Dot Kirkpatrick graduated from Winthrop in 1959. Her leadership skills emerged early as she was elected freshman class president and continued service as a class officer her sophomore year. Her service to WRA, the student run Winthrop Recreation Association, began as dorm representative and culminated with her service as president her senior year. She was inducted into Senior Order and received the Hellams Award in 1959.
Dot received her master's degree from the University of Tennessee. After teaching for more than 10 years, she completed a doctoral degree at the University of Kentucky. She retired from Eastern Kentucky University after devoting most of her career to teacher education and physical education. Her professional memberships include the Kentucky Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation as well as the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, & Dance. She has been active with the Kentucky Association of Teacher Educators and the American Association of Teacher Educators.
Numerous honors bestowed upon Dot include the Regents Award from Eastern Kentucky University, distinguished service awards from the EKU College of Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Athletics and from the Kentucky Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, & Dance; and certificates of appreciation from the Kentucky Department of Education and from the American Red Cross. She is a member of Phi Delta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, and the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels. She has been named to Who's Who in the South, Who's Who Among Teachers, Who's Who in America, and the World One in a Million.