UK Lyman T. Johnson Constituency Group Awards Nursing Students Torch of Excellence and Torch Bearer Awards
The University of Kentucky Lyman T. Johnson Constituency Group awarded College of Nursing PhD student Kacy Allen-Bryant and undergraduate student Keelie Dyson the Torch of Excellence and Torch Bearer Awards Fri., Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. during the 25th Annual Homecoming Awards Celebration. The reception commemorated the 66th year of an African American presence on UK’s campus and took pace at the UK Alumni House.
Following previous years of tradition, these awards recognize an alum, faculty or staff who displays faith, hard work and determination that positively impact the lives of people on UK’s campus, the city, state or nation; and an undergraduate student who has, through his or her academic achievements, positively impacted the lives of others.
Fourth-year PhD student and recipient of the Torch of Excellence Award, Kacy Allen-Bryant, MSN, MPH, RN, currently researches workplace smoking-related policies. She lectures and works as a clinical instructor for the public health nursing course at the College of Nursing, where she engages in variety of community outreach programs including: homeless shelters; day centers for those with mental illnesses; afterschool programs for disadvantaged youth; and the public school system.
Allen-Bryant’s community service extends far beyond the College of Nursing, as she is a member of several health organizations and committees, including but not limited to the American Public Health Association and the Lexington-Fayette County Mayor’s Alliance Committee on Substance Abuse. In 2008, she was named the Public Health Nurse of the Year by the Mayor’s Alliance Committee on Substance Abuse. In 2014, she was inducted into the Delta Omega Public Health Honor Society.
As part of her doctoral studies, Bryant is a Central Appalachian Regional Education and Research Center Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing fellow and a Jonas Nurse Leader Scholar. She also collaborates with the Kentucky Safety and Prevention Alignment Network as part of its Occupational Safety and Health committee to push the Total Worker Health national initiative.
College of Nursing undergraduate and Torch Bearer Award recipient Keelie Dyson is a senior currently studying public health and psychiatric nursing who has maintained a 4.0 GPA despite the rigor of the nursing program.
“Lyman T. Johnson was a distinguished leader and to receive an award in his name is an amazing honor. To me, receiving this award highlights the diversity I bring to the University of Kentucky, the realization of achieving the academic excellence I strive for and the role I can have in influencing others to reach their goals as well,” said Dyson.
Dyson has been enrolled as Nurse Practice Intern since August 2014 and has been working with Clinical Assistant Professor Joanne Matthews, BSN, MSN, DNP, and her team in piloting a standardized suicide-risk screen. Dyson serves as the fundraising coordinator for the Student Nurses Association (SNA). She is interested in psychiatric nursing and plans to pursue an advanced nursing degree following graduation.
“Keelie is a very engaged and articulate student; she is very serious about her learning and becoming a competent nurse,” said Director of Diversity and Inclusivity, Dr Jennifer Hatcher. “In that endeavor, she has demonstrated great potential as a future leader.”
Dr. Janie Heath, dean and Warwick Professor of Nursing, is extremely impressed with the students’ accomplishments and dedication to the field of nursing.
“Our students are at the core of this College—they work hard to achieve great lengths and to put others first. I’m excited that their tremendous dedication and service has been recognized,” said Dean Heath.
The Constituency Group awarded Bryant and Dyson in honor of Dr. Lyman T. Johnson, the legendary human rights champion whose landmark legal victory in 1949 resulted in the desegregation of the University of Kentucky.
A Tennessee native, Johnson, the grandson of former slaves, earned his high school diploma from the preparatory division of Knoxville College. After receiving a bachelor's degree in Greek from Virginia Union University, Johnson attained a master's degree in history from the University of Michigan. He was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
Johnson served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and during the latter part of his tour of duty, helped run a school at the Great Lakes Naval Base, which enabled young and often illiterate sailors to obtain an educational foundation.
Johnson taught history, economics, and mathematics at Louisville Central High School for more than 30 years before becoming an administrator at two different schools in the Jefferson County Public Schools system, then spent three years in an administrative capacity at a Catholic high school. He also served as a member of the Jefferson County Board of Education for four years.
In 1979, Johnson received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from UK.
Widely known as an eloquent speaker, Johnson not only opened the doors to education for thousands of minority students, he also led struggles to integrate neighborhoods, swimming pools, restaurants and other facilities. Johnson headed the Louisville chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for six years.
Lyman T. Johnson died in Louisville in 1997 at the age of 91.
