1.         Record Number of Students Receive Degrees at 2002 Commencement

A record 3,957 students applied for degrees awarded on May 5 in the University of Kentucky’s 135th commencement in Memorial Coliseum.  The number of applicants for the May degrees in 2001 was 3,683. Commencement also honored students who earned degrees in August 2001 and December 2001.  The number of degree applications including those graduating in August and December totaled about 5,600.  The candidates for degrees this year included 849 graduate students, 329 students in the professions, 2,314 undergraduates and 465 associate degree students from Lexington Community College.

2.         UK Receives Lion’s Share of $13.5 Million EPSCoR Grant

Researchers at UK received $7.2 million in funding for research on biochemical and environmental sciences projects under a $13.5 million grant through the Kentucky Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).  The University’s share will be used to renovate facilities, purchase leading-edge research equipment, hire faculty researchers and support staff, and establish a statewide consortium of Kentucky researchers.  UK’s three components will focus on genomics, proteomics and environmental science.  The funds  $9 million from the National Science Foundation and $4.5 million from the state  were shared by UK, the University of Louisville and Murray State University.

3.         President Todd Accompanies Governor to Japan on Economic Development Trip

University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd Jr. accompanied Kentucky Governor Paul E. Patton to Japan in mid-May on a week-long mission to reinforce the Commonwealth’s standing as a business partner with that nation.  During the trip, Todd spoke with executives with numerous companies that already have facilities in Kentucky, as well as corporate leaders of firms considering the Bluegrass State as a business location.  Todd also encouraged the executives to consider participating in an internship program being developed by UK Japan Studies Director Douglas Slaymaker, in which UK students would spend up to one academic year working for a Japanese company in Japan.  Also on the trip to Japan were Kentucky’s First Lady Judi Patton, UK’s First Lady Patsy Todd, Kentucky Economic Development Secretary Marvin E. “Gene” Strong Jr. and state Business Development Commissioner Jim Navolio.

4.         UK Leads SREB States in Producing Minority Professors

UK had more graduates last year in the Southern Regional Education Board’s Doctoral Scholars program than any other university among the southern states participating in the program.  Four doctoral students completed their doctorates in 2001, and nine more are working toward their doctorates this year.  The program, launched in 1993 with funding from the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Ford Foundation, is part of a nationwide initiative, the Compact for Faculty Diversity, to increase the number of minority persons with doctorates and to encourage them to seek faculty positions.  The four UK students who completed their doctorates in 2001 were Alice Johnson, business and economics, now an assistant professor in the Belk College of Business at the University of North Carolina; Rana Johnson, communication, now with the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education in Frankfort; Shawn Long, communication, now an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte; and Kelly Ellis, English, now a faculty member at the University of Chicago.

5.         Annual CMN Celebration Benefits UK Children’s Hospital

Pediatric faculty and their patients were featured during the “Children’s Miracle Network Celebration,” which was broadcast May 31-June 1 from Fayette Mall in Lexington.  The UK Children’s Hospital is the local beneficiary for the 15th year of the annual Children’s Miracle Network campaign to raise money for 170 children’s hospitals across North America. In the past 15 years, CMN has raised more than $7.5 million for the UK Children’s Hospital.  Last year through CMN, Kentuckians gave $1,052,000 to UK Children’s Hospital, reaching the Hospital’s $1 million fund-raising goal.  

6.         International Leader Visits Sanders-Brown Center on Aging

Sister Rosemary Howarth, General Superior of the School Sisters of Notre Dame,
toured the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging at UK in May.  President Todd presented    Sister Rosemary, the international leader of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, with an honorary doctor of letters degree May 5, during the UK Commencement. The Nun Study is directed by  David Snowdon, neurology.  For over 10 years, the Nun Study has collected extensive data on 678 School Sisters of Notre Dame, who ranged in age from 75 to 107 years. The sisters have allowed UK scientists annually to assess their mental and physical function and to examine their brains at death. The sisters' involvement in the study has resulted in significant advances and discoveries in the area of Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders.

7.         Hospital and College of Nursing Participate in Nursing Pilot Residency Program

UK Hospital and the College of Nursing have teamed together to participate in one of
six pilot studies in the United States to develop a post-baccalaureate nursing residency program. In June, 20 new baccalaureate nursing graduates were employed as staff nurses at UK Hospital.  As a part of the residency program, they have a preceptor for guidance, a professional mentor and structured educational experiences with nurse experts to develop increased competencies in areas such as pain management, wound care, palliative care, and patient education. The goals of the study include increasing nurses’ satisfaction with their profession; decreasing turnover rates at hospitals; and functioning at higher levels of competence.

8.         Lung Cancer Researchers Receive Grants

The Kentucky Lung Cancer Research Program presented seven UK cancer researchers recently with grant awards funded through the Kentucky Tobacco Settlement Fund.  The following received awards:  David Kaetzel, molecular and biomedical pharmacology, $200,000;  Guo-Min Li, pathology and laboratory medicine, $147,772;  Stephen Zimmer, microbiology and immunology, $75,000;  Thomas Burke, pharmaceutical science, $200,000;  Jeffrey Moscow, pediatrics, $150,000;  Edward Hirschowitz, pulmonary and critical care medicine, $150,000; and  Daniel Noonan, biochemistry, $141,303.

9.         Two UK Psychology Professors Win National Awards

Two professors in the UK College of Arts and Sciences Psychology Department have won special recognition.  Suzanne Segerstrom, assistant professor of psychology, was awarded the $100,000 Templeton Positive Psychology Prize to support her research in the positive psychology field.  The award is divided as a $30,000 cash prize to be used any way Segerstrom chooses and a $70,000 grant to support her research.  Donald Lynam, associate professor of psychology, received the American Psychological Association’s 2002 Distinguished Scientific Early Career Contributions to Psychology Award. 

10.       College of Education’s Scollay Is Appointed Academic Ombud

President Todd has appointed Susan Scollay, associate professor of administration and supervision in the College of Education, as academic ombud for the 2002-2003 academic year.  She replaces Jeffrey Dembo, professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery in the College of Dentistry, who had served since 1998.

11.       Florida Firm Is Tapped to Identify Athletics Director Candidates

President Todd has selected Carr Sports Associates, Inc. of Gainesville, Fla., to help UK find a new athletics director.  The firm specializes in intercollegiate athletic searches and management consulting and is headed by William C. “Bill” Carr III, who has 10 years of experience in this work.  The firm has performed searches for athletics directors for North Carolina State University, Iowa State University, the University of Evansville, Montana State University, South Florida University, Washington State University and several other institutions.

12.       Family Studies Doctoral Program Reports Student Overflow in First Year

The College of Human Environmental Sciences’ new Family Studies Doctoral Program has dramatically increased its graduate enrollment after its first year – three to five years earlier than college officials anticipated.  Graduate enrollment in family studies jumped from 46 to more than 70 for the 2002-2003 academic year.  Four students began the doctoral program last fall, with another added in the spring semester.  Eight new doctoral students join the program this fall.

13.       Restorative Justice Advocate Is Inducted Into College of Social Work Hall of Fame

Linda Harvey, executive director and founder of Transformation House Inc. and a leader in the social work field for more than 40 years, has been inducted into the College of Social Work Hall of Fame.  A 1963 graduate of the college, Harvey is an advocate of restorative justice, an approach to criminal justice that seeks to put a human face on both victims and offenders.  Transformation House, a Lexington-based, non-profit community mediation organization Harvey established in 1995, has mediated hundreds of civil and criminal cases.

14.       Documentary Showcases Talents of UK’s Opera Showman

Filmmakers Eren Isabel McGinnis and Ari Luis Palos premiered “Impresario,” a documentary about the staging of an opera that showcases the talents of UK music Professor Everett McCorvey, at a special screening at the Kentucky Theatre in early May.  McCorvey performs a broad range of styles in the film, ranging from Mozart’s Don Giovanni to African-American spirituals.

15.       LCC Partners With Eastern to Provide ‘Seamless Education’

Lexington Community College President James Kerley signed agreements in April with Eastern Kentucky University President Joanne Glasser to provide a link between associate degree programs at LCC and related baccalaureate degree programs at EKU.  Under one agreement, LCC students who earn associate degrees in nursing, radiography, nuclear medicine, dental hygiene, dental laboratory technology and respiratory care now have direct access to EKU’s four-year programs in health services administration.  Another agreement makes LCC students who complete an associate degree in engineering technology, electronic option, eligible to enroll in EKU’s four-year programs in computer electronic networking and industrial technology.  Also, LCC students who complete the two-year architectural technology program may seek advanced study in EKU’s construction program.

16.       Sports Marketing Academy Awards Professional Certifications

The UK Gatton College of Business and Economics awarded the first professional certifications in sports marketing in early May at the fifth annual UK Sports Marketing Academy (UKSMA).  The academy offers professional certification in a three-year intensive program that requires participants to earn 72 module credit hours. Modules consist of three classroom contact hours and additional preparation time for the participants as required by the instructors. Participants enroll in six four-hour modules during each UKSMA session. Upon the successful completion of the program requirements, participants are awarded the designation of Sports Marketing Professional.

17.       UK Staff Elects First Staff Senators

Seventy-two senators representing 56 precincts were elected to UK’s first Staff Senate.  The senate will meet in an orientation session on June 17.  Its first meeting is set for July 11.  The senators will serve as liaisons to University administration, making suggestions and recommendations about staff-related matters.  A list of the senators, precincts and the areas they serve can be found online at www.uky.edu/Staff/Senate/TaskForce.

18.       Retreat Encourages Balance in Work and Life for UK Employees

President Todd convened UK's first Work-Life Retreat on June 3 in the President’s Room of the Singletary Center for the Arts.  The retreat is the first phase of Todd’s vision to enhance employee effectiveness by implementing university policies, procedures and practices that assist employees in fulfilling their personal as well as job-related responsibilities.

19.       New Online System Helps Students With Financial Aid

A new Web-based e-mail service from the UK Office of Student Financial Aid will help students manage their financial aid.  The service provides a Web site where students can locate and directly e-mail their financial aid counselors with questions they may have.

20.       Hospital Honors Nurses With Top Three Awards

UK Hospital distributed its top three nursing honors during National Nurses Week in May. Linda Watts, fifth floor, received the M. J. Dickson Quality Nursing Care Award, which is given to a staff nurse who has shown a commitment to professional nursing over the past year. Linda Holtzclaw, perioperative services, received the Diana Weaver Leadership/Management Award, which goes to a nurse who has shown dynamic leadership skills over the past year. The Magnet Recognition Award went to a group of UK Children's Hospital nurses who planned, developed and implemented an Outpatient Express Unit, which consists of six pediatric outpatient beds as well as three pediatric infusion chairs.

21.       Nursing Holds Safety Fair for Area Elementary Students

UK College of Nursing faculty and staff, in cooperation with the Good Samaritan Foundation, recently taught elementary students about staying safe during the summer at the Safety and Injury Prevention Fair held at the Lexington Children’s Museum. Nursing professionals were on hand at five stations in order to talk about water, vehicle, gun, sport and sun safety.  Approximately 400 students from Lexington and surrounding counties attended.

22.       Significant Activities of Students

Dharmesh Bhanushali, Membrane Sciences, won the first place award for his paper on “Solute Transport Models in Single and Mixed Solvents Through Solvent Resistant Nanofiltration Membranes” at the North American Membrane Society annual conference this spring.  He also won a first place award for his poster at the October 2001 Engineering Foundation Conference.

Jason Edwards, an Education doctoral student, has received a $10,000 national dissertation fellowship award from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute.

Josh Mahan, Political Science and History, received the $5,000 Sears Directors Cup Postgraduate Scholarship awarded by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and Sears Roebuck and Company.  Mahan is a student assistant in the UK Athletics Media Relations office.

Kim May, Membrane Sciences, won second place at the North American Membrane Society annual conference this spring for her paper “The Attachment of Endothelial Cells on Polymeric Membranes for Use as Biocompatible Ion-Selective Electrodes.”

Linda Wermeling, Social Work doctoral student, was one of 12 students selected nationwide to attend the 10th annual Summer Research Institute at Cornell University.  The 2002 institute was sponsored by the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect.

Lexington Community College recognized 14 students as outstanding graduates during LCC’s commencement.  Colleen McGrath Dussex, Nursing, was named LCC’s 2002 Outstanding Graduate. Dussex, a Winchester native, earned an Associate in Applied Science degree in Nursing from LCC. Recognized as Outstanding Program Graduates were Diana Ellen Harris, Architecture Technology; Stacy Ann Campbell, Arts; Cara Elizabeth Wilson, Science; Melissa Ann Alvarez, Business Technology; Alvin Andrew Tillery, Computer Information Systems; Andrea L. McGuire, Dental Hygiene; Belinda L. Caldwell, Dental Laboratory Technology; Stacy Ann Campbell,  Environmental Science Technology; Sarah Elizabeth Arnett, Nuclear Medicine; Janet L. Bertram, Nursing; Joy L. Wallace, Information Management and Design; Kriscindi Dawn McMillan, Radiography; and Julie A. Chi, Respiratory Care.

The UK American College of Healthcare Executives Student Chapter received a prestigious award from its national chapter for achieving the greatest percentage of graduating students advancing in ACHE between August 2000 and August 2001.

23.       Significant Faculty and Staff Activities

Allan Butterfield, Chemistry, was given an honorary doctorate at the 200th commencement of the University of Maine, his undergraduate alma mater.  Butterfield was recognized for achievements in National Institutes of Health-funded research on potential causes and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and for his commitment to mentoring under- represented persons, particularly females and persons from Appalachia, in the field of chemistry. 

Sylvia Daunert, Chemistry and Center of Membrane Sciences, was honored by the American Chemical Society for her achievements in Bioanalytical Chemistry Research, and recognized by the National Science Foundation for Research Creativity.

Diane Davey, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, has been appointed to a five-year term on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease. This journal is the official publication of the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology.

Burtron H. Davis, Center for Applied Energy Research associate director, won the American Chemical Society 2002 Henry H. Storch Award in Fuel Chemistry. The award recognizes distinguished contributions to fundamental or engineering research on the chemistry and utilization of coal or related materials during the last five years.

George A. Digenis, Pharmacy, was recognized during the annual Pharmaceutical Sciences Postgraduate Conference for his pioneering work in rapid synthesis of drugs labeled with short-lived isotopes and as the first scientist credited with applying gamma scintigraphy in the assessment of the in vivo performance of novel drug formulation.  He retired from the college in January.

Cortland Eble, Kentucky Geological Survey, is one of six American scholars participating in a three-year National Science Foundation international research project to study the fossil record of tropical plants that existed during the early part of an ice age 320 million years ago. The six-member research team in the United States is collaborating with seven scientists in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Adel Iskandar, Communication, appeared in mid-May on ABC-TV’s “Politically Incorrect” to discuss his book on the Arab television station, Al-Jazeera.

Pat Miller, Lexington Community College, received the 2002 Carolyn Beam Award at LCC’s commencement.  Presented annually to the outstanding LCC faculty member, the award was established as a living memorial to long-time LCC faculty member Carolyn Beam, who died in July 1990.  Recipients of this award must exhibit the qualities of professionalism, enthusiasm, humor, dedication and caring that enabled Beam to stimulate growth and development in students and others around her.

Paul Murphy, pathology and laboratory medicine, course director for medicine’s sophomore pathology course and the College of Pharmacy third-year pathology course, was selected by the pharmacy class as the College of Pharmacy Outstanding Third-Year Professor for 2001-02.  He also was selected for the award in 1998 and 2000.

Kenneth E. Record and Peggy Piascik, pharmacy, received Innovations in Teaching Competition Awards. The competition, in its 10th year, is sponsored by an educational grant from Merck and Co. Inc.  Record and Piascik will be honored by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Council of Faculties for "The Behavior Modification Experience: Application, Accountability and Coaching."

David Snowden, Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, received an honorary doctorate from Mount Mary College.

Dave Williams, Kentucky Geological Survey field manager in Henderson, received the American Institute of Professional Geologists-Kentucky Section Geologist of the Year Award.

Lexington Community College presented its 2001-2002 Outstanding Teaching Awards to Ninfa Floyd, Ryan Kelly, Toni Mills, Kimberly Ross-Brown, Robin Taylor and Charlene Walker.

Lexington Community College presented its 2001-2002 Outstanding Staff Awards, worth $600 each, to Carmolyn Back, Shannon Bentley, Melissa Elliott, Andrea Sanford and Sally Soard.