Lewis Honors College

By the Numbers

100% Experiential Education Participation

96% First-Year Retention Rate

90% Employment or Graduate/Professional School

Mission in Action

Explore Your Purpose

Honors advisors and the Center for Personal Development counselors partner with students in their exploration of purpose to cultivate well-being, leadership, and career readiness.

Savannah King with her Honors Thesis Showcase poster

Honors at Kentucky has a long and proud history, dating back to 1959, and thousands of students have passed through our program, exploring themselves and the boundaries of thought with outstanding faculty.

Jacqueline Coleman, Christian Brady, Laura Bryan, Conner Brumley

Lead With Integrity

Providing leadership development opportunities enables students to fulfill their experiential credit while bolstering lifelong skills to apply as a graduate student or employee.

The Honors classes I took my freshman year exposed me to ideas that I would not have otherwise thought deeply about. The topics we discussed have allowed me to engage with current events and the social sciences more than I would have been able to otherwise.

Asa O'Neal '25

NSF Graduate Research Fellow, Barry M. Goldwater Scholar, Astronaut Scholar

Maddie Duff waving with other graduating students walking

Why Honors?

Honors Residential Experience

Tamika Tompoulidis with student during EXPO

Center for Personal Development

Internship, Research, Education Abroad, Service-Learning Opportunities

Dr. Kenton Sena with HON 152 students outdoors

Dedicated Honors Faculty

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Schedule Your Visit
Explore Admission Criteria
Apply for Housing
Register for Orientation

News and Events

The 2026-27 Undergraduate Research Ambassador application is open.

2026-27 Undergraduate Research Ambassador application now open

By Haven L. Patrick

Mar 18, 2026

Applications are being accepted for University of Kentucky Undergraduate Research Ambassadors for the 2026-27 school year.

Singletary Scholars present ‘Lead Your Way’ Leadership Conference

By Braley Howard and Ella Thomas

Mar 17, 2026

Members at the University of Kentucky gathered Feb. 28 for the annual Lewis Honors College “Lead Your Way” Leadership Conference, an event designed to explore how leadership takes shape across disciplines and experiences. Hosted at the honors college by the Singletary Scholars class of 2029 cohort, the conference brought together community leaders, faculty and students for a day of discussion, reflection and learning about what it truly means to lead.

Space, science, and Kentucky’s future: “Becoming Martian” author to speak at UK

By Adrienne Clarke

Mar 11, 2026

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 11, 2026) — Evolutionary biologist Scott Solomon will discuss his recently released book “Becoming Martian” 4- 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26, in the Lewis Scholars Lounge. Lewis Honors College, Humanity in Deep Space, and Kentucky Space Futures are co-hosting this free public event. Solomon will discuss how living beyond Earth could reshape human bodies, minds, and society. He will also answer questions and sign copies of his book, which is available for purchase on-site.

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Mathews Garden Work Days

Mar 23, 3:00 pm - Mar 23, 4:15 pm

Mathews Garden

Washington Ave, Lexington, KY 40508

Donuts and Fruit with the Dean

Mar 25, 9:30 am - Mar 25, 11:00 am

Lewis Scholars Lounge

420 Hilltop Ave, Lexington, KY

UK College of Law Visit

Mar 25, 5:00 pm - Mar 25, 6:30 pm

J. David Rosenberg College of Law

620 South Limestone, Lexington, Kentucky 40506

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