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Overview

The University of Kentucky Lewis Honors College provides an enhanced course of instruction for outstanding, highly motivated students from all programs of study. Honors education is, at its heart, a liberal arts education that, coupled with the resources available at the major research land-grant University of Kentucky, make Lewis Honors College a unique experience. Regardless of major, the fundamental goal of Honors education is to provide all students with a broad, critical intellectual base from which they can then engage more deeply and thoughtfully in their chosen fields while prioritizing their health and well-being.

The mission of the Lewis Honors College is to better the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the world by helping students to explore their purpose, develop intellectually, and lead with integrity.

Honors students, made up of people with different backgrounds and experiences, are innovative, intellectually engaged, and interested in creative thought. They are expected to be citizens of their University and their world and to possess an inquisitive attitude toward a wide range of ideas and intellectual concepts.

News and Events

Exceeding interest and enrollment expectations

Purpose. Intellect. Integrity. These are the primary attributes that the second-largest class of incoming first-time first-year students will have the unique opportunity to develop as part of the University of Kentucky Lewis Honors College. Preliminary enrollment numbers indicate that this year’s cohort will be the most distinguished, well-rounded, and academically prepared group of scholars in Lewis Honors College history.

Nobel winner’s journey from campus to cure: ‘Cracking the Code’ film coming to Kentucky Theatre

The University of Kentucky community is invited to the documentary film premiere of “Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp & the Biotech Revolution” 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23 at the Kentucky Theatre, with a post-screening conversation on UK biotech research, innovation and commercialization.The 96-minute film screening will be followed by a panel conversation with researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs from UK. McClure will moderate the panel which includes Luke H. Bradley, Ph.D., professor and alumni chair, neuroscience, UK College of Medicine; Lewis Honors College faculty member; and CEO and co-founder of Avast Therapeutics.

UK 2025 Homecoming royalty crowned including finalists from LHC

Carson Kitts and Olivia Kitts were crowned 2025 University of Kentucky Homecoming king and queen Tuesday night.

CPD Honor the Balance: Sound Bath and Tea

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Lewis Hall Room U136

420 Hilltop Ave

The Psychology of Excellence: How to Think like an Elite Performer

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Lewis Scholars Lounge

420 Hilltop Ave, Lexington, KY

Donuts and Fruit with Dean

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Lewis Scholars Lounge

420 Hilltop Ave, Lexington, KY

Blue Outline Checkerboard

T.W. Lewis

Thomas W. Lewis is a seventh-generation Kentuckian who grew up in Lexington. He graduated from Bryan Station High School in 1967 and the University of Kentucky in 1971 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He received his Master’s in Business Administration in 1973 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Tom began his career in real estate development. After 18 years with four different companies and building upon those experiences, he started his own home building business in 1991 in Phoenix, Arizona. T. W. Lewis Company built approximately 250 homes per year from 1991 through 2011 and received many awards during this period, including America’s Best Builder in 1998 and the National Housing Quality Gold Award in 2009. 

In 2001, Tom and his wife, Jan, formed T.W. Lewis Foundation to support higher education, children and families in need, youth education and a variety of community nonprofit organizations. In 2015, in order to give back to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Tom and Jan made a generous gift to the University of Kentucky to establish the Lewis Honors College. 

Mr. Lewis’ vision for the Lewis Honors College is to provide a world-class Honors experience that is known for the success of its students, the quality of its faculty and curriculum, the respect of its peers and the economic and social progress of the Commonwealth of Kentucky

Tom Lewis