UK Women’s Forum announces 31st annual Sarah Bennett Holmes Award winners
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 8, 2025) — The University of Kentucky Women’s Forum announced the four winners of the 2025 Sarah Bennett Holmes Award at a celebratory luncheon March 26. Award winners, nominees and other invited guests heard remarks from UK President Eli Capilouto and a keynote address titled "Standing Strong — Empowering Women to Define Their Path," presented by Tukea Talbert, D.N.P.
These awards recognize individuals and teams who promote the growth and well-being of women at the university and across Kentucky, individuals who reflect the accomplishments and legacy of Sarah Bennett Holmes, for whom the award is named. Holmes, a distinguished former dean of women at UK, tirelessly championed the rights of women throughout her career.
Widowed at an early age, Holmes raised four children while completing her own education. She then began a successful career at the university where she inspired young women to persevere in the face of hardship and pursue their career goals. Among her accomplishments, Holmes developed work programs for women during the Great Depression. In her honor, the UK Women’s Forum created the Sarah Bennett Holmes Award and since 1994 has been honoring women at UK who demonstrate the same principles as Holmes through their work and service.
Faculty, staff and graduate student recipients receive a monetary award and a plaque. The team and its members receive a framed certificate and plaque for their achievement. All winners are named on plaques in UK’s Main Building. The Sarah Bennett Holmes Award is among the most esteemed recognitions bestowed at UK and brings recognition for efforts that might otherwise go unnoticed.
The 2025 Sarah Bennett Holmes award winners are:
- Amanda Fallin-Bennett, Ph.D. (faculty): College of Nursing
- Abeni El-Amin, Ph.D. (staff): College of Education
- Pegah Safavi (graduate student): Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering
- Operation Be You (team)
Last year, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Sarah Bennett Holmes Awards, an inaugural “30 Under 30” recognition was created to honor the contributions of undergraduate and alumni women who have championed women during their undergraduate or professional endeavors. This year, the Women’s Forum received 18 nominations to continue this recognition.
The alumni recipients include:
- Angel Chapman (2021): College of Arts and Sciences, J. David Rosenberg College of Law
- Alexis Fellows (2024): Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
- Madeline Lewis (2024): College of Health Sciences
- Courtney Martin (2022): College of Arts and Sciences
- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone: College of Communication and Information
- Olivia Raley (2018 ): College of Arts and Sciences
- Ella Sarpong (2021): College of Communication and Information
- Cindy Sossa (2023): College of Arts and Sciences
- Abby Steiner (2022): College of Education
- Cami Williams (2018): College of Communication and Information
The undergraduate recipients include:
- Anaya Ali: Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
- Amia Carter: College of Arts and Sciences
- Najiya Clayborn: College of Fine Arts
- Sara Dickens: College of Public Health and Lewis Honors College
- Mandy Dickerson: College of Public Health
- Kennedi Fishback: College of Arts and Sciences and Lewis Honors College
- Aniyah Maxey: College of Social Work and Lewis Honors College
- Myka Smith-Jackson: College of Arts and Sciences and Lewis Honors College
Nominees for the 2025 Sarah Bennett Holmes Awards include:
Faculty category
Christal Badour: College of Arts and Sciences
Kelly Bradley: College of Education
Amanda Fallin-Bennett: College of Nursing
Yosra Helmy: Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
D’lorah Hughes: J. David Rosenberg College of Law
Kimberly Parker: College of Communication and Information
Julie Youssefi: College of Medicine
Graduate Student category
Faezeh Akbari: Pigman College of Engineering
Faraneh Fathi: Pigman College of Engineering
Fatemah Hamedi: Pigman College of Engineering
Katie Land: College of Medicine
Ayesha Riaz: College of Arts and Sciences
Pegah Safavi: Pigman College of Engineering
Jordyn Tipsword: College of Arts and Sciences
Staff category
Sandy Bell: UK Athletics
Catherine Brereton: Gaines Center for Humanities
Maranda Brooks: Cooperative Extension Service
Judith Burgess: College of Medicine
Abeni El-Amin: College of Education
Lindsey Jasinski: UK HealthCare
Bethany Setser: UK HealthCare
Jennifer Strange: College of Public Health
Team category
It’s On Us: Christal Badour
Operation Be You: Roberta Davis
Sexual Violence Resource Center of the Bluegrass: Amy Coppiccie
For more information about the UK Women’s Forum, visit https://www.uky.edu/womensforum/ or contact UKWF@uky.edu.
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.