By: Charles Romans
Carter County Times
As 2025 winds down, many people look toward 2026 and the things they hope to achieve beginning the morning after the Times Square countdown. Some make resolutions that include better diet and exercise habits, finding a better paying job, or perhaps looking toward that final year before retirement. There are even those who plan to make 2026 the year they return to or begin higher education, whether that is pursuing a conventional degree, learning a skilled trade, or even just going back to school to add to their current credentials.
One thing most people don’t consider, however, is that educational institutions themselves often have goals or New Year’s resolutions. In fact, they do it every year in the form of planning out curriculum, enhancing student services, or improving sports programs. Every institution pursues healthy growth, and these areas are all a part of that growth. Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, makes their ‘resolutions’ each year; but unlike many comparable schools, KCU is walking into 2026 with a serious advantage most other institutions don’t share.
In 2025, Kentucky Christian University paid off all of their outstanding debt, so the Knights can march into 2026 debt free.
“Being debt free has opened a lot of doors for us,” KCU President Dr. Terry Allcorn said as he looked forward to all the exciting things slated for the upcoming year. “We are trying to be very purposeful about taking advantage of this season. We are going to expand our academic program, and I am really excited about upcoming campus improvements.”
One campus improvement Allcorn mentioned was ongoing improvements to the campus chapel.
“We redid the back wall of the stage, and it will be more like a giant screen. It really looks nice, though I haven’t seen it completely finished yet,” he said. “It will be finished when the students return in January, and I think that will be really nice for our concerts and other events.”
“God was good to us in 2025,” Allcorn continued. “And we are excited about what is going to happen in 2026. We have received word on a couple of grants we are going to get and those are a huge blessing to us. And we hope to continue being engaged in the community. We welcome anyone from Grayson on campus at any point because Grayson is a wonderful community.”
“I am very optimistic about 2026,” Allcorn added. “God has stood with the university for 106 years, and even in the ‘lean’ years, he was still faithful. And we are honored to still be serving the community. It’s an exciting time for us at KCU.”
Some things the university are improving and working on for the upcoming year and beyond are two doctorate degrees (one in the Keeran School of Bible and Ministry and one in the Yancey School of Nursing). The university is also launching an EMBA and Master of Arts in Teaching, along with the expansion of their online ministry training programs. There is of course the chapel renovation project (including projection technology) as well as other projects they will announce during the course of the year. The school is also working on a grant to provide a third training manikin for the nursing program.
Community events are on the horizon as well for KCU, including Summer in the Son and various concerts. Though it is now several seasons away, the university plans to be involved in the 2026 Project Merry Christmas and events such as the Grayson PD Christmas Party, as it was this Christmas season.
“And we always like to stay involved in the other community parades and events,” Allcorn said.
The reason the university is committed to being a good community partner is very simple, Allcorn said.
“The University and the community are really intertwined,” he said. “If Grayson does well, it is a blessing to KCU. And if KCU does well, then, the university can help to bless the community.”
Kentucky Christian University currently has an annual 19-million-dollar impact in the community, which is quite substantial in economic terms and beyond. The university currently has nearly one hundred full-time employees and more than that in part-time and student employees, all of which participate in the employee tax. But the impact of the university goes beyond those figures in a variety of ways.
“We have to do our part,” Allcorn said of being a community partner. “And we enjoy being a part of the community and making the connections necessary to do that.”
“From my perspective having lived in a lot of different places, Grayson is a great town with a lot of community spirit,” Allcorn said. “And I can see that continuing into 2026. I see that in the city meetings I go to, and I see it at the parades we attend. Grayson is a great town, and I feel like there are a lot of good people here that want to see the community continue to progress. And I don’t see any reason why that is going to slow down.”
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
