Community Calendar

Philanthropy Week 2026 will focus on nonprofit organizations and individuals striving daily to create communities where children and families thrive.

Monday, April 6th-Murray Art Guild Open House
6:00p.m.-7:30p.m. Murray Art Guild 500 N. 4th Murray (shuttle runs from MSU Curris Center to the MAG and back)

Tuesday, April 7th-Darkness to Light, child abuse prevention training facilitated by Lotus, free for MSU students and community members.
6p.m.-8:30p.m. Murray State University, Ohio Room, Curris Center

Thursday, April 9th-Philanthropy Week Keynote Conversation and Donna Herdon Award presentation, Melanie McCallon Seib, Nonprofit Leadership Studies Faculty Member will speak with Lori Wells Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Lotus, Debi Henry Danielson, Executive Director, Murray Art Guild and Shawn Johnson, Family Services Office Supervisor with Recruitment and Certificatrion, Department for Community Based Services. The conversation will focus on the work of creating healthy communities for kids and families.
6:00p.m. Murray State University Wrather Auditorium

Friday, April 10th, A Community Overview of Green Dot, a community-based violence prevention program, facilitated by Lotus and co-hosted by the Murray Women’s Club
9:00a.m.-10:30a.m Murray Woman’s Club Clubhouse, 704 Vine St. Murray

Philanthropy Week 2026 will focus on nonprofit organizations and individuals striving daily to create communities where children and families thrive.

Monday, April 6th-Murray Art Guild Open House
6:00p.m.-7:30p.m. Murray Art Guild 500 N. 4th Murray (shuttle runs from MSU Curris Center to the MAG and back)

Tuesday, April 7th-Darkness to Light, child abuse prevention training facilitated by Lotus, free for MSU students and community members.
6p.m.-8:30p.m. Murray State University, Ohio Room, Curris Center

Thursday, April 9th-Philanthropy Week Keynote Conversation and Donna Herdon Award presentation, Melanie McCallon Seib, Nonprofit Leadership Studies Faculty Member will speak with Lori Wells Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Lotus, Debi Henry Danielson, Executive Director, Murray Art Guild and Shawn Johnson, Family Services Office Supervisor with Recruitment and Certificatrion, Department for Community Based Services. The conversation will focus on the work of creating healthy communities for kids and families.
6:00p.m. Murray State University Wrather Auditorium

Friday, April 10th, A Community Overview of Green Dot, a community-based violence prevention program, facilitated by Lotus and co-hosted by the Murray Women’s Club
9:00a.m.-10:30a.m Murray Woman’s Club Clubhouse, 704 Vine St. Murray

Philanthropy Week 2026 will focus on nonprofit organizations and individuals striving daily to create communities where children and families thrive.

Monday, April 6th-Murray Art Guild Open House
6:00p.m.-7:30p.m. Murray Art Guild 500 N. 4th Murray (shuttle runs from MSU Curris Center to the MAG and back)

Tuesday, April 7th-Darkness to Light, child abuse prevention training facilitated by Lotus, free for MSU students and community members.
6p.m.-8:30p.m. Murray State University, Ohio Room, Curris Center

Thursday, April 9th-Philanthropy Week Keynote Conversation and Donna Herdon Award presentation, Melanie McCallon Seib, Nonprofit Leadership Studies Faculty Member will speak with Lori Wells Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Lotus, Debi Henry Danielson, Executive Director, Murray Art Guild and Shawn Johnson, Family Services Office Supervisor with Recruitment and Certificatrion, Department for Community Based Services. The conversation will focus on the work of creating healthy communities for kids and families.
6:00p.m. Murray State University Wrather Auditorium

Friday, April 10th, A Community Overview of Green Dot, a community-based violence prevention program, facilitated by Lotus and co-hosted by the Murray Women’s Club
9:00a.m.-10:30a.m Murray Woman’s Club Clubhouse, 704 Vine St. Murray

Philanthropy Week 2026 will focus on nonprofit organizations and individuals striving daily to create communities where children and families thrive.

Monday, April 6th-Murray Art Guild Open House
6:00p.m.-7:30p.m. Murray Art Guild 500 N. 4th Murray (shuttle runs from MSU Curris Center to the MAG and back)

Tuesday, April 7th-Darkness to Light, child abuse prevention training facilitated by Lotus, free for MSU students and community members.
6p.m.-8:30p.m. Murray State University, Ohio Room, Curris Center

Thursday, April 9th-Philanthropy Week Keynote Conversation and Donna Herdon Award presentation, Melanie McCallon Seib, Nonprofit Leadership Studies Faculty Member will speak with Lori Wells Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Lotus, Debi Henry Danielson, Executive Director, Murray Art Guild and Shawn Johnson, Family Services Office Supervisor with Recruitment and Certificatrion, Department for Community Based Services. The conversation will focus on the work of creating healthy communities for kids and families.
6:00p.m. Murray State University Wrather Auditorium

Friday, April 10th, A Community Overview of Green Dot, a community-based violence prevention program, facilitated by Lotus and co-hosted by the Murray Women’s Club
9:00a.m.-10:30a.m Murray Woman’s Club Clubhouse, 704 Vine St. Murray

Visit the region’s premier flea market, each Monday morning from March through December, at the Mayfield-Graves County Fairgrounds.

The inauguration of Murray State University’s 15th President, Dr. Ron K. Patterson, will take place on Monday, April 13 and Tuesday, April 14. The campus and broader community are invited to participate in a series of special events!

Monday, April 13, 2026
Presidential Panel and Faculty Symposium
2–3:30 p.m. @ Don I. Tharpe Lecture Hall - School of Engineering (EP 1303)

The Presidential Panel and Faculty Symposium is a moderated discussion focused on a variety of topics and research led by our world-class faculty, featuring Dr. Leiza Nochebuena-Evans, Dr. Nikki Gaylord, Dr. Sean Rife, Dr. Julie Boyd, Dr. Trent Wells, Dr. Amy Cook and Professor Dana Thompson.

Celebration in the Quad
4–4:45 p.m. @ Quad
Enjoy a fun afternoon in the Quad. Meet Racer One and enjoy popular hits performed by Murray State's own Commercial Music Ensemble.

First Lady Cookout and Ice Cream Social
4:45–6 p.m. @ Quad
First Lady Jenny Patterson will host a cookout and ice cream social. Enjoy great food, meet the Racer Band and Dunker. Catch a Presidential Inauguration shirt in the Racer Athletics T-Shirt Toss, and learn more about our Residential Colleges and Student Organizations! Sponsored by Town & Gown.

Campus Scavenger Hunt
6–7 p.m. @ Various locations around campus
Bring your team of up to four students to the Quad to begin a Scavenger Hunt around various campus locations. Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 teams at the investiture ceremony!

Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Presidential Investiture
11 a.m. @ Lovett Auditorium
Join us for the investiture of Murray State University’s 15th President, Dr. Ron K. Patterson. Attendees are encouraged to be seated by 10:50 a.m. when the March of Delegates begins. The ceremony will include music by Murray State students, President Patterson’s investiture address, the ceremonial presentation of the chain of office, and the announcement of the campus scavenger hunt winners.

Presidential Investiture Reception
Following the Ceremony @ Pogue Library
All are invited to a special reception inside Pogue Library's Wells T. Lovett Grand Reading Room immediately following the investiture ceremony.

The inauguration of Murray State University’s 15th President, Dr. Ron K. Patterson, will take place on Monday, April 13 and Tuesday, April 14. The campus and broader community are invited to participate in a series of special events!

Monday, April 13, 2026
Presidential Panel and Faculty Symposium
2–3:30 p.m. @ Don I. Tharpe Lecture Hall - School of Engineering (EP 1303)

The Presidential Panel and Faculty Symposium is a moderated discussion focused on a variety of topics and research led by our world-class faculty, featuring Dr. Leiza Nochebuena-Evans, Dr. Nikki Gaylord, Dr. Sean Rife, Dr. Julie Boyd, Dr. Trent Wells, Dr. Amy Cook and Professor Dana Thompson.

Celebration in the Quad
4–4:45 p.m. @ Quad
Enjoy a fun afternoon in the Quad. Meet Racer One and enjoy popular hits performed by Murray State's own Commercial Music Ensemble.

First Lady Cookout and Ice Cream Social
4:45–6 p.m. @ Quad
First Lady Jenny Patterson will host a cookout and ice cream social. Enjoy great food, meet the Racer Band and Dunker. Catch a Presidential Inauguration shirt in the Racer Athletics T-Shirt Toss, and learn more about our Residential Colleges and Student Organizations! Sponsored by Town & Gown.

Campus Scavenger Hunt
6–7 p.m. @ Various locations around campus
Bring your team of up to four students to the Quad to begin a Scavenger Hunt around various campus locations. Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 teams at the investiture ceremony!

Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Presidential Investiture
11 a.m. @ Lovett Auditorium
Join us for the investiture of Murray State University’s 15th President, Dr. Ron K. Patterson. Attendees are encouraged to be seated by 10:50 a.m. when the March of Delegates begins. The ceremony will include music by Murray State students, President Patterson’s investiture address, the ceremonial presentation of the chain of office, and the announcement of the campus scavenger hunt winners.

Presidential Investiture Reception
Following the Ceremony @ Pogue Library
All are invited to a special reception inside Pogue Library's Wells T. Lovett Grand Reading Room immediately following the investiture ceremony.

Since 1962, the Distinguished Alumni Award has been presented to Murray State alumni who have made meaningful contributions to their professions on a local, state and national level. It is the highest honor an alum can earn from the Murray State University Alumni Association and recognizes those who have excelled both professionally and personally. The Distinguished Alumni honorees for 2026 are Patricia Goodman Eisenberg ('74), Dr. Wanda D. Bigham ('56), Jimmy Ray Link ('88, '91), and Col. Billy T. Brooks (‘62). The 2026 Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipient is E. Josiah Kenty (‘20).

The 2026 recipients will be honored during the annual Distinguished Alumni dinner and banquet in the CFSB Center Murray Room in April.

Visit the region’s premier flea market, each Monday morning from March through December, at the Mayfield-Graves County Fairgrounds.

Visit the region’s premier flea market, each Monday morning from March through December, at the Mayfield-Graves County Fairgrounds.