Photo: Alyssa Williams (Class of 2021), who earned a bachelor’s degree in convergent media, speaking virtually with Amber Philpott (Class of 2003) after being awarded the newly established Amber Philpott Scholarship during her senior year.
As an award-winning news anchor with WKYT in Lexington, Amber Philpott (Class of 2003) has been a warm, welcoming and respected presence every evening for Central and Eastern Kentucky viewers. As much as she enjoys fulfilling her long-time passion in television news, she has always remembered the lessons she learned at Morehead State University and shows her support. She regularly attends MSU alumni functions and has served as an emcee for the University’s annual Spring Gala fundraiser. She also served as a member of the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors from 2012 – 2019.
Additionally, Philpott has been a loyal supporter of the MSU Foundation. She has been a member of the Foundation’s Circle of Excellence giving society since 2009. In 2020, she created a scholarship to show her support of the Soar to New Heights Scholarship Campaign. Philpott is funding the scholarship through a monthly giving commitment, modeling how MSU alumni can support future generations of students with gifts and donations, both large and small. Recipients will receive a $500 annual award thanks to her generosity.
The scholarship will support full-time junior or senior students majoring in convergent media and with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above. Preference will be given to a student from central or eastern Kentucky. The scholarship’s first recipient was Alyssa Williams (Class of 2021) from Owingsville. Williams, who recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in convergent media, received the scholarship during her senior year. Williams is now working as a multimedia journalist at WYMT in Hazard.
“I can recall watching channel 27 every morning as I was getting ready for school and have always dreamed of becoming an anchor,” Williams said. “During my time at Morehead State, I was given the opportunity to produce our television news program, NewsCenter, and was even appointed to the role of director. I am confident that the hands-on experience of producing a 30-minute live program will aid me in my career endeavors. Having been named the first recipient of the Amber Philpott Scholarship is an absolute honor and I am extremely grateful for Amber’s support.”
Philpott is a native of the region she regularly covers, having grown up in Cynthiana in Central Kentucky. She graduated summa cum laude from MSU in 2003 and her broadcast career began shortly after graduation. In 2004, Philpott became the 11 p.m. anchor and a reporter for WKYT.
Philpott has been a part of several award-winning newscasts, nominated for a regional Emmy and was named best news anchor in Kentucky by the Associated Press in 2009 and 2013. She is also committed to her community and giving back, having worked with organizations including Komen Kentucky, the American Diabetes Association, Girls on the Run, and the Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross.
“As a television news journalist living out her dream in central Kentucky, it’s not lost on me that none of this would be possible without the education and skills I learned at Morehead State University,” Philpott said. “It is now an honor to be able to provide a scholarship that I hope will also allow another student with big dreams just like I had to be able to not only pursue them but also accomplish them while at MSU.”
“Amber’s support of MSU has been unwavering since graduation,” said Mindy Highley (Class of 1993), assistant vice president of University Advancement. “We are extremely thankful for her ongoing commitment to current and future Eagles through this scholarship.”
Because of her support and enthusiasm, Philpott is being recognized with the Eagle Spirit Award. This honor is given to alumni that are exceptionally proud and active Eagles that regularly demonstrate Eagle Pride through recruiting potential students, positively representing MSU, attending MSU events and encouraging active support of MSU among their peer groups.
Students interested in applying to this scholarship, along with other privately funded scholarships managed by the MSU Foundation, should visit the online scholarship application at moreheadstate.awardspring.com.
For more information on this scholarship, or to establish your own, contact MSU’s Office of Alumni Relations and Development at 606-783-2033, email giving@moreheadstate.edu or visit alumni.moreheadstate.edu.
