And the winner is...
UK won the challenge! With a final score of 89-87 donors, the University of Kentucky hit a buzzer beater to defeat the University of Louisville in the Cats vs. Cards Challenge. Thank you, BBN – your support for our students continues to make an incredible impact. Go Cats!
If you missed the challenge but still want to give to UK LEADS Scholarships, you can click here to make your gift.
What is the Cats vs. Cards Challenge?
In the week leading up to the UK vs Louisville men's basketball game on 12/14, both universities are competing to see who can raise the most money to support student scholarships. Throughout the week, we'll be tracking how many people have made a gift to each school, and the university who secured the most donors by midnight on gameday will win! Join us in supporting UK students while also claiming bragging rights over our rivals – let's show Louisville that Wildcats can win on and off the court.
Why Support UK LEADS?
According to our research, students who have $5,000 or more in unmet financial need are significantly less likely to complete their degrees compared to those with lower financial need. This trend holds true regardless of GPA or academic ability. In fact, students with a GPA over 3.0 accounted for one-third of the students who left UK when our research was conducted in 2017.
To tackle this challenge, the University of Kentucky implemented the UK LEADS program, designed to minimize these financial barriers and increase graduation rates. Each year, we identify students based on financial need and academic progress, awarding $1,000-$15,000 per student. In addition to receiving financial support, those students also receive financial literacy and counseling from the Student Financial Wellness Office. The result? UK students' financial needs are met, they are equipped with an education that will fuel their future and the university's retention rates continue to climb year after year.
A little goes a long way - will you join us and make a remarkable difference in the life of a University of Kentucky student? Click "Make a Gift" to support UK LEADS today.