Distinguished University of Kentucky students and alumni were honored with the Torch Bearer and Torch of Excellence Awards during the recent 26th annual Lyman T. Johnson Upholding the Torch of Excellence awards ceremony. The recipients are honored for significant contributions to the university and the community.

Chester Grundy, special projects coordinator for the UK Alumni Association, introduced keynote speaker Gerald Smith at the event.

Smith is a UK history professor, holder of the Theodore A. Hallam Professorship (2015-17) and the Martin Luther King Center Scholar-in Residence (2015-17). From 1997-2005, he served as the director of the African American Studies and Research Program at UK. A Lexington native and UK alumnus, Smith served as pastor of the Farristown Baptist Church in Berea from 2003-2011, and is the current pastor of the Pilgrim Baptist Church in Lexington. He is the author, editor or co-editor of four books. He has published more than 40 articles, essays and book reviews in historical journals and encyclopedias. Smith has consulted on various historical projects, lectured on college campuses around the state, and conducted workshops for primary and secondary school teachers. He has appeared in historical documentaries on CBS, NBC, KET, the CBS Sports Network and TruTV. Smith is co-editor of The Kentucky African American Encyclopedia, which received the Thomas D. Clark Medallion Book award in 2015. Smith is currently researching and writing a new general history on Kentucky African Americans.

Award winners include:

Denise Adegoke, College of Dentistry (UKCD), Torch Bearer

Adegoke is an outstanding student at UK, with an eager, sincere and collaborative disposition. She was selected and participated in the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Student Diversity Leadership Program Internship. During this internship, Adegoke spent a great deal of time working as a team member in the access, diversity and inclusion section of ADEA in research and strategic planning for the Student Diversity Leadership Program. Through this program, her curiosity, interest and engagement in the impact of the federal legislative process and public policy development grew tremendously. Additionally, she participated in the ADEA Student Diversity Leadership Program as a first-year student.

Adegoke has an altruistic spirit and is a servant leader. Her volunteerism prior to joining UKCD consisted of volunteering as a mentor and tutor to at-risk middle school students in her community in Florida, as well as serving in the role of director of community service for the pre-dental ASDA chapter and facilitating service activities and outreach for all of the students in the student organization. Additionally, Adegoke is a member of the American Association of Women Dentists, Delta Sigma Delta, a dental fraternity, and holds the position of secretary for the Student Research Group. 

Aprille Nelson, College of Dentistry, Torch of Excellence

Nelson is a strong and active member in the dental profession, as well as an alumnus of the UK College of Dentistry.

The college shared a quote from a current UKCD student about Nelson’s impact: “Dr. Nelson is caring, upbeat and dedicated to educating patients about oral health. Her friendly personality makes people feel welcome and at ease instantly. She has inspired others to relentlessly pursue their passion and achieve greatness. Furthermore, Dr. Nelson has been an important resource to Student National Dental Association. Her willingness to guide and advise students through the start to professional life has been a blessing. Dr. Nelson has been a source of encouragement and support for students and her peers.”

By Gail Hairston  - See full article here. 

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