Campus Feature
Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Center receives the President’s Award for Commitment to Campus Diversity
University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd Jr.‚ accompanied by Allan Richards‚ chair of the President’s Commission on Diversity‚ recently presented the sixth annual President’s Awards for Diversity in honor and appreciation of those who have demonstrated outstanding efforts toward advancing UK’s mission to embrace diversity while maintaining academic excellence. The awards went to one student‚ Nirmal Ravi; three faculty members‚ Joan Callahan‚ Karl Raitz and Christopher Schardl; one staff member‚ Marietta Watts; one administrator‚ Jay Perman; and one university unit‚ the Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Center.
The winner of the agency award for diversity is the UK Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Center (MLKCC)‚ the premier place on campus for the promotion of diversity and inclusiveness. Since 1987‚ the mission of the center has been to help connect people by providing a space for interaction‚ fostering an understanding and appreciation of African-American and Latino peoples of America‚ while showing how diversity intersects‚ overlaps and complements the cultures of African‚ European‚ Asian/Pacific Islanders‚ Caribbean‚ and the indigenous peoples. The center provides cultural programming‚ student support and development‚ and community outreach‚ all designed to foster truth and integrity‚ creativity and resourcefulness‚ and‚ most importantly‚ respect and acceptance. The MLKCC has had a lasting impact on diversity at the University of Kentucky.
UK Catering Supports Taste of Our World‚ Cultural Diversity Celebration
The highly popular Taste of Our World featured an expanded menu of 28 foods and drinks from around the world. The affordable smorgasbord of epicurean delights - with international entertainment and a 10‚000 Villages sale - was held on March 26 in the Student Center Grand Ballroom. The foods were prepared and presented by UK Catering Services. Over 1‚300 people attended this popular event!
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| A record crowd of over 1‚300 students‚ faculty and staff attended this year’s “Taste” | Mahjabeen Rafiuddin visits with Dr. Todd‚ Stu Silberman‚ and Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry at the Taste of Our World opening ceremony |
Student News
First UK Student Leader Study Abroad Institute (SLSAI) is major success!
Danielle Rose, a member of the institute‚ shares her experience:
“I have always desired to travel outside of the country‚ but never once did I imagine studying abroad in Europe at one of the most prestigious universities in the world!
This dream always seemed unrealistic to me because of finances and the time commitment that was involved. My schedule is always so busy during the school year‚ how was I ever going to find time to leave work and the country for at least a semester?
This past summer‚ however‚ studying abroad became a reality for me when I had the privilege to study at the University of Cambridge and the University College London in England July 22-31‚ 2007. An eight-day program was perfect for me because of the relative short time frame and the reasonable cost to participate.
I traveled with the Student Leader Study Abroad Institute (SLSAI). This institute‚ sponsored by the University of Kentucky‚ offers opportunities for college students to learn leadership paradigms and to experience the different social‚ cultural‚ and economic aspects of England. I was a part of the inaugural class‚ along with 13 other student leaders from around the country (and one from Qatar).
Patricia S. Terrell‚ UK Vice President for Student Affairs‚ is the director of the program. Nancy Johnson‚ Associate Dean of the UK Gatton College of Business and Economics‚ and Fred Rhodes‚ Vice President for Student Affairs at Bellarmine University‚ assist with the program as well.
While at Cambridge‚ we explored the town and the university’s campus during the first four days of the trip. The final four days were spent in downtown London where we visited almost all of the tourist attractions‚ including Buckingham Palace (no‚ I couldn’t get the guard to talk)‚ Westminster Abbey‚ Big Ben‚ Mary Poppins the Musical at Prince Edwards Theatre‚ The Tower of London‚ Tower Bridge (known as London Bridge to many)‚ and lots of shopping/restaurants. Let’s just say that sleep was not part of the agenda during the trip because we wanted to experience everything that London had to offer.
Looking back on the trip‚ I can say that it was one of the best experiences I have had while in college! This adventure allowed me to hone my leadership skills through study‚ meet new people from around the world‚ see London up close and personal‚ and to reflect on my future career aspirations. What an awesome way to spend a summer!”
Danielle Rose‚ UK senior‚ Integrated Strategic Communication
Spotlight Student
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