Honors Grants and Awards for Current Students

Deadline: Same as the EA Scholarship deadlines

The Lewis Honors College partners with the Education Abroad Office to offer additional funding to Honors students that have submitted an UK Education Abroad & Exchanges Scholarship. The Associate Dean will consider the merit of the proposal submitted to the EA Scholarship when making award decisions. Students only need to submit the application to the EA office to be considered and all students that do so will be considered.

Undergraduate Research Grants

Lewis Honors College has funds of its own and from the Office of Undergraduate Research to support undergraduate research, travel, and conference presentations.  For more information about undergraduate research funding guidelines, refer to this document from the UK Office of Undergraduate Research. Honors students are encouraged to apply for research funds from their home colleges and departments.  In cases where students earn support from multiple sources, they can collect up to but not over 100% of the cost of their program.  

Research Grants: Deadline: October 1 or March 1 

Fall, Spring, or Summer Grants (maximum request $1,500.)

Undergraduate research grants can be used to pay for research materials and supplies, poster printing costs and photocopying for research projects being directed by UK faculty. Funds can also be requested to pay for travel associated with performing the research. 

Undergraduate research can be transformational for many students. Conducting research builds skills in the lab, the field, the library and/or in creative spaces. This award is intended to help support Lewis Honors College students in trying something new or taking their undergraduate education to the next level in a wide variety of disciplines and research methodologies. Self-directed research under the supervision and mentorship of a faculty member is key for a student wishing to deepen their intellectual engagement. Any Lewis Honors College student in good standing is invited to apply for Undergraduate Research Grants. The Honors Grant Review Committee considers the following criteria when reviewing applications for funding:

• Research Description and Academic Alignment: Details about the research opportunity should be included. Priority is given to programs that have a reputation for being effective and economical. Strong applications will detail how participating in an undergraduate research experience will further serve academic and/or professional interests (i.e. How will the program lead you to better the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the world?  How will it help you explore your purpose, develop intellectually, and lead with integrity?).
• Academic Merit: In addition to GPA, we also comprehensively examine breadth of coursework across majors/minors; difficulty of course loads by semester; engagement in a variety of experiential education opportunities, including previous undergraduate research, service learning, or internships; and/or, co-curricular participation in student groups, organizations, and student government.
• Program Budget: A detailed budget with all expected expenses, details about other grants being applied for, and how costs will be covered if additional funds are unable to be attained should all be included.
• Faculty Recommendations: For the research grants, a faculty research advisor must also submit a letter of recommendation for the student, which clearly indicates the level of support of the faculty member to the research project. Letters should be sent directly to Pearl.James@uky.edu.

In addition, Honors students are encouraged to apply for research funds from their home colleges and departments.  In cases where students earn support from multiple sources, they can collect up to but not over 100% of the cost of their program. 

Travel Grants

Deadline: October 1 or February 1

Funds are available to support students presenting at professional conferences, covering costs such as airfare, hotel, and registration (maximum request $500).

Lewis Honors College students presenting their research at professional conferences or meetings are invited to apply for Research Travel Grants. Attending and presenting at conferences is one of the primary ways students are able to receive substantive feedback on their research, stay abreast of new theories and methodologies in their discipline, as well as engage in collegial networking.

• Conference Description and Academic Alignment: Details about the conference and the research being presenting must be clearly outlined. Priority is given to students traveling to conferences that have a reputation for being effective and economical.
• Academic Merit: In addition to GPA, we also comprehensively examine breadth of coursework across majors/minors; difficulty of course loads by semester; engagement in a variety of experiential education opportunities, including previous undergraduate research, service learning, or internships; and/or, co-curricular participation in student groups, organizations, and student government.
• Program Budget: A detailed budget with all expected expenses, details about other grants being applied for, and how costs will be covered if additional funds are unable to be attained should all be included.
• Faculty Recommendations: For the conference travel grants, a faculty advisor must also submit a letter of recommendation for the student, which clearly indicates the level of support of the faculty member to the research project. Letters should be sent directly to Pearl.James@uky.edu. 

Summer Program Grants

Deadline: February 1

Funds can be used to pay for domestic programs that will significantly contribute to the student’s scholarly activity (maximum request $2,000).

The Lewis Honors College offers competitive grant opportunities for Honors students pursuing domestic programs such as language intensives, fine arts intensives, internships or page programs in state government, national government, international organizations housed domestically, or similarly meritorious programs. This programming can help students develop new skills or discover their career trajectory through hands-on work. Students are encouraged to contact Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Pearl James to inquire whether the program has the appropriate scope and caliber to be considered for an award.

• Program Merit and Academic Alignment: Details about the program must be provided. Priority is given to programs that have a reputation for being effective and economical. Strong applications will detail how participating in an enrichment program or opportunity will further serve academic and/or professional interests (i.e. How will the program lead you to better the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the world?  How will it help you explore your purpose, develop intellectually, and lead with integrity?).
• Academic Merit: In addition to GPA, we also comprehensively examine breadth of coursework across majors/minors; difficulty of course loads by semester; engagement in a variety of experiential education opportunities, including previous undergraduate research, service learning, or internships; and/or, co-curricular participation in student groups, organizations, and student government.
• Program Budget: A detailed budget with all expected expenses, details about other grants being applied for, and how costs will be covered if additional funds are unable to be attained should all be included.
• Faculty Recommendations: Strong applications will include faculty recommendations that demonstrate a strong endorsement of the student and her/his goals for the enrichment program.

  *Instructions for applying and the application form can be found HERE.

Graduation Awards

The following graduation awards are presented at the Honors Medallion Ceremony. Students expecting to graduate in December are eligible to be nominated for the graduation awards presented in the Spring semester before they graduate. Nominations for May should be submitted via qualtrics no later than April 10.

• The Raymond Betts Crystal Award is given to an Honors student for outstanding service to the Lewis Honors College and the University of Kentucky community at large. 
• The Diachun Award is given to a graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding research talent in the form of his/her Independent Project and who holds high promise for further professional development in graduate school. This $1000 award is to be used for expenses in graduate or professional school.
• The Leadership Award is given to a graduating senior who has excelled at leadership positions at the university, college, or major level. 
• The Diachun Scholar recognition is bestowed on the graduating senior, majoring in science or a related field, who has the highest academic achievement in their graduating class.
• The Evans Scholar recognition is bestowed on the graduating senior, majoring in humanities or a related field, who has the highest academic achievement in their graduating class. The recognition includes a monetary award of $3,000, which can be spent in any way the recipient pleases. 

Selection for the Diachun and Evans Scholar Awards awards is based on cumulative GPA and course rigor at the end of December before the graduating year. Other academic accomplishments may be given consideration in order to make a selection: academic achievements such as election to Phi Beta Kappa or Sigma Xi; scholarships such as the Rhodes Scholarship or the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship; recommendations from thesis advisors; and breadth of intellectual interest. Students cannot be nominated by students, faculty, or staff. Nominees will be identified by the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and notified by March 15. Notified students who wish to be considered for these awards are required to submit a resume and personal statement by April 1.