By Ralph Derickson

"Skeeter's family and the college are thrilled with the tremendous outpouring of support the fund has received so far. Skeeter was very important to many of UK's student-athletes, and they have been eager to offer their time to help."

-- Mary Ann Vimont, director of development, UK College of Education

Aug. 26, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) -- The College of Education will premiere its first annual "Scramble for Skeeter" celebrity-amateur golfing event Friday, Sept. 6.

Dozens of UK celebrities, including basketball stars, Dan Issel, Kyle Macy, Louie Dampier, Larry Conley, Coach Tubby Smith and Coach Joe B. Hall, and football greats, Dermontti Dawson, George Blanda, Vito "Babe" Parilli, Derrick Ramsey and Jeff Van Note, among many others, will participate in the golf scramble to raise money for the Bernard "Skeeter" Johnson Education Fund. The event will be one of the largest events ever sponsored by the UK College of Education.

The Bernard M. "Skeeter" Johnson Education Fund was established in memory of one of UK's most beloved professors who served as director of campus recreation for more than 20 years. Johnson died in May 2001, prompting friends, family members and faculty from the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion to establish a fund in his honor. Since then, there has been a groundswell of support from UK alumni to make the fund a permanent resource for the support of UK College of Education students.

"Skeeter's family and the college are thrilled with the tremendous outpouring of support the fund has received so far," said Mary Ann Vimont, director of development for the College of Education. "Skeeter was very important to many of UK's student-athletes, and they have been eager to offer their time to help."

A celebrity Wildcat Downtown Shootout will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, at various locations in downtown Lexington. Teams of Wildcat athlete-celebrities will play to win a $10,000 scholarship to be donated to the Skeeter Johnson Education Fund in their name. On Friday, Sept. 6, the Celebrity-Amataeur Golf Scramble will be held at Kearney Hill Links.

Groups will consist of one celebrity and four participants. There will be morning and afternoon tee-offs. Affiliation with the University of Kentucky is not required to participate.

In addition to the golf scramble, the college will host a gala Friday evening for celebrity guests and scramble participants at the Marriott Griffin Gate Resort. A silent auction and dance will follow the reception featuring music by The Torques.

For detailed information about participating in the golf scramble and reception, call Scramble for Skeeter at (859) 225-6550 or contact Vicki Sageser by clicking here or Mary Ann Vimont by clicking here.

For more information, visit the Scramble for Skeeter Web site by clicking here.