The Big Blue Family is Glad You are Home

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 21, 2015) – We have been waiting all summer for today. It is time to officially welcome all of our Wildcats to their Kentucky home!

It is an exciting time at the University of Kentucky as we are in the midst of the largest transformation of our physical campus in its 150-year history. This week we opened the doors to the complete Woodland Glen community — five residence halls where nearly 2,500 Wildcats will live and learn together.

We celebrated the opening of The 90 - our newest campus dining facility and the "kitchen table" for students, faculty and staff.

We honored Lyman T. Johnson, the first African American to be admitted to the University of Kentucky, by naming a residence hall after him. Formerly known as Central I, Lyman T. Johnson Hall proudly overlooks the heart of campus, the William T. Young Library — a place Johnson himself would be delighted to know was serving the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

By the end of the day on Saturday, Aug. 22, more than 6,600 Wildcats will be settling in to their residence halls.

However, there is one more celebration we have planned for our campus community. The long-standing, popular tradition of K Week kicks off today.

K Week runs from Friday, Aug. 21, through Saturday, Aug. 29 — a week filled with more than 150 events and activities that help students get oriented with campus, get involved with student life and get connected to the city of Lexington. K Week is known as “the best way to get started at UK,” and is a great opportunity to make new friends, explore all the university has to offer and have some fun along the way.

K Week officially begins Friday evening with residence hall floor meetings at 6 p.m. followed by K Week Kick-off, where new students will meet their K Crew leaders and K Teams for the first time. K Teams are small groups of 10–15 students who are led by a veteran UK student, their K Crew leader. Meeting in these small groups quickly gives all students a chance to meet a few of their classmates and connects them to a returning student who can be a resource for them throughout the year.

Additionally, parents and families are welcomed to join faculty, staff and administrators on Friday evening for the Parents and Families Reception at the newly opened Starbucks at the William T. Young Library, the largest Starbucks on a college campus, while new students attend student-only events.

Saturday is full of sessions to answer everything you wanted to know about college, but have never asked, from how to navigate campus to keeping your car out of impound. At 3:30 p.m., the university community officially welcomes our newest Wildcats at the New Student Induction Ceremony. The ceremony will be live streamed; click here to watch!

At 6:30 p.m. Saturday, student-only activities begin, and so does all the fun (don't tell your families)! Highlighting Saturday night is two of K Week’s most popular events, Big Blue U and Campus Ruckus. Big Blue U introduces new students to the Big Blue Nation. Students learn what it means to be a Wildcat by learning UK’s cheers and songs and hearing from UK coaches and student-athletes. Students are then led onto the field at Commonwealth Stadium for an official class photo.

Immediately following Big Blue U, students head to Johnson Center Fields for Campus Ruckus. The Student Activities Board and other student organizations will be there with games, information and lots of free stuff!

K Week is full of fun that any Wildcat would not want to miss! Below is a list of key K Week events; for the full schedule visit www.uky.edu/KWeek. Connect with K Week on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and use #KWeek to share your K Week experiences!

Returning Wildcats - please note: Several traditional K Week events have relocated due to construction on campus. Below is an abbreviated schedule; visit the K Week website for complete information.

Friday, Aug. 21

Residence Hall Floor Meeting

6 – 7 p.m.

Designated locations

If you live in a University residence hall, please join your Resident Advisor (RA) for you first official floor meeting at 6 p.m. There you’ll get to know your neighbors and start the school year off right. See your RA for additional information.

Parent and Families Reception

6 – 8 p.m.

Starbucks at Young Library

While students participate in the K Week Kick-off, the first social activity of K Week, parents and families are invited to meet and mingle with UK administrators, faculty and fellow UK parents. There will be activities for younger siblings and family members.

K Team Meeting: K Week Kick-off

7 p.m.

Johnson Center Fields

Students, this is your first don’t-miss event! Tonight you will meet your K Team and K Crew leader. You’ll be spending a lot of time with them during K Week. This is the perfect opportunity to get to know everyone. When you arrive at Johnson Center Fields just look for a sign with your K Team number (indicated on the nametag you received in your K Week packet at check-in). Your K Crew leader will be there waiting to meet you!

Midnight Dodgeball

Midnight

Johnson Center

Saturday, Aug. 22

Academic and Information Sessions

9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Designated campus locations

New Student Induction Ceremony

3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Memorial Coliseum; view the live stream online

Students, family members and guests are invited to join President Eli Capilouto and other members of the University community to commemorate the start of a new school year. All new students are expected to attend this annual University celebration where they will be officially inducted into the UK family. Parents, families and guests are encouraged to attend.

K Team Meeting: K Week Overview

6:30 p.m.

Johnson Center Fields

All new students will attend a meeting to learn more about the fun activities planned during K Week. This is also a great opportunity to ask questions of returning students who are eager to show you the best way to get started at UK! After your meeting, your K Team will march to Commonwealth Stadium for Big Blue U.

Big Blue U

Following K Team Meetings

Commonwealth Stadium

Join the Big Blue Nation with a march into Commonwealth Stadium. You’ll learn UK cheers and songs, hear from UK coaches, and get your class photo taken on the football filed! Be sure to wear UK blue to show your Wildcat pride. Go Cats!

Campus Ruckus

Following Big Blue U

Johnson Center Fields

Campus Ruckus is the perfect event to kick off the school year! Come join us after Big Blue U for great activities, inflatables, music and a huge firework show to end the night. Student organizations will have games and fun information to let you know what all UK has to offer. There will be free food, drinks and tons of free T-shirts too! This event is a UK and Student Activities Board tradition. We hope to see you there!

Sunday, Aug. 23

K Team Meeting: Lunch and Campus Tour

1 – 3 p.m.

Designated locations

All new students will meet with their K Teams for lunch and a campus tour to help them find their classes. Check with your K Crew leader to find out where to meet. Plus, at the conclusion of your tour you will receive a free K Week T-shirt (while supplies last).

Academic and Information Sessions

4 - 7 p.m.

Designated loctions

UK Lex-Mart

3 – 5 p.m.

Main Building Lawn

New to town? Don’t know where to shop? Or just want free stuff? Stop by UK Lex-Mart, our community business fair! Local stores, restaurants, and other businesses will be on hand to welcome you to Lexington. Come check out what services they have to offer, enjoy tasty treats, and stock up on coupons and giveaways.

Bowman's Bash

8 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Bowman's Den and Singletary Center for the Arts

Don’t miss this new K Week addition as we celebrate the best our campus has to offer. Campus organizations have come together to bring you free food, music, art, inflatables, movies, comedians, novelties and more. Rumor has it that the live camel is back, and of course, don’t miss the free T-shirts! Be a part of K Week’s newest tradition!

Monday, Aug. 24

UK FUSION

10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Johnson Center Fields

Come one, come all to FUSION 2015, featuring energizing Zumba lessons, free food, speeches from community leaders, and a whole lot of service! This annual gathering of students, faculty, and staff is the largest single-day service event in the Commonwealth of Kentucky! Each year more than 1,100 participants volunteer at 75+ sites in Lexington.

Service activities vary from outside yard work to painting and from sorting items in offices to serving meals in soup kitchens! Join more than a thousand other Wildcats in connecting to our community, and get to know one another even better at the carnival-themed after party on Johnson Center Fields until 5 p.m.! Food and drinks will be provided. Sign up for FUSION now at uky.volunteermatch.org by creating an account and searching for FUSION 2015. Those who pre-register on VolunteerMatch are able to pick their site in advance. Individuals who have not preregistered will have an opportunity to do so in the on-field registration line but are not guaranteed the project of their choice.

Academic and Information Sessions

3 - 5 p.m.

Locations across campus

K Team Meeting: Dinner with your K Team

5 – 7 p.m.

Designated locations

All new students will meet with their K Teams for dinner.

Kentucky @ Kroger

9 p.m. – midnight

Buses will run continuously during the event and will pick up and drop off students at Wildcat Alumni plaza on Euclid Ave. across from Memorial Coliseum AND at the corner of University Drive and Huguelet Drive

Don’t miss this fun opportunity to catch a bus with other UK students and enjoy a late-night shopping excursion to the Kroger on Euclid. Stock up on laundry detergent, items for your residence hall room, soft drinks, snacks and anything else you might need to be at home on campus. You’ll be able to buy all this and more while enjoying discounted shopping, free food, cool activities and prizes!

Tuesday, Aug. 25

College Meeting Day

Various times

Designated locations

All new students are expected to attend.

Agriculture, Food and Environment

11:30 a.m.

Alumni Plaza adjacent to Agricultural ScienceCenter

Arts & Sciences

9 a.m.

Singletary Center for the Arts

Communication and Information

10 a.m.

213 Kastle Hall

Design

10 a.m.

209 Pence Hall

Education

9 a.m.

Front Lawn of Taylor Education Building

Engineering

10 a.m.

Memorial Hall

Fine Arts

Arts Administration 10 a.m. 308B Fine Arts Library

School of Art and Visual Studies 9:30 a.m. School of Art & Visual Studies Building

School of Music 10 a.m. Study Room 1, Fine Arts Library

Theater and Dance 10 a.m. Guignol Theatre

Gatton College of Business and Economics

10 a.m.

Business & Economics Building

Health Sciences

8 a.m.

Charles T. Wethington Building

Nursing

1 p.m.

NURS 201

Public Health

Noon

115 College of Public Health

Social Work

10 a.m.

645 Patterson Office Tower

Undergraduate Studies

10 a.m.

Students will receive an email with their designated check-in location (106 or 118 White Hall Classroom Building, The Hub at W.T. Young Library or 107 Morgan Biological Sciences Building).

K Team Meeting: Common Reading Experience Discussion

4:15 - 5:15 p.m.

Designated locations

All freshmen are expected to meet with their K Team for a small-group discussion session and to turn in their QLC assignment. These sessions will not only allow new students to participate in the campuswide Common Reading Experience but will also allow them to get last-minute questions answered by their K Crew leader. Participants will receive a free T-shirt from their K Crew leader at We Are UK for having their QLC assignment (while supplies last). Come even if you haven’t read the book. You can still talk and share your perspectives.

We Are UK

5:30 – 8 p.m.

Memorial Hall Amphitheater

We Are UK is an exciting event that celebrates the uniqueness of the UK community. This festival includes a variety of free food from Kentucky and from around the world. You’ll also see live performances ranging from hip-hop to country, poetry to debate, and other random talents from UK students, faculty, and staff.

Wednesday, Aug. 27

First day of classes!

Welcome Festival

5 p.m.

King Alumni House and Stuckert Career Center

Thursday, Aug. 28

Residence Hall Floor Meetings

7 p.m.

Your Residence Hall

If you live in a university residence hall, please join your Resident Advisor (RA) for an official floor meeting at 7 p.m. Get to know your neighbors and start the school year off right. See your RA for additional information.

Friday, Aug. 29

Sea of Blue

All Day

Show everyone what kind of Wildcat you really are! Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to wear UK blue to show our Wildcat pride! “GO CATS!”

DanceBlue U

6 - 9 p.m.

Seaton Center

This event will be an abbreviated DanceBlue to show new students why they should get involved with UK’s biggest philanthropy event.

World’s Largest Water Balloon Fight

9 - 10 p.m.

Johnson Center Fields

Help us once again shatter the world record for the World’s Largest Water Balloon Fight! Thousands of people. 200,000+ balloons. UK ID required. Bad weather? Check website.

MEDIA CONTACT: Katy Bennett, katy.bennett@uky.edu