Leap Year Wildcats Prepare to Celebrate

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 28, 2020) — Some say "age ain't nothing but a number," but we think 26 of our Wildcats would disagree. This Saturday, a small group of University of Kentucky students will take the time to celebrate a big milestone in their life — their fifth birthday — on Leap Day, Feb. 29.

A couple interesting facts about UK's Leap Year babies:

• more than 75% are pursuing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) degrees.  
• 54% percent identify as male, 46% as female.
• the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering are tied with the most Leap Year babies at seven each.
• the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment; Gatton College of Business and Economics; College of Health Sciences; Lewis Honors College; College of Medicine; College of Nursing; College of Public Health; and College of Social Work are all home to at least one Leap Year baby.
• there is a Leap Year baby or babies in all of the undergraduate classes — freshman, sophomore, junior and senior — with more than 61% classified as sophomores or juniors.
• three Leap Year babies are pursuing graduate or professional degrees.
• five of UK's Leap Year babies are mechanical engineering students.
• less than one percent of the student body are Leap Year babies.

UKNow caught up with a few of these Wildcats to find out more about what it is like to have a Leap Year birthdate.

Most of UK's Leap Year babies agree, having this unique birthdate is more fun than annoying and is a great conversation starter.

“There's always someone who responds with ‘wait so you're only 5 years old?’ Yes, I am only 5 years old,” said Nathan Vermilion, a neuroscience junior from Nicholasville, Kentucky. “But overall, a Leap Day birthday is a pretty great time. … I have always had a fun time with the idea of only having the same amount of birthdays as a toddler.”

"I actually think it is really awesome, and super cool. I always have the best ice breaker fact in a new class," said Spencer Combs, a mechanical engineering sophomore from West Chester, Ohio. "Sometimes classmates don't even realize what Leap Day is, and how it keeps our calendar on track.

"I remember when I was younger, kids would make fun of me for being 3 or 4 'years old,' but I would consider that only three or four birthdays. I actually lived a lot longer. Also most people do not know that every 100 years, there is no Leap Day that year, but every 400th year, there is a Leap Day!"

When it is not a Leap Year, these Wildcats say most of their fellow leapers celebrate their birth on Feb. 28.

"My family and I would always celebrate on the 28th," Combs said. "Some could say that is a day early but then isn't everyone else's birthday a fourth of a day early every three years? I like to keep my celebration in February also."

Marketing and management junior Grace Bradley, of Louisville, Kentucky agreed. "I have always celebrated on Feb. 28th rather than March 1st. For me I have always considered my birthday to be the last day of February, even if it’s not a leap year."

And when it is a Leap Year, Leap Day birthdays are extra special for these Wildcats and their families.

"It is a big deal to my family," said Nathan Cracraft, a mechanical engineering senior from Maysville, Kentucky. "We will go eat at a nice restaurant and everything because it is a Leap Year."

For Bradley, every four years her birthdays are not only larger but her family and friends have chosen to celebrate with her in more "childlike" ways, including a tradition of taking a trip to Build-A-Bear to mark the occasion beginning at age 4 (er, 1), as well as a very special third birthday in elementary school.

"Mostly, it means a lot more fun," Bradley said. "Although some people don’t enjoy only having a real birthday once every four years, I feel like it makes the true birthdays a lot more special. It seems that everyone remembers my birthday, and sometimes that makes for an interesting day.

"I remember in sixth grade when I was celebrating my third birthday a lot of my classmates brought me gifts, but each with a twist. Everything they brought were toddler toys, so I went home that day with my arms full of stuffed animals and small snacks."

So, what's on the agenda for these Wildcats this weekend? Well, most of this group shares one more thing in common, a desire to ring in their new year cheering on the Cats.

"Since it is on a Saturday this year, my whole family is coming to Lexington and planning on watching the UK vs Auburn game then going out to eat that evening," Cracraft said.

And the game will be the start of Combs and Bradley's birthday itineraries as well. "I’ll be spending most of my day in line for the game and then actually watching it," Bradley said. "After that I plan on continuing my Leap Day tradition of going to Build-A-Bear, but this time I’ll be going with a few friends while I am away from family this year. For the rest of the evening I’ll probably eat some birthday cake and maybe pick up a free milkshake from Tolly Ho’s to end the day’s celebrations."

Happy Birthday, Wildcats!