Sept. 10, 2012
For Immediate Release

By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - “Find out what your heart belongs to, and you will be well on your way to determining your legacy,” Susan Blevins, a 1984 graduate of Campbellsville University who is a full-time assistant professor of education at her alma mater, said to the best and the brightest of Central Kentucky Scholars Saturday night at Campbellsville University.

Blevins is part of a CU legacy with her father, Jimmy, having graduating from CU in 1962, and her daughter, Anne Russell Blevins, graduating in 2012. All belong to the Manion legacy of teachers.

Susan Blevins, assistant professor of education at CU, talked about leaving a legacy to the scholars. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)

Blevins told the high school seniors about her life struggles with cancer and the death of her husband, and how she was a high school teacher for 24 years before she retired and “came home” to Campbellsville University where “my heart belongs.”

She said she hopes her legacy will include each of the letters in the word legacy: L for life-long learning; E for energetic and passionate; G for generous to future generations; A for authentic, realistic and relevant; C for Christ-centered, and Y for Yahweh, the personal name for God known by Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

She told the scholars: “Whatever is worth doing, young people, is worth doing well” which coincides with her life verse from Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for God and not man.”

She advised the students to decide on a college where it “feels right,” “it fits” and “consumes your thoughts in the morning.”

Shajuana Ditto, a graduate of the class of 2009 who now is a teacher at Meade County High School where she is the head girls' volleyball and basketball coach, said her coming to CU “was the best decision that I have ever made in my entire life.”

Cassidy Blair, left, of Campbellsville High School, and her mother, Terri Slinker talk with Shajuana Ditto before she spoke at the dinner. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)

She said her parents always told her “if I wanted the best in life then I would have to invest in what was best for my life. Making the investment in Campbellsville University has changed my life for the better.”

Ditto said CU helped advance her spiritual life immensely. She enjoyed being able to pray before classes, in the cafeteria and during worship experiences throughout the week.

“What made my college experience so amazing was the unlimited opportunity to engage in extracurricular activities, the motivation to serve others and the amazing staff that supported my growth as an individual,” Ditto said.

She told the students she was prepared in her career because of the one-on-one attention that was offered to her and the support from her professors who believed in her.

Dr. Michael V. Carter, who is in his 14th year as president of Campbellsville University, told the students that the university embodies great truth and good Christian integrity and respect.

He told the students it was “absolutely amazing” to see where graduates of CU are now and “there is no better way to look at the final product of a university than her graduates.”

Whitney Mathis shows a PowerPoint about CU to the scholars. (Campbells- ville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)

Whitney Frields Mathis, a 2010 graduate of CU who is now an admissions counselor for the Western Kentucky area, told the scholars “we care for you as an individual.”

She said she was homeschooled, and “I had the opportunity at CU that I would never have had at a bigger school.”

She said, “You are bright students and a very selective group of students.” She discussed academic programs and activities at CU as well as scholarships and financial aid available.

“You're more than your ID number at Campbellsville University,” she said.

Dave Walters, vice president for admissions and student services, gave the blessing for the meal and the closing prayer was given by Adam Reynolds, a graduate student at CU who is admissions counselor for the out of state area.

The Central Kentucky Scholars are as follows: Auburn Anderson of Science Hill, Ky.; Grace Arnold of Campbellsville; Emily Baker-King of Glasgow, Ky.; Amanda Bennett of Harrodsburg, Ky.; Cassidy Blair of Campbellsville; Andrew Blankenship of Scottsville, Ky.;

Bradley Brown of Edmonton, Ky.; Emily Browning of Taylorsville, Ky.; Jacob Burdette of Lebanon, Ky.; Troy Butler of Albany, Ky.; Spencer Campbell of Harrodsburg, Ky.; Hannah Clemmons of Smith's Grove, Ky.; Robin Cobble of Lebanon Junction, Ky.;

Tabitha Conley of Bee Spring, Ky.; Aaron Cook of Stanford, Ky.; Erin Cox of Campbellsville; Rylan Cromer of Brodhead, Ky.; Megan Davis of Bardstown, Ky.; Brooke Duell of Somerset, Ky.; Emily Florence of Campbellsville, Ky.;

Cody Giles of Columbia, Ky.; Taylor Gover of Somerset, Ky.; McKenna Grant of Mt. Washington, Ky.; Kelsey Greer of Glasgow, Ky.; Dylan Greer of Shepherdsville, Ky.; Mikayla Grider of Mt. Hermon, Ky.;

Ryan Hines of Bethelridge, Ky.; Kileen Hoppe of Albany, Ky.; Bethany Howard of Lebanon, Ky.; Thomas Howard of Somerset, Ky.; Katie Hudson of Scottsville, Ky.; Cole Hughes of Hodgenville, Ky.; Heather Jackson of Columbia, Ky.;

Amber Jewell of Park City, Ky.; Victoria King of Radcliff, Ky.; Ashley Lyvers of Bardstown, Ky.; Erin Mattingly of Shepherdsville, Ky.; Patricia McCubbin of Horse Cave, Ky.; Raychel McKinney of Brodhead, Ky.; Caleb Miles of Munfordville, Ky.;

Evelyn Morgan of Greensburg, Ky.; Mark Noblin of Elizabethtown, Ky.; Joshua Norton of Elizabethtown, Ky.; Christopher O'Daniel of Elizabethtown, Ky.; Rachel Pingleton of Parksville, Ky.; Elizabeth Priddy of Leitchfield, Ky.; Shelby Rexroat of Russell Springs, Ky.;

Jessie Riddle of Glasgow, Ky.; Jared Robbins of Burgin, Ky.; Landon Rogers of Harrodsburg, Ky.; Dixi Secula of Burkesville, Ky.; Casey Self of Munfordville, Ky.; Kayla Skaggs of Magnolia, Ky.; R. Logan Skipworth of Burkesville, Ky.;

Mariah Stearns of New Haven, Ky.; Jaden Steberl of Stanford, Ky.; Brittany Stokan of Elizabethtown, Ky.; Shadera Upchurch of Monticello, Ky.; Jessica Vincent of Lawrenceburg, Ky.; Christopher Waid of Edmonton, Ky.;

Allison Ware of Waynesburg, Ky.; Spencer Waters of Cave City, Ky.; Hannah Welch of Bardstown, Ky.; Lauren Welsh of Lawrenceburg, Ky.; Casey Whittle of Danville, Ky.; Taylor Williamson of Mt. Washington, Ky.;

Emily Wilson of Russell Springs, Ky.; Rachel Witten of Eastview, Ky.; Haley Wright of Springfield, Ky.; Jessika Young of Leitchfield, Ky.; Eli Young of Greensburg, Ky.; Cherokee Yount of Radcliff, Ky.; and Bridgett Zanchi of Taylorsville, Ky.

The scholars were recognized at the Campbellsville University vs. Union College football game following the dinner. Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.