The first issue of Kaleidoscope has been received with considerable enthusiasm and praise. This second issue is, in my opinion, even better. We had a wide range of excellent submissions from which to choose. Those articles that have been included offer a clear indication of the great breadth and quality of the scholarship of undergraduates at the University of Kentucky.

This issue contains two wonderful pieces of fiction by Caroline McCoy and Allison Perry (who also had a story in Volume 1); three longer articles based on Gaines or senior departmental theses by Courtney Stoll, Angela Meyer, and Phillip Sauerbeck; plus four research reports - two from the University's Beckman Scholars Robin Petroze and Garrett Sparks, one on a psychology study by Lindsey Sharp, and the fourth on an acoustics study by Matthew Williams. In addition, the mentors of the two Beckman Scholars, Professors D. Alan Butterfield and Robin Cooper, have each contributed their reflections on the inclusion of undergraduates in their research laboratories. Besides these longer articles, there are numerous shorter reports of award-winning projects, summer and academic-year research activities, special programs and courses, and significant national and University academic awards. The full-color centerfold shows the grand prize winner in this year's Interior Design competition, a beautiful and graceful sculpture by Yasmin Bobyk-Salazar. The overall picture that emerges is one of a thriving, vibrant, and academically stimulating undergraduate experience at the University that results in scholarship of the highest quality.

Kaleidoscope would not be possible without the strong support of a large number of people. The President, the Provost, and the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies have been enthusiastically behind the concept and the development of this journal. The distinguished editorial board has provided excellent advice and assistance, both on the general conception of the journal and on soliciting and reviewing specific contributions. Each student author has a faculty mentor who is responsible for serving first as a referee who certifies that in his or her professional opinion the article is academically worthy of publication, and second as advisor to the student in conducting the study, preparing the initial paper, and making all necessary revisions for publication. Each of the mentors has given generously of his or her time. Without their support, such undergraduate scholarship would not be possible. The student authors have been particularly helpful and cooperative in the process of preparing their articles for publication. And, the production team - Teresa Shear, graphic designer/production coordinator; Evie Russell, administrative assistant; and UK freshman Matt Smith, Web designer/programmer - have done a superb job. Their product speaks for itself.

The online version of Kaleidoscope is available at www.uky.edu/kaleidoscope/fall2003. I urge you to visit the site because this year many additional items are available on the Web that are not included in the paper journal. For example, full-screen versions of the Edward Curtis photographs discussed by Courtney Stoll, unabridged versions of the Gaines theses, and an interesting article by a group of students taking the summer bioinformatics program are included.

I am extremely proud of this second issue of Kaleidoscope and I hope that you enjoy reading it. The success of this journal rests upon the outstanding undergraduate students at UK and their mentors. I hope that each of you will consider submitting your best work or that of your students for possible publication in future issues. A call for papers for the next volume is included in the back of this issue; complete information and guidelines are available at www.uky.edu/kaleidoscope.