By Amy Jones-Timoney and Kody Kiser

Hundreds of Wildcats served in the military before becoming UK students. Here are a few of their stories in honor of Veterans Day this Saturday, Nov. 11. To all those who have served our country to preserve our freedom — thank you. 

 Andrew Hatfield, Accounting

As a member of the U.S. Marine Corps, Andrew Hatfield, from Somerset, Kentucky, traveled to 13 different countries on various deployments.

"I really enjoyed it," Hatfield said. "I made some of the best friends I've ever had and it was just overall a wonderful experience."

But after several years of service, Hatfield had a new goal in mind — earning a degree in accounting from the Gatton College of Business and Economics. Since arriving on campus, he says UK's Veterans Resource Center (VRC) has helped him make the transition from

By Kathy Johnson

What is the proper way to dispose of an American flag? You can find out this week as University of Kentucky Air Force ROTC cadets conduct a flag retirement ceremony at 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, in front of UK's Main Building.

A special uniformed Honor Guard detail will execute the official disposal of two worn flags — one that flew outside the UK's Main Building and another that was given to the ROTC for retirement.

"A flag retirement ceremony is steeped in honor, decorum and tradition," said ROTC Cadet Dawson Godby, commander of the ceremony.

The ceremony will include cutting and burning the flag in a specific, methodical manner that will be explained by an announcer. Each flag will be disposed of separately.

Per the U.S. Code as it pertains to the flag: "The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no

By Kathy Johnson

On this 16th anniversary of 9/11, the University of Kentucky Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC programs are remembering those who died in the tragic terrorist attacks that rocked the nation. 

Master Sgt. Christopher Mcluckie says UK ROTC cadets in dress uniform are placing small flags in memory of each of the nearly 3,000 victims of 9/11 on the front lawn of UK's Main Building facing South Limestone.  From a podium, cadets will also read the name of each victim throughout the day.

A large flag has also been erected, and a cadet is continually marching in front of the flag carrying a replica rifle until all names have been read.

An annual event, the vigil began at the exact time that the attacks began, 8:42 a.m. and will continue

By Lori Minter

The University of Kentucky has released its Dean's List for the spring 2017 semester.  A total of 6,412 students were recognized for their outstanding academic performance. 

To make a Dean’s List in one of the UK colleges, a student must earn a grade point average of 3.6 or higher and must have earned 12 credits or more in that semester, excluding credits earned in pass-fail classes.  Some UK colleges require a 3.5 GPA to make the Dean’s List.

The full Dean's List can be accessed by visiting: www.uky.edu/PR/News/DeansList/.

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how

By Lori Minter

A record number of students made the University of Kentucky Dean's List for the fall 2016 semester. The 7,408 students were recognized for their outstanding academic performance.  That's an increase of more than 200 over the previous record reached in fall 2015 when the number of students on the UK Dean's List surpassed 7,000 for the first time.  Last semester's Dean's List includes over 700 more students than the spring 2016 semester's list.

To make a Dean’s List in one of the UK colleges, a student must earn a grade point average of 3.6 or higher and must have earned 12 credits or more in that semester, excluding credits earned in pass-fail classes.  Some UK colleges require a 3.5 GPA to make the Dean’s List.

The full Dean's List can be accessed by visiting www.uky.edu/PR/News/

By Samantha Ponder

By Katie Pratt

(March 25, 2015) — This summer, military families can have a great bonding experience at one of three Kentucky camps aimed at strengthening family ties in a fun-filled atmosphere.

The camps are part of two grants that the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service received from the U.S. Department of Defense and Kentucky’s System to Enhance Early Development. This year’s camp offerings are:

·         The “MAMMOTH” Military Family Adventure- June 12-14; Mammoth Cave Hotel in Mammoth Cave

·         Robinson Forest Military Family Early Childhood Adventure- June 26-28; UK’s Robinson Forest in Jackson

·         Live Your Adventure Military Family Camp- July 10-12;

by Kathy Johnson

(Nov. 5, 2014) —

by Gail Hairston 

(Sept. 30, 2014) — More than an “s” has been added since the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Science was created in 1908 with only seven faculty members. In fact there was a College of Arts and Science even before the institution was named the University of Kentucky; the institution was called the State University, Lexington, Kentucky (previously Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky and State College) until 1916.

In those 106 years, several of today’s largest colleges were birthed from the original College of Arts and Science’s former programs, including today’s College of Education, College of Communication and Information, College of Social Work and College of Fine Arts.

The college grew quickly under the inspiration and commitment of President James Patterson, whose statue now graces the plaza next to the

Air Force ROTC prepares young men and women to become leaders in the Air Force, but it also offers so much more. You will grow as an individual both mentally and physically while participating in the rigorous training program. While a cadet, you will develop lifelong friendships and will experience many unique opportunities; not many people can say they have flown in a C-130 or been on Air Force 2, the vice president’s aircraft. Cadets in AFROTC also participate in university events such as intramural sports, Dance Blue Marathon, presenting the colors at sporting events, and many more. By attending the program, you will acquire strong leadership skills that will benefit you in any career field you choose. There are even some opportunities to earn scholarships to put you through college.  However, scholarship or not, you’ll have a position waiting for you after graduation in the

The 290th Cadet Wing has alumni around the world in almost every career field the Air Force has to offer. The possibilities are endless and this ROTC program gives us the skills and training we need to get there. The cadets preparing to commission this May will be entering a wide variety of career fields from pilot, to logistics readiness officer, to missile launch officer. With these varied careers also comes many different places around the world they will be stationed. A few locations the senior cadets are going: Texas, California, Alaska, and even Japan. What we can say for sure is that the alumni of the 290th Cadet Wing will continue to surprise us with their success in the numerous ways they serve our country.

- Cadet Erin Jewell

For the cadets of the 290th Air Force ROTC Cadet Wing, there was something different about March 13th. They were not marching in formation or standing at attention as they normally do. Instead, they found themselves climbing rope ladders and crossing bridges over thirty feet in the air. But how did they wind up in this situation and why were they doing it?

Asbury University, located in Wilmore, KY, offers a challenge course designed to push individuals and teams out of their comfort zones in order to build confidence in themselves and others around them. In the profession of arms, a future officer can really benefit from that confidence. “It was a great change of pace from the regular Lead Lab,” Cadet Matthew Lillard said of the event. “It was really good for morale and overall camaraderie of the Cadet Wing. It brought us all together.”

Activities like the

by Whitney Hale

(April 8, 2014) — "Reel to Real: Special Collections at the Movies," the University of Kentucky Special Collections Library's film series, will close this year with a screening of "Our Day," at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, at Worsham Theater in the UK Student Center. The film series explores celebrated movies through a historically accurate perspective based on primary source materials found in Special Collections. The screening is free and open to the public.

“Our Day” is a short 1938 documentary about the Kelly family of Lebanon, Ky. Filmed by Wallace Kelly, the home movie looks at a day in the life of the family.

Movie topics

by Whitney Harder, Whitney Hale

(March 31, 2014) — In "Kentucky Marine: Major General Logan Feland and the Making of the Modern USMC," David Bettez, former director of the Office of International Programs at the University of Kentucky (now the University of Kentucky International Center(UKIC), writes the forgotten story of another Kentucky man, an influential soldier of the seas.

The University of Press of Kentucky (UPK) book, based on the life of Hopkinsville native Major General Logan Feland, is on sale now and will be the subject of an upcoming broadcast of radio show "

by Whitney Harder, Whitney Hale

(March 3, 2014) — "Reel to Real: Special Collections at the Movies," the University of Kentucky Special Collections Library's film series, will continue with "Coal Miner's Daughter," at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, at Worsham Theater in the UK Student Center. The film series explores celebrated movies through a historically accurate perspective based on primary source materials found in Special Collections. The screening is free and open to the public.

"Coal Miner's Daughter," is based on the life of country singer and Kentucky native Loretta

by Katy Bennett, Michael Danahy

(Nov. 18, 2013) — The University of Kentucky has been named a 2014 Military Friendly School by Victory Media, the publisher of G.I. Jobs magazine. This is the fifth consecutive year that UK has earned this recognition.

“It’s great to be recognized in this way for our efforts once again,” said Anthony Dotson, coordinator of the UK Veterans Resource Center. “The University of Kentucky continues to be a proud supporter of our veterans, military students and their family members, and we are honored to be able to create a friendly and inclusive environment for our military veterans.”

The 2014 Military Friendly Schools list recognizes the Top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the United States that are striving the farthest to embrace our nation’s

by Andrea Richard, Whitney Hale

(Nov. 18, 2013) — The University of Kentucky Special Collections Library will show the second film in its movie series “Reel to Real” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, in Worsham Theater. The film series explores celebrated movies through a historically accurate perspective based on primary source materials found in Special Collections. The screening is free and open to the public.

"In Country," featuring Bruce Willis, is about a Vietnam War veteran living in rural Kentucky, and his relationships with his daughter and others around him.

Based on the novel "In Country

by Keith Hautala

(Nov. 6, 2013) — Being a successful student at the University of Kentucky requires a high level of commitment and self-discipline.

That goes double for students in the Reserve Officer Training Corps, or ROTC.

ROTC cadets have committed to serve their country after graduation by pursuing a commission as an officer in the Army or the Air Force. In addition to their regular classes, ROTC cadets take officer training courses. This includes hands-on leadership training in a laboratory environment, academic courses and a rigorous physical training program (PT).

"With a lot of other students on campus, they schedule their classes later in the day so they don’t have to get up early," said U.S. Army Cadet Megan Presley, a sophomore majoring in psychology. "But with ROTC, you have PT in

by Gail Bennett

 WUKY, the University of Kentucky's NPR station, is partnering with UK Army ROTC to present the Jack Kain Ford Bluegrass Mud Run.  This fun and exciting event will take place on the campus of the University of Kentucky Sept. 21, 2013.  This will be a 5K run starting at Commonwealth Stadium and proceeding through obstacles designed by UK Army ROTC.  These obstacles will be challenging yet fun and definitely get participants MUDDY! 

This Mud Run serves to promote a physically fit lifestyle, but it is appropriate for all levels of ability from pro-athlete or pro-couch potato! Participants are encouraged to have fun and even dress in their favorite or most bizarre costume.

Registration is open at 

video courtesy of UK Public Relations and Marketing

article by Jenny Wells

Planning and hosting a national conference is no easy task, but for the UK community, collaboration makes it all possible. The University of Kentucky will host the 2014 National Conference on Undergraduate Research, or NCUR, next semester, which will bring nearly 4,000 additional students from across the country to the UK campus. And as students, faculty and staff can attest -- it is something worth bragging about.

NCUR will take place April 3-5, 2014, all throughout UK's campus. The conference will give undergraduates a unique opportunity to present their research and creative endeavors, while meeting other like-minded students from all across the country. They not only promote their individual work,