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By: Stacey Walters | February 3, 2025
Ten University of Pikeville (UPIKE) students recently had the opportunity of a lifetime to participate in The Washington Center’s Presidential Inauguration 2025 Seminar in Washington, D.C. The students, recipients of the Fred W. Meyer, Jr. Scholarship, spent nearly two weeks in the nation’s capital, gaining firsthand experience in government, politics and history.
The seminar included plenary sessions with notable speakers, including CNN broadcaster Wolf Blitzer, and on-site visits to iconic locations such as the U.S. Capitol, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Pentagon. Students also attended a screening of the documentary Public Defender at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, where they engaged in a talkback with the director and subject of the film.
A key highlight of the trip was attending the lying-in-state of President Jimmy Carter at the Capitol Rotunda, where several students stood in line for hours to pay their respects. The group also had the rare opportunity to witness three votes in the U.S. House of Representatives from the House gallery and took a tour of the Library of Congress, viewing one of the last remaining Gutenberg Bibles.
Additionally, the students attended the Inauguration ceremony, and some were able to experience the Trump rally at Capital One Arena. They also met with U.S. Representatives Hal Rogers and James Comer, gaining insight into the workings of Congress.
Jason Ratliff, a UPIKE alumnus and special agent with the U.S. Treasury Department, visited the group to share his experiences as a former Washington Center participant.
UPIKE students chosen to receive Fred W. Meyer, Jr. Scholarships to participate in this year’s seminar were Justin Casey, Rylea Charles, Jeremy Clevinger, Alayna Coleman, Zoe Howard, Zachary Mason, Brylie Pennington, McKenzie Tackett, Aaron Watson and Lukas Ra’sor Woods.
Professor Emerita Nancy J. Cade, Ph.D., created and funds the Fred W. Meyer, Jr. Scholarship for UPIKE students in honor of her father’s legacy. Fred W. Meyer, Jr. (1924-2010) was a highly successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. He served as an advisor to the Veterans’ Affairs Committee of the U.S. Senate and was actively involved in a variety of charitable organizations.
“He valued education and always said ‘Half of what you learn in college, you learn outside the classroom,’” Cade recalled.
“It was an honor to accompany these students during such a historic time,” said UPIKE Professor of Communication, Faculty Chair and Communication Program Coordinator Chandra K. Massner, Ph.D. “The students learned invaluable lessons and experienced the intersection of government and history firsthand. I’m grateful to Dr. Nancy Cade, Dean Ella Smith-Justice, and Vice President for Academic Affairs Marisa Greer, for supporting this incredible opportunity.”
The trip not only enriched the students’ understanding of politics and governance but also allowed them to form lasting connections that will serve them in their future careers.
For more information on The Washington Center and UPIKE’s participation in this seminar, please contact Chandra Massner at (606) 218-5004.