---

Kentucky State University (KSU) and the Frankfort community strengthened ties Wednesday during the official opening of the Thorobred Shop in the Capital Plaza Hotel.

“We just want to reaffirm that Kentucky State University is proud to be a part of the Frankfort community,” Kentucky State University President M. Christopher Brown II said. “We want everyone in Frankfort to own the college on the hill as our city’s university.”

Community members, the Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce, KSU faculty, staff and administration, alumni, the KSU Board of Regents Chair, Dr. Elaine Farris and Regent Ron Banks were on hand as over 50 people gathered for the ribbon-cutting.

Carmen Inman, president and CEO of the Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce, said the new store will be a great asset to the community.

“We’ve needed this for a long time,” Inman said. “It’s nice to see Kentucky State University here.”

The Thorobred Shop features alumni gear, sweatshirts, t-shirts, mugs, hats, key chains, license plates, items from the Commonwealth of Kentucky and more.

Two new and notable scholars were also introduced to the community during the ceremony. Rayanne Ferreira, a Fulbright Scholar who will teach Portuguese at KSU, and I-Chun (Amelia) Chen, an ALLECK Fellow who will teach Elementary Chinese and promote global awareness, were announced for the first time to the community at-large.

The Thorobred Shop is located in the lobby of the Capital Plaza Hotel in downtown Frankfort.

For more information, contact Janet Fritz at (502) 227-0114 or via email at janet.fritz1@kysu.edu.