Kentucky State University News October 25, 2013 KSU Introduces Regents, Community To Kentucky River Thorobred Kentucky State University held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, for the Kentucky River Thorobred, the university's new aquatic vessel that will serve as a laboratory for undergraduate and graduate research. The ceremony was part of the university's regular Board of Regents meeting. "We're here for the ribbon cutting of the newest member of the Kentucky State University family," KSU President Mary Evans Sias said. The boat will also be used to teach Kentucky's schoolchildren about the river's history and ecology. The construction of the Kentucky River Thorobred was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Sias said it took three years for the project to come to fruition even after some said it could not be done. She said $1 million was used to renovate the exterior of the Old Federal Building, which is now called KSU's Downtown Annex. The next phase will use $2.2 million to create the Kentucky River Interpretive Center, which will include interactive stations that highlight various aspects of the river. Regents and other guests had an opportunity to preview plans for the interpretive center, located inside KSU's Downtown Annex. "This is a monumental moment of pride for Frankfort's Riverfront Development and for me personally," said Joy Jeffries executive director of the Frankfort/Franklin County Tourist and Convention Commission. Frankfort Mayor William May also congratulated the university on the achievement and pledged his support of opportunities at KSU. KSU's Board of Regents met after the ceremony with an agenda that included plans for the university's third December commencement ceremony, after the first fall commencement was held in 2011. The board approved the university's recommendation to confer degrees on students who have completed degree requirements prior to graduation. The board also discussed plans to build privatized student housing on campus. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.