Year in Photos 2025-26

kentuckykernel Year in Photos 2025-26

Letter from the Editors If you’d told us in August 2025 that this year would include Kentucky basketball heartbreak, record-breaking snow days, and the firing of Mark Stoops, we wouldn’t have believed you. All the photos from the 2025-2026 school year showcase our memories, each of which adds to this campus’s specialness.

Our roles mean thinking quickly, adjusting in real time, and trusting that we are in the right place at the right moment. This year was unpredictable, but that is what made it so memorable. No matter how fast things moved, the deadlines moved faster.

How did we get through it? Our staff. The photo desk handled everything thrown at them and still produced strong results. We could not be prouder of this team and their amazing work. This year also served as a reminder of why we are photojournalists. Being behind the camera puts you right in the middle of live news events and late-night games.

Often, the moments that truly matter are the ones we take for granted. Our goal is to shine a light on those experiences. It’s the things you did not see coming, the times you almost missed, the situations you had to figure out on the spot. That is where amazing photos emerged. This magazine is a reflection of that effort. It shows how we adapted, supported each other, and produced something we are proud of.

Looking back, none of it is really that surprising.

It is Kentucky.

Brooke Johnson Photo Editor

Will Luckett Assitant Photo Editor

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Contents News

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Sports

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Campus 16

Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief Sylvia Freire Managing Editor Cara Raiford Chief Designer Merritt Manire Special Projects Editor Cara Raiford News Editor Adah Hufana Assistant News Editor Abigail Wright Sports Editor Jenna Lifshen Assistant Sports Editors Brett Ramsey Sydney Cox Assistant Features Editor Gray Seibert Assistant Digital Editor Marissa Armstrong Video Editors Piper Renaud Olivia White Photo Editor Brooke Johnson Assistant Photo Editor Will Luckett Podcast Editor Bella Lindsey TikTok Manager Jackson Redish Social Media Manager, Newsletter Chloe Bradley

CONTACT US

Address 507 Library Drive Pence Hall On the Cover: Photos by Christian Kantosky and Will Luckett Above: Photos by Sydney Novack and Xavier Patterson

Email

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Outgoing Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart, right, hugs Kentucky men’s basketball head coach Mark Pope, left, during his retirement ceremony on Friday, March 6, 2026, at Historic Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Will Luckett

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Above: Trouble Calling (4) and Oscar’s Hope (7) battles for first during the opening day Spring Meet on Friday, April 3, 2026, at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Vincenzo Ciaramitaro Right: President Donald J. Trump stands on the stage at Verst Logistics on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Hebron, Ky. Photo by Brooke Johnson

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Above: Tyler Clark waves an American Flag during the No Kings Protest in front of the Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza on Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Brooke Johnson Left: Kaiju protests outside Verst Logistics during President Donald J. Trump’s remarks on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Hebron, Ky. Photo by Scout Tarquinio

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Above: An attendee holds a flower behind his back during the “Two Years Too Many” protest on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, outside the William T. Young Library in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Will Luckett Left: Ala Hassan, an organizer of the Lex4Palestine event, delivers a speech during the “Two Years Too Many” protest on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, outside the William T. Young Library in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Will Luckett

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A unidentified protester watches during the No Kings protest on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Vincenzo Ciaramitaro

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Left: Kentucky gymnast Sharon Lee celebrates after sticking her beam routine during the gymnastics match against the University of Georgia on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, at Historic Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Scout Tarquinio

Right: Kentucky Guard Jordan Obi gathers a rebound against Oklahoma on Sunday Ja. 11, 2026 in Historical Memorial Coliseum. Photo by Peyton Tindall

Left: The Kentucky Wildcats celebrate scoring after a long rally during the Final Four volleyball match against Wisconsin on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. Kentucky won 3-2. Photo by Will Luckett

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Right: Kentuckys Caue Gluck swims on Monday, March 9, 2026, at Lancaster Aquatic Center in Lexington, Ky. Photo

by Vincenzo Ciaramitaro

Left: Kentucky Wildcats infielder Luke Lawrence applies the tag to a baserunner during the baseball game against Morehead State on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington, Ky. Morehead State won 8-6. Photo by Will Luckett

Right: Kentucky Wildcats defender Josh Gordon lies on the ground after the soccer game against Coastal Carolina on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Wendell and Vickie Bell Soccer Complex in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky won 6-5 in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinal of the Sun Belt Conference Men’s Soccer Championship. Photo

by Will Luckett kentucky kernel

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Above: Kentucky guard Denzel Aberdeen walks out in the starting lineup before the men’s basketball game against Vanderbilt on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky won 91-77. Photo by Will Luckett Left: Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Kendrick Law runs past an Eastern Michigan player during the football game against Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky won 48-23. Photo by Christian Kantosky 12

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Left: Kentucky guard Collin Chandler holds up three fingers after making a three pointer in the basketball game against Vanderbilt at John Cropp Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Brooke Johnson Right: Kentucky Wildcats forward Mouhamed Dioubate dunks during the men’s basketball game against Eastern Illinois on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Sydney Novack kentucky kernel

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Below: Kentucky sophomore Alyssa Orgen competes during a gymnastics meet between Kentucky and Florida at Historic Memorial Coliseum at the University of Kentucky on Friday, Mar. 13, 2026, in Lexington Ky. Photo by Sean Dreher

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Above: Tennessee Volunteers running back Star Thomas runs through Kentucky defenders during the football game against Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. Tennessee won 56-34.

Photo by Will Luckett

Below: Kentucky catcher Carly Sleeman and outfielder Emory Donaldson make a heart with their hands during a game on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Xavier Patterson

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Above: Students walk down Columbia Ave at the University of Kentucky on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. Photo by Brooke Johnson Right: William Mayfield Jr. shovels the snow in front of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority house at the University of Kentucky on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.

Photo by Brooke Johnson

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Above: Ryder White, junior information and communication technology major, left, and Tatum Brauner, junior managment major, right, get pushed down ‘the bowl’ at the University of Kentucky on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. Photo by Brooke Johnson Left: The Bowman Wildcat Statue is frozen with ice at the University of Kentucky on Sunday Jan. 25, 2026. Photo

by Brooke Johnson | Kentucky Kernel Brooke Johnson

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Above: Contestants pose for a photo during the Performative Male Contest on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, at William T. Young ‘the bowl.’ Photo by Sydney Novack Right: University of Kentucky dance freshman Melody Cauley wipes the forehead of UK freshman Donavan Washington.

Washington won the Performative Male Contest on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, at William T. Young. Photo by Sydney Novack 18

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Donovan Washington, freshman, celebrates after the Performative Male Contest on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at ‘the bowl,’ Photo by Brooke Johnson

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Above: Racers cheer and embrace during the Ribbon Run 5K on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2025, on the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Jack Bates

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Above: Alpha Delta Pi members dance and embrace one another during University of Kentucky Panhellenic Bid Day on Tuesday, Sep. 2, 2025.

Photo by Sydney Novack

Next Page: Students pet Diane, a Jersey cow, during the Over the Moon event on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, at The 90 in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Will Luckett kentucky kernel

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