A Kentucky Power bucket truck slated for retirement from service is getting new life with the University of Pikeville.

Kentucky Power delivered the 2008 Dodge Ram with a 50-foot boom to the university, where the truck will allow the University of Pikeville maintenance staff to reach areas of the campus otherwise difficult access.

"At Kentucky Power, we believe it is important to give back and this gift is one way we are doing that,” said Bob Shurtleff, Kentucky Power’s customer services and distribution manager in Pikeville. “We’re proud to support not only UPike with donations like this but at other colleges and universities in the communities we serve in eastern Kentucky, too.”

University of Pikeville President Burton Webb said the truck will allow the university to save money on its maintenance costs.

“The business partnerships we have with companies like Kentucky Power are a tremendous asset to the university,” Webb said. “When you look around the campus, we have areas where we need to do painting and other maintenance but we don’t have good access, so we have to rent equipment to reach those areas. Now we won’t have that added expense.”