By Grace Whitworth 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 7, 2026) — The Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment at the University of Kentucky selected 12 students for the first cohort of Tracy Farmer Scholars conducting research in environment and sustainability. 

Among them are: 

By C. Lynn Hiler 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 7, 2026) — The University of Kentucky’s Nu Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa inducted 36 members and recognized student leaders and faculty advisers during its spring 2026 initiation ceremony last month. 

Founded in 1914 at Washington and Lee University, Omicron Delta Kappa is a national leadership honor society that recognizes excellence across five pillars of campus life: scholarship, athletics, service, communications and the arts. Established at UK in 1925, the Nu Circle has a long tradition of honoring and developing student leaders.

Named for longtime UK educator Maurice A. Clay, this award honors an outstanding graduating senior in each academic college for exceptional leadership, service and academic

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 6, 2026) — The University of Kentucky’s Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence recognized graduating students, introduced its 2026 student fellows — the program’s 20th class — and announced its 2026-29 endowed professors during an event April 16. 

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 begins during a student’s second year at UK. During this time, students receive support in understanding the research process within their discipline, identifying a

By Jenny Wells-Hosley and Kayla Coffee 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 6, 2026) — Four graduating students have been selected by University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto to represent the Class of 2026 as speakers at UK’s May Commencement Ceremonies Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9.

Together, they reflect the breadth of the UK experience — leaders, scholars and innovators whose paths have been shaped by discovery, service and a strong sense of community.

The students are Mostafa Mubarak, Carolina Burn, Siena Pilati and Fatimah Alomar.

By Adrienne Clarke 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 6, 2026) — Trenton Schroering, a junior majoring in political science, was one of 20 students selected from a highly competitive nationwide pool of nearly 800 applicants as a 2026 Key into Public Service Scholar by the Phi Beta Kappa Society.

Schroering is the first UK student to earn the award.

“I view the honor as proof that public service is still valued,” Schroering said. “I've never wanted anything more than to make the world a better place for my peers. I judge myself based on how many days I'm able to improve and how many smiles I'm able to bring to others, and hope that this award increases my

By Tom Musgrave 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 5, 2026) — Twelve University of Kentucky students and recent graduates have been awarded U.S. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships.

The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program, the country’s oldest graduate fellowship program directly supporting graduate students, recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in foundation-supported STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited US institutions.

The five-year fellowship includes three years of financial support, including an annual stipend of $34,000 and a cost of education allowance of $12,000 to the institution.

This program is one of several scholarship opportunities UK’s

By Alicia Gregory 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 27, 2026) — The University of Kentucky Board of Trustees recently approved 17 University Research Professors for the 2026-27 academic year. Established by the Board of Trustees in 1976, the professorships program recognizes excellence across the full spectrum of research at UK.

Among those selected are Ashley W. Seifert, professor of biology, and Nathaniel Stapleton, associate professor of mathematics, in UK's College of Arts and

By Allison Perry 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 4, 2026) — After growing up in rural Taylorsville, Kentucky, Jonathan Antonelli understands firsthand many of the challenges rural Kentuckians face: life lived paycheck to paycheck, long commutes for basic necessities and lack of access to healthcare.  

In fact, he said, his county was one of the several Kentucky counties without a local physician until last year.  These issues compounded his father’s poor health. 

“My dad was like so many dads, I’d say, who were just blue-collar working guys trying to provide for their family,” Antonelli said. “And I remember the last time he was hospitalized before he passed away: He was begging to see the

By Ryan Girves 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 1, 2026) — The University of Kentucky honored exceptional faculty and graduate teaching assistants with Outstanding Teaching Awards during the 2026 UK Faculty Awards Ceremony, April 30 on campus.

The Outstanding Teaching Awards annually honor faculty and graduate teaching assistants who demonstrate excellence as instructors across all learning environments. Selected through a nomination process, candidates and finalists are reviewed by faculty-driven committees empaneled by the Office for Faculty Advancement and the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT).

The winners of the 2026 Outstanding

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Dr. Louis Hempel, M.D., exemplifies University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences alumni who are pitching in to guide and inspire current UK undergraduates toward the medical professions. Hempel graduated from the UK in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in general studies in 1982 and an M.D. from the University of Louisville in 1987. He worked for many years with the Children’s Medical Group in Atlanta and as associate clinical professor of pediatrics in the Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership.  

How did you start mentoring pre-med UK students?’ 

After coming to Atlanta a couple of times and realizing that she could get me more involved, Laura Sutton brought Dean Ana Franco-Watkins, Ph.D., to have a private dinner with

By Richard LeComte 

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Studying the liberal arts and sciences always have benefitted students as they seek careers. QA Commons, a company that matches college curricula to job skills, recently specified just what in the University of Kentucky’s undergraduate curriculum in the Department of History helps students develop their talents in eight basic areas. 

Or, as Napoleon Dynamite once said, “Skills.” 

"QA Commons puts its stamp of approval on programs that are providing students with these skills,” said Melanie Goan, Ph.D., professor in UK's College of Arts and Sciences and director of undergraduate studies in history. "For us in the humanities and history, it's especially important for us to reinforce that message to families and to students who are looking at college choices. And it's something we've been doing for a very

By Katelin Ralenkotter 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 22, 2026) — As the world commemorates the 56th annual Earth Day today, the University of Kentucky is highlighting some of its year-round programs, learning opportunities and community events that make sustainability part of everyday life on campus.  

The recently launched Tracy Farmer Scholars Program supports engagement by providing funding support for students who are interested in pursuing sustainability-related research.  

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 20, 2026) — Hunter Coady, a junior from Crestwood, Kentucky, was recently awarded a 2026 English-Speaking Union Scholarship. The award covers full tuition and expenses for the student’s three-week experience at the University of Oxford.

The English-Speaking Union of the United States is a nonprofit, nonpolitical education service organization whose mission is to promote scholarship and the advancement of knowledge using English in an expanding global community.

Coady is an English major in the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, a Gaines and Chellgren Fellow and Lewis Honors student. While at Oxford, he will attend educational seminars, gain insights through professionals, work alongside fellow students and participate in social events.

“Being able to study at Oxford in any regard is the opportunity

By Lindsey Piercy and Richard LeComte 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 20, 2026) — The College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky inducted four alumni and one emeritus faculty member into its Hall of Fame on Friday, April 17.

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,

By Kayla Coffee 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 14, 2026) — The premedical chapter of University of Kentucky’s Phi Delta Epsilon hosted its annual Anatomy Fashion Show April 11 at Central Bank Center. 

Benefitting the Children’s Miracle Network and Golisano Children’s at UK, the Anatomy Fashion Show featured UK students, joined by a patient from UK Golisano Children’s, walking the runway while modeling painted body suits. Each suit showcased a

By Francis Von Mann 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Apr. 9, 2026) - Students from Erik Reece's Ekphrastic Poetry course at the University of Kentucky's MFA Creative Writing program have self-published a collection of poems titled "Provokable: Writing Inspired by the University of Kentucky Art Museum." 

The collection pairs each poem with a full-color reproduction of the artwork that inspired it. It grew out of English 608: Ekphrastic Writing, a graduate course that began in fall 2025, and is the result of a close collaboration with UK Art Museum

By Jenny Wells-Hosley 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 3, 2026) — Economic transition is reshaping rural America. A public panel at the University of Kentucky will explore how Appalachian communities are responding through research, collaboration and local action.

The UK Appalachian Center and Appalachian Studies Program, housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, will host the discussion, “Shifting Power in Rural America: Conversations on Just Transitions,” from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, in Jacobs Science

By Richard LeComte 

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Jermaine Harris Jr., better known around campus as Jay, has had to do some leaping and tumbling to finish his degree at the University of Kentucky – and not just because he’s a cheerleader. Deaths of key family members who were helping him with tuition and expenses left him in the lurch as he approached his last year at UK. 

“I lost my grandfather and my uncle within the span of 11 days,” he said.  "My mom's brother ended up passing away of meningitis. And my grandfather ended up passing away from a rare cancer. I could go to those two and say, ‘Hey, I need money for tuition by the end of the semester ... could you help me out?’ They always found a way. I lost that support.” 

By Jenny Wells-Hosley 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 1, 2026 ) — Brad Plaster, Ph.D., professor of physics and associate dean for research in the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, has been named the College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor for the 2025-26 academic year, an honor that recognizes excellence in research, teaching, service and leadership. 

As part of the honor, Plaster will present the annual Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor Lecture, titled “The Quantum Nature of the Neutron as a Portal to the Cosmos,” 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

By Emily Houp

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A new research project at the University of Kentucky is examining the impact of the Step-Up Program, an interdisciplinary initiative that connects UK students with K–12 learners across Lexington through tutoring, mentoring and service learning.

The project brings together faculty from UK’s College of Social Work, the Department of History in the College of Arts and Sciences and Department of Teaching and Learning to explore how participation in the program benefits both the university students who serve as Step-Up fellows and the schools and community organizations where they work.

The Step-Up program is directed by Francis Musoni, Ph.D., in the UK Department of History, who has led the initiative for several years and has helped expand its partnerships across Lexington schools and community