TWO DECADES OF DEDICATION

Thanks to grants from the U.S. Department of Education, each year more than 150 students are able to enroll in UPIKE’s Academic and Cultural Excellence (ACE) Program to start receiving help in achieving their dreams of becoming a college graduate.

The program serves as a valuable resource on campus for student support. In addition to providing peer mentoring and helping students develop study skills, the program also prepares students for life after graduation with interview training, résumé writing and post-graduation planning services. Over the years, ACE has given more than $400,000 in grant money to help eligible students alleviate the financial burden of a college education.

This September, the program celebrated its 20-year anniversary. Program founder and former director Harriet Blanton ’93, who worked extensively with UPIKE’s Upward Bound Program, realized the need for similar support for students at the collegiate level and was inspired to write the initial grant.

“When the opportunity arose for me to write the grant for the ACE program, I knew how much the institution and its students would benefit, and I took on the task. Fortunately, the grant was funded and has been going strong ever since,” said Blanton. “As the director, I was blessed to work with a wonderful, innovative and dedicated staff, and I attribute the continued success of the program to their tireless work ethic and desire to help students succeed.”

Newly-appointed ACE Program Director Cecil Williams Jr., MSW, CSW, took over after Blanton, who served as director for nearly two decades, retired earlier this year.

“Harriet promoted a family atmosphere and we want to keep that tradition going,” said Williams. “We are always open to new ideas and we continue to explore different ways of developing the program.”

Throughout the years, the ACE Program has evolved with changing technology and social trends. With the assistance of Zoom, student and family conversations take place during the summer, helping ACE staff fill all student spots prior to the first day of classes.

ACE boasts countless success stories through its rich history, including that of Larry Forester ’05 who was part of the program during his time at then Pikeville College. Forester excelled with the help of ACE and went on to become a peer mentor during his junior and senior years.

“The program helped me develop leadership skills, focus and follow through. I was able to apply those concepts in my career,” said Forester. “I truly believe the ACE program played an integral part in my success.”

Forester has been in the banking industry for 16 years and now serves as senior vice president at Forcht Bank in Lexington, Ky. He continues to make contributions to the university by serving on UPIKE’s Board of Trustees.

He says anytime you can have someone mentor you for the right reasons, you will carry that advice with you for the rest of your life.

“It’s a blessing to have someone who cares about you and your well-being. The values ACE instills in you stays with you,” said Forester. “I, along with others I know who have been supported by ACE, hold it very, very close to our hearts.”

In its 20 years, ACE has helped more than 1,250 students grow into successful graduates ready to change the world and hopes to continue to make a difference in the lives of students.

By Amy Charles