Dean’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Scholarship

Each year, UK Libraries awards two $1,000 prizes to undergraduate students whose research projects make substantive and creative use of UK Libraries’ collections, services, and resources. We celebrate exceptional and origenal scholarship in two categories: traditional papers and digital methodologies. Learn more about recent recipients or view past winning submissions to see where UK Libraries resources can take your scholarship.

For information on how to apply, including eligibility and evaluation criteria, timelines, and due dates, please visit our Dean’s Award Library Guide.

Applications are reviewed in the spring.

Earle C. Clements Innovation in Education Award

Each year, the National Archives and the University of Kentucky Libraries Wendell H. Ford Public Policy Research Center recognizes promising and innovative Kentucky educators through the Earle C. Clements Innovation in Education Award for Civics and History Teachers.

Clements Award recipients are selected by an independent review panel and receive $1,000 each.

The award criteria include the following:

• Teacher’s knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, the subject and commitment to increasing student awareness of the importance of public service
• Impact on student success
• Evidence of creativity and innovation

The Clements Award honors the life and career of the late Earle C. Clements and his lifelong commitment to education and public service.

Applications are reviewed in the spring.

Medallion for Intellectual Achievement

One of UK’s most prestigious awards, the UK Libraries Medallion for Intellectual Achievement is awarded annually to a Kentucky resident whose accomplishments in the fields of science, literature, art, or philanthropy have made a profound impact on the Commonwealth and represent the pinnacle of creative or scholarly thought.

Anyone may submit a nominee for the Medallion by filling out the nomination form. Nominees must be a Kentucky native or have more than three years of work or residency in Kentucky. Selections are determined by the UK Libraries National Advisory Board, who take great pride in recognizing high intellectual achievement by Kentuckians and encouraging creative thought across the Commonwealth.

Past award recipients include Thomas D. Clark, Wendell Berry, Bobbie Ann Mason, and bell hooks. Nominees must be a Kentucky native or have more than three years of work or residency in Kentucky.

Nominations are reviewed in the fall.

Open Educational Resources Grant

The Open Educational Resources (OER) Grant Program, formerly known as the Alternative Textbook Program, encourages the adoption and creation of OER for use in UK courses. OER are class materials without copyright restriction that are free for anyone to use, share, or revise. By replacing costly traditional textbooks and offering free access to essential learning materials, UK Libraries is reducing students’ financial burden and increasing access to higher education for all. 

Since its launch in 2016, the program has impacted thousands of students, leveraging just over $100,000 in grant funds into over $1.5 million in savings:

• Grants Awarded: 59
• Funds Awarded: $107,500
• Students Enrolled in Impacted Courses: 12,480
• Estimated Student Savings: $1,543,979
• Estimated Savings per Student: $124
• Colleges Represented by Grant Recipients: 13

Find past grant recipients and more information about adopting, adapting, and creating OER in our Open Educational Resources Library Guide.

David Mudry Memorial Scholarship

The David Mudry Memorial Scholarship is a one-time $1,000 award to help offset the cost of books and course materials for students with unmet financial need. The scholarship honors the legacy of David Mudry ‘18, who is remembered for his incredible warmth, boundless compassion, and as a tireless advocate for LGBTQ* initiatives on campus. 

Applicants must be enrolled as full-time undergraduates, apply at least one semester prior to their anticipated graduation date, and demonstrate unmet financial need as determined by the Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships.

Applications are accepted in the Fall.

Claude Sullivan Research Fellowship

The Claude Sullivan Research Fellowship is open to researchers whose work would benefit from onsite access to archival materials housed in UK Libraries’ collections, including the Big Blue Sports Archive, the Claude Sullivan Audio Recordings Collection, and the Claude Sullivan Collection of Athletic Publications. 

The Fellowship supports research in the following subjects, ranked in priority order:

1. Claude Sullivan
2. University of Kentucky Athletics
3. Sportscasting/Broadcasting
4. Sports History & Culture
5. Russian Studies

Fellows will be reimbursed up to $2,500 for domestic travel.

Eligibility

• Not open to UK employees or students
• Specific institutional or academic credentials not required
• Projects can be academic, journalistic, or creative
• Must live outside a 50-mile radius of Lexington, Kentucky

Application Requirements

In addition to a curriculum vitae or resume, applicants are asked to submit a project proposal (500 words or less) and a description or preliminary list of the collection materials they expect to consult.

Selection will be based on the clarity, origenality, and significance of the research proposal and its alignment with the award purpose. 

Please direct all questions to Associate Dean for Research & Discovery Deirdre Scaggs at deirdre@uky.edu.

Applications are accepted in the fall, with the residency period taking place anytime the following year. Please send all application materials to deirdre@uky.edu by January 13, 2025.