UK Students Involved on Campus From Half a World Away
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 21, 2020) — College students don’t need to physically be on campus to forge impactful connections with their classmates
Programming from various offices across the University of Kentucky, including the Office of Student Activities and Organizations and the International Center, has been transformed and adapted to ensure students still make those personal connections that make college unique.
With the help of technology and a trusty alarm clock, one incoming international UK student, Princess Magor Agbozo, has gotten a jump-start on cultivating her campus community through Student Activities Board (SAB) and International Center virtual programming this summer — all from seven time zones away.
The Ghana native and Qatar resident has attended five SAB events, including a Virtual Involvement Fair, Involvement Panel for Student Activities and Organizations and SAB Virtual Bingo, and has joined four groups on BBNvolved: Black Student Union, CRU, DanceBlue and SAB (where she will serve in a leadership position).
"Having been actively involved in high school, I wanted to translate that into college and UK opened doors for me to do so,” said Agbozo, a biology major in the UK College of Arts and Sciences. “With resources such as the UK2024 Mighty Network and BBNvolved, I could attend virtual meetings to learn more about what UK has to offer as well as connect with my incoming class — not to forget winning prizes in the weekly giveaways.”
Throughout the summer, SAB has hosted regular virtual bingo nights on Wednesdays, with dozens of students logging on to play hourlong games. SAB has collaborated with the Latino Student Union, Office of LGBTQ* Resources and the Student Government Association to share resources with students.
“Putting myself out there and connecting with current UK students and faculty not only enabled me to gain an early opportunity to attain a leadership position in SAB but also be part of a program that taught me how to be a better leader coming into the university,” Agbozo shared. “Even halfway across the world, UK has proven that it can help me achieve what’s wildly possible."
The Office of Student Organizations and Activities has taken note of Agbozo’s eager engagement and dedication to finding community and connection with her fellow Wildcats.
“Princess is eager to get involved — she talked to at least five or more groups at the virtual involvement fair,” Student Organization Senior Data Specialist Caitlyn Walsh shared. “Princess asks intentional questions about getting involved and wanting to know about managing her time. It’s been fun to hear about her attendance at events across the office.”
Agbozo is also a member of the International Village Living Learning Program on campus and is enrolled in the Emerging Leaders Program summer session.
“She has been actively engaged in the Emerging Leaders Program this summer even with a difference in time zone — she gets up in the middle of the night to attend our 7 p.m. session every Wednesday,” said Jessica Chandler, program director for Leadership Education.
Agbozo is also in the Global Wildcats program, which enables her to complete all coursework online this semester. The incoming freshman has participated in the International Center’s online orientation and Global Hangout series for new students over the summer.
“Princess joined our online programming for new international students to connect with students around the world and to find her place before she even set foot on campus,” said Seth Hall, academic coordinator in the International Center. “As a Global Wildcat, we're helping her build a special connection to the UK community from her home in Qatar. It's great to have campus partners who welcome every student to the UK community no matter where they're from, and that is what makes our Global Wildcat community so special.”
To explore the many opportunities for involvement at the University of Kentucky and learn more about events, clubs and programs, please visit the Student Organizations and Activities website.
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.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.