By Jennifer T. Allen 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 25, 2025) — The spirit of sustainability was alive and well on campus as part of the University of Kentucky community rolled up their sleeves to plant trees and contribute to a greener future. For the second year in a row, students from Lewis Honors College, along with the UK Grounds arboriculture team in Facilities Management, joined forces to plant trees along Alumni Drive.

The event, open to all UK students and coordinated by Kenton Sena, a Lewis Honors College senior lecturer, was funded by the Student Sustainability Council with matching funds from

By Jennifer Sciantarelli 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 22, 2025) — The University of Kentucky will welcome Academy Award-winning alumnus Paul Wagner on Thursday, April 24, for a screening of his film “Georgia O’Keeffe: the Brightness of Light,” a documentary about American art icon Georgia O’Keeffe. The film stars Claire Danes as the voice of O’Keeffe with narration by Hugh Dancy and features interviews with leading experts on the artist.

“The Brightness of Light” will be screened at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 24, in the Singletary Center for the Arts Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. A talkback with the director and producer will follow.

Wagner earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and linguistics and a Master of

By Francis Von Mann
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 21, 2025) — As a first-generation college student, Ryson Neeley didn’t know what to expect from a place as big as the University of Kentucky. What he found in the College of Arts and Sciences is a community that believed in him, one that helped him become a future doctor.

That discovery came in an unassuming conference room.

Neeley was set on going to a different college before an Arts and Sciences information session. But after listening to faculty members and a student ambassador share their passion and experience, he changed his mind.

“I remember talking to them and seeing how much they cared about their students and how involved they were,” Neeley said. “That’s why I chose to come here.”

Neeley

By C. Lynn Hiler and Ryan Girves

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 18, 2025) — The University of Kentucky's Nu Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, commemorated its 100th anniversary on campus at a ceremony March 30. 

Maurice A. Clay Awards

Maurice A. Clay was an educator and professor at UK for more than 60 years. Established more than 30 years ago, the Maurice A. Clay Award honors one outstanding graduating senior from each academic college. Recipients exemplify academic excellence, leadership and dedicated service to their college community.

2025 Maurice A. Clay Award Recipients:

By Tom Musgrave 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 18, 2025) — University of Kentucky students Sophia Zhou and Blake Byer were awarded Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships. Zhou and Byer were among 441 college students across the United States to earn Goldwater Scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year.

The Goldwater Scholarship awards up to $7,500 a year to sophomores or juniors planning to pursue research careers in mathematics, engineering or a natural science, according to information from the UK Office of Nationally Competitive Awards.

Zhou and Byer were selected for Goldwater Scholarships from

By C. Lynn Hiler 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 17, 2025) — The Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence at the University of Kentucky has selected the 2025 Class of Chellgren student fellows and the 2025-26 Chellgren faculty fellows. Dedicated to advancing the University of Kentucky’s commitment to student, teaching and program excellence, the center works toward that mission through several programs.

The Chellgren Student Fellows Program is open to all majors and takes place during the student’s second year at UK. During this time, students receive help understanding the process of research within their discipline, a research mentor to oversee a spring research project and assistance in preparing for the next phase of their career.

By Francis Von Mann

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 15, 2025) – For Kaleb Diaz, college was never a given. But with hard work, financial support, and ambition, he’s charting a path toward a bright future.

Diaz, political science major on a pre-law track, grew up just outside of the state’s capital in Lawrenceburg. He’s the son of an immigrant father who came to the United States chasing the promise of the American dream. 

Diaz learned early from his father that hard work and education were keys to unlocking opportunities.

“My dad made sure I kept all A’s,” Diaz said. “He made it clear that scholarships were my ticket to college.”

Thanks to scholarships and a supportive

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky’s College of Arts and Sciences recognized three alumni and one emeriti faculty Friday, April 11, with membership in its Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes UK Arts and Sciences alumni and faculty who exemplify the foundational importance of an arts and sciences education and who have contributed significantly to their professions, their communities and UK.  

"Our Hall of Fame inductees exemplify the strength and versatility of an arts and sciences education," said Ana Franco-Watkins, Ph.D., dean of the College. "Their enduring commitment to service, scholarship and leadership has enriched their professions and communities in profound ways. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and the

One of the panels at the symposium was “Disaster Perspectives in Appalachia” and featured three CLIMBS participants. The session explored questions about disaster perspectives in Appalachia, sharing and communicating research data and connecting with the community. The panel also included a session to discuss research reciprocity and receive feedback from the Appalachian scholar community.

Kevin Puckett, KY NSF EPSCoR’s communication strategist, moderated the panel and

By Lindsey Piercy

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 9, 2025) — Last fall, the University of Kentucky Office of the Provost announced the second cohort of the Institutional Multidisciplinary Paradigm to Accelerate Collaboration and Transformation Awards winners. 

The IMPACT Awards initiative, an internal funding program from the Office of the Provost, launched in 2023 to support innovation and transformation within UK’s colleges. The awards recognize the groundbreaking work conducted by faculty and staff across campus, and they create opportunities for transdisciplinary collaboration to occur between UK community members to help the

By Ann Blackford 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 9, 2025) —  Brent Cooper, a 1991 graduate of the University of Kentucky, entrepreneur and current president and CEO of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, is dedicated to making his community and the Commonwealth a better place to live, work, play, learn and give back. He also exemplifies the range of careers open to UK College of Arts and Sciences. 

Cooper is the founder and CEO of C-Forward, anIT support business now in its 26th year, with locations in Covington and Lexington. Early in his IT career, he became interested in his local chamber of commerce and began serving as an ambassador by attending events and serving on

The College of Arts and Sciences is proud to recognize the exceptional faculty who have demonstrated excellence in teaching, mentorship, service, and innovation during the 2024–2025 academic year. These annual awards celebrate the individuals whose work enriches our classrooms, research, and broader community.

Emily Shortslef – Department of English
Emily Shortslef is a faculty member in the Department of English, recognized for her outstanding teaching in the humanities. Her work focuses on English literature, and she is celebrated for her dedication to student learning and engagement.

Erin Peters – Department of Chemistry
Erin Peters serves in the Department of Chemistry, where she has been honored for her excellence in teaching within the natural and

By Richard LeComte 

LEXINGTON, Ky. — First-generation University of Kentucky student Kennedy Fitzpatrick grew up knowing the value of education, thanks to her supportive mother.  

 “Education was always a big deal in my household,” said Fitzpatrick, who’s earning a dual degree in psychology and U.S. culture and business practices with a minor in business on the pre-law track in UK’s College of Arts and Sciences. “My mom made sure that we knew it was very important for my sister and I, so I’ve always had a deep desire and determination to learn.” 

Fitzpatrick is from Louisville; she went to Louisville Male High School for two years and finished at Ballard High School. Her interest in psychology developed when she took an AP class in the subject. She sees the major as a path to law school. 

By Melissa McCaughan 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 8, 2025) — The University of Kentucky Women’s Forum announced the four winners of the 2025 Sarah Bennett Holmes Award at a celebratory luncheon March 26. Award winners, nominees and other guests heard remarks from UK President Eli Capilouto and a keynote address titled "Standing Strong — Empowering Women to Define Their Path," presented by Tukea Talbert.

These awards recognize individuals and teams who promote the growth and well-being of women at the university and across Kentucky, individuals who reflect the accomplishments and legacy of Sarah Bennett Holmes, for whom the award is named. Holmes, a distinguished former dean of women at UK, championed the rights of women throughout

By Richard LeComte 

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Nick Lally, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Geography in the University of Kentucky’s College of Arts and Sciences, is now vice president-elect of the North American Cartographic Information Society. He will rise to the vice presidency this November after the group’s meeting in Louisville and then to the presidency in November 2026. 

Lally's research examines the digital technologies and practices of police mostly in the United States. He also develops alternative geographic information systems to support more speculative cartographic visualization, thereby expanding these digital tools and their conceptual and aesthetic possibilities. He holds a doctorate in geography from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

“NACIS is the envy of

By Richard LeComte 

LEXINGTON, Ky – Coming out of Kentucky’s foster care system, Hannah Tackett faced a number of challenges in the way of her goal of attending the University of Kentucky. Yet here she is. 

“I wanted to give myself the best of the best, because I knew that I was willing to do whatever I needed to get what I needed to get the best life that I could have," said Tackett, a history major in UK’s College of Arts and Sciences. “I wanted to go to UK because, with my background, it was like a dream that I never thought I could achieve — to go to such a big university. But I did it.” 

Tackett, who’s from Pikeville, is getting assistance from the state, but she’s also benefitting from the College’s First Gen Trailblazer Fund, which helps undergrads who will be the first in their family to graduate from university

By Adrienne Clarke 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 28, 2025) — The University of Kentucky’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter inducted 52 members into the academic honor society March 25 and three members in December 2024. This year’s induction ceremony in the Lewis Honors College  Scholars Lounge featured a keynote address from Michelle Sizemore, Ph.D.

“I am encouraged by this new generation of scholars and the independent thinkers you’ve become at the University of Kentucky,” Sizemore said. “Freedom of thought and expression for our time isn’t freedom from but freedom with. Independent thinking takes shape with exposure to a vast range of ideas, perspectives, sources, and influences. More than that, it’s a skill that’s cultivated and practiced.”

By Makenna Deaton 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 27, 2025) —  Caroline Sumner, a University of Kentucky alumna, continues to draw inspiration from her love for the Lexington community, dedicating herself to making a difference through her ongoing contributions. 

Throughout her undergraduate studies, she served as DanceBlue’s overall chair while also studying in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Lewis Honors College.

Sumner led a 180-person committee and led the planning for the fund-raising campaign and the dance marathon. Under her leadership, the

By Ryan Girves 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 25, 2025) — The University of Kentucky Gaines Center for the Humanities announced the selection of 12 undergraduates as the newest class of Gaines fellows.

The Gaines Fellowship is a two-year program that enriches the undergraduate experience by fostering an interdisciplinary approach to the humanities. Fellows are selected based on their academic performance, ability to conduct independent research, commitment to addressing public issues and passion for deepening the understanding of the human condition through the humanities.

The 12 newl Gaines fellows are:

By Richard LeComte 

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Keijuan Pryor spent a semester away from the University of Kentucky treading the halls of power in the U.S. Capitol as an intern for Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, then the Senate majority leader. Pryor’s experiences ranged from the nitty-gritty of constituent service to creating a vision for the future of technology.   

“I went to hearings and briefings,” said Pryor, a UK public policy political science major from Louisville. “I would walk around with constituents if they came down for a personalized tour of the Capitol with one of the senator’s staff members. Some days you would work on different policies. One day it would be education, the next it would be AI, another day would be national defense. You did whatever was thrown at you.” 

Pryor’s