Celebrate UK’s 160th birthday at the Founders Day Festival
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 18, 2025) — The University of Kentucky Alumni Association invites students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate UK’s 160th anniversary at the annual Founders Day Festival 11 a.m.-1 p.m. ET Friday, Feb. 21, at the Gatton Student Center’s Social Staircase.
The special event honors both UK’s founding in 1865 by John Bryan Bowman and the university’s lasting impact over the past 160 years.
Attendees can enjoy live music, exclusive giveaways (including the 2025 Founders Day T-shirt and belt bags while supplies last), and festival-style games like the popular “2/22 Cash Cube.” A Tap Snap photo booth will be available to capture memorable moments and participants can test their university knowledge with UK Jeopardy. Plus, guests can indulge in snacks and sweet treats throughout the event.
Several campus organizations will be at the event hosting tables where attendees can learn more about their programs, resources and initiatives. Stop by and connect with representatives from:
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Gatton College of Business and Economics
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College of Pharmacy
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College of Public Health
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College of Social Work
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Gatton Student Center Auxiliary Services
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Student Alumni Association
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Student Organization and Activities
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UK Athletics
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UK Invests
This free event is open to the entire campus and community. Come celebrate UK’s rich history, connect with fellow Wildcats and create lasting memories.
For more information, visit www.ukalumni.net/FoundersDay.
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.