CU President's Club dinner features former UK basketball player

Mike Pratt, former UK basketball player, was the featured speaker for Campbellsville University's President's Club dinner Oct. 22.

Chris Reynolds, left, and his wife, Karen, of Campbellsville were recognized by Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University, as new members of Campbellsville University's President's Club at a dinner Oct. 22. Reynolds is a member of CU's Board of Trustees.

Dr. Joseph Early Jr., assistant professor of theology at CU, left, of Campbellsville was recognized by Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University, as a new member of Campbellsville University's President's Club at a dinner Oct. 22.

Murakami Manufacturing USA, represented by Eric Thompson, left, was recognized by Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University, as a new member of Campbellsville University's President's Club at a dinner Oct. 22.

Steve Morris, director of maintenance at Campbellsville University, left, of Campbellsville was recognized by Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University, as a new member of Campbellsville University's President's Club at a dinner Oct. 22.

Susan Blevins, assistant professor of education at Campbellsville University, left, of Campbellsville was recognized by Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University, as a new member of Campbellsville University's President's Club at a dinner Oct. 22.

Christina L. Kern

Campbellsville University

Campbellsville University's annual President's Club dinner featured Mike Pratt, who played for the University of Kentucky basketball team from 1968 to 1970 and coached at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte from 1975 to 1983.The President's Club is for donors of Campbellsville University who contribute $1,000 or more in a fiscal year.

The dinner is hosted as a thank you to them, as well as to honor the new members.

Of the $6.3 million donated to CU in the 2011 to 2012 fiscal year, the President's Club members accounted for $4.1 million of the donations, Benji Kelly, vice president for development, said.

Pratt, who also coached in the NBA, said at UNC-Charlotte "we had to raise all the money we spent," and he told President's Club members, "some young lady or young guy will benefit from your gift."

Pratt told members stories about when he first went to play basketball at the University of Kentucky, thinking he was playing for Coach Joe B. Hall, but later found out because he was on the junior varsity team that he would be playing for the assistant coach, Harry Lancaster.

Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of CU, said, "Higher education stands at a crossroads. Can you afford it; yet how can you afford not to? CU is in the midst of that crossroads."

Carter said, "We must model what we want to see in our students. We each believe higher education can be much more than an academic experience, but higher education can be a life changing experience ... what would you do without a college education with what we face in the future?"

A total of 43 new members were inducted into the President's Club. There were 388 members total in the President's Club for 2011-2012.

New members of the President's Club for 2011-2012 from Campbellsville are David and Susan Cox, Murakami Manufacturing USA, Chris and Karen Reynolds, Susan M. Blevins, Joe and Tiffany Early, Mary R. Miller, Steve and Carolyn Morris and Swan's Landing Caterers.

Other new members are Advance Pierre Foods, Enid, Okla.; James Thomas Badgett and Robert L. Holloway, Louisville; Tommie and Sharon Brown, North Port, Fla.; Charles E. Schell Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio; Lloyd and Doris Farrar, Norris, Tenn.; Ken and Debbie Hatfield, Crestwood;

Robert and Ruth Ann Shaw, Frankfort; Community Coordinated Child Care, Elizabethtown; Joseph E. Sparks, Breeding;

Jay and Lisa Allen, Bardstown; Kim D. Borders, Scottsville; Karl and Tara Clinard, Somerset; Details Communications, Birmingham, Ala.;

Rick and Susan Mann, Russell Springs; Bill and Beth Adams, Lebanon; George R. Buckner II, Salem, Ore.;

Paul Cantley, New Braunfels, Texas; Joe and Phyllis Early, Williamsburg; First Baptist Church, Monticello; Roger and Gwinn Hahn, Mt. Washington; Key 2 Recovery Inc., West Chester, Ohio; Lebanon Baptist Church, Lebanon; Gerald and Jolene Lord, Bowling Green; Fred and Pat Newby, Charlestown, Ind.; Dorothy H. Payne, Naples, Fla.; John L. Seesock, Columbus, Ohio; Sue Cravens Stivers, Columbia; Dennis G. Vaughn III, Germantown, Tenn.; and David P. Wilcoxson, Greensburg.