Laurel County has the fourth-largest Kentucky student population at EKU, with 478 students in degree programs ranging from nursing and education to social work and criminal justice.
While Laurel County, Kentucky, may be best known around the state for its World Chicken Festival and Laurel Lake, at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), Laurel County is known for its service-minded students who are preparing for careers that support their communities.
Junior Stephanie Lovelady of Laurel County is earning her social work degree online from EKU and hopes to become a licensed clinical social worker, bringing more services and resources to rural Kentucky. Junior Abby Thompson, from London, is attending EKU’s regional campus in Corbin for elementary education with plans to become a teacher in Southeastern Kentucky. Sophomore Anthony Slone, from London, is studying criminal justice and police studies at EKU and wants to join the Kentucky State Police after graduation.
EKU serves 478 students from Laurel County, making it the fourth-largest Kentucky county represented in EKU’s student population. Fifty-four percent of Laurel County students at EKU are first-generation college students. In Fall 2025, Laurel County students attending EKU were awarded more than $2.5 million in financial aid.
“EKU’s greatest responsibility is to prepare graduates for the workforce Kentucky needs,” said EKU President David McFaddin. “Our students are gaining the knowledge, skills and experience for careers that make valuable contributions within their communities and across the state.”
The top five programs of study for students from Laurel County include nursing, elementary education teaching, social work, psychology and general studies.
Lovelady said she chose EKU because she wanted an education that would allow her to build a career while serving her community.
“I returned to college after nearly 20 years away, and EKU gave me the opportunity to pursue my degree while balancing work and family,” said Lovelady. “I want to use my education to help strengthen the same communities that shaped me and make services easier to access for people who need them.”
She noted that the flexibility of the online degree program has enabled her to continue working in Eastern Kentucky while earning an education from a university that understands the needs of the region.
Thompson also wants to use her education to serve the region she knows and understands, becoming a teacher who can advocate for children and their learning.
“Staying here is important to me to aid in the literacy crisis in Appalachia,” Thompson said. “Getting a good education is very important to me, and younger children need a strong teacher and a safe environment to help them learn and grow into adults. I want to help as many children in any way that I can.”
EKU Corbin has given Thompson the opportunity to work closely with her classmates and professors while being closer to home. She values the field experience she’s gaining through the program, as well as the teaching experience her professors bring to the classroom.
Slone, pursuing two majors, a minor and certificate at EKU, also appreciates learning from experienced instructors and the many opportunities EKU offers him to gain experience in his career field.
With plans to stay in Kentucky, he said, “I want to help the people of Kentucky as best as I can, because this state is my home. I love both my home and the people of Kentucky.”
EKU serves more Kentucky students than any other regional, comprehensive university, and statewide employment for bachelor’s degree graduates is the highest among Kentucky public institutions three years after completion.
Through on-campus and online degree options, EKU helps students from Laurel County and across the service region earn their education close to home. Additionally, EKU offers regional campuses in nearby Corbin and Manchester with courses that meet all general education requirements, along with access to degree programs that can be completed at the regional campus or fully online. More than 12,000 EKU graduates began their education at EKU Corbin or EKU Manchester.
By Olivia Evans
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