by Brad Duncan
In the past, the Lyman T. Johnson University of Kentucky Alumni African-American Constituent Group honored one alumnus and one student from each of UK’s colleges who have made significant contributions to UK and the community. However, during the 2010 Lyman T. Johnson Homecoming Awards Banquet, the awards were more selective with only a total of five honorees chosen. Of the five, two have ties to the UK College of Education.
Junior Whitney Rose, a member of the UK gymnastics team and an exercise science major, was honored in the athletics category while Eunice Beatty was the recipient of the alumnus award. Beatty received her master’s degree in education and her doctorate in educational and counseling psychology, both from the College of Education.
“This is such a special honor,” Beatty said. “Not only from a personal standpoint, but also because it represents so many African-American nominees who are well accomplished as a result of attending UK.”
A native of Lexington, Beatty retired from academia in 2008 after 30 years of serving in faculty and administrative roles at UK, Bluegrass Community and Technical College and the UK Community College System (now the Kentucky Community & Technical College System).
Her civic and community activities have included serving on the Fayette (Ky.) Education Foundation Board, the LexArts Board of Directors, The Blue Grass Community Foundation Board of Directors and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Community Advisory Committee. In 2008, she and her husband, Anthany, founded The Anthany and Eunice Beatty Family Foundation to create opportunities for children and youth to overcome obstacles.
Beatty has received numerous awards and honors during her career, including the National Philanthropy Day Award as the United Way of the Bluegrass Community honoree, the First Lady’s Club Award from the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (Lexington Central Kentucky Section) and the Outstanding African-American Woman Award from the Desert of Kentucky-Daughters of Isis.
Rose is one of the top student-athletes on the UK gymnastics team. She represented UK at the 2010 NCAA Gymnastics Championships as a vault specialist after tying for medalist honors at the Central Region Championships. In 2009, she became just the fifth Wildcat to earn Southeastern Conference (SEC) Freshman of the Year honors.
Community service also has been a big part of Rose’s life. She spends time at the Hope Lodge, a home away from home for cancer patients and their families; she takes part in a mentoring program that matches young females with influential teens; she was part of the Cats Cultivating Character, a group of UK student-athletes who teach lessons of character to students each month; and she has volunteered at Morton Middle School in Lexington to help students who need assistance taking the CATS test. In addition, she was selected to the 2010 SEC Academic Honor Roll.