ICYMI: A look back on some of the biggest UK stories of the year

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 23, 2025) — As we near the close of another academic term, I want to pause to say thank you — and to reflect on what this community has made possible together. 

Each semester brings a moment of transition and promise as students prepare to take their next steps, ready for meaningful careers and lives of purpose. None of that happens without the steadfast dedication of our faculty and staff — through teaching and advising, problem-solving and care, often behind the scenes. For that commitment, I am deeply grateful. 

And this year, “the power of we” was on full display. Across our campuses and across Kentucky, you advanced ideas, strengthened partnerships, supported students, expanded opportunity and moved our mission forward in ways that will endure well beyond a single term. 

What follows is a snapshot of what we made possible this year — together. 

The year in video:

From the best moments of K-Week and profiles about our amazing students — to major gift announcements and Commencement celebrations — here's a playlist of the Top 20 most-viewed videos that ran on UKNow in 2025.

The year in photos:

From quiet moments studying to campus celebrations, here are some of the UK photographers' favorite photos of the year.

The year in stories:

Education, research, health care and more — these stories are just a small representation of how UK is advancing the Commonwealth.

Jan. 16, 2025: 
UK HealthCare, Ky. AG collaborate on state’s first-ever toolkit to protect from strangulation 
UK HealthCare, the Office of the Kentucky Attorney General and other partners announced an important new collaborative to improve health and safety in the Commonwealth: the state’s first-ever toolkit to combat the crime of strangulation. 

Jan. 27, 2025: 
Innovative storytelling projects showcase the ‘care’ behind College of Medicine 
The UK College of Medicine launched “Because We Care,” a four-part docuseries that delves into the heart of the college’s mission. The series captures the college’s history, from its establishment in the late 1950s to its current role as a leader in medical education and health care innovation. It emphasizes not just the achievements but the people who make them possible — faculty, learners, researchers and staff who work tirelessly to improve the lives of Kentuckians. 

Jan. 29, 2025 
Markey home to 2 breakthrough therapeutic cancer vaccine trials 
The UK Markey Cancer Center is among an elite group of institutions to offer two groundbreaking trials using vaccines to target pancreatic cancer and nonsmall cell lung cancer — cancer types that are among the most aggressive and challenging to treat. 

Feb. 14, 2025: 
10 dates and 35 years later, UK alums reflect on love, illness and caregiving 
After a whirlwind romance and hometown wedding, a young wife and husband faced life-changing diagnoses. Thirty-five years later, UK alums Marietta and Jeff Baxter share their story through a new book, donating the proceeds to multiple sclerosis research at UK. 

Feb. 17. 2025:  
UK pediatric patient 1st in US to receive new cochlear implant technology 
Diagnosed with profound hearing loss at a young age, DuJuan Broadus Jr. and his family sought care from UK HealthCare’s nationally ranked ENT program. Under their care, the 10-year-old became the first patient in the United States to receive a FLEX 34 electrode from hearing implant leader MED-EL, recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration. 

March 6, 2025: 
‘Behind the Blue’: An oral history on 5 years of COVID-19 in Kentucky 
In this episode of “Behind the Blue,” eight longtime employees from the medical side of UK’s campus, ranging from administrators to frontline health care providers to researchers reflect on the scary, early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, how it impacted their professional and personal lives and some of the lessons learned from living through such a significant moment in history. 

March 18, 2025:  
James B. Beam Institute launches Kentucky Wildcask Bourbon: A groundbreaking student-created bourbon brand 
Kentucky Wildcask Bourbon is the first distilled spirit to hit the market coming from UK’s James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits (JBBI) —  the world’s largest teaching distillery. Led by honorary professor and industry veteran Herb Heneman, the release is the class project of the newly created Commercialization of Distilled Spirits course. 

March 26, 2025: 
Transylvania, UK forge alliance to help advance Kentucky 
Transylvania University became the first educational partner in the Advancing Kentucky Together Network — an initiative UK announced in 2024 at the direction of the UK Board of Trustees to work with partners to advance the health of the state it serves. 

March 30, 2025:  
DanceBlue turns 20, raising more than $25 million ‘for the kids’  
With a record-breaking $2.3 million raised at this year’s dance marathon, UK’s student-run DanceBlue has raised more than $25 million over the past two decades to support Golisano Children’s at UK. 

April 24, 2025: 
New model represents innovative approach to future of college athletics 
This new model — perhaps the first of its kind in the country among major programs — is designed to increase flexibility and enable UK Athletics to continue as one of the best in the country by finding new opportunities to generate additional revenue and more efficiently manage expenses. The Champions Blue Board, a public entity, meets regularly to advise the president and athletics director on strategic directions and opportunities for revenue growth. 

April 28. 2025: 
EduceLab unveiled as UK’s gateway to next-generation heritage science 
Made possible by a $14 million infrastructure grant from the National Science Foundation, EduceLab is the university’s bold vision for next-generation heritage science. The opening marked the launch of a new era of discovery, education and innovation at the intersection of the humanities, engineering and data science. 

April 28, 2025: 
Research advancing Kentucky: How NIH-funded discoveries drive UK’s impact 
Cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, substance use disorders and obesity — all are critical health issues facing Kentuckians. UK plays a critical role in advancing the health, well-being and future of the Commonwealth through impactful research. In this video series, see how support from the National Institutes for Health helps fuel discoveries happening across campus in UK’s research labs, which in turn become new therapies and treatments for patients across UK HealthCare.   

April 30, 2025:  
UK HealthCare launches Golisano Children’s at UK – Affiliate Network 
In April, UK launched the Golisano Children’s at UK – Affiliate Network to connect hospitals across the state expert pediatric care. To date, nine hospitals across central and eastern Kentucky have joined the network to receive a full range of pediatric-focused support and resources. 

May 12, 2025: 
Highlights from May 2025 Commencement
More than 4,200 graduates participated across four ceremonies May 9 and 10 in Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Overall 5,778 May degree candidates were conferred by the UK Board of Trustees. This includes 3,653 undergraduate, 1,439 graduate and 686 professional degree candidates for May 2025.

May 23, 2025: 
Remembering honor, love and duty at UK’s Historic Memorial Coliseum 
President Eli Capilouto speaks at the grand reopening of Historic Memorial Coliseum.  

June 13, 2025: 
UK budget holds down prices, debt and continues investing in state’s future 
Holding down prices so more students can attend college. Helping more students graduate and enter the workforce without any student debt. Making strategic investments in areas ranging from health care and research to athletics. Those principles are the drivers of the $8.6 billion budget for UK in Fiscal Year 2025-26. 

June 17, 2025:  
UK HealthCare opens new primary care clinic in Frankfort for UK employees, community 
The UK HealthCare Primary Care — Frankfort clinic opened in March to make UK HealthCare providers available to UK employees and neighbors living in central Kentucky. This clinic is the second of four planned primary care clinics to improve access to health care for UK employees and community members throughout central Kentucky. 

June 30, 2025: 
Helping the heart heal itself — UK researchers lead new treatment effort 
It’s a frightening statistic: someone in the U.S. has a heart attack every 40 seconds. For many Kentuckians, the risk is even higher due to widespread health challenges like obesity, smoking and chronic illness. Two UK College of Pharmacy researchers are tackling what comes next — the often-overlooked damage that unfolds in the days and weeks after a heart attack. 

July 15, 2025: 
Record research awards reflect UK's mission to advance Kentucky 
University of Kentucky investigators received $496.9 million in extramural grants and contracts to support their research in fiscal year 2025. This is a 1.7% increase from the $488.4 million in FY24 research awards and marks four consecutive years of growth. 

July 21, 2025: 
No patient left behind: Virtual escape room changes the game in neurology education at UK 
Unlike traditional simulations, where students respond to scripted patient scenarios in a lab setting, this digital escape room uses interactive elements and real-time feedback to guide learners through complex clinical reasoning. 

Aug. 1, 2025: 
A grateful farewell: GSA leaders reflect on 6 years of transformation, support at UK
In the six years UK hosted GSA, including 2020, 2,800 high school sophomores and juniors lived and learned on the university’s campus. 

Aug. 12, 2025: 
UK, JMI Sports ink historic multimedia rights deal, focused on financial stability, opportunities for athletics 
UK and JMI Sports, a leading multimedia rights and venue development company, announced a historic multimedia rights agreement valued at more than $465 million. The agreement, which extended the existing contract between UK and JMI Sports through 2040, ranks among the largest deals in college athletics. 

Aug. 14, 2025: 
Markey patient cancer-free after same-day lung cancer diagnosis and treatment 
By the time 59-year-old Lisa Buede learned she had stage 1 lung cancer, the tumor was already gone. The UK Markey Cancer Center’s new same-day procedure combines diagnosis and treatment for early stage lung cancers using advanced surgical robots, eliminating weeks of waiting between biopsy and surgery. 

Aug. 19, 2025: 
Saving the ‘soul of a community’: UK Land-grant Engagement program preserves arts, culture through disaster preparedness 
When natural disasters strike — floods, tornadoes or fires — the damage is measured not just in infrastructure lost, but in the cultural memory that vanishes alongside it. Photographs, handmade quilts, historical archives and community art installations often represent the soul of a place and tell a profound story. In Kentucky, a unique partnership is working to protect that story.   

Aug. 28, 2025:  
UK celebrates ‘topping out’ of new Rankin Health Education Building 
In August, UK and state leadership, along with Turner Construction, hosted a ceremonial “topping out” for the new Rankin Health Education Building. The new facility will be home to the Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Health Sciences, and Public Health, as well as the Center for Interprofessional and Community Health Education. 

Sept. 11, 2025: 
Research Advancing Kentucky: How NSF, DOD, DOE funding fuels scientific innovation 
In this video series, see how federal funding is a key driver of scientific advancement across disciplines at UK, where scientists are addressing broad challenges that face both Kentucky and the nation. This work pushes the boundaries of critical materials, environmental preparedness, military safety technology and advanced energy solutions. 

Sept. 12, 2025: 
UK honors 2025 Hall of Distinguished Alumni 
Held every five years, the Hall recognizes UK graduates whose achievements bring distinction to the university and inspire current students, faculty and fellow alumni through excellence across the arts, sciences, public service, business, education and beyond. With the addition of the 2025 class, 353 alumni have now received this honor since its inception in 1965.  

Sept. 12, 2025: 
UK enrollment breaks new record, growth is testament to reputation, power of promise to state 
Enrollment at UK pushed nearly 40,000 students, with a preliminary fall enrollment of 38,719. The student body represents every county in Kentucky, 50 states across the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Additionally, UK continues to make strides in recruiting and educating — and ultimately presenting diplomas — to more Kentuckians than ever before.  

Sept. 17, 2025: 
25 years of legacy and impact: James W. Stuckert Career Center marks milestone anniversary 
For more than two decades, the James W. Stuckert Career Center has stood at the heart of the University of Kentucky’s campus — a welcoming space where students discover their passions, prepare for their futures and carry forward the legacy of one of UK’s most dedicated alumni. This fall, the university marks the center’s 25th anniversary, celebrating both its impact on student success and the generosity of the alumnus who made it possible. 

Oct. 1, 2025 
UK to lead federal research effort on East Palestine health impacts 
The first-year $1.8 million award launches the East Palestine Investigation Consortium (EPIC), a five-year, community-driven program with partners including Yale, Pittsburgh and local organizations. 

Oct. 10, 2025: 
Zebrafish research reveals new hope for pediatric cancer 
A tiny fish with translucent skin could make a big difference in how we treat pediatric cancer — and the research is happening at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center. 

Oct. 15, 2025: 
Sanders-Brown celebrates 40 years of continuous NIH funding 
The UK Sanders-Brown Center on Aging first earned designation as an Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center in 1985 — and for 40 years, has continuously maintained that funding from the National Institutes of Health for their revolutionary work in the field of Alzheimer’s and dementia. 

Oct. 17, 2025: 
100 years of innovation and service: UK Research and Education Center celebrates impact, resilience 
UKREC celebrated a century of global innovation, education and community partnership, marking its 100th anniversary with a commemorative event at its new facilities in Princeton, Kentucky. The celebration honored the legacy of the station’s founding in 1925 and its enduring impact on Western Kentucky farming communities and global agricultural practices. 

Oct. 28, 2025:  
New York philanthropist Tom Golisano gives $50 million to support pediatric care at UK 
In October, New York philanthropist Tom Golisano gave the largest donation in UK HealthCare history: $50 million to support health care for Kentucky kids. In honor of his donation, Kentucky Children’s Hospital has been renamed Golisano Children’s at UK. 

Nov. 14, 2025: 
UK launches campus-wide artificial intelligence initiative 
CATS (Commonwealth AI Transdisciplinary Strategy) AI will serve as a central hub to integrate AI activities across UK’s 17 colleges, libraries, research centers and institutes, as well as its academic and health care enterprises.  

Nov. 17, 2025: 
Lockheed Martin, Turner Construction named OneUK partners
OneUK provides a long-term, coordinated and holistic engagement experience between the university and select businesses through a mutual commitment to broaden and deepen their collaboration with UK. The program aims to strengthen relationships with strategic partners across all UK colleges, centers and institutes. 

Nov. 24, 2025: 
UK awarded $11 million from the NIH for diabetes research 
UK researchers were awarded a highly competitive Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence grant to build much-needed capacity for diabetes prevention research. The five-year, $11 million grant will strengthen the foundation of diabetes prevention research by expanding and modernizing diabetes-focused infrastructure across campus and throughout the Commonwealth. 

Nov. 25, 2025: 
UK among nation’s 1st institutions to partner with Microsoft on responsible AI innovation 
UK is one of the first institutions in the nation to collaborate with Microsoft in building a comprehensive, stakeholder-engaged framework for artificial intelligence. Operationalized through the university’s recently launched Commonwealth AI Transdisciplinary Strategy (CATS AI), Microsoft becomes a corporate partner in the Advancing Kentucky Together (AKT) Network, joining a growing coalition of education, health care, community and civic partners committed to expanding opportunities and improving the lives of Kentuckians. 

Nov. 26, 2025: 
UK HealthCare, Eastern State earn renewal of prestigious Magnet designation 
In November, leadership and staff from UK HealthCare and Eastern State Hospital celebrated their successful renewal of the highest institutional honor for nursing excellence — Magnet status, awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program. 

Dec. 2, 2025: 
UK College of Dentistry Seal KY program reaches new milestones in outreach care 
Since 1996, the UK Division of Public Health Dentistry has conducted school-based Seal Kentucky trips to provide dental screenings and sealants primarily in Eastern Kentucky. This fall, first-year dental students completed trips to Greenup County, providing preventive services to elementary and, for the first time, high school students. 

Dec. 2, 2025: 
UK receives $150 million gift from The Bill Gatton Foundation to create arts district 
The UK Board of Trustees accepted a $150 million gift from The Bill Gatton Foundation to construct a new arts district, including a new College of Fine Arts building and a several-hundred seat theater. The gift is the single largest in UK’s history. 

Dec. 19, 2025: 
Highlights from December 2025 Commencement
Nearly 1,300 graduates participated across two ceremonies on Dec. 19. Overall, the UK Board of Trustees approved the conferral of 2,084 degrees, including 1,351 undergraduate, 723 graduate and 10 professional degree candidates for December 2025.