Lewis Honors College

Prospective Students: Schedule a Tour Honors admission decisions released mid-February

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.

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

Center for Personal Development

Internship, Research, Education Abroad, Service-Learning Opportunities

Dr. Kenton Sena with HON 152 students outdoors

Dedicated Honors Faculty

Take a Virtual Tour
Schedule Your Visit
Explore Admission Criteria
Apply for Housing
Register for Orientation

News and Events

Students Rally Behind Operation Secret Santa with Holiday Food Drive

By Adrienne Clarke

Nov 14, 2025

During the Ideas that Matter series, our third guest speakers were Operation Secret Santa (OSS) nonprofit founder Katie Keys (also known as “Head Elf”) and Honors alumna Lucy Jett Waterbury, who shared OSS’s inspiring origin story and its growing impact. Through its mission “Creating Christmas without barriers,” OSS served over 2,000 families, including over 6,000 children, last year.

Gretchen Ruschman graduated from Cambridge University with a Master of Philosophy degree. Photo provided by Gretchen Ruschman.

From University of Kentucky to United Kingdom: UK alum’s education prepared her for research at Cambridge

By Bailey Vandiver

Dec 9, 2025

After graduating from the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) in 2024, Ruschman began her studies at the University of Cambridge, where she earned her Master of Philosophy in medical science with a focus on obstetrics and gynecology. She is now in her first year in the NIH Oxford-Cambridge (OxCam) Scholars Program, through which students earn their doctorate while researching with one of the two universities and the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

‘UK at the Half’: Join the #BBN for Fall 2026

By Meg Mills

Dec 1, 2025

For this “UK at the Half,” Sarah Ballard, the acting senior executive director for strategic enrollment, explains the importance of applying early. High school seniors now have two online application options to begin their University of Kentucky journey. Future Wildcats can apply using either the UK Application or the Common App.

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CPD Honor the Balance: Massage Chairs

Dec 10, 3:00 pm - Dec 10, 5:00 pm

Lewis Scholars Lounge

420 Hilltop Ave, Lexington, KY

Honors Thesis Showcase

Dec 16, 5:00 pm - Dec 16, 7:30 pm

Lewis Scholars Lounge

420 Hilltop Ave, Lexington, KY

Honors Medal Ceremony

Dec 18, 4:00 pm - Dec 18, 5:00 pm

Lewis Scholars Lounge

420 Hilltop Ave, Lexington, KY

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Lewis Honors College

By the Numbers

Mission in Action

Explore Your Purpose

Develop Intellectually

Lead With Integrity

Why Honors?

Honors Residential Experience

Center for Personal Development

Internship, Research, Education Abroad, Service-Learning Opportunities

Dedicated Honors Faculty

Interested in Learning More?

News and Events

Students Rally Behind Operation Secret Santa with Holiday Food Drive

From University of Kentucky to United Kingdom: UK alum’s education prepared her for research at Cambridge

‘UK at the Half’: Join the #BBN for Fall 2026

CPD Honor the Balance: Massage Chairs

Honors Thesis Showcase

Honors Medal Ceremony

Campus Map

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