Recent News

President Rosemary Allen welcomed students, faculty, and staff to the Founders’ Day Convocation on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 in the John L. Hill Chapel. This annual event celebrates the history of Georgetown College and provides a chance to reflect on our mission.

Each Founders’ Day, Georgetown announces the Curry Award for Faculty Excellence. The award is named after Dr. Ralph Curry and Dr. Gwen Curry, dedicated professors who both served as Chairs of the English Department at Georgetown College. The Curry Award recognizes a faculty member who shows dedication not only to educating students inside the classroom but truly making a difference in their community and the lives of young people. The 2024 Curry Award was awarded to Dr. Abraham Prades, Associate Professor of Spanish. He received his bachelor’s degree from Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and his master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Kentucky in Lexington. He began his career at Georgetown College in 2019.

“Dr. Prades is an amazing mentor for students who always shows up for them, whether at events, in the Caf, or inviting international students over to eat meals with his family, “ said Provost Jonathan Sands Wise. “He is all in on everything he does and is a gifted teacher and active researcher as well. Georgetown College and all of our students are incredibly fortunate to have Dr. Prades among our faculty.”

Dr. Curtis Sandberg, Vice President of Student Success and Dean of Students, also introduced the newly elected Student Government Association (SGA) Executive Council, which serves as the voice of the students. Vice President for Student Life Dr. Curtis Sandberg inducted new SGA President Isaac Harder ’27 from Harrodsburg, Kentucky, and the other members of the SGA Executive Council, including Vice President Carter Zutterman ’27  from Bardstown, Kentucky, Vice President of Academic Affairs Jaclyn Cropper ’26 from Maysville, Kentucky, Vice President of Community Affairs Cadence Flamm ’26 from Burlington, Kentucky, Vice President of Public Relations Piper McGuffey ’28 from Georgetown, Kentucky, and Parliamentarian Barden Kalla ’28 from Frankfort, Kentucky. Harder delivered the call to convocation and expressed his excitement to represent the student body.

The keynote speaker for this year’s Founder’s Day was Rev. Katie McKown, a 2003 graduate of Georgetown College. As Dr. Allen introduced her, she highlighted Rev. McKown’s active involvement as a student on campus and her trailblazing career and life since graduating. Before her current role, Katie pastored Scottsville Baptist Church in Scottsville, Virginia, from 2006 to 2019. She also served as the Associate Director (2020) and Director (2021-2023) of Leland Seminary’s School of Ministry in Arlington, Virginia. She now serves as the pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Paducah, Kentucky.

In her address, Rev. McKown spoke about the changing roles of women, noting several key achievements and milestones in the advancement of women’s rights, both in our country and on our campus. She also discussed the role of women in the church, emphasizing that “women have, in fact, always been leaders, whether recognized or not.” Reflecting on her own ordination and journey in the church, she shared that Georgetown College was the first place she saw women leading — both on campus and within the church. She encouraged current students, reminding them that, although the world may not always treat them as such, “Jesus empowers you to live as God has called you to.” She concluded with an empowering statement: “If you can see it, you can be it.”