Information for Parents & Family

Welcome to the Lewis Honors Family Community!

Whether you are a family member supporting a prospective or current Lewis Honors College student, we welcome you to the Lewis Honors Family Community led by the Family Advisory Council and the larger University of Kentucky Parent and Family Association.

For an overview of the 2025-2026 academic calendar year, click here.

Emily received multiple offers from various university Honors programs including UK Lewis Honors College. After reviewing all the benefits that UK Lewis offers she happily chose Lewis and is having the time of her life meeting wonderful faculty and new friends also in Honors. As a parent, it made my heart sing to receive a letter from her, about 3 weeks in, saying 'Mom, I love it here at UK and Lewis Honors is the best decision I have ever made.'

Kelli Hardeman

Mom of Emily Hardeman-Erbar '27

Support for Students

Academic Advisors

Each Lewis Honors College student is assigned an academic advisor who will be a constant resource until graduation.

CPD Counselors

Each Lewis Honors College student is assigned a Center for Personal Development counselor to cultivate self-awareness, well-being, and career readiness.

Peer Mentors

Each Lewis Honors College student is assigned a Peer Mentor who fosters a sense of community in the Honors Residential Experience.

Alumni Mentoring

Sophomores may apply for an alumni mentor who will assist students in developing professional skills and positive life habits.

A group of people sitting in a circle, laughing while eating ice cream.

Student Involvement

Students can explore a variety of clubs and organizations to establish their sense of community.

A group of students sitting in a lecture hall listening intently. The camera is focused on a boy in a red shirt and a blue lanyard.

Student Resources

Students have access to many resources to ensure student success.

Stay in Touch

We invite you to follow us on social media @ukyhonors, join us for events, or contact us at honors@uky.edu or 859-257-3111.

News and Upcoming Events

BBN Tackles Plastic expands to all UK residence halls

By Cadence Hamilton

Oct 15, 2026

BBN Tackles Plastic, a UK Recycling initiative aimed at reducing campus plastic waste through the collection of plastic bags, has expanded into all University of Kentucky residence halls this fall. The collected plastic bags are donated to Sustainability Future Leaders, an on-campus student organization, where members transform the bags into sleeping mats which are distributed to Lexington’s unhoused population through a partnership with The Hope Center. Honors student Misa DeVries is the director of Sustainability Future Leaders.

The Thrifty Cat event helps nearly 500 attendees reuse residence hall essentials

By Cadence Hamilton

Oct 13, 2026

University of Kentucky students reduced waste during Big Blue Move-In by participating in Thrifty’s Pop-Up, a free thrifting event. Residence hall essentials collected during the 2026 spring semester move-out were made available to students during the event hosted at the Cats Den in the Gatton Student Center. More than 490 attendees participated with 93% of collected items redistributed. “College is such an expensive time for many students, but The Thrifty Cat offers free clothes, residence hall essentials, and a fun and free activity to do with friends,” said Ella Young, a sophomore majoring in marketing in the Gatton College of Business and Economics and also a student in Lewis Honors College.

Making every opportunity count: Ian Mattingly’s UK Invests story

By Lindsey Piercy

Oct 9, 2026

For Lewis Honors College freshman Ian Mattingly, investing isn’t just about today. It’s about building toward the future. Mattingly, of Versailles, Kentucky, came to the University of Kentucky with some experience saving and investing. But through UK Invests, he is gaining firsthand experience managing an investment account of his own and learning more about investment strategies he can carry with him long after college.

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