Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics

Class of 2020

Graduation

Saturday, May 16, 2020

2

The Program Graduation

Saturday, May 16Morehead State University

Opening of Ceremony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr . Carol Christian Director, Craft Academy

University Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kathy Walker Chair, MSU Board of Regents

Introduction of the Platform Party and Remarks . . . . . . . . . . .Dr . Joseph A . ( Jay) MorganPresident, Morehead State University

Student Speaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emma Collins

Commencement Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr . Joseph & Ambassador Kelly Craft

Presentation of Candidates for Diplomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dr . Garrick RatliffAssistant Director, Guidance and Counseling

Craft Academy Creed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dr . Garrick Ratliff

Conferring of Diplomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dr . Carol Christian

Closing Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dr . Carol Christian

3

Dr . Joseph A . ( Jay) Morgan is the 14th president of Morehead State University .

Dr . Morgan has served as president of Morehead State University since July 1, 2017 . His focus at MSU has been on student success, performance outcomes, academic excellence, as well as university rankings and responsiveness to the region .

Prior to service at MSU, Dr . Morgan served as the state-wide chief academic officer and vice president for academic affairs and student success for the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education in Frankfort . Before state-wide service at the Council, Dr . Morgan served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Murray State University, as well as associate provost, university faculty regent, leadership program director, graduate program coordinator, and professor/teacher educator . He also has early career service as an entrepreneur, as well as being a high school teacher and coach .

Dr . Morgan holds a Ph .D . from Oklahoma State University and a B .S . and an M .S . from Murray State University .

He currently serves as a board of trustees member of the Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) .

Dr . Morgan formerly served as a board member of a medical university, several foundation boards, vice chair of a public university board, a bank board, and the Kentucky Educational Professional Standards Board administering public school teacher licensing and educational standards . Additionally, his former public service includes serving four terms as an elected member of a city council, board president of a chamber of commerce, board chair of the United Way, was formerly named Citizen of the Year, is a Rotarian, and has been involved with economic development, banking and other regional initiatives . He has taught, worked and traveled in more than 15 countries for academics, business, research, and development .

Distinguished Guest Profiles

4

Dr . Carol Christian was born and raised in Central Ohio . Her entire professional career has been in Kentucky . She has numerous years of experience in education and educational leadership and is honored to serve as the first director of Morehead State University’s Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics .

Christian earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1976 from Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) and a master’s degree from EKU in 1979 . She completed her Rank I from Murray State University and her doctorate from the University of Louisville .

She has 40 years of experience in teaching and administration in public and private schools, with the Kentucky Department of Education and in higher education . She was the first female athletic director in Kentucky . Christian has served in a variety of roles as teacher/coach, athletic director, principal, highly skilled educator, adjunct professor and assistant professor in various locations across the state, including University Heights Academy (Hopkinsville), EKU Model Lab School (Richmond), Bourbon County Schools (Paris) and with Eastern Kentucky University, Northern Kentucky University and Morehead State University .

Prior to being named the Craft Academy director, Christian was the coordinator of MSU’s doctoral program, P-16 coordinator and professor in educational leadership .

She has received numerous awards and honors throughout her career, including Kentucky Physical Education Teacher of the Year, Central Kentucky School Administrator of the Year, Outstanding EKU Alumni, selection into the prestigious Highly Skilled Educator program, recent nominee as Lancaster High School Outstanding alumni and MSU’s President’s Leadership Academy .

Christian has authored five books on educational leadership . She was appointed by former Gov . Matt Bevin to serve on the Gifted and Talented Advisory Board .

Distinguished Guest Profiles

5

Distinguished Guest Profiles

Doctor Joseph and Ambassador Kelly Craft of Lexington are the distinguished speakers for the 2020 graduation ceremony .

In 2014, the Crafts pledged $4 million to establish Morehead State University’s Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics, a dual-credit residential high school for academically exceptional Kentucky students . The contribution is the single largest cash gift in the history of the University .

Since the initial gift, the Crafts have committed an additional $6 million to establish and fund summer programs for Craft Academy students; to provide continuation scholarships for Craft Academy students seeking to complete undergraduate degrees at MSU; and to improve the overall program .

Ambassador Kelly Craft was nominated by President Donald J . Trump to the position of Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations on Feb . 22, 2019, and was confirmed to that position by the United States Senate on July 31, 2019 . She was formally sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence on Sept . 10, 2019 .

Ambassador Craft served as the United States Ambassador to Canada from October 2017 until assumption of her United Nations role in 2019 . During her time as Ambassador, she worked through the complex revisiting of the NAFTA treaty, known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement or USMCA .

Ambassador Kelly Craft is a leader, entrepreneur and philanthropist who has made community service and improving education the cornerstone of her career .

A Hazard native, Joseph Craft is an entrepreneur, attorney and energy industry leader as well as a philanthropist . He has served as the president and chief executive officer of Alliance Resource Partners, L .P . since 1999 . Craft received an undergraduate degree in accounting and a law degree from the University of Kentucky .

He also is a graduate of the Senior Executive Program of the Alfred P . Sloan School of Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology .

6

Emma Paige Collins of Georgetown is today’s student speaker .

Collins is the daughter of Scott Collins and Lori Collins . She has a younger sister, Hadley Collins .

Before attending the Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics, she was a student at both Scott County High School and Elkhorn Crossing School .

Collins is a member of the Craft Ambassadors and was junior class secretary . She is the founder and president of the Y-Club, which participated in activities in collaboration with the YMCA of Kentucky, the Kentucky Youth Assembly (KYA) and the Kentucky United Nations Assembly (KUNA) . She spoke at the state capitol as the 2020 student speaker for the Kentucky Association for Gifted Education .

Her area of interest at the Academy was neuroscience . Collins’ hobbies include reading, studying history, engaging in government and politics, and drinking coffee “from anywhere I can find it .”

In the fall, she will enroll at Morehead State University and major in political science .

Distinguished Guest Profiles

7

Craft Academy

Dr . Carol ChristianDirector

Jennifer CarterAssistant Director, Academic Services

Joshua HardymonAssistant Director, Residence Life

Kathy FroilanAssistant Director, Academic Services/Project Coordinator

Brenda PorterStudent Activities and Event Coordinator

Rachel Rogers-BlackwellResearch Project Manager

Krista UtterbackOffice Associate

Sunshine StamperAssistant Director, Admissions and Public Relations

Sarah WoodallEnrollment Services Counselor

Dr . Garrick RatliffAssistant Director, Guidance and Counseling

Brittany RoachGuidance Counselor

Selena BaileyOffice Coordinator

Sandy BushOffice Associate

8

Morehead State University Administration

Dr . Joseph A . ( Jay) MorganPresident

Dr . Bob AlbertProvost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Ms . Mary Fister-TuckerVice President of Fiscal Services

Mr . Russell F . MastVice President for Student Affairs

Mr . James A . ShawVice President for University Advancement

Dr . Caroline AtkinsAssistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives

Dr . Laurie CouchAssociate Provost for Undergraduate Education and Student Success

Dr . Michael HensonAssociate Provost for Research andDean of the Graduate School

Dr . Gregory RussellDean, Elmer R. Smith College of Business and Technology

Dr . Christopher T . Miller Dean, Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education Dr . Wayne Miller Dean, College of Science

Dr . John P . ErnstDean, Caudill College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Board of RegentsDr . Annie AdamsMorehead, KY

Mr . Colby BirkesWinchester, KY

Mr . Craig DennisMorehead, KY

Mr . Adam HintonFlemingsburg, KY

Mr . Sanford HolbrookMt. Olivet, KY

Mr . Eric E . HowardLexington, KY

Ms . Deborah H . LongLexington, KY

Mr . Wayne M . Martin, Vice ChairWinchester, KY

Mr . Craig PreeceInez, KY

Ms . Kathy Walker, ChairPaintsville, KY

Ms . Terri WaltersPikeville, KY

9

Class of 2020 Subject to the completion of all curriculum requirements, diplomas will be conferred upon those listed herein and upon such others as graduation requirements are met. Each student’s academic area of interest is also listed. An asterisk represents students who have earned academic honors. Double asterisks represent students who have earned academic honors with distinction.

Maggie AldenMorehead, KYEnvironmental Biology

Johnathan Miller Baird*Waverly, KYComputer Science

David Cole Bell*Wayne County, KYComputer & Electrical Engineering

Alayna Karyl Bennett*Georgetown, KYSpace Science & Biology

Noah Daniel Blevins**Sandy Hook, KYNursing

Claire Ilyse Butler*Louisville, KYBiomedical Sciences

Myiah Elizabeth-Taylor ClemonsMt. Sterling , KYAccounting

Emma Paige Collins**Georgetown, KYNeuroscience

Lindsey Michelle CoxBloomfield, KYChemistry & Biology

Cassandra Anastacia DavisLexington, KYBiomedical Sciences

Anya Mae Deaton*Alexandria, KYEntrepreneurship & Engineering

Lydia Roshelle Deaton*Alexandria, KYEngineering

Alex Andres DepuyGeorgetown, KYMechanical Engineering

Hunter Alan Dockery**Westview, KYEvolutionary Biology & Microbiology

Kaylee DonlonCorbin, KYPolitical Science

Morgan Joy ElmoreVersailles, KYBiomedical Sciences

Adeline A. FishWalton, KYGraphic Design

Garrett Alden Flynn*Milford, KYPolitical Science

10

Jay Thomas Miller GiannasioCarlisle, KYEngineering

Abigail Claire Hall*Falmouth, KYGenetics

Zachary Grant HanveyParis, KYAstrophysics

Kelsey Elizabeth HeardLouisville, KYBiology

Catheryn Jayde Holbrook**Olive Hill, KYComputer Science

Kevin Thomas Johnson*Grayson, KYBiology

Colton Keene Kendall**Cynthiana, KYBiology/Biomedical Sciences

Jacob Charles Kessinger**Louisa, KYComputer Science

Abigail May Knapp*Richmond, KYPublic Health

Zachary Douglas LinvilleCarlisle, KYAccounting

Joshua John LoiaconoSomerset, KYBiology

Thaddeus Tchein LongFort Thomas, KYComputer Science

Jadin Christopher Moorman**Florence, KYChemistry

Evan Patrick O’Neill*Winchester, KYMathematics

Carlee Elizabeth Rose PotterWest Liberty, KYBiomedical Sciences

Sierra Paige Potts*Stanford, KYBiology

Brayden Deron RayBrooksville, KYComputer Science

Haley Nicole RobertsLouisa, KYEnvironmental Science

Madeline Elaine SalleyGrayson, KYEnglish

Leanna Kay Shelton*Breathitt, KYPre-Medicine

Katlin Nicole Stumbo**Topmost, KYBiomedical Sciences

Aaron David Thomas*Foster, KYMathematics & Computer Science

11

Emi ThomasLexington, KYCriminal Psychology

William Robert Peyton TubbsClay City, KYMathematics & Political Science

Caden Scott Tuel*Maysville, KYBiology

William Matthew VanWinkleIrvine, KYArchitecture

Douglas Gunnar WaddellOlive Hill, KYComputer Science

Matthew Paden Wilkerson*Russellville, KYSpace Systems Engineering

Graham Owen Steele Wilson*Paducah, KYAerospace Engineering

Haylee Jayne Winters*Catlettsburg , KYEngineering

Sydney Joanne Winters*Catlettsburg , KYComputer Science

Walker WoodMaysville, KYMathematics

This concludes the ceremony .

12

Morehead State University is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, other protected veterans, and armed forces service medal veterans, or disability in its educational programs, services, activities, employment policies, and admission of students to any program of study. In this regard the University conforms to all the laws, statutes, and regulations concerning equal employment opportunities and affirmative action. This includes: Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Executive Orders 11246 and 11375, Equal Pay Act of 1963, Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and Kentucky Revised Statutes 207.130 to 207.240; Chapter 344 and other applicable statutes. Vocational educational programs at Morehead State University supported by federal funds include industrial education, vocational agriculture, business education, and the associate degree program in nursing. Any inquiries should be addressed to: Affirmative Action Officer, Morehead State University, 301 Howell-McDowell Administration Building, Morehead, KY 40351, 606-783-2097.

Craft Academy Creed“It is my desire to live a life that is deeply imbued with immutable values, to have the wisdom to choose the path of integrity, the compassion to choose the path of service, and the moral courage to become my best self in the face of a world that often settles for less, that I may seek to do more through my gifts and abilities, to make a difference within my community, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the nation, and the world .”

- Paraphrased from Linda Kreger Silverman