UPIKE holds annual opening convocation
0Written By Zachary Meek and Jessica Wolfe
On Thursday, Sept. 6, UPIKE held Opening Convocation in the Health Professions Education Building, seventh floor, which helped kick off the 2018 fall semester. Opening Convocation was held to welcomed and gave advice to new and returning students. Convocation keynote speakers were Gregory and Kathryn Pauley. The Pauley’s met while attending Harding University and have been married for 45 years. After graduation, Kathy began teaching high school English while Gregory started his career with American Electric Power. While they are retired now, they still want to help people. Kathy helps with a free summer lunch program in Franklin County. In their speeches they, addressed the opportunity students have to build a foundation of success and to help others. There wasn’t a single seat left, and some students and staff had to stand during the event. UPIKE President Burton Webb had kind words to say about Gregory and Kathryn Pauley. “It’s not about making all the money you could possibly make; it’s really about the impact you have. Greg and Kathy had very long and successful careers and now they’ve turned around and they’re giving back. It’s just a wonderful thing to have them here and to listen to their story,” Webb said. UPIKE established the Baird Family Service award and presented it to the Baird’s and the Pauley’s.