PIKEVILLE, Ky. — As the University of Pikeville celebrated the graduation of more than 400 students over the weekend, a pair of announcements pointed to big things in the school’s future.
University President Dr. Burton Webb announced during graduation exercises on Saturday that UPike’s will soon add a new graduate program, with the creation of a college of dentistry. The new school is being made possible thanks to the largest gift in the university’s history — $25 million from an anonymous donor.
“The foresight of a generous family giving to a university to establish a dental school is special,” said Webb. “This is another example of challenges being met and solved right here by those who call this area home. It’s also incredible that the university, this family and now a dental school will each have their roots right here in these mountains. It’s a great day to be a Bear!”
UPike board chair Terry Dotson said the new college will bring better health care to the region, and serve as an engine driving economic development.
“This is needed,” said Dotson. “The founding of a dental program in these mountains will lead to better healthcare outcomes for a historically medically underserved population. This institution, its students, faculty and staff are a driving force for health education in the commonwealth. The dental school will complete the circle of medical services for the region and the immediate area. The economic impact with the addition of more professional students will grow businesses throughout the entire community and the region. This will be a project that will take the time and talents of many partners locally and statewide.”
But the dental school was not the only big announcement coming from UPike on Saturday.
Dr. Webb also announced the purchase of property that will be used for a massive new athletic complex called “Bear Mountain.”
The complex will include facilities for football, baseball, softball, soccer, track & field, tennis and archery. And true to its name, the complex will be located on a mountaintop.
A video of designs released Sunday by Integrity Architecture shows the facility to be located on the mountain across Cedar Creek Road from Bob Amos Park.
