Huang Family Scholarships Continue Beloved UK Professor’s Legacy
by Gavin Colton
John Huang, Pete Huang, Jane Huang, Mary Huang Ensom and Michael Huang at the 2010 UK Civil Engineering Awards Banquet, where Pete received the Civil Engineering Career Achievement Award.
In 1967, Dr. Yang Hsien “Pete” Huang—together with his wife, Jane—moved their family to Lexington, joined the University of Kentucky Civil Engineering faculty, and started a lifelong love affair with UK that lives onward through his three children.
Youngest sibling Michael Huang remembers recording statistics while listening to UK games on the radio with his dad as one of his fondest childhood memories.
“My father was a workaholic,” adds Mary Huang Ensom, the eldest Huang sibling. “But he always took time out to listen to UK games.”
John Huang, the middle sibling, did his homework while listening to the legendary Cawood Ledford call games on the radio.
“It was great—I could listen to the Cats while getting help with math homework during time-outs,” says John. “I’ve forgotten all the math now, but I’ll always cherish the time with my dad.”
When Pete Huang passed away on September 11, 2021—seven years after his beloved Jane—his children set about finalizing a gift that would commemorate their father’s legacy and continue to do the kind of good they had witnessed firsthand. They wanted to fulfill Pete’s wishes to create scholarships for students.
John Huang, John’s daughter Katie Huang Faulwell, Michael Huang, Hannah Johnson (Mary’s daughter), Mary Huang Ensom, Jane Huang and Pete Huang at Michael’s UK College of Medicine graduation ceremony in 1993, after Pete Huang placed the doctoral hood over Michael.
Inspiring the Wildcat Community
Pete joyfully gave his time to his students, love to his family and money to those who needed it.
“He was the smartest, most generous and humble man you could ever meet,” says Michael.
Pete was also a devout Christian, which drove the positive impact he had on the community. John remembers him inviting international students over for home-cooked Chinese meals. When Mary sent Pete’s obituary to a former student, one wrote back, “Reading about your dad’s life makes me want to be a better person.”
John Huang, Pete Huang, Mary Huang Ensom and Michael Huang in 2018 at the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors Banquet, where Michael received a distinguished service award.
In June 2022, the Huang siblings created five Huang Family Scholarships for the Colleges of Engineering, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Medicine and Arts and Sciences for students with unmet financial need. With an astounding 100 years across three generations as both students and faculty at these five colleges, the Huangs are grateful for all that UK made possible for their father—who was a faculty member for 26 years—and for themselves and their families.
“I owe much of what and who I am to the University of Kentucky,” says Mary (B.S.Pharm. ’77, Pharm.D. ’85). Mary is internationally recognized in the pharmacy and scientific communities, served as a Kentucky faculty member from 1987–1997 and is in the College of Pharmacy Hall of Distinguished Alumni for her outstanding achievements.
After John graduated from the College of Dentistry (B.S. Arts-Dentistry ’80, D.M.D. ’83), he toured Europe as a U.S. Army general dentist before returning to UK for his orthodontic degree (M.S. ’95).
“I’ve been all around the world and my education at UK is still the most valuable asset in my life,” says John, now successfully embedded within his second career as an accomplished author and sports reporter.
Michael was in the first class of Singletary Scholars at UK and graduated with a B.A. in chemistry (’89) and an M.D. from the College of Medicine (’93). He served on the UK internal medicine faculty for 17 years until joining Marathon Health, where he currently is medical director of the Dr. Samuel Brown Health Center for Lexington city employees and their families. He is also a prolific and well-known UK athletics credentialed photographer, known simply as “Dr. Mike.”
Michael Huang, Michael’s son Gabriel Huang, Pete Huang, John Huang and John’s dog Bingo before a UK game in 2017.
Paying It Forward
The Huang siblings have never lost sight of the tremendous achievements of their parents, who were born in mainland China and worked in Taiwan before immigrating to the U.S., where Pete pursued his doctorate in civil engineering at the University of Virginia. Jane worked as a nurse at the University of Virginia Hospital until they came to Lexington. She then achieved celebrity status by teaching Chinese cooking classes and silk flower-making in the Fayette County Adult Education system for over 20 years.
Pete Huang published his last textbook in 2016 at age 88. The Huang siblings know their father’s perseverance, success and appetite for learning are treasured qualities he instilled in each one of them.
“What our parents gave us growing up was priceless,” says John.
By creating these scholarships, they are carrying on Pete’s life work of inspiring academic success, hard work and a spirit of learning.
“Our father was a kid from mainland China— to leave such a legacy is remarkable,” says Mary. “It is HIS gift.”
Let Your Legacy Shine
Like the Huang siblings, you can honor someone close to you with a gift that supports what they are passionate about at UK. To begin the conversation, contact Gift and Estate Planning at 859-257-7886 or giftandestate@uky.edu.