Development Newsletter | Summer 2024

HEALTHCARE IN APPALACHIA

Gracie Young Class of 2024

A Development Newsletter | Summer 2024

CUMBERLANDS SHAPES THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE IN APPALACHIA As the demand for healthcare continues to grow, University of the Cumberlands is committed to addressing the healthcare needs of Appalachia. In recent years, the university has expanded its nursing programs to include an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) in addition to its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) degree.

Gracie Young, a proud 2024 graduate of Cumberlands’ ADN program, exemplifies the program’s impact. As a Kentucky native, Gracie is deeply passionate about serving her community. “Investing in the future of healthcare in Appalachia is crucial,” she says. “I’ve seen firsthand the challenges people face and believe that improving healthcare benefits individuals and families and strengthens our communities.” Appalachia faces severe healthcare worker shortages and disparities. Cumberlands is committed to cultivating skilled nurses who are not only equipped to address critical healthcare needs but also prepared for the complexities and challenges of modern healthcare.

Cumberlands nursing program’s mission is to help graduates start and succeed in their healthcare careers. “Cumberlands has played a crucial role in shaping me for my nursing career in many ways! From the hands-on clinical and simulation experiences to the stimulating lectures, every aspect of my education has given me the skills and knowledge needed to excel in nursing”, says Gracie. After graduation, she began her career in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Saint Joseph London in London, KY. “I felt a strong calling to serve my community,” she explains. “The warm spirit and sense of community here make it a truly fulfilling workplace.”

The generosity of our donors has been instrumental in developing Cumberlands’ state-ofthe-art nursing facility. Gracie is grateful for the donors who support Cumberlands. She said, “It is because of their generosity that students can excel in the classroom and their careers.”

Their contributions make higher education more accessible and help students like Gracie succeed. This commitment to excellence ensures that Cumberlands nursing graduates are well-prepared for their careers.

The university’s commitment to providing exceptional nursing education aligns with its mission of serving the community. Cumberlands is proud of Gracie and all its graduates, who are dedicated to improving healthcare in Appalachia.

Hello again friends, We are starting to welcome students back to our vibrant campus. Our largest year yet! I want to personally thank you for your continued kindness and your belief in our mission at University of the Cumberlands; to provide a quality, affordable education to students from all backgrounds. This is no easy task in the world of higher education, as costs at most universities continue to climb higher and higher with no explanation.

Not at Cumberlands, though. Because of careful financial planning and generous scholarship donations, we have been able to make Cumberlands the most affordable college in Kentucky, public or private. * Our campus is buzzing with excitement as we welcome a record number of students this year. I want to express my sincere gratitude for your unwavering support. Your helping-hand in our commitment to affordability makes Cumberlands accessible to all deserving students, who will be able to afford their degree, be work-ready with little to no debt, and make a lasting impactful change in their lives and their communities.

Cumberlands is doing what is right – because of donors like you. We always put students and their families first to positively change our community, region, and nation for future generations. We’re deeply appreciative of your generosity. Your contributions are helping to make our university an even better place. Thank you for being a part of the Cumberlands family. *Source: College Consensus

Gracie and other nursing students in the Class of 2024 join for a group photo before finishing for the semester.

Learn more about Gracie and her time here at Cumberlands. Scan this QR code to watch a video from Gracie.

Bill Stohlmann Vice President of Development william.stohlmann@ucumberlands.edu

THE CUMBERLANDS COMMITMENT CAMPAIGN – WHAT IT MEANS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES University of the Cumberlands remains committed to offering a high-quality, affordable education to students from all backgrounds.

The following updates show how Cumberlands is growing, all while staying true to its original mission. This is only possible thanks to the support of generous donors like yourself.

Class of 2024: • 6,000+ total graduates • 1,432 undergraduate students • Class of 2024 completed 41,574 hours of community service while at Cumberlands 85% retention rate for undergraduate on-campus students 65% of all undergraduate students are from Appalachia

The Cumberlands Commitment’s latest and most significant initiative will go into effect this upcoming school year. Starting in the fall 2024 semester, traditional undergraduate students will begin receiving new scholarships, drastically reducing the cost they must pay out-of-pocket for their college education.

These scholarships are the first fruits of the most ambitious project in the university’s history: the Cumberlands Commitment Endowed Scholarship Campaign. This campaign seeks to raise $200 million to support new life-changing scholarships for students.

“This is the single most significant and transformational project ever undertaken by this university,” said Dr. Larry L. Cockrum, University of the Cumberlands President.

“This campaign will have a lasting impact on the lives of our students, allowing them to focus on their studies, knowing that financial constraints will not hinder their progress.”

This new scholarship program follows earlier Cumberlands Commitment initiatives designed to make quality education affordable for students. In 2018, the university launched the Cumberlands Commitment by lowering tuition by 57 percent for all on-campus undergraduate students. In 2019, all textbooks were completely free for those same students. In 2023, the university announced the One Price Promise, which provides free textbooks to all students and eliminates all other fees to establish a straightforward tuition price.

This fall at Cumberlands will be a transformational place as students pursue their educational dreams with the peace and knowledge that their education is truly affordable.

Learn more about the impact of this campaign and how donor support is making a difference for our students at https://ucumberlandsgiving.com.

2023-24 Accolades: • Named a College of Distinction for 7th year in a row – College of Distinction • Named the most affordable college in Kentucky – College Consensus • UC students have the lowest debt and highest social mobility among Kentucky universities – U.S. News and World Report • Cumberlands Athletics won the Learfield Director’s Cup recognizing the department as best in the nation • The Shoes 4 the Soul program was awarded the 2023 Governor’s Service Award recognizing exceptional volunteerism and service contributions.

COMMITMENT Make your Cumberlands Commitment To arrange a campus visit with us, or arrange a charitable gift, please call: 606.539.3571 or visit ucumberlands.edu/give2uc

“MAKING HISTORY” Patriots Athletics capped off a recordbreaking season by securing the coveted 2023-2024 Learfield Directors’ Cup, marking the first time in school history that UC has earned this national recognition.

The Learfield Directors’ Cup, awarded by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today, honors the nation’s most successful athletics program in each division based on postseason finishes.

Adding to the success, the Patriots made history being the first Mid-South Conference school to capture the MSC President’s Cup with a perfect score of 140 points. It marks the third consecutive year that Cumberlands achieved this feat after capturing a school record of 15 MSC conference championships and two MSC tournament titles this year.

Athletic Director Chris Kraftick was also named as one of the NAIA Athletic Directors of the Year for 2023-2024, becoming the first Cumberlands’ Athletic Director to earn this distinction.

For the first time in Cumberlands history, the Patriots captured an NAIA Red Banner and closed out the year winning five national championships, including three NAIA titles. Women’s Soccer brought home the school’s first Red Banner during their season. Men’s Track & Field followed and conquered both the NAIA Indoor and Outdoor National Championship, making Cumberlands the first school to win both in the same year in nearly a decade. Archery continued their dominant run winning both the USA 3D and Indoor National Championship to round out UC’s national titles for 2023-2024.

Throughout this historic season, Cumberlands had 16 teams post top-10 finish nationally and had ten teams post or tie

their best national finish in their respective program’s history. Men’s Swimming & Diving and Men’s Cross Country tied for their best finish in program history after placing third at their respective national championships.

Women’s Basketball reached the Fab Four for the first time in program history after winning the Duer Quadrant, while Men’s Lacrosse and Women’s Lacrosse reached the national semifinals.

Patriots Baseball and Softball reached the World Series for the second consecutive season, while Men’s Basketball advanced to the Round of 16 for the first time since 2015. Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field won all three MSC championships and posted a top-ten finish at all three national championships. Women’s Golf, Women’s Swimming & Diving, as well as Women’s Wrestling notched a top-ten finish at their respective national championships, while Volleyball qualified for the national championship for the first time in program history.

While Cumberlands has found tremendous success on the field, in the pool, on the track, and on the court, the Patriots student-athletes continue to excel and focus in the classroom, producing a 3.21 average GPA and having a school-record 361 academic all-conference selections. In total, UC had 25 NAIA Scholar-Teams and had 26 teams compile at least a 3.00 team GPA, with 10 teams posting a GPA of 3.50 or higher.

What a year for Patriots Athletics! This is a truly historic accomplishment, and we are incredibly proud of our studentathletes and coaches. Thank you to our fans who make all this incredible progress and success possible by supporting our programs!