The UK Alumni Association celebrated the recipients of 209 scholarships totaling $327,150 for the 2026-27 academic year during its annual Scholarship Celebration Dinner on Sept. 11.
The scholarships were made possible through the generosity of UK alumni clubs, individual donors, alumni constituent groups and the UK Alumni Association. During the 2025-26 fiscal year, alumni clubs contributed more than $240,867 toward scholarships, while the association, individual donors and constituent groups contributed an additional $95,871 — bringing total scholarship gifts for the year to $336,738.
The evening brought together scholarship recipients and the alumni, donors and volunteers who support them. Attendees heard remarks from UK Alumni Association President Kelly Holland and UK Vice President for Student Success Kirsten Turner. Carl Nathe, a longtime UK broadcaster and public address announcer for Kentucky football, guided guests through the student recognition portion of the program.
Molly Bachman, a senior from Madisonville, Kentucky, and president of the UK Alumni Ambassadors, shared how her experiences at UK have shaped her and encouraged fellow scholarship recipients to pursue the many opportunities available to them.
“With your help, students across all majors and colleges are able to fulfill their dreams,” Bachman shared. “The donations given hold more than just a monetary value; they represent the lasting commitment UK has to making every Wildcat star shine.”
Guests also learned about the growth of UK Alumni Association scholarship endowments. Their total value has increased from approximately $3.4 million in 2016 to nearly $15 million in 2026 through the continued support of alumni and donors.
Watch the videos shared during the Scholarship Celebration Dinner.
To learn more about the UK Alumni Association scholarship program, visit www.ukalumni.net/scholarships.
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