Chellgren Center Introduces 2019 Class of Chellgren Student Fellows
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 29, 2020) — The University of Kentucky Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence has announced the 29 Chellgren Student Fellows for the 2019-2020 academic year.
Contributing to the university's goal of receiving national recognition for undergraduate excellence, the Chellgren Student Fellows Program is intended to help undergraduate students gain experiences that go beyond the classroom, enabling them to compete successfully for prestigious awards and admittance into graduate and professional programs.
“UK is fortunate to have some exceptionally talented undergraduates,” said Philipp Kraemer, Chellgren Chair for Undergraduate Excellence. “By providing these students special faculty mentoring and access to unique enrichment experiences, our undergraduates can achieve levels of academic excellence equal to that of the very best students at any university in the nation.”
Agricultural and medical biotechnology junior Hannah Cleary says the program is valuable for any student wanting to expand their worldview.
“The Chellgren Student Fellows Program has been an opportunity for me to grow closer with my peers while I explore unique disciplines outside of my area of study,” she said.
The 2019-20 Chellgren Fellows are:
- Amina Addington, College of Arts and Sciences;
- Rachel Brown, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment;
- Hannah Cleary, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment;
- Hailey Combs, College of Arts and Sciences;
- Sereniti Coulter, College of Arts and Sciences;
- Laura Cuevas Melendez, College of Arts and Sciences;
- Chloe Ditka, College of Education;
- Melanie Duckworth, College of Engineering;
- Dean Farmer, Gatton College of Business and Economics;
- Brennan Faust, College of Arts and Sciences;
- Anna Foose, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment;
- Jansen Hammock, College of Arts and Sciences;
- Zoe Hert, College of Arts and Sciences;
- Kayla Holmes, College of Arts and Sciences;
- Paul Holmgren, College of Engineering;
- Emily Keaton, College of Arts and Sciences;
- Keyarius Kibler, College of Arts and Sciences;
- Peter Koutrodimos, Gatton College of Business and Economics;
- Elena Liu, College of Arts and Sciences;
- Mikayla Mitchell, Gatton College of Business and Economics;
- Olivia Morris-Bush, College of Arts and Sciences;
- Lauren Myfelt, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment;
- Nadja Nelson, College of Nursing;
- Nidhiben Patel, College of Nursing;
- Alyse Ptacek, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment;
- Asante Ruiz, College of Arts and Sciences;
- Reagan Smith, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment;
- Giovanna Weinman, College of Arts and Sciences; and
- Emory Wilds, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
"The Chellgren Center faculty, staff and students are saddened by the recent death of Paul Holmgren," said C. Lynn Hiler, program coordinator for the Chellgren Center. "Paul just completed the Chellgren Enrichment Group with Dr. Luke Bradley in Fall 2019 and was named a Chellgren Student Fellow and was looking forward to continuing his research with Dr. Josh Calnan. Paul was always eager to learn new things, and he will be missed in our program and at UK."
Bradley, Holmgren's fall mentor in the Chellgren Enrichment Group, said, “Paul was a fantastic student. He was kind, funny, personable, and smart. This is a big loss for everyone — he will be missed.”
The Chellgren Center works to advance UK's commitment to student, teaching and program excellence. Created in 2005 with a gift from UK graduate Paul Chellgren and his family, the Chellgren Center creates unique educational opportunities for outstanding undergraduate students and professors at the university. Chellgren's commitment to undergraduate education at UK has created a countless number of opportunities for UK students, staff and faculty, impacting thousands.
To learn more about the Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence, please visit www.uky.edu/chellgren/.
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