University, community team up for 'A Day for Midway'

L-R: President John Marsden, Joyce Evans, Ellen Gregory (MU photo)

By Alexandria Kerns

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

The Midway community and Midway University teamed up Thursday evening, Oct. 27, at “Day for Midway” to honor community spirit and raise money for Woodford County students.

A Day for Midway honored Joyce Evans and her late husband, Joel, with the 2016 Community Spirit Award. Ellen Gregory, the university's vice president of marketing and communications, thanked Evans for all of her hard work in the community and introduced her. In accepting the award, Evans told a story about the first time her husband volunteered in Midway.

 “It was pretty bitter between our group and the city council,” said Evans. “When we left a city council meeting Joel said ‘I’m going to fix something,’ and he went down the next day, and found the clerk and he fixed the chairs that were squeaking during all those meetings.”

Supporters surveyed the silent auction. (Photo by Alex Kerns)

“Day for Midway” started with a silent auction that raised money for a scholarship for any Midway student from Woodford County.

According to Gregory, who organized a “Day for Midway,” the silent auction had around 100 items, including a trip to Disney World with a three-day hopper pass and four nights at a deluxe studio. This was valued at $3,800 and was donated by Jan Hunter. Other items included a gift card from Midway Chiropractor, a coffee and tea basket, and a gift card for My Old Kentucky Dinner Train.  These items came from businesses and residents in Midway.

Midway University students were involved with a “Day for Midway.” Precious Holloway, a freshman from Alabama studying equine sciences, painted two pumpkins for the auction. Holloway said that the event was a great way to see how the town wants to help the university. 

“I like painting so when she sent out the email about painting pumpkins, I was like I have to do it,” said Holloway.

Other students volunteering for the event included Taylor Gregory, a senior from Somerset, who is also studying equine sciences, and volunteered last year as well. Gregory said she loved seeing the town rally to help raise money for scholarships for students.

“The support we get is phenomenal,” said Gregory. “I would really like to see fellow students start supporting local shops like the Fashion Filly. It’s a fun little boutique, and they give a 10 percent discount to students.”

Many faces from Midway attended a “Day for Midway” including non-incumbent city council candidates John McDaniel and Steve Simoff. McDaniel said the event reminded him of something the town used to do in the 60’s called “International Days.” Simoff said he had been to the event the last two years, and loved to see the community and the university work together.

“I would like to see more students downtown, and find more things for them to do,” said Simoff. “I would like to visit with some of the students to see what they would like to see or do in Midway.”