News & Updates

Eastern Kentucky University


three photos of EKU students over a maroon toned background of a large group of students

Say Hello to EKU’s New Colonels

The fall semester has begun, and Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) has welcomed the Class of 2029 as the newest members of the Colonel family. The freshmen come from 108 Kentucky counties, 38 states and 10 countries, with more than half of the incoming class being first-generation college students. EKU continues to be a top choice […]
READ MORE Say Hello to EKU’s New Colonels
large of group of musicians on stage ready for a performance

Fostering the Future of Music

EKU’s Foster Music Camp Celebrates 90 years As the final concert crescendos beneath the stage lights and the last note hangs in the air, there’s a magic that lingers—an echo of growth, talent and unforgettable summer memories. For the young musicians of Foster Music Camp, the grand finale performance is a celebration of everything they’ve […]
READ MORE Fostering the Future of Music
large group of eku public health students gathered around a table at the enrich needs fair

Enrich Needs Fair

In the spring 2025 semester, Dr. Molly McKinney’s HEA 485 Community Organization & Advocacy class collaborated with Enrich, a local non-profit, to plan and implement a needs fair for Richmond community members in recovery or seeking recovery. EKU Public Health students planned and implemented the entire event with guidance from Enrich staff and Dr. McKinney. […]
READ MORE Enrich Needs Fair
photo of jon and vicki ferrante with drawing of their daughter in the background

Hard Work, Heartbreak and Hope

Little Vicki’s Legacy and the Ferrante Family’s Lasting Gift to EKU Attending an out-of-state college can be a daunting experience. It certainly was for Jon and Vickie Ferrante, who left the New York City area for the rolling hills of Kentucky in 1964. Infant son in tow, not knowing anyone and with scant financial resources, […]
READ MORE Hard Work, Heartbreak and Hope
photo of paula and barry ward with a lake in the background

A Shared Vision

Barry and Paula Ward’s Lasting Impact on EKU Students They attended an alumni gathering at the home of fellow alumnus Dr. John “Lucky” Meisenheimer in Orlando, Florida, in early 2024, with the hope of meeting old friends, beginning new friendships and catching up on recent developments at their shared alma mater.Barry and Paula (Muthler) Ward […]
READ MORE A Shared Vision
photo of robert and judy layne wood family photo on maroon background

From Small Towns to a World of Giving

Robert Wood & Judy Layne-Wood Both are first-generation students from Kentucky small towns whose combined population barely tops a thousand. They met and fell in love on the EKU campus – he proposed marriage in the Ravine – and their horizons soon expanded to encompass far-flung locales they could once only imagine.But wherever life and […]
READ MORE From Small Towns to a World of Giving
a smiling group of public health students stand in front of an EKU sign

From Students to Professionals: Public Health Internships

Every semester, students in the B.S. in Public Health program complete a 160-hour required internship. The internship provides an instrumental experiential learning opportunity for students to gain experience and fosters mentorship between students and professionals. Students, along with the assistance of public health faculty, apply and interview for competitive internships at local and state health […]
READ MORE From Students to Professionals: Public Health Internships
older man in plaid button up shirt sits on couch in living room

From Campus Roots to Surgical Heights

Dr. Greg Sexton’s Lifelong Journey with EKU For 34 years, Dr. Greg Sexton has served Columbia, South Carolina, as a plastic surgeon, and “can’t imagine doing anything else.” At one time, however, he “would have probably considered life as a basketball coach and been very happy.” His own makeover was made possible by supportive family […]
READ MORE From Campus Roots to Surgical Heights
family photo with man in military uniform holding a young girl and woman in military t-shirt holding another young girl in front of a military plane in a museum

Saluting Success: EKU Named a Top School for Military Families

Once again, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) was named second in the nation for Military Friendly® Spouse Schools. This national recognition highlights EKU’s continued success in providing a welcoming and resourceful environment for military families pursuing higher education. In addition, EKU is the only university in Kentucky to make the top 10 Military Friendly® Schools designation, […]
READ MORE Saluting Success: EKU Named a Top School for Military Families
photo of young woman in EKU shirt on a maroon tinted background

A Head Start on Higher Ed: EKU’s Dual Credit Program Saves Students Time and Money

On a typical day of school and homework, high school students across Kentucky earn college credit while completing their regular coursework—an opportunity made possible through Eastern Kentucky University’s (EKU) Dual Credit program. Through EKU Dual Credit, eligible high school juniors and seniors take college-level courses for both high school and college credit—saving both time and […]
READ MORE A Head Start on Higher Ed: EKU’s Dual Credit Program Saves Students Time and Money
headshots of five faculty members over a maroon toned close of of an EKU building with logo

EKU’s Faculty Internship Program Promotes Academic Leadership

Now in its fourth year, Eastern Kentucky University’s (EKU) Provost’s Faculty Internship Program has caught national attention as a unique model for leadership development. Through mentoring, hands-on experience and project administration, participants in the program explore pathways to leadership in higher education. “We already know that our EKU faculty are incredibly talented and intelligent, and […]
READ MORE EKU’s Faculty Internship Program Promotes Academic Leadership
three people look over construction plans, two wearing hard hats and high-vis vests

Top 5 Reasons to Earn a Construction Management Degree from EKU

Whether you want to manage major infrastructure projects or residential builds, a degree in construction management from EKU sets the foundation for a rewarding, results-driven career. Here are the top five reasons you should consider earning a construction management degree from EKU. 1. Scholarships That Lay the Foundation EKU offers valuable scholarship opportunities that help […]
READ MORE Top 5 Reasons to Earn a Construction Management Degree from EKU
instructor demonstrates fire technology tools while two students look on

Path Cleared for EKU Fire Protection Engineer Grads in Kentucky

Thanks to the determination of Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) faculty and alumni, a major roadblock has finally been removed for fire protection engineers in the Commonwealth. House Bill 306, overwhelmingly passed by the Kentucky legislature, went into effect June 27 and removes a long-standing rule that had kept EKU Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology […]
READ MORE Path Cleared for EKU Fire Protection Engineer Grads in Kentucky
Group of student musicians circled around a conductor in an auditorium

90 Years in Harmony: EKU Celebrates Foster Music Camp Legacy

This year, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) celebrates the 90th season of the Stephen Collins Foster Music Camp, the second oldest music camp in the United States. Since 1936, the camp has welcomed thousands of young musicians to EKU’s campus in Richmond, Kentucky, offering a transformative experience in music education. “For almost a century, Foster Music […]
READ MORE 90 Years in Harmony: EKU Celebrates Foster Music Camp Legacy
A man wearing sunglasses, a checkered shirt, and a blazer smiles in front of a small aircraft. The background features a maroon-tinted image of an EKU Aviation hangar with two airplanes parked inside, and the EKU Aviation logo displayed prominently at the top.

Dr. Tim Holt to Pilot EKU Aviation 

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) welcomes Dr. Tim Holt as chair of the School of Aviation. Holt brings extensive academic, aviation and business expertise to EKU, with more than a decade of experience in teaching and administration at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a 22-year career with the United States Navy, retiring as a chief petty officer. […]
READ MORE Dr. Tim Holt to Pilot EKU Aviation 
Three people observe and photograph a colorful textile art piece displayed on a white gallery wall. The artwork features a vibrant landscape with stylized trees, clouds, and rolling hills in shades of green, blue, yellow, and red. The person in the center is holding a camera, capturing the artwork, while the other two stand on either side, viewing the piece.

EKU’s ICCA: A Destination for the Arts in Kentucky

Eastern Kentucky University’s (EKU) Institute for Creative and Collaborative Arts (ICCA) serves as a destination for creative students in the Commonwealth. With state-of-the-art facilities, collaboration across academic programs and a deep commitment to fostering artistic expression, the ICCA is where students and professionals alike can showcase the rich artistry of Kentucky. “No matter what area […]
READ MORE EKU’s ICCA: A Destination for the Arts in Kentucky
A collage featuring two images. On the left, a group of six diverse healthcare students smiling and posing in front of a mural with the word "Tengo" in large letters. On the right, a photo of a yellow and blue building labeled "Sumak Kawsay Wasi – Instituto de Bienestar Comunitario" with people walking outside. The collage is set against a maroon brick background.

Global Reach, Local Growth: EKU Team Advances Autism Support in Ecuador

A global health initiative in Ecuador became a life-changing experience for Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) student Haley Hintz and Psychology Professor Dr. Myra Beth Bundy. In March, the two traveled to South America to provide autism assessments and clinical training in a medically underserved community. The CDC estimates 1 in 31 children has autism in […]
READ MORE Global Reach, Local Growth: EKU Team Advances Autism Support in Ecuador