Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton declared Sept. 8 as Stanley and Karen Pigman Day at a ceremony held to celebrate the renaming of the University of Kentucky College of Engineering.

The College of Engineering has officially been renamed to the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering, according to a press release from UK. 

Students, faculty and staff gathered in the College of Engineering’s courtyard to honor the couple and the impact they have made on the university. 

“For more than 20 years, the Pigmans have financially supported and mentored 200+ engineering and computer science students through the L. Stanley Pigman Scholarship Program,” the release said. 

More than 120 undergraduate engineering students are currently supported through the Pigman scholarships, the release added. 

UK President Eli Capilouto spoke at the dedication. He recommended the college be renamed due to the Pigmans’ long-standing support.

“I love these events, because of the stories they tell,” Capilouto said. “Where someone started, who helped them along the way, what inspires them to give back and of course, their hopes for Kentucky.”

Capilouto said that the Pigmans have been invested in UK students since 1990. 

“At the heart of their generosity is unwavering dedication, boundless empathy and the belief in a brighter future for our Commonwealth,” he added. 

Capilouto and others continued to praise the Pigmans for all they have done for the college over the past several years. 

Senior mechanical engineering major Brysen Honeycutt and engineering alum Olivia Henderson both spoke about how the couple personally tended to their needs and supported them through their engineering journey. 

Honeycutt said the couple has been supporting him since his time in high school. He said he didn’t know much about engineering but decided to try it out and the Pigmans continued to help him along the way. 

“The Pigmans’ impact on this college goes far beyond just its name, as they have personally touched the lives of many people, including myself, and I am so grateful for the support that they have given me,” Honeycutt said.

Henderson also told the audience what a privilege it has been to know the Pigmans. She said it was way more than a financial contribution. 

“It was a personal investment in my life, by two very caring people who would walk beside me each step of my journey,” Henderson said. “It did not take me long in my thought process to recognize the word I felt best described Mr. and Mrs. Pigman was selfless.”

The release said that the Pigmans have been a crucial factor in engineering students acquiring the skills and traits they need to succeed.