Dermontti Dawson
B.A. in Recreation, ’88
B.A. in Physical Education, ’96
Named to the Alumni Hall of Fame in 2000

After a standout career in football, track and wrestling at Bryan Station High School in Lexington, Dermo was a lineman for the University of Kentucky football team. He was selected in the second round of the NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1988. In 12 seasons with the Steelers, Dawson became one of the greatest centers in NFL history. He was voted into seven consecutive Pro Bowls. Dawson's Pittsburgh teammates voted him the recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award in 2000.

He was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003. In November 2001, Dawson and his wife, Regina, were named the College of Education's Philanthropists of the Year. The Dawsons created a graduate fellowship in the UK College of Education. The fellowship provides financial assistance to minority or nontraditional students seeking an advance degree in education.

Dermontti F. Dawson was inducted into the Hall of Distinguished Alumni on May 13, 2005. Soon afterward he was named to the UK Board of Trustees.