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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Explore Admission Criteria
Apply for Housing
Register for Orientation

News and Events

Malena Hughes and Amber McNamara at UK Pre-Vet Experience Day 2025

UK student turns childhood dream into veterinary career

By Angelina Sonoqui

Apr 15, 2026

For as long as she can remember, Malena Hughes has wanted to become a veterinarian. Born and raised in Barren County, Kentucky, Hughes grew up on her family’s cow-calf operation, where she established a love for agriculture that led to her passion for veterinary medicine.

2026 TEDxUKY speakers (left to right): Kathryn Preston, Ph.D., Kenton Sena, Ph.D., Elizabeth Rhodus, Ph.D., Abigail Latimer, Ph.D., Dee Dlugonski, Ph.D., Lou Hirsch, Ph.D.

‘Ripple Effect’: TEDxUKY returns April 19

By Christian Honce

Apr 10, 2026

The University of Kentucky will host the 2026 TEDxUKY event 2-6 p.m. Sunday, April 19, at the UK Gatton Student Center.

University of Kentucky junior Jose Villanos was one of 454 nationwide recipients of a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship.

UK junior one of more than 450 nationwide to earn Goldwater Scholarship

By Tom Musgrave

Apr 10, 2026

University of Kentucky junior Jose Villanos was awarded a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. He is one of 454 Goldwater Scholarship recipients nationwide.

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Plant a Tree with Me!

Apr 17, 8:00 am - Apr 17, 5:00 pm

Honor the Balance: Succulent Serenity

Apr 17, 2:00 pm - Apr 17, 4:00 pm

Lewis Honors College Courtyard

420 Hilltop Avenue

UK Faculty & Staff Leadership Development Seminar

Apr 22, 3:00 pm - Apr 22, 4:30 pm

Lewis Scholars Lounge

420 Hilltop Ave, Lexington, KY

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