By Whitney Hale

Writer and alumnus John W. Egerton will receive the 2013 University of Kentucky Libraries Award for Intellectual Achievement. The award will be presented at the UK Libraries Annual Dinner scheduled for April 19, at Griffin Gate Marriott, located at 1800 Newtown Pike. As part of the dinner, Egerton will talk about the place of libraries and the future of paper in the cyber age.

The UK Libraries Award for Intellectual Achievement recognizes high intellectual achievement while encouraging education and promoting creativity throughout the Commonwealth. Candidates must have been born in

By Whitney Hale, Breanna Shelton

The University of Kentucky Gaines Center for the Humanities has chosen 12 outstanding undergraduates as new scholars for the university's Gaines Fellowship Program for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years. Gaines Fellowships are given in recognition of outstanding academic performance, demonstrated ability to conduct independent research, an interest in public issues and a desire to enhance understanding of the human condition through the humanities.

Gaines Fellowships are awarded for the tenure of a student's junior and senior years, or for the last two years of a five-year program; students in all disciplines and with any intended profession are given equal consideration.

UK's 12

By Whitney Hale

The upcoming University of Kentucky Libraries Annual Dinner will feature and recognize this year's Award for Intellectual Achievement recipient, journalist  and author John W. Egerton. The dinner, which is open to the public, will be presented 7 p.m. Friday, April 19, at the Griffin Gate Marriott, located at 1800 Newtown Pike.

John W. Egerton is one of the nation’s most successful independent journalists and nonfiction authors. He lives in Nashville, Tenn., and writes broadly about social and cultural issues in his native South. More than 300 of his articles and columns have appeared

Video by UK Public Relations and Marketing.

By Jenny Wells, Sarah Geegan

Mark Summers, professor of history in the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, shares his thoughts on remembering the accomplishments of U.S. presidents.

To view a transcript of the video, click here.

This entry is the first in a series of guest bloggers I am welcoming to this space over the next year. It will be an opportunity for faculty, staff and students to share with us their Wildcat experience. In this first installment, Sarah Geegan, an integrated strategic communications graduate, current graduate student and information specialist in UK Public Relations and Marketing, recently returned from our nation’s capital where she joined fellow students and alumni for the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony. Please enjoy.  -President Eli Capiluto

By Sarah Geegan
 

Last month I was fortunate enough to witness in person a monumental moment in United States history, the 57th presidential inauguration ceremony. Nestled under about five layers of clothing and equipped with the essentials (hand-warmers, binoculars, a camera and

By Carl Nathe

The immediate crisis may have been alleviated somewhat by the 'fiscal cliff' legislation passed by Congress on Jan. 1, however, the issue of revenue vs. spending by the federal government continues to be a major topic of debate across the country.

Against this backdrop, the University of Kentucky's Martin School of Public Policy and Administration is bringing a major national figure to campus to discuss the financial challenges facing America and the rest of the world.  David M. Walker, who served as comptroller general of the United States and head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) from 1998 to 2008, will address students, faculty, and the general public at 7:00 tonight. Wednesday, Jan. 23, in the Recital Hall of the Singletary

By Sarah Geegan

The year 2013 is underway. The Jan. 1 fiscal cliff deadline came and went, President Barack Obama was inaugurated yesterday and the 113th Congress has had its first session. With these historical, political moments now passed, what does the year 2013 have in store for the nation? UK expert Stephen Voss weighs in on his predictions for the coming year.

Voss is an expert on public opinion and voting behavior, as it relates to the economy. His work has appeared in various professional journals, including the American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics, Public Opinion Quarterly,

UK Alum Works with American Presidents to Archive History from UK College of Arts & Sciences on Vimeo.

By Amy Jones, Jay Blanton, Kody Kiser

Every Inauguration begins a new chapter in the history books as a president is sworn into office.   A UK graduate has spent most of his professional life helping archive history for various presidents.  In fact, Alan Lowe is currently archiving the history of former President George W. Bush.

From early childhood on, Lowe thought he would be a doctor.

A few days on the University of Kentucky campus – and a little time in Chemistry 101 -- in the 1980s quickly taught him otherwise.

“But that’s where I step back and think about ‘What do you

Many UK students consider internship experience to be critical in their preparation for the professional world. A Lexington-based company, Lexmark Inc., consistently facilitates students from various majors into its internship positions. One student, however, took this longstanding relationship with Lexmark one step farther, or approximately 7,400 miles farther, geographically speaking.

Hannah Simms is a junior at UK, majoring in international studies and political science with a minor in Chinese studies, as well as a member of the UK Honors Program. This

by Sarah Geegan

This semester, students at the University of Kentucky are learning about American leadership and democracy as it unfolds.

An interactive course, "UKC 180: America Through the Lens of the 2012 Election," utilizes an innovative classroom design and extensive multi-media resources to focus on the upcoming presidential election. Through lectures, guest speakers, in-class polls, group work in "caucuses" and interaction with real congressional staffers, students are gaining a deeper understanding of American politics, and addressing relevant issues in real time.

Mark Lawrence Kornbluh, dean of the UK College of Arts and Sciences, and

by Sarah Geegan

The UK College of Arts and Sciences inducted four new members to the A&S Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 19.

The "Celebrate A&S: Alumni and Faculty Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony" took place at the Singletary Center for the Arts. Two faculty members and two alumni joined the ranks of the current 30 alumni and 6 emeritus faculty A&S Hall of Fame members.

The ceremony followed an academic theme; the inductees wore formal academic regalia and received medallions with the UK A&S seal. 

The 2012 Hall of Fame inductees:

Matthew Cutts, current leader of Google’s webspam

by Whitney Hale and Elizabeth Buster

As voters begin to select their candidates, the University of Kentucky will present an #AskACat Twitter chat on the election. Individuals are encouraged to send their questions on the upcoming election as part of this live Twitter chat.

Stephen Voss, associate professor and director of undergraduate studies in the UK Department of Political Science, will answer questions on the upcoming election at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, via the university's official Twitter account, @universityofky. Those interested in following and/or participating in the chat can follow the university's account or #AskACat for questions posed and responses from the Twitter chat.

Individuals interested

by Sarah Geegan

In the 2008 election, young Americans voted in their largest numbers since the 1970s. With the 2012 election around the corner, the UK College of Arts and Sciences, with the support of the Department of Writing, Rhetoric and Digital Media (WRD) will present several events for UK students to become more informed about the election, specifically surrounding the second presidential debate.

A faculty panel, consisting of political science Professor Stephen Voss, history Professor Paul

From being a walk-on with the undefeated 1971-72 freshman basketball team, to working with the Supreme Court, and now as the President and CEO of the Freedom Forum, which oversees the Newseum and First Amendment Center is Washington D.C. - Jim Duff's resume is as diverse as and A&S education. No wonder he is being inducted into the A&S Hall of Fame this week!

The Herald-Leader recently covered Duff's career - read more.
 

by Sarah Geegan

A panel of faculty members will address a growing debate in national health care policy on Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. in the White Hall Classroom Building, Room 114.

Sponsored by the Department of Philosophy and the Department of Political Science, the event will examine a prevailing issue surrounding the Affordable Care Act: that it requires most employers to provide insurance that covers contraception and sterilization. The requirement includes procedures that many critics consider a form of abortion.

The panel, consisting of professor Jacob Affolter from the Department of

A faculty panel will discuss relevant election issues on the night of the debate. The following night, various faculty, lecturers and graduate students will lead group discussions for students, using video clips from the previous night's debate.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 10, 2012) — In the 2008 election, young Americans voted in their largest numbers since the 1970's. With the 2012 election around the corner, the UK College of Arts and Sciences, with the support of the Department of Writing, Rhetoric and Digital Media (WRD) will present several events for UK students to become more informed about the election, specifically surrounding the second presidential debate.

A faculty panel, consisting of political science

by Cathy Johnson

WUKY's "UK Perspectives" focuses on the people and programs of the University of Kentucky and is hosted this week by WUKY news reporter Josh James. Today's show features Stephen Voss, associate professor and director of undergraduate studies in the Department of Political Science, talking about how the presidential and vice presidential debates are used to fuel discussions in class.

To listen to the podcast interview, from which "UK Perspectives" is produced, click here.

"UK Perspectives" airs at 8:35 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. each Friday on WUKY 91.3, UK's NPR station.

by Whitney Hale

Last spring, Teach for America selected 27 recent graduates of the University of Kentucky to serve in America's inner cities and rural communities. The UK group, the largest in school history, is among 5,800 new corps members selected for Teach for America, a national program in which outstanding college graduates commit to teach for two years in disadvantaged urban and rural public schools.

Teach for America places its recruits in the nation's highest-need elementary and secondary schools in many of the country's lowest income communities, both rural and urban, in an effort to close the achievement gap between economically advantaged and disadvantaged children.

This year’s corps is the largest in Teach for America’s history.

by Carl Nathe and Nathan Schwake

Recently, eight UK female student-athletes, along with members of the athletics department staff, participated in a service trip to Ethiopia. On the trip were Megan Moir from women's golf, Brooke Keyes and Kayla King from women's soccer, Kayla Hartley from gymnastics, Grace Trimble from women's tennis (political science major), Kastine Evans from women's basketball, Emily Holsopple from rifle (biology major), and Aubrey Lamar from softball. Each student was nominated by her respective head coach for this trip.

This is a wonderful example of how UK students and staff involve themselves in efforts so much bigger than themselves. This article is excerpted from blogs written by several of the student-athletes. 

For the second consecutive year, a