Home Is Where The Hill Is

Fairy Coleman gets emotional when asked what UPIKE means to her. The young, single mother entered the workforce for the first time as the receptionist for the office of academic affairs in 1980. The warm, caring staff quickly became a second family to her and her daughter, Misty Asbury ’11, MBA ’20. The two spent much of their leisure time on campus.

“Having Misty on campus was so much fun! There was no other place in town we would rather be. We went to ball games, Halloween parties and the campus swimming pool with other staff moms and their children,” said Fairy. “The people here have become my family. This place has been a huge part of our lives and I become overwhelmed with emotion when I think about how special UPIKE is.”

Although Fairy has worked in various positions, she has primarily worked for the Patton College of Education and is now the administrative assistant to the director of teacher education and coordinator of field-based experience in the division of education.

When Misty was in third grade, her mother married Roy Coleman, bringing with him four more daughters to the family. Being raised with UPIKE as so much a part of their family, Misty and sister Andrea Akers ’12, MBA ’21, pursued their degrees on “the hill,” much to Fairy’s delight. The two walked in the same graduation processional with Misty finishing her undergraduate degree in business administration in December 2011, later earning her MBA, and Andrea getting her associate degree in nursing in May of 2012, later earning her MBA with an emphasis in healthcare management.

Immediately following graduation, Andrea went to work for Pikeville Medical Center and has since advanced to assistant vice president of surgical services. Misty followed in her mother’s footsteps and went to work for UPIKE, even before earning her degrees. She is now the disability resource coordinator.

Having spent the better part of her life on campus in some fashion, Misty has seen tremendous growth and progress at the university. Despite all the changes, one thing has remained the same — family.

“The family atmosphere persists and is perpetuated by the staff who have grown up here,” said Misty. “Regardless of what is changing around them, their hearts and attitudes remain the same. I hope we are sharing that feeling of home with current students and making them feel like family.”

Andrea’s son, Hunter, is a junior biology major at UPIKE, with plans to attend medical school after graduation. She is elated her son chose to become a Bear and stay close to home. “It makes me proud he decided on UPIKE,” said Andrea. “He wants nothing more than to be the best he can be, and I know that he can achieve whatever he wants to do at UPIKE.”

Following in the pawprints of three generations of Bears before her, sophomore Skylar Stumbo knew there was no better institution in which to pursue her college dreams than the University of Pikeville.

“I truly feel at home at UPIKE,” said Skylar. “I didn’t apply to any other schools because I automatically knew I wanted to come here to keep the tradition going in my family.”

Skylar’s legacy on “the hill” began in 1946, when her late great-grandmother, Esther Stratton Blankenship, attended what was then known as Pikeville College Academy, a place where students could pursue a two-year program with the mindset of finishing at a four-year institution.

Joe Hubbard, Skylar’s grandfather, started at Pikeville College in 1964, with aspirations of becoming a social studies teacher. With just a few classes left to graduate, he was drafted into the Vietnam War. When he returned from combat, he went to work for Kentucky Power and remained employed there until his passing last year.

The tradition continued with Skylar’s mother, Kathy Hubbard, who earned her nursing degree from UPIKE in 2003. Kathy went on to become part of the first graduating class of the RN-BSN program and is now a nurse practitioner at BrightView Health, an outpatient addiction treatment program. She is currently working on her psychiatric and mental health certification. She fondly remembers her father, Joe, encouraging her to never stop learning.

“He was always adamant about having his children and grandchildren attend college,” said Kathy. “He regretted not being able to finish his degree and always encouraged Skylar to get as much education as she could. He may not have finished his degree, but he certainly inspired me to finish mine.”

In the short time Skylar has attended UPIKE, she’s already making the most of her time on campus. She became a GROWL leader for admissions and was selected as a student ambassador. She is picking up where her grandfather left off, pursuing her education degree with intentions of teaching elementary school.

Kathy is proud of Skylar and knows her daughter will make her own mark at UPIKE.

“From the time I graduated to now, the campus has grown tremendously, and Skylar is getting a wonderful education here. It has come full-circle for us,” said Kathy. “I appreciate that UPIKE is a smaller school giving her the opportunity to get to know her instructors on a more personal level.”

For more than 40 years, a member of the Meade family has studied, taught or worked at UPIKE. The family’s legacy began when James Allen Meade ’69 attended then Pikeville College as a student studying secondary education and social studies. James’ means of transportation to campus on most days was hitchhiking, but that hurdle did not stop him from earning his bachelor’s degree.

James’ daughter, Conda Meade Little ’95, now serving as the manager and lead instructor for the UPIKE School of Dance, began dancing as a young student during the late ’70s. She taught the program when she was in high school and continued to be involved with the program throughout her college days.

Conda’s college experience was more unique than others since her mother, Diana Meade ’95, enrolled as a student during her junior year, studying business administration.

Conda’s emphasis was business; therefore, they attended several classes together within those two years. Conda graduated with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education/business and her mother earned her associate degree in business administration.

“I recall the other students commenting that they couldn’t imagine going to college with their mom,” said Conda. “We had a wonderful time creating memories that we still reflect upon and laugh about today.”

Conda’s daughter, Alannah Little ’20, followed her mother’s path and began dancing at the UPIKE School of Dance at the age of 2 and started teaching there by age 16. She enrolled at UPIKE in 2016, where she continued as a dance instructor, and four years later, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communication and psychology. The family atmosphere and sense of community are why Alannah chose to attend UPIKE and begin her career as an admissions counselor for the university.

Four bold women, all non-traditional students, took the road less traveled and earned their degrees later in life.

It all began when Helena Gwen Kendrick ’83, who always had a passion for learning, attended then Pikeville College, graduating with a degree in business accounting and computer programming. Her degree came in handy while taking care of the bookkeeping for the family-owned business, Kendrick’s Machine and Radiator Shop.

“I was born and raised in Pikeville, and I was excited I could attend a local college and receive a great education,” said Gwen.

Gwen’s youngest daughter, Audria Kendrick Denker, DNP, RN, FAADN, ’88, dropped out of high school and was pushed by her sister, Lisa Kendrick Estep ’91, to obtain her GED and pursue her education at UPIKE. Audria earned her nursing degree from the Elliott School of Nursing. Since 2005, she has served as the executive vice president of nursing at the Galen College of Nursing. She recently obtained her doctoral degree and was awarded a fellow in the Academy of Associate Degree Nursing. In 2018, she took the role of chair of the governance committee for the Kentucky Board of Nursing. She was also appointed to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing NCLEX examination committee.

“I had such a wonderful experience as a nursing student. I was so fortunate to have Lisa to push me to better myself,” said Audria. “UPIKE set the tone and laid the foundation for me to go higher and higher. I was influenced to speak up, never stop learning and be a voice for others.”

Lisa took her own advice and chose to come to UPIKE after having had some professional, real-world experience. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education, and as an adult learner, she found that going back to school meant more independence, additional responsibility, extra accountability, better critical thinking and greater future opportunities. Lisa currently serves as the vice president of development at Pikeville Medical Center.

“I was a non-traditional student, married with two children, which is not the typical route for many attending college,” said Lisa. “To me, UPIKE means choices; a choice to further my education, a choice to set an example for my children and grandchildren about the importance of education, a choice to make good grades and to graduate with honors and a choice to be the best I can be.”

Lisa’s daughter, Lashawna Owens Pilz ’20, came to UPIKE as a single mother. After graduating with honors with her bachelor’s degree in psychology, she is currently focusing her time being a new wife and caring for her two children, Jayden and Alisha.

“I worked in the secondary education industry for many years and advised several students to complete their educational goals. Now, it was my turn,” said Lashawna. “The Bear blood runs deep in our family, and I am honored to be a part of the UPIKE legacy with generations of intelligent and amazing women.”

The relationship between siblings is one of the most enduring relationships in life. The bond between Bobby Norman, RN, ’99 and his sister Sarah Norman, RN, ’99, ’01 only deepened after becoming the first siblings to graduate together from the nursing program of then Pikeville College in 1999.

Becoming a registered nurse was not the first choice for either in this duo. With a seven-year head start on Sarah, Bobby had wanted to become a teacher and coach after high school, and Sarah was a few classes short of earning her English and psychology degrees in Tennessee.

“I worked a lot of different jobs but had no real path. It was never my dream to become a nurse,” said Bobby. “Back then, male nurses weren’t that common. I was the only male in my graduating class, even though the program started out with three.”

Sarah’s decision to become a nurse didn’t happen until halfway through her senior year of college.

“I was so close to graduating with my English degree and ready to pursue a career in journalism,” Sarah explained. “I panicked wondering what I was going to do after graduation to make money. My roommate in Nashville was a nurse and I realized I could graduate with a nursing degree in two years with a career making good money.”

Sarah moved back to Pikeville and was accepted into the nursing program. Bobby decided to apply too, and both began their journey in the medical field. As non-traditional students, the pair was excited to be in school together for the first time, with Sarah being a little better prepared having just come from another college.

“With such a big age difference, it never lined up for us to attend any school together. The most we ever saw each other was maybe on a school bus,” said Bobby. “Being in college later in life was very difficult and I think doing it together helped me. That first year we really challenged each other. I don’t think I would have made it without her being there with me, but she would have breezed right on through without me there.”

Bobby agrees that when it came to school, Sarah had him beat and without her motivation, he may not have graduated.

“We had a little bit of a sibling rivalry, but he will admit that I had better grades than he did,” said Sarah. “Everyone else in our class was straight out of high school, so Bobby and I were the oldest in the class with more life experience.”

Since graduation, the Norman siblings have created impressive careers for themselves at Pikeville Medical Center (PMC), where they both began as nursing assistants before they graduated. Bobby has been with PMC for more than 23 years and is now the night shift supervisor for the Emergency Department. After working in the nursing field in various capacities, Sarah has been a chemotherapy staff RN for the past five years at PMC’s Leonard Lawson Cancer Center.

After becoming a nurse, Sarah returned to Pikeville College to finish the degrees she came so close to earning before her nursing journey with Bobby began. In 2001, she graduated with a double major in English and psychology.

Orethia Miller ’54, ’72 sparked a family tradition when she began her journey to higher education. After completing her classes in only three semesters, she graduated from the Pikeville Junior College in 1954. In 1968, after taking time to focus on her family, she returned to then Pikeville College to seek a degree in elementary education.

“I like to joke and say it took me 20 years to graduate college. I worked in the library and the bookstore to pay my tuition,” said Orethia. “I remember having $10 to buy books for the semester. Back then, the students loved to hang out on ‘the 99’ and would go to Jerry’s for strawberry pie.”

Orethia’s oldest son, Doug Miller ’76, followed in his mother’s footsteps and came to Pikeville College in 1974. He majored in mining technology. Doug says his time at college is something he will always cherish.

After working in the banking business for 25 years Orethia’s daughter, Deborah Miller Stanley ’05, came to Pikeville College at the age of 42 to pursue a new career path. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English and went on to earn her master’s and Rank I.

“I’ll never forget that first day. The excitement and anticipation had awakened the butterflies in my stomach, dormant for so many years. I parked on the boulevard and anxiously began trotting up ‘the 99’ steps that I had heard so much about,” said Deborah. “My ultimate goal was teaching. Pikeville College led me back to where my education began, Johns Creek Elementary. I ended up teaching English there for fifteen years and recently retired.”

Deborah’s daughter, UPIKE’s Title IX Coordinator Beth Stanley Bowersock, J.D., ’01, MBA ’19, was among the first to major in criminal justice at Pikeville College. During her time as a student, she attended basketball games, joined and created clubs and served as the Appalachian Association for Justice club president. Upon graduation, she earned her law degree from the Appalachian School of Law in 2004.

“I don’t actively remember choosing to go to Pikeville College; it was a given. It was where our family went, no question. We were born to be Bears. UPIKE was familiar to me; it was home, it was safety and love, and this has not changed in the 20 years since I graduated,” said Beth. “UPIKE prepared me for law school, and there is no greater job in the world than having the ability to impact a student’s life. I look forward to serving the institution in the same way that I was supported as a student.”

For Orethia’s granddaughter, Kayla Justice ’06, attending Pikeville College was a chance to earn her degree in communication while staying close to home. She says the close community made her feel like a person and not just a number.

Joining Kayla was her cousin, Jennifer Baisden ’06, M.A. ’18, who also earned her degree in communication before returning for her master’s in teacher leadership. She says she grew up on this campus and she learned many things from her professors that she still uses today as an educator.