2024 Cat Captures Calendar Photo Contest Winners

For nearly 20 years, the UK Alumni Association wall calendar has been a popular member benefit for Life and Active Members. Now, for the first time ever, we are honored to present the Cat Captures calendar featuring photos captured by members of the Wildcat family. Nearly 300 photos were submitted in the Cat Captures Calendar Photo Contest, so picking only 12 was a challenge. A Big Blue thank you to everyone who participated and congratulations to those with photos featured in the 2024 UK Alumni Association calendar! 

If you would like to learn more about becoming a Life or Active Member of the UK Alumni Association and receive benefits like the alumni calendar, visit www.ukalumni.net/membership.

January  

Marvelous Main 
A deep blanket of snow surrounds the Main Building on a cold winter day. Opened in 1882, the Main Building, sometimes called the Administration Building, was one of four original structures on the current University of Kentucky campus and the only one still standing today. The bricks used in its construction were made with rock and clay from the campus grounds.  

Photo credit: Mark Thurman ’15  

February  

Wildcat Love 
Don’t you just love a good Wildcat love story? Jonathan Martin and Kiley Hawk reenact a photo taken four years earlier during their freshman year when they first started dating. When this picture was taken before their graduation in 2022, they were engaged to be married! Best wishes for many happy years!

Photo credit: Carla Martin, UK Parent  

March

Conquering Cats 
UK senior Hadley Carmichael celebrates the completion of her trek to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world. At UK, commitment and perseverance are characteristics that are instilled in its community and push the Wildcat family to conquer whatever mountain lies ahead.  

Photo credit: Steve Carmichael, UK Parent

April

Spring Splendor 
Do you recall walking the tree and flower lined paths on campus? Spring is a lovely and exciting time at UK and this photo captures the essence of our beautiful campus in vibrant color. Can’t you smell the freshly cut grass, hear the birds chirping and feel a warm breeze blowing in your hair? 

Photo credit: Xu Zhang ’17, UK staff 

May

Grateful Grads 
When May rolls around emotions are in overdrive at the University of Kentucky. From gratitude to joy, pride and relief, Wildcats are preparing for a great achievement — graduation. The UK Alumni Association is pleased so many graduates participate in the tradition of “graduation pics in the plaza” with Bowman, the Wildcat sculpture in Wildcat Alumni Plaza.

Photo credit: Tim Plummer ’91 

June  

Diamond Rainbow  
A perfectly pristine rainbow stretches across Kentucky Proud Park, the home of Kentucky Wildcat baseball. Here’s to hoping it is a sign of many more outstanding seasons to come! The Wildcats made it all the way to the NCAA College World Series super regional round in 2023 for the second time in school history.  

Photo credit: Jill Smith ’05,’11, UK Staff

July 

A Different Point of View 
A brilliant blue sky bathed in Kentucky sunshine shows through the skylights of William T. Young Library. This photo captures a unique view of UK’s largest library which offers over eight acres of floor space and holds 37 miles of shelving for its extensive book collection.  

Photo credit: Susan L. Wilton, UK Staff

August 

Common Bond 
Alumni Commons, a new outdoor living and learning space on campus opened in August 2023. The UK Alumni Association is proud to have played a major role in the actualization of the new space which is dedicated to the entire Wildcat family and will be a place to honor the past, celebrate the present and shape the future for generations to come.  

Photo credit: Janie McKenzie-Wells ’83,’86 

September  

Put Me In Coach 
Bennie, the rough and tumble pug mix, is suited up and ready to take the field with the Kentucky football team! Like Bennie, the whole Wildcat family has their eye on the goal line this time of year in anticipation of the college football season ahead.  

Photo credit: Dan Knapp ’93,’96, UK Staff

October 

Campus Colors 
If you enjoy fabulous fall colors, come walk the paths of campus in October! The vibrant hues of red, yellow, orange and green captured in this photo are only a snapshot of the exquisite beauty and palpable energy you’ll find on an impressive autumn afternoon at the University of Kentucky.  

Photo credit: Eliza Crans, UK Student

November  

Rising Above 
University of Kentucky Volleyball player, Azhani Tealer, positions herself for a spectacular spike. This action shot captures the excitement of the match and embodies the Wildcat spirit that drives us to rise above adversity.  

Photo credit: Kenneth Williams ’88 

December 

Still No.1 
The Albert B. Chandler Hospital sign may be covered in snow, but not even a harsh winter storm can stop its people from serving patients from all over the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In 2023, the UK hospital was ranked the No. 1 hospital in Kentucky and the Bluegrass Region by U.S. News & World Report for the eighth year in a row.

Photo credit: Ben Jones,’14, UK Staff