Contact: Kathy Johnson

(click photo to enlarge)
(left to right) Doris Wilkinson, Donald E. Witt II, James Kerley, Delicia M. Haynes, Joseph W. Kelly, Joseph E. Lambert, and Lauretta Byars

Recipient Highlights

The President’s Commission on Diversity, created by Todd when he became UK’s president two years ago, developed the awards, the criteria and selection process. In the call for nominations, the commission stated “If Kentucky and this nation are to prosper through the efforts of all its citizenry, then all citizens must realize, understand and embrace diversity.”

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 29, 2003) -- The inaugural University of Kentucky President’s Awards for Diversity were presented today to one organization and six individuals who have taken successful and exemplary actions to advance UK’s mission of diversity.

In making the presentation at the Hilary J. Boone Center on UK’s campus, UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. thanked the winners for their outstanding work in the area of diversity. “Thank you for your vision and your courage, for caring enough to keep us focused on diversity and for making the University of Kentucky a better place because of it,” Todd said.

Twenty-nine individuals and three UK units or programs were nominated in five categories. The award winners by category are

• UK student – Delicia M. Haynes, doctoral candidate, College of Medicine
• UK faculty member/administrator – Lauretta Byars, associate provost, Multicultural and Academic Affairs and Doris Wilkinson, professor, Department of Sociology
• UK staff member – Donald E. Witt II, director of Undergraduate Admission and University Registrar
• UK unit/program – Lexington Community College
• Kentucky agency, organization or individual (non-student and non-employee) who has assisted UK in diversity efforts – Joseph W. Kelly, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Columbia Gas of Kentucky and Joseph E. Lambert, chief justice, Kentucky Supreme Court.

Each award winner received a plaque and $500.

The President’s Commission on Diversity, created by Todd when he became UK’s president two years ago, developed the awards, the criteria and selection process. In the call for nominations, the commission stated “If Kentucky and this nation are to prosper through the efforts of all its citizenry, then all citizens must realize, understand and embrace diversity.”

Criteria for the awards include excellence through research, teaching or service in the advancement of the basic principles of diversity at UK; best practices in an aspect of diversity which promotes UK in this arena; and a pattern of excellence relating to diversity issues in the workplace and in the university community that contributes substantially to the advancement of diversity at UK.

The President’s Awards for Diversity will be presented annually at the university.