Morehead State holds dedication ceremony for new Eagle statue 

While Morehead State has several iconic landmarks and structures familiar to students and alumni, there is now a new focal point on campus that truly soars.  

On Friday, Nov. 3, MSU added the bronze Centennial Eagle to the Adron Doran University Commons area in a special dedication ceremony for students, alumni, and the surrounding community during the 2023 Homecoming weekend.  

MSU alum Ronald "Ron" Cartee (Class of 1965) and the Cartee Family provided a special gift for creating the statue recognizing the University's 100 years as a public institution in Kentucky. World-renowned artist Sam McKinney (Class of 1973, 1992) crafted a bronze Eagle statue honoring MSU's Eagle mascot and the school's commitment to helping students soar higher.  

"We are thrilled to officially unveil and dedicate this amazing piece," said Rick Hesterberg (Class of 1980), vice president of university advancement. "Thanks to the Cartee family's generosity and the talents of Sam McKinney, our campus now has a lasting marker to our beloved mascot - the Eagle."  

With a wingspan nearly 12 feet wide, McKinney spent a year working on the statue from concept to completion. While he has sculptures and artwork displayed across the country and in other parts of the world, he said it is special to have a piece of himself on the campus that helped shape him as an artist.  

"It's just so rewarding to finally have a piece there," McKinney said. "It's going to be there long after I'm gone and hopefully appreciated by new generations."  

To learn more about MSU's Homecoming Weekend, visit alumni.moreheadstate.edu/homecoming.  

If you are interested in establishing a scholarship or making a planned gift commitment, contact MSU's Office of Alumni Relations and Development at 606-783-2033, email giving@moreheadstate.edu or visit alumni.moreheadstate.edu.