Lewis Honors College University of Kentucky
You are here. That’s enough to tell us you want to make the most of your experience at the University of Kentucky. Lewis Honors College faculty and staff are here to help you fully realize your worthy ambitions for the future. But we’re also here to help you foster lifelong intellectual curiosity, fully explore UK’s course offerings and use your gifts to enrich a caring community. In Honors, we deeply value the whole student as a citizen within our college, at UK and in the world beyond. Your path is unfolding in front of you. Whatever your destination, let us help you chart an exciting and unexpected route.
Whatever your destination, let us help you chart an exciting and unexpected route.
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Mission The University of Kentucky Lewis Honors College provides an alternative course of instruction for outstanding, highlymotivated students from all programs of study. Honors students are diverse, innovative, intellectually-engaged and interested in creative thought. UK Honors students are expected to be citizens of the university and the world and to possess an inquisitive attitude toward a wide range of ideas and intellectual concepts.
Program Benefits • Specialized honors advising • Priority registration for all courses • Faculty mentorship and in-residence hall peer mentors • Individualized preparation for scholarship opportunities, such as the Rhodes Scholarship, Truman Scholars and Fulbright Fellowships • A community that offers specialized, unique opportunities for intellectual and personal growth • Honors education abroad options and the chance to conduct research with world-class scholars, scientists and artists
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Why Honors: Nearly every friend I’ve made at UK is in Honors. My honors classes were the ones in which I really got to interact with other students, and living in the residential college was a great way to run accidentally into a lot of awesome people. Plus, my honors advisor is great. She’s been a consistent source of direction and encouragement. Everyone in Honors is approachable — I might have been lost without that kind of support coming into a big school.
Beau Revlett Major: Philosophy Minor: French Graduation year: 2019
Lewis Honors College Pathway Programs provide a specialized course of study for students in several fields of interest: Global Scholars: The Gatton College of Business and Economics and the Lewis Honors College have designed a distinctive international business program aimed at preparing students to become world-ready. Through an enriched curriculum, you will be ready to compete with anyone, anytime and anywhere. You will be ready to be part of the next generation of global business leaders in an ever-changing world market. Social Enterprise Scholars: The Gatton College of Business and Economics and the Lewis Honors College have designed a business pathway program aimed at providing students with marketing, management and entrepreneurship skills. Students who complete this program will gain the expertise in business to become agents of change within a variety of communities including the non-profit business sector, both locally and in a global context.
Whatever your destination, let us help you chart an exciting and unexpected route.
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Scholars in Engineering and Management: Scholars in Engineering and Management (SEAM) is a collaborative program between the College of Engineering, the Gatton College of Business and Economics and the Lewis Honors College, accepting both engineering and business applicants. The program offers cross-functional classes and activities designed to complement a student’s chosen major. This program produces a pool of entrepreneurial-minded individuals and attractive, unique talent for potential employers worldwide. Scholars in Nursing: In the Scholars in Nursing program, students will expand their knowledge of the nursing profession and enhance their overall undergraduate experience. The program provides opportunities for indepth study of advanced nursing concepts and skills, promotes professionalism and prepares future nurses for leadership, practice, teaching and/or research careers. Scholars in Nursing students will be able to enroll in higher level/graduate level courses that satisfy course requirements for the doctor of nursing program and the Ph.D. in nursing program.
Why Honors Pathways: Honors gives me the unique opportunity to have a “small school” education while attending a large public university. I am given the chance to take smaller classes that are discussion-based and challenge the way I think — not only in the classroom, but in the day-to-day shuffle as well. I also enjoy being surrounded by people who are as driven and goal-oriented as I am, because they push me to be a better student and person. I’ve made some of my best friends in Honors, and I don’t think my time at UK would be as enriched and fulfilling if it weren’t for the Lewis Honors College.
Alex Francke Major: Business Management Minor: International Business and Communications Graduation year: 2019
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The Lewis Honors Residential College allows students who are members of UK’s Lewis Honors College to enrich their collaborative learning in a supportive and close-knit environment. Students who participate in the residential college receive targeted programming intended to enhance their scholarly experience. Interaction with faculty inside and outside of the classroom immerses students in a stimulating intellectual and social environment that promotes and supports their success.
Living in the Lewis Honors Residential College means that students form meaningful friendships with their peers; engage in academic growth and exploration; enjoy fun, as well as enlightening, co-curricular activities; and interact with upperclassmen peer mentors. These combined advantages help students to gain a sense of place within the greater university community.
Locations: Lewis Hall, Herman Lee Donovan Hall, Lyman T. Johnson Hall
Whatever your destination, let us help you chart an exciting and unexpected route.
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Memorable Honors Residential College experience: As an Honors College peer mentor, I loved delivering valentines door-to-door to the residents on my floor, and returning to find that I had received some from my students as well! I also collaborated with Donovan Hall government members to candy-cane the halls. We worked late into the night in order to surprise the residents by morning. Reading the warm messages that my peers were sending out — quite a few laced with rhymes and puns — put a smile on my face. I was proud to be part of a team so dedicated to spreading good cheer in our community.
Joy Kim Major: Human Health Sciences Minor: Biological Sciences Graduation year: 2017
The Lewis Honors College application deadline is December 1 (midnight EST) for admission in fall. This follows the Early Action Track for undergraduate admission.
When determining an applicant’s strengths, the Lewis Honors College considers the following: • strength of application essays • unweighted GPA • ACT/SAT score • academic rigor of high school courses • extracurricular and community level of involvement
Whatever your destination, let us help you chart an exciting and unexpected route.
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The Lewis Honors College application is part of the University of Kentucky Undergraduate Application for Admission, and also available as part of the Common Application: you may use either to apply to Honors. Students should complete the additional honors essay (or essays if applying for a pathway program) included on the UK Undergraduate Admission or Common Application. Candidates will be evaluated and notified of their admission status to the Lewis Honors College. We encourage all interested applicants to submit their applications as early as possible. Due to the competitive nature of the Lewis Honors College admission process and limited available space, it is possible that spaces may fill prior to the final December 1 deadline.
Favorite Honors Class: My favorite class was Shakespeare Aloud, an Honors class with Professor Walter Foreman. I took this class my first semester at UK, and it really set the tone for what the college and honors experiences should be: curious, stimulating, playful and challenging. It nurtured and inspired a love of Shakespeare that has stayed with me. It was taught by the delightful Dr. Foreman, who went on to be committee chair for my senior Gaines Center for the Humanities thesis and the beloved leader of our Shakespeare Reading club.
Kalin Wilson Major: Biology Minor: Psychology Graduation year: May 2016
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A $23 Million Gift to Create an Honors College Further underscoring the commitment to create the best possible academic experience for students, University of Kentucky President, Eli Capilouto, announced the single largest gift in UK's history - $23 million to create one of the country's leading Honors programs. The gift, from UK alum and long-time donor Thomas W. Lewis and his wife Jan, of Paradise Valley, Arizona, establishes the Lewis Honors College at the University of Kentucky. "This gift, given by a remarkable person and leader so committed to his alma mater and to education, reflects our mission to place the success of students first in everything that we do," Capilouto said in announcing the donation. "Tom Lewis is investing in, and helping enhance, a vision we have - to be the finest residential, public research university in America.” "This incredible gift will help us open the doors of UK even wider; not simply to students with outstanding academic achievement, but also those with different backgrounds, identities, perspectives and financial means, who will benefit enormously from the focused and excellent educational experience offered by an Honors College that will be among the finest in the country."
Whatever your destination, let us help you chart an exciting and unexpected route.
“I have a strong belief in the value of education and helping young people become the best they can be,” said Lewis. “This gift is our way of helping University of Kentucky honors students reach their full potential as leaders who will create, shape and influence people, ideas and discoveries for this and generations yet to come.” Lewis, a native of Lexington and 1971 engineering graduate of UK, is a seventh generation Kentuckian, tracing his direct ancestry back to Squire Boone, the father of legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone. After UK, Lewis attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned an MBA. "Our institution is focused on students and serving Kentucky," Capilouto said. "That vision and that mission are attracting dedicated donors and alums, who share that sense of service to the university and to the Commonwealth, as evidenced by the fact that this gift is focused on the success and future of our students.” "We place our students first; so, too, do our donors and alums who believe those students represent a bright future for Kentucky and our world."
www.uky.edu/honors 859-257-3111
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