Challenge By Dr. Carol Bolden Met By UKCD Alumni

On October 7, 2016, over 30 alumni, faculty, staff, and students gathered together at the Hilton Lexington to celebrate the first African-American graduate and first African-American faculty member of the UK College of Dentistry. This celebration was the accumulation of a month-long campaign to raise $10,000 for the Drs. Nero and Biggerstaff Diversity Scholarship Endowment.

Dr. Benjamin Nero graduated from UKCD in 1967. Dr. Biggerstaff was on faculty and eventually, became chair of the Orthodontics Division at the College of Dentistry. Both Drs. Nero and Biggerstaff attended the event and spoke of their continued commitment to diversity. UK Interim Vice President of Institutional Diversity, Terry Allen, was also in attendance at the event.

The endowed scholarship campaign was spearheaded by Dr. Carol Bolden, 1989 dental graduate, who also initiated the endowment. Dr. Bolden, along with UKCD Development, had reached out to all alumni from the College of Dentistry to seek their support. Following comments by Dr. Nero, Dr. Biggerstaff, and UKCD Dean Stephanos Kyrkanides, Dr. Bolden announced the campaign had reached its goal with gifts and commitments of $10,500. An additional $3,050 was received following the announcement, bringing the total funds added to the endowment to $13,550.