KU's Scholar Athlete

Kentucky Utilities: Sponsor of Scholar Athlete Feature for 17 Years

KUThis month marks the 17th year that Kentucky Utilities has sponsored Lexington Family Magazine’s popular Scholar Athlete feature, which has honored more than 200 young people.

Celebrating excellence in the classroom and on the athletic field coincides with two values that KU embraces – education and youth health and wellness sports activities, according to Cliff Feltham, KU’s statewide media relations manager.

Community support for worthy causes is only one of the reasons Feltham is proud of the company that has employed him for 18 years.

First, KU does what it says it will do – provide reliable, low-cost electricity to more than half a million customers from the mountains of southeastern Kentucky to the Mississippi River.

Feltham also is proud that KU keeps customers connected to the grid in an environmentally conscious way.

“We are one of the most highly regulated industries in the country, and we abide by the many environment regulations that exist now,” Feltham said.

“And we will live up to future regulations. KU always operates in an environmentally responsible way.”

KU’s service area includes 77 Kentucky counties and Feltham has visited nearly every one. Along with meeting KU customers, Feltham also crosses paths with KU employees.

“Whenever I travel across the state I try to talk with the guys in the trucks who make sure our service continues to be at its high quality level.

“They are dedicated and the reason we provide the excellent service our customers have come to expect.”

These employees also embrace KU’s mission of community support. KU provides financial support for worthy causes throughout the state, but its community outreach is more sophisticated than that.

“It is ingrained in our employees that they are integral parts of their communities,” Feltham said. “So KU people serve on boards, serve in their churches and are youth sports coaches among other things.”

Which ties back into the Scholar Athlete program. Each year when the 12 most recent Scholar Athletes are honored at a ceremony at KU’s Lexington offices, Feltham tells them how proud the KU community is of these impressive young people.

“These Scholar Athletes have demonstrated they have what it takes to become leaders in the community.”