NE Kentucky News

The Keith Family Takes Pride in 50 Years of Eagle Legacy

Mark Keith (Class of 1972) celebrated 50 years this year since he walked across the stage as an Eagle on May 14, 1972. An added element made this year's reunion extra special.   

Mark witnessed his two grandsons, Matteo Vallejo (Class of 2022) and Jordan Vallejo (Class of 2022), graduate from MSU. Jordan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education, and Matteo earned a Master of Business Administration. They took the stage to accept their degrees this year on May 14, 50 years to the day after Mark earned his MSU college degree.  

Matteo and Jordan weren't the first members of the family to follow in his footsteps, either. Several of the Keith family are proud MSU alumni. Mark's wife Anne (Class of 1974) and two of Mark's siblings also graduated from MSU in 1974. A daughter, Becky, a granddaughter-in-law and nephews followed. His late son, Mark William Keith, attended MSU before tragically passing in an auto accident over Christmas break as a sophomore in 2000.  

Mark intended to celebrate his 50th anniversary of graduating from MSU by traveling to campus with his grandsons and attending the 2022 Homecoming football game this past October. A fall caused him to be unable to make the drive over from Winchester, but Mark's pride in Morehead State goes with him whether at home, on campus, or anywhere in between.  

For the Keith family, MSU became more than just a school. It became an integral part of their story that tied them all even closer together.    

"Mark has always loved Morehead State University so much," Anne said. "He loved MSU sports, and we would bring our children to home games as often as we could. This year was so special, as he got to commemorate 50 years by watching two more family members graduate 50 years to the day after he did. For the University to tell our story will mean so much to him."  

Original source can be found here.