Eastern Kentucky University became the first public university in Kentucky to offer an Option 9 alternative route to teacher certification following recent approval by the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB). According to the Kentucky Department of Education, “Option 9 is a new alternative route to certification that allows a person to complete a bachelor’s degree […]

In a collaborative effort, several Eastern Kentucky University centers, departments and faculty were awarded funding for their GONE FISHIN’ grant proposal submitted through EKU’s Cross College Interdisciplinary Collaboration (CCIC). The purpose of the GONE FISHIN’ project is to assess the feasibility of outdoor programming and wilderness training for youth and young people in Eastern Kentucky, […]

McKenna Revel, ’17, loved the academic freedom of being able to study multiple majors during her time at Eastern Kentucky University. Now, she’s living out her passions as both a legal assistant in Lexington and executive director of the Homeless Coalition in Montgomery County. When she started searching for colleges that would be best suited […]

Eastern Kentucky University Police Department is now a five-time accredited law enforcement agency by the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police (KACP). The EKU Police Department provides 24-hour patrol of the university’s Richmond campus and consists of 24 sworn police officers and eight 911 dispatchers.  “One of my main goals as police chief is to […]

Three Eastern Kentucky University students ranked among the top scorers for research presentations given at the Kentucky Academy of Science’s 2022 Annual Meeting in November. More than 700 students and professional scientists from across the state attended the annual meeting, which was held Nov. 10-12, at Morehead State University. Panels of scientists who judged students’ […]

Richmond native and public relations graduate, Danielle Mullins, ’20, started out in the pageant world as a young girl who loved glamor. On Jan. 8, Mullins was crowned Miss Earth USA 2023.  “With a personal mission to serve and empower others, I realized that pageantry is an opportunity to fulfill my life’s purpose and kept […]

Eastern Kentucky University held fall commencement ceremonies on Dec. 3, 2022, to celebrate over 1,200 students achieving their degrees. Students from this graduation class hail from 11 countries, 40 states and 94 Kentucky counties and range in age from 19 to 71. The 71-year-old graduate, Keri Baker, returned to EKU after a career in California […]

Always having a knack for entrepreneurship, Josiah Stendel, ’22, started his business, Made You Look Media, when he was only 13 years old. His video agency has since grown into a local powerhouse, producing commercials and video content for companies like Chick-fil-A, Eventbrite and Duolingo. “I am really passionate about helping these brands grow and […]

David Ge, ’15, began his career in professional gaming, a passion that “was only fun when I had something to prove.” As he made his way to the top and the excitement waned, he came to EKU in his late 20s to pursue a degree in finance and insurance. Right out of school, an EKU […]

Brandon Collins has been named chief of police at Eastern Kentucky University. A 2002 graduate of the university, Collins’ career began as a student worker for the EKU Police Department in 2001. Since then, he has climbed the ranks to serve in the department’s highest possible position. “I came to the university straight out of […]

Two Eastern Kentucky University students were awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, a highly competitive education-abroad grant that receives thousands of applicants each year.  Ximena Patino, EKU Honors Program junior majoring in nursing and Spanish, and Victoria Kay, junior early elementary major, were named recipients in March 2022. Over the past six years, a […]

On Oct. 26, 2022 the Richmond community was introduced to the Workforce Pathway at Kit Carson Commons, the newest housing development on Eastern Kentucky University’s campus. For 30 families, it’s more than just a housing development, it’s their home.Kit Carson Commons is a combination of a scholar and workforce development house geared toward providing affordable […]

Family. Love. Excellence. Those are some of the values held tightly by Pam Marshall and her staff at Marshall Pediatric Therapy. Putting those values into practice with each family the clinic serves is a daily goal for each member of the organization. It was a challenge getting to this point in the life of the […]

Coming from a large family, pursuing a career as a teacher felt like a natural fit for student Isabelle Orth. “My desire to teach may have come from my family, but my passion came from my time at EKU,” she said. Orth addressed graduates at EKU’s 2022 fall commencement ceremony for the College of Justice, […]

Now EKU Graduate, Holdyn Morrow, dropped out of high school with a 1.2 GPA. Told by her high school’s administration that she should never consider pursuing a college degree, Morrow found opportunity and success at Eastern Kentucky University.  “I was never exactly pushed by my rural school system to ever be anything more than the […]

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist visited EKU’s advanced fluency disorders class in the graduate communication disorders program on Oct. 18, 2022, to share his personal journey as someone who stutters.  Kidd-Gilchrist played college basketball for the University of Kentucky, where he and his teammates won the 2012 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament under Coach John Calipari. He […]

It officially started in 2015. Momentum was built, milestones were reached and new initiatives generated excitement along the way. More than $60 million, 10,000 donors and seven years later, EKU’s largest comprehensive campaign — Make No Little Plans — finished over $10 million above its ambitious $50-million goal. The leader behind the success is philanthropist […]

Christian Takes Gun Parrish, also known as Supaman, may not wear a cape or have superpowers, but he is a hero through his ability to celebrate the rich histories and diverse cultures of Indigenous peoples through dance, comedy and urban hip-hop culture. Supaman with DJ Element spread the good medicine of resiliency, love, laughter and […]

As a recreation and parks administration major at EKU, an internship at Red River Gorge fueled an interesting career path for Park Ranger Jordan Gibbs, ’09. Following graduation, several seasonal positions took him around the country, while he built an impressive resume and skill set. Among the highlights, the London, Kentucky, native patrolled trails of […]

Eastern Kentucky University and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medicaid in Kentucky today announced the expansion of the Anthem Medicaid Rural Scholarship to grow the number of frontline workers in the eastern region of the state and increase access to care and improve health equity for those living in Kentucky’s rural areas. The scholarship […]

More than a century ago, Eastern Kentucky University was founded as a teachers’ college, with its purpose to train elementary school teachers. Throughout its history, EKU has evolved and vastly expanded into many other disciplines, but one constant still remains today: a long-standing tradition of excellence in teacher education. Many choose the path of education […]

April Bixler, ’14, Army veteran, dedicates her time to helping other student veterans while furthering her education. She served in the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and Iraq twice, and was the only female officer in her battalion for two years. April received her master’s from EKU in safety, security & emergency management […]

In continuation of a long-standing community partnership, Baptist Health and Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) announced on Nov. 2, that the arena inside Alumni Coliseum is now the Baptist Health Arena, after the signing of an 11-year naming rights partnership. The agreement provides the university with $2.5 million.  Baptist Health alongside EKU is committed to providing […]

Eastern Kentucky University Alumna and Lexington Herald-Leader Reporter, Taylor Six, ’18, was named reporter of the year by CNHI, LLC, in March 2022 for reporting and writing excellence. CNHI, an American publisher of newspapers and advertisement-related publications, hosts a competition to recognize the best reporters, photographers and other staff members each year.  After graduating from […]