Shyann Worthington ’22 is an inspiring educator who is dedicated to making a positive impact on her students’ lives. After earning her degree from Kentucky Wesleyan College, Shyann began her career as a reading intervention instructor at Alliance Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio, before transitioning into her current role as a 5th-grade math teacher.

At Alliance Academy, Shyann noticed a significant need for healthy outlets for her low-income, at-risk male students. In response, she founded the school’s first boys’ basketball program in over seven years. This initiative has been met with great success, providing students with a positive, structured environment while also offering them a valuable opportunity for personal growth and teamwork. Shyann coaches the program alongside her partner, Kam, and is incredibly proud of the program’s achievements.

In addition to her work with the basketball program, Shyann serves as the Big Brothers Big Sisters Coordinator at Alliance, further demonstrating her commitment to nurturing her students’ development. She started an AAU team for her students to continue playing over the summer, and the league has expanded to include 2nd and 3rd grades. Shyann is also now part of the administration team at Alliance Academy. (more…)

Jennifer Walker-Crawford ’17 is a shining example of determination and dedication, blending academic excellence with athletic achievement. Her journey began at Kentucky Wesleyan, where she quickly became a standout scholar-athlete. Jennifer was an Academic All-Great Midwest Athletic Conference selection, earned a spot in the prestigious Order of Oak & Ivy, and was named the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. On the basketball court, she was a key player, finishing her career as one of the team’s leading scorers and rebounders, earning recognition for her outstanding performance.

Jennifer’s academic success set the stage for her professional journey. After graduating with a degree in accounting, she earned her CPA license while working as a Tax Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the Big Four accounting firms. While at PwC, she transitioned to transformation consulting to work more closely with clients, as working with people is a passion of hers. With PwC’s sponsorship, she attended The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated in 2024, before returning to PwC. (more…)

Summer (Crick) Aldridge ’14 is a dynamic leader whose passion for community engagement and economic development has earned her recognition as one of Owensboro’s top professionals. She currently serves as the Director of Marketing, Special Projects, and Administrative Support at the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation (GOEDC), where she works to position Owensboro-Daviess County as a prime destination for business investment and growth.

A native of Madisonville, Ky. Summer has a track record of leadership in both the public and private sectors. She was named Hopkins County’s Citizen of the Year in 2019 and made the 30 Under 30 list for her significant contributions to local development. She also co-founded the Hopkins County Young Professionals, an organization focused on fostering leadership among young adults in the region. In 2023, Summer was recognized on Owensboro’s 40 Under 40 list.

Prior to joining GOEDC, Summer held multiple leadership roles at Kentucky Wesleyan College, where she served as Director of Alumni Relations and later Senior Director of Engagement. Her efforts in these positions were pivotal in strengthening alumni relationships, including launching successful events and programs to connect alumni with students and the broader community. Summer also spearheaded strategic initiatives to support career exploration for current students, ensuring they were well-prepared for life after graduation. Her contributions at KWC earned her recognition as Staff Member of the Year in 2022. (more…)

Morgan Pierstorff ’10 is a dynamic and visionary leader whose career reflects a deep commitment to international business development and economic growth. A proud graduate of Kentucky Wesleyan College, she earned her B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on international relations and Political Science in 2010.

Named the 2019 Outstanding Young Graduate, Morgan has made a remarkable impact in both North America and Europe. She currently serves as the Business Development and Sales Director at Newable in the London, United Kingdom. Previously, she was the Executive Director of the Kentucky European Representative Office in Hamburg, Germany, where she played a key role in attracting European investment to Kentucky. (more…)

Kelly Frank ’96 is the President and General Manager of CBS News and Stations’ Philadelphia duopoly of KYW-TV (CBS) and WPSG (The CW). Under her leadership, CBS Philadelphia has thrived, winning multiple awards, including seven Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy Awards in 2023, with back-to-back recognition for Overall Excellence in 2023 and 2024.

With over 25 years in the media industry, Kelly has held pivotal roles at major media outlets, including the CBS News affiliates in Columbus, Ohio and Tampa, Fla., where she spearheaded content initiatives, boosted audience engagement, and led high-performing teams.

Prior to these roles, Kelly served as Executive Producer, U.S. Operations at CNN, where she oversaw high-profile shows like CNN Newsroom with Kyra Phillips and Ali Velshi. She also executive produced special programming with Anderson Cooper, Wolf Blitzer, Soledad O’Brien and Christiane Amanpour. Her tenure at CNN earned her several accolades, including Peabody Awards for coverage of the Gulf Oil Spill, Arab Spring and presidential election coverage. She also was recognized as one of CNN’s top performers. (more…)

Dr. Cheryl (Arnold) Purdy ’76 is a distinguished digital forensic examiner and cybersecurity educator, whose work in law enforcement and academia has had a significant impact on the field of digital forensics. After graduating from Kentucky Wesleyan with a degree in mathematics, she began her career in education and later transitioned into law enforcement.

Dr. Purdy is the lead digital forensic examiner/analyst for the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office, where she has worked for over 13 years. During this time, she has conducted hundreds of forensic examinations, many of which have led to convictions in both state and federal cases. In addition to her law enforcement role, Dr. Purdy serves as an adjunct professor at the University of the Cumberlands, Western Kentucky University, and the University of Louisville, teaching courses in malware analysis, digital forensics, and network security. (more…)

Betty (McWhorter) Gissoni ’50 was a pioneering educator and advocate for the blind, whose lifelong work made a significant impact in Kentucky and beyond. After graduating from Kentucky Wesleyan College, she began her career by teaching English at Paint Lick High School, becoming one of the first blind teachers in Kentucky.

In 1952, Betty pursued graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, studying at the Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia, where she became certified as a home teacher of the adult blind. In 1956, she returned to Kentucky and established a home teaching service for the blind. This model was later adopted by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1960, leading to the creation of a state home teaching service. (more…)

Virginia “Shorty” (Harris) Combs ’22 was a pioneering figure in both education and athletics, whose legacy continues to inspire. She was the first female student-athlete at Kentucky Wesleyan College to earn postseason honors, helping lead the 1921 KWC Panthers girls’ basketball team to a state championship and earning All-State honors as a forward.

After graduation, Virginia continued her impact on sports by coaching the first girls’ basketball team at Whitesburg High School during the 1923-24 season, laying the foundation for future generations of female athletes. She was later inducted into the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1997.

In addition to her athletic achievements, Virginia had a distinguished career in education. She taught English and journalism in the Letcher County School System for 40 years, founding the school’s newspaper and organizing clubs such as the Nurses Club and Beta Club at Whitesburg High School. She encouraged her students to better themselves through education, church involvement, and self-discipline. (more…)