaplain
Honorary degree: Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie

Bellarmine University
Baccalaureate: Saturday, May 10 at 9 a.m. at St. Agnes

Commencement: Saturday May 10 at noon in Knights Hall
Commencement Speaker: Curt Tofteland, founder and director of Shakespeare Behind Bars and producing director of the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival.
Honorary degree: Curt Tofteland, Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters

Berea College
Baccalaureate: Saturday, May 25 at 10:30 a.m., Phelps Stokes Chapel
Bacc. Speaker: Rev. Dr. Daniel P. Matthews, rector emeritus, Trinity Church Wall Street, New York City

Commencement: Sunday, May 25 at 2 p.m. in Seabury Center
Commencement Speaker: Dr. Benjamin Carson, director of pediatric neurosurgery and professor, the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Md.
Honorary degree: Dr. Benjamin Carson, Honorary Doctor of Science

Brescia University
Baccalaureate: Friday, May 9 at 7 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Cathedral
Speaker: President Larry Hostetter

Commencement: Saturday, May 10 at 10 a.m. at the RiverPark Center
Speaker: Kentucky Secretary of Education Helen W. Mountjoy
Honorary degree: Sec. Helen W. Mountjoy, Doctor of Humane Letters

Campbellsville University
Baccalaureate: None

Graduate School Commencement: Friday, May 9 at 7:00 p.m. in Ransdell Chapel
Grad Commencement Speaker: Dr. Dwayne Howell, associate professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Campbellsville University

Commencement: Saturday, May 10 at 10:00 a.m. at Houchens Insurance Group (HIG) Field
Commencement Speaker: General James T. Conway, commandant of the United States Marine Corps
Honorary degree: Gen. James T. Conway, Honorary Doctorate of Public Service

Centre College
Baccalaureate: Sunday, May 18 at 11:00 a.m. in Newlin Hall in Centre’s Norton Center for the Arts
Bacc. Speaker: Dr. Rick Axtell, college chaplain and association professor of religion

Commencement: Sunday, May 18 at 3:00 p.m. in Newlin Hall in Centre’s Norton Center for the Arts
Commencement Speaker: Leland Melvin, NASA Astronaut and co-manager of NASA’s Educator Astronaut Program, who flew his first shuttle mission on the Atlantis in February 2008
Honorary degree: Leland Melvin, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters

Georgetown College
Baccalaureate: Friday, May 9, 7:30 p.m., John L. Hill Chapel
Bacc. Speaker: Dr. Paul Redditt, Georgetown College Professor of Religion and former chair of the department for 19 of his 22 years at the college

Commencement: Saturday, May at 10 a.m., Giddings Lawn
Commencment Speaker: Dr. Pearse Lyons, CEO and founder of Alltech Inc., title sponsor of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010
Honorary Degrees:

Dr. Gwen Cranfill Curry, Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa, Georgetown College alumna and retired chair of the English department
Sylvia Watson Jaegers, Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa, civic leader and founding member of the Georgetown College Foundation Board

Kentucky Christian University
Baccalaureate: Friday, May 9 at 3 p.m. in the Nash Chapel
Bacc. Speaker: Phil Martin (KCU ‘85), father of graduating senior Kyle Martin

Commencement: Saturday, May 10 at 10 a.m. in the Dick Damron Hall of Champions in Lusby Center.
Commencement Speaker: Cam Huxford, President of the 2008 North American Christian Convention

Kentucky Wesleyan College
Commencement: Saturday, May 10 at 10 a.m. in Hocker-Hall Grove
Commencement Speaker: Kentucky Supreme Court Justice John D. Minton, Jr.

Lindsey Wilson College
Baccalaureate:
Speaker: Rev. Darrell Lyons of Leitchfield, KY

Commencement: Saturday, May 10 at 10 a.m.
Commencement Speaker: Dr. Alice Brown, retiring President of the Appalachian College Association

Honorary degrees:

Dr. Alice Brown
Rev. Paul Fryman of Bowling Green
Rev. Howard Olds of Brentwood, TN
R. Vince Fanelli of Louisville

Mid-Continent University
Commencement: Saturday, May 10 at 3:00 p.m. at Graves County High School

Midway College
Baccalaureate: None

Commencement: Saturday, May 10 at 5p.m. in Graves Amphitheater (rain location: Marshall Gymnasium)
Commencement Speaker: Chris McCarron, retired hall of fame jockey and founder of the North American Racing Academy

Pikeville College
Undergraduate Commencement: Saturday, May 10 at 2 p.m., East Kentucky Expo Center
Commencement Speaker: Gen. Robert H. (Doc) Foglesong, retired four-star U.S. Air Force general and president of Mississippi State University
Honorary Degrees:

General Robert Foglesong
Norman A. Chrisman, Jr., retired architect
Stephen N. Frazier, former chief circuit judge in the mountain circuits

Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine
Commencement: Saturday, May 10 at 7 p.m. at East Kentucky Expo Center
Speaker: Steve Davis, M.D., Department of Public Health, Frankfort, KY
Honorary Degrees:

Steve Davis, M.D.
Raymond Wells, M.D., physician from Inez, KY

St. Catharine College
Baccalaureate: Friday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. in St. Catharine Hall

Commencement: Saturday, May 10 at 11:00 a.m. in Lourdes Hall
Commencement Speaker: Stan Curtis, founder of Kentucky Harvest and USA Harvest

Spalding University
Commencement: Saturday, June 7 at 10:00 a.m. at Canaan Christian Church
Speaker: TBA

Thomas More College
Baccalaureate: Saturday, May 10 at 10 a.m. at Cathedral Basilica (Covington)
Bacc. Speaker: Reverend Michael Due, Vicar General, Diocese of Covington

Commencement: Saturday, May 10 at 1:30 p.m. on the lawn outside of the Holbrook Student Center (rain location: Connor Convocation Center)
Commencement Speaker: State Representative Addia K Wuchner
Honorary degrees:

State Representative Addia K. Wuchner
Mr. Paul F. Michels, founder of Paul Michels & Sons, Inc.

St. Thomas More Medallion: Mr. Frank Al Schleper, founder of Pilot Contracting Company

Transylvania University
Baccalaureate: None

Commencement: Saturday, May 24, 10:00 a.m., front steps and lawn of historic Old Morrison (rain location: Clive M. Beck Athletic and Recreation Center)
Speaker: John Churchill, Secretary of the Phi Beta Kappa Society
Honorary degrees: None

Union College
Baccalaureate: Saturday, May 3 at 9:00 a.m., Conway Boatman Chapel
Bacc. Speaker: Dr. Joel Allen, Methodist pastor, elder in the Kentucky Conference of the United Methodist Church, and professor of biblical studies.

Commencement: Saturday, May 3 at 11:00 a.m. in Robsion Arena
Speakers (both will also receive honorary degrees):

Jean Ruth Ritchie, a performer, songwriter, musician and Perry County native who has been called the mother of folk for her role in the American Folk Revival
Dr. Virginia Grady Carter, Executive Director, Kentucky Humanities Council

University of the Cumberlands
Commencement was held Saturday, May 3, 2008

Duane Bonifer, Director of Public Relations at Lindsey Wilson College, was presented the President’s “For the Greater Good Award” during AIKCU’s annual recognition banquet.

The award recognizes a staff person from one of AIKCU’s twenty member campuses who has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the organization and to the advancement of Kentucky’s independent college and university sector.

“Duane’s someone I look to when I need help with just about any situation,” said AIKCU President Gary S. Cox in presenting the award. “His hard work, ability and good humor are constant and his commitment to independent higher education is unwavering.”

Bonifer is a tireless advocate not just for Lindsey Wilson, but for the shared values of all of Kentucky’s independent colleges and universities.

“AIKCU’s strength is its members,” said Bonifer. “We are 20 great private colleges and universities working toward one common goal: changing students’ lives and preparing them to be successful and model citizens in our communities.”

“Duane is a tremendous asset to Lindsey Wilson College and to independent higher education across Kentucky,” said Cox. “With a small staff, we rely heavily on campus folks to help us get things done. We can always count on Duane, whether we need him to bring Lindsey Wilson students to Frankfort to meet with legislators or advise us on policy or public relations issues.”

Bonifer has been at Lindsey Wilson College for more than 14 years as the college’s director of public relations. He serves on the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights and he and his wife Kelli, an Adair County Extension Agent, are the parents of two young boys.

Bonifer is the third recipient of the AIKCU “For the Greater Good Award.” Last year’s recipient was Rev. John E. Chowning, Campbellsville University VP for Church and External Relations and Executive Assistant to the President. Midway College Vice President for Business Affairs Lyen Crews was the first recipient for his work with the AIKCU Benefit Trust’s self-funded health insurance initiative.

The AIKCU Admissions Directors will meet at the AIKCU office, 484 Chenault Rd., Frankfort, on May 15 from 10 AM - 3 PM (EDT).

WILMORE, KY—Asbury College senior Clark Sleeth, 19, of Wilmore, Ky., received the University of Kentucky College of Medicine’s Cralle Foundation/Joan Cralle Day fellowship for 2008-2009. The fellowship will award Sleeth a $15,000 stipend, a tuition scholarship and student health insurance. Sleeth is the first Asbury student to be awarded the fellowship.

The fellowship is a 12-month award named to honor Joan Cralle Day. To be eligible for the award the recipient must be a graduate of one of the 20 four-year independent colleges and universities in Kentucky affiliated with the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities. The recipient must also be applying to or enrolled in their first year of a graduate or professional program at the University of Kentucky.

Dr. Bobby Baldridge, professor of biology and chair of the Department of Natural Sciences, said that the department nominated Sleeth and coordinated the application process with him. Baldridge said that Sleeth was selected “because of his exemplary academic record and exceptional humanitarian qualities.”

In February, Sleeth participated in the worldwide Mathematical Contest in Modeling, earning a meritorious or top 15 percent ranking. Five teams participated in the contest that proposes real-world questions for college students to find mathematical solutions. Sleeth’s team tackled solving the efficiencies of healthcare in India. All other Asbury College teams received an honorable mention.

“Our courses provide the opportunity for superior preparation for graduate study,” Baldridge said. “However, the awarding of the fellowship to Clark is more telling about Clark’s commitment to learning than to anything else.”

Sleeth said that the faculty and staff of the College were supportive. He said that the reason he felt that he was selected was because of his academic record, but more importantly because of the letters of recommendation he received from professors and Provost Dr. Jon Kulaga.

Sleeth acknowledged that this was the next step to fulfill his calling as a missionary. He said the College offered him courses that would be useful in his future studies. He also said the College helped other medical school-bound seniors.

“In the past, Asbury has had a really good record with the medical students getting into medical school,” Sleeth said.

This fellowship will support a pre-existing scholarship for the UK College of Medicine.

For more information about the fellowship visit http://www.research.uky.edu/gs/fellowship/cralle.html.

Courtesy of Asbury College Public Relations. Read the original here.

Pikeville beats Wichita 2-0 for second crown. 3 Lady Bears named All-Americans, including national player of the year and rookie of the year   

WICHITA, Kan. — Coach Ron Damron’s Pikeville College Lady Bears won their second national championship on April 19, knocking off defending champion Wichita State two games to none.

The wins, coming by scores of 184-171 and 183-158, give the school and program the second team national title in school history. The Lady Bears won the championship in 2004 in Tulsa, Okla., also over the Shockers.

Pikeville is ranked second (coaches) or third (writers) depending on which poll you choose to follow. In its run to the championship, the Lady Bears defeated No. 4 Lindenwood, the other 2/3 in Central Florida and then top-ranked Wichita State. And, for good measure, it knocked off Maryland Eastern-Shore, which won the previous weekend’s NCAA national title in St. Louis.

“I actually think making it through our bracket helped us in the finals,” said Damron, whose team trailed Lindenwood 3-1 before rallying for a 4-3 win and was behind Maryland-Eastern Shore 2-0 and 3.5 to 2.5 in the morning’s bracket finals. “We were challenged along the way and were confident that when the pressure was on, we were going to get it done.

“Tonight, we did just that — we did what we had to do to win.”

The win capped an eventful week in Wichita for the Lady Bears, who had both the national player of the year in senior Kayla Bandy — for the second straight year — and rookie of the year in freshman Ashley Galante. Both were named first-team All-Americans, while teammate Jennifer Wright was named to the second team.

Furthermore, with this year’s championship, every young lady who has spent four years as a part of Ron Damron’s program has won a national title.

In the opener, Pikeville opened with back-to-back spares by seniors Kayla Bandy and Michelle McKay and then got consecutive strikes by Becky Sulligan and Jennifer Wright and led 85-64 after four frames.

Pikeville’s lead was down to seven by the sixth frame and Wichita posted a spare in the seventh. The next bowler, Sandra Gongora, rolled a seven to give the Shockers a one-pin lead but was called for a foul, wiping it off. She picked up a rare 10-pin spare, but the damage was done, and when Wright — a transfer from Wichita — rolled a strike in the ninth, it sealed the win.

Pikeville opened strong in the second game, opening with strikes from Bandy, the national player of the year, and Sarah Germano and, after a spare by Sulligan, again picked up consecutive strikes by Wright and tournament MVP Galante. Pikeville led 118-84 after five frames, and cruised home with the win.

Wright led Pikeville, posting three of its seven strikes in the match. Bandy and Sulligan had a strike and three spares apiece.

Wichita was led by first-team All-American Emily Maier, who rolled strikes on her first three frames.

Article courtesy of Pikeville College. Original here.

See the Lexington Herald-Leader’s coverage.

AIKCU Annual Report 2007 (PDF)- large file (5MB), right click to save to disk.

Thanks to all the campuses that made this possible by providing photos and profiles of students, faculty, and alumni.

To request a hard copies call 502-695-5007 or send us a note.

(Barbourville, KY) – Dr. Marcetta Darensbourg, an alumna of Union College and director of the Marcetta Y. Darensbourg Research Laboratories at Texas A & M University, paid a visit to her alma mater last week as part of Union’s Distinguished Alumni Scholars program.

A native of Artemus, Ky., Dr. Darensbourg attended Knox Central High School before enrolling at Union. She graduated from Union with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1963. During her visit to the area, Dr. Darensbourg made special appearances at both Union and KCHS.

Dr. Darensbourg talked with students about the importance of scientific research, helping them make connections between research conducted in her laboratory and real-world application. She explained her work with inorganic processes that aid in the production of hydrogen, and asked students to think about why that work might be important. “We see that we’re running out of fuel sources,” she said. “Another way of gaining energy is to use hydrogen.” Dr. Darensbourg gave an impromptu lesson at the chalkboard, demonstrating the need for a way to convert hydrogen into power within a fuel cell. “Microbes do this all the time in nature,” she told the class. Her research, she explained, focuses on how to make the conversion happen, inorganically and without an explosive reaction, in a fuel cell.

In addition to visiting classes at Union and KCHS, Dr. Darensbourg also spoke to Union’s science club, had lunch with math and science teachers at KCHS, and met campus and community members at a President’s reception in Sharp Academic Center.

During one of her classroom visits at Union, Dr. Darensbourg shared her affection for her home state and encouraged students, many of whom are also from Kentucky, to protect its distinctive beauty. “I love Kentucky,” she told them. “I love the wildness, the wilderness, the mountains. Keep a watch on that. Guard that. I encourage you to work where you can to keep Kentucky wild and beautiful and green.”

Dr. Darensbourg is a winner of the OAK Award for outstanding alumni of Kentucky, a recipient of the American Chemical Society Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry, has served as a National Student Affiliates “Eminent Scientist” lecturer for ACS, has edited and authored several publications and textbooks, written more than 140 research publications, and serves on many national advisory committees.