Student News

27 outstanding students selected as 2022-23 Alumni Ambassadors

photo of 2022-23 UK Alumni Ambassadors in front of King Alumni House
The 2022-23 UK Alumni Ambassadors. Photo by Stacey Gish, UK Alumni Association.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 8, 2022) — The University of Kentucky Alumni Association announced the selection of 27 student representatives as Alumni Ambassadors for the 2022-23 academic year. Alumni Ambassadors serve as official student hosts of UK, promoting the university at numerous events in partnership between the Office of the President, Office of Philanthropy and the UK Alumni Association.

Alumni Ambassadors represent the best and brightest of UK students, demonstrating high achievement in their collegiate careers and a dedication to the advancement of the university. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher and represent diverse backgrounds, cultures and areas of campus involvement.

Alumni Ambassadors for 2022-23, including class, major(s) and hometown, are:

  • Elizabeth Akers, a communication sophomore, from Lexington;
  • Madison Argue, an agricultural and medical biotechnology sophomore, from Dayton, Ohio;
  • Dasha Boikov, an agricultural and medical biotechnology junior, from Nicholasville, Kentucky;
  • Isabella Bowling, an electrical engineering senior, from Dallas, Texas;
  • Isha Chauhan, a biology junior, from LaGrange, Kentucky;
  • Jordan Colella, a human nutrition junior, from Nicholasville;
  • Meredith Compton, a clinical leadership and management junior, from Columbia, Kentucky;
  • Abigail Elbert, a human health sciences senior, from Wildwood, Missouri;
  • Mary Grace Hemingway, a clinical leadership and management junior, from Owensboro, Kentucky;
  • Lauren Hickey, French and Francophone studies junior, from Lexington;
  • Jackson Huse, a pre-med computer engineering and computer science junior, from Louisville;
  • Christy Kirkham, a human health sciences junior, from Champaign, Illinois;
  • Grace McDonald, a human health sciences senior, from Somerset, Kentucky;
  • Lilly Meekin, a neuroscience senior, from Lexington;
  • Lily Messer, a communication junior, from London, Kentucky;
  • Veronica Murray, a marketing and art history and visual studies senior, from Dallas, Texas;
  • Shannon Nguyen, a biology and neuroscience junior, from Louisville;
  • Emily O’Dell, a human health sciences senior, from Ashland, Kentucky;
  • Madeline Pass, an integrated strategic communication senior, from Louisville;
  • Elizabeth Piipponen, a human health sciences and human nutrition senior, from Naples, Florida;
  • Julia Rhorer, a pre-med human health sciences junior, from Frankfort, Kentucky;
  • Autumn Rodgers, an agricultural and medical biotechnology senior, from Paducah, Kentucky;
  • Mattie Strode, a business management senior, from Bowling Green, Kentucky;
  • Tanner Thompson, an accounting, finance and management senior, from Monticello, Kentucky;
  • Rachel Weaver, a communications sciences and disorders senior, from Owensboro;
  • Lauren Weisert, a neuroscience senior, from Louisville; and
  • Caroline Youdes, a biology junior, from Louisville.

The Alumni Ambassadors are available upon request to serve at university functions. Requests should be submitted at least two weeks in advance of the event and approved by UK Alumni Association staff.

For more information on the Alumni Ambassadors and to request an ambassador for an event, visit www.ukalumni.net/AlumniAmbassadors.  

The UK Alumni Association is committed to fostering lifelong engagement among alumni, friends, the association and the university. For more information about the UK Alumni Association, visit www.ukalumni.net or call 800-269-2586.

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.