Sarah Bennett Holmes Award

Congratulations to the 2023 Sarah Bennett Holmes Award Recipients!

   Staff Award

Tiana Thè, Public Relations and Marketing 

Faculty Award

Dr. Cassandra Gipson-Reichardt, Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, College of Medicine 

Graduate Student Award

Alyssa Stubbers, Chemical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering 

Team Award

Inclusive Job Description Team, Human Development Institute 

Michele Laur, Kathy Sheppard-Jones, Jessica Whiting, Kimberly Wickert

Sarah Bennett Holmes Legacy

Sarah Bennett Holmes, a distinguished former Dean of Women at the University of Kentucky, tirelessly championed the rights of women throughout her career. Widowed at a young age, Holmes raised four children while completing her own education. She then began a successful career at UK where she inspired young women to persevere in the face of hardship and pursue their career goals. Among her accomplishments, Holmes developed work programs for women during the Depression.

In her honor, the UK Women's Forum created the Sarah Bennett Holmes Award. Since 1994, the annual Sarah Bennett Holmes Award has been bestowed upon UK employees who have achieved professional and personal success while promoting the growth and well-being of all women at the University of Kentucky and beyond.

The Awards

In 2021, the Sarah Bennett Holmes committee and UKWF Board decided to expand to four award categories: one staff recipient, one faculty recipient, one graduate student recipient, and a team-based award.  Individuals can be nominated or self-nominate unlimited times but may only win an award one time. Teams can be nominated multiple times but may only receive the Team Award one time for one project/initiative.  Descriptions for each of these awards can be found below.  

Faculty & Staff Awards 

The Sarah Bennett Holmes Faculty & Staff Awards recognize two UK employees, one faculty member and one staff member, for their contributions to issues that affect women at the University and across the Commonwealth. These awards bring recognition for efforts that would otherwise go unnoticed through typical channels. Award winners will receive a prize of $1000. All nominees will be recognized during the annual Sarah Bennett Holmes Awards ceremony in March.

Faculty & Staff Award nominees must:

• Be a full-time faculty or Staff at the University of Kentucky
• Identify as female, male, or gender nonconforming
• Demonstrate efforts to promote the growth and well-being of women at the University and/or throughout the Commonwealth
• Actively participate in professional, academic and/or public service activities at the University, community, or the Commonwealth
• Show resiliency and overcome personal, academic and/or professional obstacles
• Exemplify the values, morals and standards of Sarah Bennett Holmes in their personal, academic and/or professional endeavors  

Graduate Student Award

The Sarah Bennett Holmes Graduate Student award recognizes a graduate student for their contributions to issues that affect women at the University and across the Commonwealth.  This award brings recognition to efforts that would otherwise go unnoticed through typical channels.  Award winners will receive a prize of $1000. All nominees will be recognized during the annual Sarah Bennett Holmes Awards ceremony in March.

Graduate Student Award nominees must:

• Be a full time graduate at the University of Kentucky registered for the current award semester
• Identify as female, male, or gender nonconforming
• Demonstrate efforts to promote the growth and well-being of women at the University and/or throughout the Commonwealth
• Actively participate in professional, academic and/or public service activities at the University, community, or the Commonwealth
• Show resiliency and overcome personal, academic and/or professional obstacles
• Exemplify the values, morals and standards of Sarah Bennett Holmes in their personal, academic and/or professional endeavors  

Team Award

The Sarah Bennett Holmes Team Award recognizes a team of faculty, staff, students, and/or external partners who have shown efforts to promote the wellbeing and growth of women at the University and throughout the commonwealth.  Team awards submissions should demonstrate significant contributions to the women community at UK or in the community. All award nominees will be recognized at the Sarah Bennett Holmes Awards ceremony in March. 

Team Award nominees must:

• Be a group comprised of at least 50% faculty, staff, and/or student(s) at the University of Kentucky 
• Identify as female, male, or gender nonconforming
• Demonstrate efforts to promote the growth and well-being of women at the University and/or throughout the Commonwealth
• Actively participate in professional, academic and/or public service activities at the University, community, or the Commonwealth
• Show resiliency and overcome personal, academic and/or professional obstacles
• Exemplify the values, morals and standards of Sarah Bennett Holmes in their personal, academic and/or professional endeavors  

Past Recipients

​Visit our Facebook page for the video announcement.