UK accepting nominations for 2026 Sullivan Awards
LEXINGTON, Ky (Feb. 10 2026) — Nominations for the 2026 Sullivan Awards, the University of Kentucky’s prestigious honor recognizing inspirational humanitarian achievements by students and community members, will be accepted until Friday, Feb. 27.
Three winners, two outstanding undergraduate students from the graduating class and a distinguished community member, will be recognized in a ceremony in spring 2026 and receive an Algernon Sydney Sullivan Medallion.
Students who are eligible to receive the 2026 award must be members of the graduating class. The community member must have a University of Kentucky connection as an employee, alum or friend.
The criteria for selection, which puts a premium on character, integrity and humanitarian service, are written in the spirit of Algernon Sydney Sullivan, a Southerner who became a prominent lawyer, businessman and philanthropist in New York in the late 19th century. The guidelines state that “in the selection of the recipients, nothing shall be considered except the possession of such characteristics of heart, mind and conduct as evince a spirit of love for and helpfulness to other men and women.”
Officially known as the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards, they were established by the New York Southern Society in 1925. The University of Kentucky has recognized Sullivan Award recipients since 1927 and is one of several Southern universities that present Sullivan Awards, sponsored by the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation.
Begin the nomination process by sending a single letter of nomination via email to Ford Stanley, chair of the Sullivan Committee, at ford.stanley@uky.edu. Letters should be one to two pages in length and explain how the nominee meets the criteria set forth for the award.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.