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5 Things to Know About the UK Lewis Honors College

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 16, 2020) —  Honors has a long and proud history at the University of Kentucky. The Honors Program at UK dated back to 1958 and provided an enhanced academic experience for thousands of students for over five and a half decades. In the fall of 2015, UK announced its single largest gift in UK history from Tom and Jan Lewis to establish the  Lewis Honors College . Tom Lewis, a Kentucky native and UK alumnus, wanted to establish the college to provide a world-class honors experience that is known for the success of its students, the quality of its faculty and curriculum, the respect of its peers and the economic and social progress of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Today, the Lewis Honors College is led by Interim Dean  Laura Bryan . Bryan joined Lewis in Spring 2019 as the inaugural T.G. Lewis Faculty Scholar in Organizational Behavior, an endowed position in the Lewis Honors College, and was named interim dean in September 2020.

As Lewis is UK’s newest college, born from a well-established program at the university, there are often questions about how it works and what has changed from its days as a program. Below, the Lewis Honors College provides answers to some of the most common queries about the college.

What is the Honors College?

The Lewis Honors College provides an alternative course of instruction for intellectually curious students from all programs of study. The honors experience is characterized by its small, seminar-style classes and co-curricular learning experiences. UK Honors students are expected to be citizens of their university and their world, and to possess an inquisitive attitude toward a wide range of ideas and intellectual concepts.

As our students are members of their degree-granting college along with the Honors College, honors prides itself on an interdisciplinary education. A typical honors class can have students representing just about every college on campus. As a result, students develop a curiosity toward a wide range of ideas and intellectual concepts.

The honors curriculum requires 30 hours of honors coursework in UK Core Inquiry, participation in honors experiences, an honors thesis and a choice of coursework campus-wide to fulfill the educational goals of each honors student. A common misconception about honors is that all 30 hours are  in addition  to a student's credit hours to fulfill their academic major requirements. For most students, many of their honors credit hours can also be counted toward their academic degree requirements and their additional credit hours for honors tend to be far less than 30.

Who teaches for the Honors College?

Twelve full-time faculty positions reside in the Lewis Honors College, one of the most unique aspects of the college when compared to honors colleges nationally. Ten faculty members are responsible for teaching a foundational honors course titled “Knowledge and Society” required for all honors students. These faculty members teach additional honors courses, which include various topical seminars and courses that fulfill UK Core requirements. The remaining two faculty positions are endowed: the T.G. Lewis Faculty Scholar in Organizational Behavior and the Ruth Jones Lewis Faculty Scholar in Entrepreneurship & Free Enterprise, with both faculty teaching courses in these cross-disciplinary areas.

The Lewis Honors College is also home to some of our most beloved and dynamic faculty with academic appointments in other colleges across campus. These faculty teach HON courses or departmental honors sections of courses from the faculty’s discipline and are considered honors faculty for the academic year in which they are teaching an honors course. These faculty from across the university often find the energy and engagement in an honors course to be intellectually nourishing and pedagogically freeing. As we encourage faculty to experiment with new course approaches, materials and methods, many find honors classrooms to be interdisciplinary learning laboratories.

The Lewis Honors College is always seeking faculty housed in academic departments outside of honors to join us. There are several ways to teach an honors course. We have a series of four courses that also meet the requirements for UK Core — humanities, social science, STEM, and arts and creativity. We also offer HON 301, which is an interdisciplinary seminar that provides an in-depth examination into a topic chosen by the instructor, typically geared toward upper-class students. We also have HON courses specifically for experiential learning — education abroad (HON 352), service learning (HON 399) and independent research (HON 395).

In addition, faculty are invited to teach departmental honors sections of courses from their home department. These courses are enhanced specifically for honors students through increased interdisciplinary content, use of primary materials, writing and discussion intensity, incorporation of independent research, or other elements that aim to deeply develop critical and analytical skills.  

Faculty interested in teaching an honors course are encouraged to contact the honors director of undergraduate studies, Eric Welch, at  [email protected] .

Who can apply?

There are a several avenues into the Lewis Honors College. Admission is not just limited to incoming first-year students.

High school seniors  applying to UK are encouraged to also apply for admission into the Lewis Honors College and its  Pathway Programs  by Dec. 1 each year. Those applying are required to complete the additional honors essay included in the UK application or the common application. As the Lewis Honors College employs a holistic selection process, this essay carries a large amount of weight when considering a candidate for admission. We encourage all interested incoming students to apply. 

Upper-level admission  (ULA)  into the Lewis Honors College is available to transfer students and UK sophomores and juniors.  All students accepted through the upper-level admission process will begin enrollment in the Lewis Honors College starting the fall semester after notification of their acceptance, regardless of when the application was submitted.

Transfer students  may apply if they have completed fewer than 60 credit hours and plan to remain at UK for at least four semesters. Applicants must submit all college transcripts and may be asked to submit a high school transcript. Preference will be given to students enrolled in honors colleges/programs at their first institution or members of Phi Theta Kappa at a two-year institution.

UK sophomores and juniors  who submit their materials by the December deadline and are accepted into the Honors College will be eligible for honors priority registration for the fall semester. A minimum of 3.6 cumulative GPA is preferred. Students with a GPA below 3.4 are not eligible as students must maintain a 3.4 cumulative GPA to maintain good standing in honors.

Students entering the Honors College as second-year admits (with three years remaining until graduation) will have a reduced curriculum requirement of 21-credit hours. Students entering the Honors College as third-year ULA admits (with two years remaining until graduation) will have a reduced curriculum requirement of 15-credit hours.

Why is there an Honors College fee? 

There is a participation fee of $250 per semester. However, this fee is waived for Pell-eligible students and for students who are off campus for co-op experiences or study abroad for a semester. The fee helps support a personalized, highly engaged, honors community including career advising and personal/professional development counseling for all of our honors students, extensive co-curricular programming, and smaller class sizes essential for the honors experience. 

We have partnered with the Office of Academic Scholarships to insure that students enrolled in the Lewis Honors College will receive some kind of scholarship support for the upcoming academic year. Academic-based scholarships may be awarded to outstanding students who demonstrate the potential for superior academic performance without regard to financial status, race, creed, religious preference or sex.

What are the benefits? 

• The Lewis Honors College community provides multiple opportunities and resources to students to gain as much learning and personal growth as they are willing to experience while attending UK.
• Each honors student receives a dedicated honors advisor in addition to their major advisor. Honors advisors guide students on how to invest their extensive AP and dual credit work, and then use that flexibility to maximize their academic experience.  
• Lewis Honors College students are each paired with counselors in our  Center for Personal Development  who partner with students in their exploration of purpose by cultivating self-awareness, well-being and career readiness, as well as set both personal and professional goals. The center provides individual appointments and also an array of  activities for students each semester.
• Honors students receive priority registration during course scheduling, meaning that they are able to choose and schedule classes before anyone else on campus. This benefit allows students to be very deliberate about which courses/electives they choose to explore during their undergraduate years at UK.
• Honors students develop one-on-one relationships with faculty due to the small class sizes and the availability of Lewis faculty in their Lewis Hall offices each day of the week. 
• Honors students are provided with a diverse curriculum, which complements their major area of study and prepares them for success as they continue on their academic and career trajectories in a global community. 
• Lewis Honors College graduates earn an honors designation on their transcript and diploma. They also receive the Honors Medallion upon successful completion of their honors requirements. 

To connect with Lewis Honors College faculty and staff, visit the  faculty and staff directory .

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Honors College Essay: Tips, Prompt Examples and How to Write

Writing honors college essay

An honors college essay is an academic paper that students typically complete to establish entrance into an honors college, program, or division. An honors paper seeks to test students’ research skills and focus their analytical abilities on a subject of academic interest. 

Due to the specialized focus of the paper, students benefit from serious attention to the college essay topics, which are vital in developing the essay.

An Honors College essay is unique in terms of its requirements, structure, and background. The purpose of this article is to provide advice on writing and structuring an Honors College essay.

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Which Universities do Ask for Honors College Essay

1. uci (university of california irvine) .

The UCI has two programs, the Academic Honors Program and the Honors Program. Both are popular with many members. They are not mutually exclusive, but they have different requirements and different goals.

The Academic Honors Program is for students who want to get recognized by their professors for academic achievement. It does not require an essay but several letters of recommendation from faculty members.

You should not apply to either program if you are only interested in one or the other because there is no guarantee that either program will accept your application or that you will gain acceptance into either program.

2. VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University)

The applicants must complete the 500-word Essay on Honors. The essay should address the following topics:

• Your interests and goals, especially as they pertain to your intended major(s) and career path(s). How do you feel about being a lifelong learner?
• Your ideas about leadership, including h
• How you would define leadership, what your leadership style is, how you would use your abilities as a leader to positively impact your community in and out of college, and how you would lead if given the opportunity.

3. NJT (New Jersey Institute of Technology)

NJT requires you to write an essay and submit it along with your application.

These honors college essays usually focus on your intellectual interests and experiences, using specific examples to illustrate your points. It’s essential to select an area you are interested in and know about. 

You should also pick something that you can write about easily; it will be evident if you are writing a research paper or other academic work instead of an honors college essay, so don’t try to fake it!

4. Purdue University

Purdue University’s Honors College focuses on scholarship, leadership, research, and engagement by integrating residential and co-curricular learning opportunities with academic classroom experiences.

Your college application essay needs to breathe life into your application. It should capture your genuine personality, explaining who you are beyond a series of grades, test scores, and after-school activities. 

Take a minute and think about the college or university admission officers who will be reading your essay.

5. Stony Brook University

The Stony Brook Honors College provides an exceptional opportunity for students who want to pursue a challenging course of study in the company of talented peers. Your essay should be no longer than three double-spaced pages and should address certain questions.

It is an opportunity to explain an event that took place on any day in history; what would that event be? Discuss why you chose this particular day. Also, as this question, what do you hope to learn/experience by being present?

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How to Write a Good Honors College Essay

Honors college essays follow a formal style with a clear structure. To get your honors college essay, follow these tips:

• Think about the prompt and what you want to say.
• Brainstorm.
• Organize your thoughts into a logical outline.
• Write your introduction.
• End with a conclusion that sums up the main points of your argument and connects those points back to the prompt.

Technically, the honors college essay can be a five-paragraph essay, but it should be more than that.

It should be closer to a 10-paragraph essay, with an introduction and conclusion paragraph that are each about four or five sentences long.

The introduction and conclusion paragraphs should be about the same size. The middle of the essay should be about three paragraphs long, and each of them should be about four to five sentences long.

1. Introduction 

The introduction should have a hook which is a catchy sentence or two that gets the reader interested in reading your essay. Furthermore, it should have an explanation of why you want to go to Honors College: This is usually possible in one sentence. 

Also, there should be a thesis statement. This is usually evident in one sentence at the end of the paragraph. The thesis statement tells the reader what you plan to write about in your essay. For example: “I want to attend honors college because of their strong pre-med program.”

Write the body of your paper using transition words to connect your ideas and explain the connections between them.

The middle paragraphs should include an explanation of why you have chosen your career path and why you are interested. 

3. Conclusion

End with a strong conclusion that ties together everything you discussed within your paper, providing important takeaways for readers as well as leaving them feeling satisfied with what they just read.

Takeaways 

• You are writing an essay, not a text message. In other words, please use complete sentences and correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. If proper English is not your strong suit, enlist someone proficient at it to help edit your essay.
• Be specific about what you want to study and why. Do not just say that you want an education; tell the reader what kind of education you want and why. This is particularly important if you plan to study something that you did not find at your high school. 
• The readers do not expect you to know everything about the field you plan to enter. They expect that you give serious consideration to it and explain why you want to pursue it beyond the fact that “it sounds interesting” or “it pays well.”
• Proofread your essays before sending them in. Errors will distract from whatever else is in those essays and may give us a negative impression of your abilities.

Things to Remember about Honor Essays

The honors essay is one of your best chances to stand out in a meaningful way from other applicants, so be sure to invest time in crafting a great response.

The admission office is looking for the following:

• The office wants to know that you understand what makes the honors program special. We have a diverse group of students and faculty who are passionate about learning and interacting across disciplines.
• What do you think this will mean for you? How will you take advantage of being in an environment that values interdisciplinary thinking?
• Your accomplishments. Let the audience know your talents. Have you excelled academically? What leadership roles have you taken on, or awards have you won? They want to discover what drives your passion for learning, leadership, and service.
• Your plans for the future. The honors program will prepare you for success beyond your skills, whether that’s graduate school or medical school, or a career in a completely different field. 

People Also Read: NJHS Essay: How to Write a Winning Piece from Ideas to end

Examples of Honors College Essay Topics

• Considering your lifetime goals, explain how your present and future academic activities will assist you in achieving your goals. 
• Settle for an issue of importance to you, whether it is political, personal, local, or international related. Then, craft an essay to explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your community, and your generation. 

When not handling complex essays and academic writing tasks, Josh is busy advising students on how to pass assignments. In spare time, he loves playing football or walking with his dog around the park.

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Lewis Honors College

My D20 just got rejected to the honors college. I am kind of befuddled as she is a NMF had a 36 ACT when she was 14, perfect GPA, 13 AP classes,… She was in band all four years, was in plenty of clubs and did community service. Did anyone else have such an experience?

She was really looking forward to being in the Honors college and living in the dorm. And this just blew her mind.

My daughter just got denied as well. She has been accepted into Honors at two other private colleges so far, as well as receiving other top scholarships. She is in top 10 of her 200+ class ranking in her high school, 34 ACT, 3.97 GPA, hundreds of service hours, student government, tons of activities, choir, band, lots of awards and to top it off 4s and 5 on AP exams and one was in English! Her writing skills are top notch and two universities specifically reached out to her and told her that the essays submitted were some of the best they have ever received.

UK putting so much emphasis on an essay which frankly, depending on who reads it and their biases, pushes out really talented kids who have a lot to offer and have worked towards this goal for many years. Many other prestigious colleges give automatic entrance to students with this high caliber. In my opinion and many adults who I have spoken to specifically about this, is that the Mt. Rushmore prompt was one of the worst we have ever come across. Yet my daughter still managed to write something amazing. Apparently it wasn’t good enough for whomever read it.

UK WAS her top choice but at this point who knows, this all seems to be such a ridiculous game. She is being courted by other colleges, yet UK was her first choice because we are KY residents.

Best of luck to your kids because that seems to be the way to get in the Honors College.

I would contact the honors college directly and ask about reconsideration. I know a ton of people are doing that at other universities who also heard back today. Sometimes students can also apply after the first semester.

One other thought, my son (sophomore engineering major at UK) is NOT in the Lewis Honors College, although he does have friends who are. He knows they like the early registration for classes but other than that, they take the majority of the same classes that he does.

@GuitarMom2020 Sorry for your daughter I hope it works out for her. My Daughter did immediately reach out to the honors college but they had already went home for the weekend. So we will se where that takes us.

I too thought the writing prompt was terrible as it lends itself to bias from who you selected. I don’t know who the reader is and what they are disinclined to like.

Oh well, UK isn’t terribly generous with Merit aid so maybe this will push my daughter to select one of her full ride options (fingers crossed). FSU has a really nice campus and she is admitted to their honors college.

Do you know if they have a wait list? My DS was accepted to the Honors College, but I am fairly sure at this time is going to choose another school. So that would open a spot if they do. I will admit he was rather suprised to get in knowing how selective it is.

As far as I know there is no wait list. She received the standard reply to her email in that she can reapplying as a freshman, you have high qualifications, thousands of students were qualified, etc.

My daughter is a junior at UK. She is in the Lewis Honors college but wouldn’t have viewed it as a deal breaker. She thinks the only real benefit was early scheduling. Though she had a lot of credits when she entered (junior or maybe even senior status when she enrolled in terms of credits) which would have mitigated that somewhat. She thought the core classes (subjects that all kids had to take regardless of college) were more interesting as an honors student. The fewer the number of core classes you needed to take (AP classes satisfy several of those) made it a little difficult to satisfy honors hours requirement and at least to my daughter, those classes were often less interesting.

In many cases, I think the honors colleges are more for mom and dad in terms of providing comfort sending a kid to a larger school than they are substantive.

So we did use this as an opportunity to open back up the school choices. The problem is that UK does still feel like the best fit.

My daughter is pretty introverted so the idea of making a large college seem smaller with like minded kids did make me feel better about the transition.

Hi - Just thought I would reach out because my son, a National Merit Finalist, 35 ACT, 1st chair trumpet player, 3.97 GPA, lots of ECs is in this exact same boat as you describe here - turned down for Lewis in an email yesterday. Wondering if it worth calling - did you get anywhere when she called? Where did your dear daughter end up?

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UKnowledge > Lewis Honors College > Thesis Collection

Lewis Honors College Thesis Collection

Submissions from 2023 2023.

IL-1R1 Within the Meningeal Lymphatic System , Nolan Abdelsayed

Effects of Translocation on Eastern Black-Tailed Rattlesnakes (Crotalus ornatus) in the Northern Chihuahuan Desert , Jacob A. Coffman

Clutch Analysis and Design for the Wildcat Pulling Team Quarter Scale Tractor Drivetrain , Lauren Doyle

Born from Myth, Built Anew: Seneca’s Medea as a Stoic Cautionary Tale , Rebekah Dyche

High Volume Multiplex Staining of Mouse Model in Alzheimer’s Associated Disease Pathology , Chloe Embry

Advocating for Comprehensive Sex Education in Kentucky , Kylie Higgins

A Literature Review on Inclusive Pedagogy and How Instructors can create Inclusive and Effective Classroom Groups , Johnathan K. Hurley

Appalachian Adolsescence: A Creative Exploration of Home, Nature, and Social Progress , Eleni Karelis

An Analysis of the Clear Horizons Program in Perry County, Kentucky on Smoking Cessation , Julia Kollitz

Implementing a Service Dog Registration in the United States , Avary Martin

A Brief Mindfulness Intervention and its Effect on Stress Response and Recovery: Rumination as a Moderator. , Kacie Peters

College Athletes as Defendants in Rape Trials: The Impact on Legal Decision-Making , Sophia Salyers

Creating Change in Pediatric Health Disparities: Utilizing SystemsBased Thinking to Overcome Disparities Affecting Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes in Kentucky , Sydney Speed

Early Childhood Language and Literacy Development Programs for Autism Spectrum Disorder and d/Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students , Mayson Spillman

Cyborgs, Dolls and Passing Narratives: Trans-femininity in Popular Music , Quinn J. Troia

Submissions from 2022 2022

Juror Perceptions of Heterosexual and Same-Sex Spousal Rape in the Courtroom , Haley D. Hintz

Submissions from 2021 2021

Visualizing Barrier Dysfunction Using CLARITY , Rachel Robbe

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Opened in 2017, Lewis Hall is named after Tom Lewis, a native Kentuckian and UK graduate, successful businessman and philanthropist whose gift to the university made possible the creation of the Lewis Honors College. Lewis Hall is located in Central Campus and is home for the administrative offices and student support spaces for the Lewis Honors College. The Honors Residential Experience resides in both Lewis and Haggin Halls.

Hall Information

Address & policies.

• Area of Campus: Central Campus
• Visitation Policy: 24/7
• Capacity: 346 Residents, 5 Floors

This hall is not open during breaks.

[student name] 1120 University Drive [room number] Lewis Hall University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40526-0678

• 24/7 staffed front desk
• Air-conditioned
• Full extra-long (80" x 52" x 8.5") Tempur-Pedic® mattress
• Fully furnished bedroom with moveable furniture: 4-drawer dresser, desk, desk chair, and built-in closet for each student
• Granite countertops
• Carpeting in bedrooms
• High-speed wired and wireless internet access
• Study rooms on each floor
• 3 recreation rooms
• Community kitchen
• Laundry facilities 
• Covered bike parking
• Refrigerator and microwave combination provided

Lewis Hall is located in Central Campus and is near The 90, William T. Young Library, the Johnson Center and many athletic facilities.

Rooms Offered

2-Bedroom Suite

Individual bedroom, semi-private bathroom, granite countertops.

Full-size XL beds.

View Room Dimensions: 2-Bedroom Suite

* The rates on this page were updated on December 11, 2023 and reflect the recently approved Housing and Dining rates for the 2024-25 academic year. Rates are subject to change pending review and approval by the UK Board of Trustees. More information can be found  here .

3-Person Modified 2-Bedroom Suite

One individual bedroom with a full-size XL bed, and a second bedroom with twin-size XL bunk beds. Semi-private bathroom, common area and granite countertops.

View Room Dimensions: Tri-It Suite

All three students share a bathroom and common space. View a video tour of a Tri-It space here .

Bedroom 1 (Bed A) Room Rate : $5,107 per semester Bedroom 2 (Bed B) Room Rate : $4,293 per semester Bedroom 2 (Bed C) Room Rate : $4,293 per semester

Undergraduate Housing

Graduate and family housing.

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Honors Pathways

How to Write Your College Essay: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide

Getting ready to start your college essay? Your essay is very important to your application — especially if you’re applying to selective colleges.

Become a stronger writer by reviewing your peers’ essays and get your essay reviewed as well for free.

We have regular livestreams during which we walk you through how to write your college essay and review essays live.

College Essay Basics

Just getting started on college essays? This section will guide you through how you should think about your college essays before you start.

• Why do essays matter in the college application process?
• What is a college application theme and how do you come up with one?
• How to format and structure your college essay

Before you move to the next section, make sure you understand:

How a college essay fits into your application

What a strong essay does for your chances

How to create an application theme

Learn the Types of College Essays

Next, let’s make sure you understand the different types of college essays. You’ll most likely be writing a Common App or Coalition App essay, and you can also be asked to write supplemental essays for each school. Each essay has a prompt asking a specific question. Each of these prompts falls into one of a few different types. Understanding the types will help you better answer the prompt and structure your essay.

• How to Write a Personal Statement That Wows Colleges
• Personal Statement Essay Examples
• How to Write a Stellar Extracurricular Activity Essay
• Extracurricular Essay Examples
• Tips for Writing a Diversity College Essay
• Diversity Essay Examples
• Tips for Writing a Standout Community Service Essay
• How to Write the “Why This Major” Essay
• How to Write a “Why This Major” Essay if You’re Undecided
• How to write the “Why This College” Essay
• How to Research a College to Write the “Why This College” Essay
• Why This College Essay Examples
• How to Write The Overcoming Challenges Essay
• Overcoming Challenges Essay Examples

Identify how each prompt fits into an essay type

What each type of essay is really asking of you

How to write each essay effectively

The Common App essay

Almost every student will write a Common App essay, which is why it’s important you get this right.

• How to Write the Common App Essay
• Successful Common App Essay Examples
• 5 Awesome College Essay Topics + Sample Essays
• 11 Cliché College Essay Topics + How to Fix Them

How to choose which Common App prompts to answer

How to write a successful Common App essay

What to avoid to stand out to admissions officers

Supplemental Essay Guides

Many schools, especially competitive ones, will ask you to write one or more supplemental essays. This allows a school to learn more about you and how you might fit into their culture.

These essays are extremely important in standing out. We’ve written guides for all the top schools. Follow the link below to find your school and read last year’s essay guides to give you a sense of the essay prompts. We’ll update these in August when schools release their prompts.

See last year’s supplemental essay guides to get a sense of the prompts for your schools.

Essay brainstorming and composition

Now that you’re starting to write your essay, let’s dive into the writing process. Below you’ll find our top articles on the craft of writing an amazing college essay.

• Where to Begin? 3 Personal Essay Brainstorming Exercises
• Creating the First Draft of Your College Application Essay
• How to Get the Perfect Hook for Your College Essay
• What If I Don’t Have Anything Interesting To Write About In My College Essay?
• 8 Do’s and Don’t for Crafting Your College Essay
• Stuck on Your College Essay? 8 Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block

Understand how to write a great hook for your essay

Complete the first drafts of your essay

Editing and polishing your essay

Have a first draft ready? See our top editing tips below. Also, you may want to submit your essay to our free Essay Peer Review to get quick feedback and join a community of other students working on their essays.

• 11 Tips for Proofreading and Editing Your College Essay
• Getting Help with Your College Essay
• 5 DIY Tips for Editing Your College Essay
• How Long Should Your College Essay Be?
• Essential Grammar Rules for Your College Apps
• College Essay Checklist: Are You Ready to Submit?

Proofread and edited your essay.

Had someone else look through your essay — we recommend submitting it for a peer review.

Make sure your essay meets all requirements — consider signing up for a free account to view our per-prompt checklists to help you understand when you’re really ready to submit.

Advanced College Essay Techniques

Let’s take it one step further and see how we can make your college essay really stand out! We recommend reading through these posts when you have a draft to work with.

• 10 Guidelines for Highly Readable College Essays
• How to Use Literary Devices to Enhance Your Essay
• How to Develop a Personalized Metaphor for Your College Applications

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5 Things to Know About the UK Lewis Honors College

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 8, 2020) — Honors has a long and proud history at the University of Kentucky. The Honors Program at UK dated back to 1958 and provided an enhanced academic experience for thousands of students for over five and a half decades. In the fall of 2015, UK announced its single largest gift in UK history from Tom and Jan Lewis to establish the Lewis Honors College . Tom Lewis, a Kentucky native and UK alumnus, wanted to establish the college to provide a world-class honors experience that is known for the success of its students, the quality of its faculty and curriculum, the respect of its peers and the economic and social progress of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Today, the Lewis Honors College is led by Interim Dean Laura Bryan . Bryan joined Lewis in Spring 2019 as the inaugural T.G. Lewis Faculty Scholar in Organizational Behavior, an endowed position in the Lewis Honors College, and was named interim dean in September 2020.

As Lewis is UK’s newest college, born from a well-established program at the university, there are often questions about how it works and what has changed from its days as a program. Below, the Lewis Honors College provides answers to some of the most common queries about the college.

What is the Honors College?

The Lewis Honors College provides an alternative course of instruction for intellectually curious students from all programs of study. The honors experience is characterized by its small, seminar-style classes and co-curricular learning experiences. UK Honors students are expected to be citizens of their university and their world, and to possess an inquisitive attitude toward a wide range of ideas and intellectual concepts.

As our students are members of their degree-granting college along with the Honors College, honors prides itself on an interdisciplinary education. A typical honors class can have students representing just about every college on campus. As a result, students develop a curiosity toward a wide range of ideas and intellectual concepts.

The honors curriculum requires 30 hours of honors coursework in UK Core Inquiry, participation in honors experiences, an honors thesis and a choice of coursework campus-wide to fulfill the educational goals of each honors student. A common misconception about honors is that all 30 hours are in addition to a student's credit hours to fulfill their academic major requirements. For most students, many of their honors credit hours can also be counted toward their academic degree requirements and their additional credit hours for honors tend to be far less than 30.

Who teaches for the Honors College?

Twelve full-time faculty positions reside in the Lewis Honors College, one of the most unique aspects of the college when compared to honors colleges nationally. Ten faculty members are responsible for teaching a foundational honors course titled “Knowledge and Society” required for all honors students. These faculty members teach additional honors courses, which include various topical seminars and courses that fulfill UK Core requirements. The remaining two faculty positions are endowed: the T.G. Lewis Faculty Scholar in Organizational Behavior and the Ruth Jones Lewis Faculty Scholar in Entrepreneurship & Free Enterprise, with both faculty teaching courses in these cross-disciplinary areas.

The Lewis Honors College is also home to some of our most beloved and dynamic faculty with academic appointments in other colleges across campus. These faculty teach HON courses or departmental honors sections of courses from the faculty’s discipline and are considered honors faculty for the academic year in which they are teaching an honors course. These faculty from across the university often find the energy and engagement in an honors course to be intellectually nourishing and pedagogically freeing. As we encourage faculty to experiment with new course approaches, materials and methods, many find honors classrooms to be interdisciplinary learning laboratories.

The Lewis Honors College is always seeking faculty housed in academic departments outside of honors to join us. There are several ways to teach an honors course. We have a series of four courses that also meet the requirements for UK Core — humanities, social science, STEM, and arts and creativity. We also offer HON 301, which is an interdisciplinary seminar that provides an in-depth examination into a topic chosen by the instructor, typically geared toward upper-class students. We also have HON courses specifically for experiential learning — education abroad (HON 352), service learning (HON 399) and independent research (HON 395).

In addition, faculty are invited to teach departmental honors sections of courses from their home department. These courses are enhanced specifically for honors students through increased interdisciplinary content, use of primary materials, writing and discussion intensity, incorporation of independent research, or other elements that aim to deeply develop critical and analytical skills.  

Faculty interested in teaching an honors course are encouraged to contact the honors director of undergraduate studies, Eric Welch, at [email protected] .

Who can apply?

There are a several avenues into the Lewis Honors College. Admission is not just limited to incoming first-year students.

High school seniors applying to UK are encouraged to also apply for admission into the Lewis Honors College and its Pathway Programs by Dec. 1 each year. Those applying are required to complete the additional honors essay included in the UK application or the common application. As the Lewis Honors College employs a holistic selection process, this essay carries a large amount of weight when considering a candidate for admission. We encourage all interested incoming students to apply. 

Upper-level admission (ULA) into the Lewis Honors College is available to transfer students and UK sophomores and juniors.  All students accepted through the upper-level admission process will begin enrollment in the Lewis Honors College starting the fall semester after notification of their acceptance, regardless of when the application was submitted.

Transfer students may apply if they have completed fewer than 60 credit hours and plan to remain at UK for at least four semesters. Applicants must submit all college transcripts and may be asked to submit a high school transcript. Preference will be given to students enrolled in honors colleges/programs at their first institution or members of Phi Theta Kappa at a two-year institution.

UK sophomores and juniors  who submit their materials by the December deadline and are accepted into the Honors College will be eligible for honors priority registration for the fall semester. A minimum of 3.6 cumulative GPA is preferred. Students with a GPA below 3.4 are not eligible as students must maintain a 3.4 cumulative GPA to maintain good standing in honors.

Students entering the Honors College as second-year admits (with three years remaining until graduation) will have a reduced curriculum requirement of 21-credit hours. Students entering the Honors College as third-year ULA admits (with two years remaining until graduation) will have a reduced curriculum requirement of 15-credit hours.

Why is there an Honors College fee? 

There is a participation fee of $250 per semester. However, this fee is waived for Pell-eligible students and for students who are off campus for co-op experiences or study abroad for a semester. The fee helps support a personalized, highly engaged, honors community including career advising and personal/professional development counseling for all of our honors students, extensive co-curricular programming, and smaller class sizes essential for the honors experience. 

We have partnered with the Office of Academic Scholarships to insure that students enrolled in the Lewis Honors College will receive some kind of scholarship support for the upcoming academic year. Academic-based scholarships may be awarded to outstanding students who demonstrate the potential for superior academic performance without regard to financial status, race, creed, religious preference or sex.

What are the benefits? 

• The Lewis Honors College community provides multiple opportunities and resources to students to gain as much learning and personal growth as they are willing to experience while attending UK.
• Each honors student receives a dedicated honors advisor in addition to their major advisor. Honors advisors guide students on how to invest their extensive AP and dual credit work, and then use that flexibility to maximize their academic experience.  
• Lewis Honors College students are each paired with counselors in our Center for Personal Development who partner with students in their exploration of purpose by cultivating self-awareness, well-being and career readiness, as well as set both personal and professional goals. The center provides individual appointments and also an array of  activities for students each semester.
• Honors students receive priority registration during course scheduling, meaning that they are able to choose and schedule classes before anyone else on campus. This benefit allows students to be very deliberate about which courses/electives they choose to explore during their undergraduate years at UK.
• Honors students develop one-on-one relationships with faculty due to the small class sizes and the availability of Lewis faculty in their Lewis Hall offices each day of the week. 
• Honors students are provided with a diverse curriculum, which complements their major area of study and prepares them for success as they continue on their academic and career trajectories in a global community. 
• Lewis Honors College graduates earn an honors designation on their transcript and diploma. They also receive the Honors Medallion upon successful completion of their honors requirements. 

To connect with Lewis Honors College faculty and staff, visit the faculty and staff directory .

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.   

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Lewis Honors College and Competitive Scholarships

Jul 27, 2023 • knowledge, information.

If you wish to apply for the Lewis Honors Honors College and/or Competitive Academic Scholarships, your application must be submitted prior to 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on December 1, 2023. Late applications will not be accepted.

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Daily southtown | southtowners: area residents ordained as deacons, lemont journalist medals at state, more.

Area residents ordained permanent Catholic deacons

There were three area permanent Catholic deacons ordained on May 11 at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago along with nine other permanent and two transitional Catholic deacons.

The Archdiocese of Chicago has the largest Catholic diaconate in the world with 466 active deacons, according to a news release.

“Deacons enrich the life of the Church and their communities through their selfless and humble service, unique perspective and skill set and invaluable support to priests,” said Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago. “Called to imitate Jesus, deacons along with their wives, if married, create more vibrant and active parish communities and serve as powerful examples of living out the Gospel message.”

Permanent deacons from the Southland, and their wives, include: Deacon Víctor and Blanca de Ávila – St. Albert the Great, Burbank; Deacon Richard and Kimberly Duda – Our Lady of the Woods Parish, Orland Park; and Deacon Juan and Araceli Chávez – Blessed Martyrs of Chimbote, Argo, and Summit.

Lemont’s O’Brien earns medal at Journalism State Finals

For the fourth straight year, a Lemont High School student brought home hardware from the journalism state finals. Senior Tess O’Brien placed third in Editorial Cartooning at the 2024 IHSA Journalism State Finals, which were contested at Heartland Community College on April 26. Senior Ella Murray made her second state finals appearance.

Murray competed in the Newspaper Design category for the second straight year, while O’Brien was making her state finals debut.

Oak Forest’s Muhammad has art featured in gallery

Maha Muhammad, of Oak Forest, was among the Lewis University students who had artwork in the Senior Capstone Art Exhibition May 2-12 at the Wadsworth Family Gallery on Lewis University’s Romeoville campus. Muhammad earned a design degree from Lewis University on May 11.

Frankfort’s Bell inducted into Phi Kappa Phi

Frankfort’s Kailey Bell, who is majoring in chemistry, was among the more than 140 University of Mississippi students who were welcomed on April 4 into the Phi Kappa Phi honor society, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor societies for all academic disciplines.

Tinley Park’s Bernier joins United States Armed Forces

The United States Armed Forces now have more than 140 new officers, which includes Tinley Park’s Kyle Bernier. He is one of the members of the Class of 2024 who accepted a commission into the United States Armed Forces.

Lockport’s Miklos presents at Central College event

Lockport’s Connor Miklos recently presented “Strength and Conditioning App” during Central College’s Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry event.

Manhattan’s Gentile places in calculus competition

Manhattan’s Chuckie Gentile, who is studying mathematics at Lewis University, was on Lewis University’s second team which earned 12th place at the 2024 Association of Colleges of the Chicago Area Calculus Competition.

Students present at psychology conference

Homer Glen’s James Rozhon, Lockport’s Emilia Nyukaza and New Lenox’s Rebekah Schimick were among the Lewis University students and faculty that presented insights to nearly 4,000 people at the 96th annual Midwestern Psychological Association Conference in Chicago.

Belmont University spring dean’s list

Frankfort: Grace Garrett; Homer Glen: Hunter Chentnik; Manhattan: Arwen Rolinitis; New Lenox: Grant Brown, Rocco Greco, Presley Kane, Addison Wodka; Oak Lawn: Lauren Kokaska; Orland Hills: Ashley Cozzolino; Orland Park: Ann Burns, Tyler Chesniak, Amanda Miklos; Tinley Park: Gianna Smyth

Kalamazoo College winter dean’s list

Rorie Dougherty, Homewood

Local University of Alabama students in summer cooperative education

Orland Park: James Hart (Ulliman Schutte Construction, LLC); Tinley Park: Aidan Bressanelli (SSAB Americas)

Flagler College spring graduates list

Lockport: Samantha Rodriguez; Mokena: Suhair Alkhalili

University of Georgia spring graduates list

Erica Staunton, Orland Park

Lewis University Delahanty award winners list

The Delahanty Award recognizes Flyers who have maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher while balancing the demands of athletics and academics. Winners are:

Blue Island: Andrea Correa (cheer and dance/secondary education, mathematics); Burbank: Daniel Rosado (baseball/sports management); Pablo Rueda (mens soccer/international business); Chicago: Christopher Mcdevitt (baseball/sport management); Frankfort: Kate Guderjan (womens cross country/business administration), Jack Roberts (mens cross country/exercise science), Steven Roberts (mens cross country/physics), Tyler Walenga (mens volleyball/exercise science); Homer Glen: Jacob Hinchley (mens cross country/business administration), Lauren Wattawa (women’s track/criminal justice); Lockport: Abigail Kozak (womens cross country/psychology), Anna Kozak (womens cross country/exercise science), Alexandra Martinez (women’s track/business administration); Manhattan: Allie Dague (womens bowling/forensic criminal investigation), Grace Rinke (cheer and dance, business administration); Midlothian: Marissa Strelczyk (cheer and dance/physics); Mokena: Gerald Cushing (mens cross country/biology), Kyle Hussey (baseball/finance), Grace Kmak (softball/biology); New Lenox: Justin Darlage (mens soccer/exercise science), Tara Gugliuzza (women’s basketball/marketing), Ryan Manikowski (baseball/mathematics), Charles Rickerson (mens track/aviation flight technology), Carly Shipman (womens cross country/chemistry), Emma Young (softball, business analytics); Oak Forest: Collin Amsden (baseball/history); Oak Lawn: Jenna Badali (womens basketball/sport management), Michael Sack (mens volleyball/criminal justice); Orland Park: Sami Alzoubi (mens track/computer science), Kyle Peterson (baseball/finance); Worth: Evan Jamrozy (mens cross country/sport management); Tinley Park: Connor Keating (mens volleyball/environmental science)

Send news to [email protected] . 

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Houghton University

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• President Lewis Delivered Commencement Address at Mount Paran Christian School

May 29, 2024

Houghton University President, Dr. Wayne D. Lewis, Jr. , delivered the commencement address to the graduates of Mount Paran Christian School in Kennesaw, GA . His message encouraged the class of 2024 to use their talents for God’s glory. Drawing on the Parable of the Talents, Lewis underscored that God has gifted each of them for greatness, and it is up to each person to use and multiply their gifts.

“I don’t want you to leave a single aspect of what God has gifted you to go to waste. Why? Not because that’s my expectation of you, but because that’s God’s expectation. Friends, to whom much is given, much is required.”

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• 2 UK undergraduate students named Beckman Scholars
• 'One Day for UK' raises more than $1.9 million with support from 3,000+ donors
• 5 students selected as 2024 Sustainability Summer Research Fellows

Lewis Honors College Releases Admission Decisions

The Lewis Honors College released its admission decisions to applicants on February 25. This year’s number of applicants exceeded last year’s record, and the candidate pool was one of the most competitive to date.   

All applicants were carefully reviewed by multiple readers on the Lewis Honors College admission committee in the areas of application essays, unweighted GPA and high school involvement and academic rigor. 

Since a central component of the Honors College is the development of critical thinking, essay responses carry a large amount of weight in admission decisions as this showcases a prospective student’s ability to cultivate ideas and share their unique perspectives in a coherent and respectful manner. 

All UK Honors and Honors Pathway applicants received notifications in the form of email, with a mailed letter to follow. All admission decisions were sent to the email address the applicant used when applying to UK.

If an applicant is unable to locate the admission decision email in the inbox of the email account they used to apply to UK, it is highly encouraged that they check their junk or spam folders, as messages can sometimes end up in these folders. If an applicant has checked all folders and is still unable to locate a decision email, they may contact  [email protected] for further assistance.  

Lewis Honors College University of Kentucky Lewis Hall, 420 Hilltop Avenue Lexington, KY 40508 Phone: 859-257-3111

Albuquerque Academy

May 24, 2024

Sophomore Selected as Finalist in Profile in Courage Essay Contest

The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation announced that Aarush Tutiki ’26 was named a finalist in the national John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest for High School Students. In his essay, Aarush profiled Leonidas Dyer, former U.S. Representative of Missouri.

For this year’s contest, 2,313 essays were submitted from students in 50 states and Washington, D.C., and from U.S. citizens in Canada, Ecuador, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Vietnam. The foundation selected one winner, a runner-up, five finalists, ten semifinalists, and eight honorable mentions.

The annual Profile in Courage Essay Contest invites high school students from across the nation to write an essay on an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official. The contest is a companion program of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award™, named for Kennedy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book Profiles in Courage , which recounts the stories of eight U.S. senators who risked their careers by embracing unpopular decisions for the greater good.

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Writing from the Heart: ‘Who’s Tom?

Everyone was a creative 6-year-old.

In 1997 I was the recipient of the Artist in Residence award at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Prior to my interviews with the board and the director there, I had never been to the Gardner, and knew nothing about Isabella. Plus, museums always made me tired.

The only thing required of me in return for this great honor was to give little talks about writing to fifth graders on field trips from the Farragut, Lawrence, and Tobin schools. And one big talk to the members of the museum.

The kids were a piece of cake. I told them about the first poem I ever wrote for my mother when I was 6. I explained I have a sister named Margie, and that I have no brother. And then I sing-songed the poem for them:

Happy birthday to Mom to mMom

from Margie and Nancy and Tom and Tom.

I let the words sink in, and then I described my mother’s reaction. I said, “My mom looked at me, looked down at the card I had made for her, and said, ‘Honey, um … who’s Tom?’” I told them how I remember rolling my eyes, like, What is her problem, and that I said rather belligerently, “It rhymes with Mom.” And then I said to the kids, “So what do you think my mother did?” And before they could shout out their guesses, I said, “She clapped her hands delightedly and smiled and said, ‘Ohh! Of course.’”

“Now, kids,” I continued, “if she had put me down and said, ‘But you can’t do that. If there is no Tom, the poem doesn’t make sense,’ she would have taken the joy right out of the whole experience for my little 6-year-old self. And creativity is so much about joy and not worrying about what people will think. It’s about the doing of it, not the end result, the thing.” I told them that writing was about process, not producing a product.

I loved hanging with the kids, but looming over the whole month of my being in this magical place was the talk I had to give to the members, the grownups.

I wrestled with choosing a topic that would be interesting for them, something they could relate to and something I genuinely cared about.

I was so nervous about the speech. I kept thinking, What am I doing here? I’m not an expert. I didn’t go to Harvard. I’m not a bestselling author. I’m not even a lousy-selling author. It’s a fluke that I got this in the first place.

I spent the first three weeks worrying. Everyone kept telling me the audience was going to be filled with blue-hairs. And then it hit me. Blue-hairs, schmoo-hairs. Even if the members are fuddy-duddies, they were fifth graders once. They might even be the ones whose creativity got squelched by some bad aunt or a mom who didn’t validate them like mine did.

A week before the scheduled talk, I bumped into someone I had known from college, and when I told her what I was doing at the Gardner, she said, “Oh, you always were creative.”

Later that night I kept thinking about what she said, and how people always say things like, “So and so is so creative,” as if creativity were something only special people got. Like having a photographic memory, or being particularly coordinated. Or being tall.

I have always felt that everyone is creative. That we actually are creating all the time. We’re like buzzing little creativity machines, constantly imagining and thinking and moving ideas around, and designing our environments, picking out our clothes, cooking leftovers, cutting our kids’ hair. Even our individual signatures are expressions of creativity.

So that night, I titled my talk, “I Know This Woman. She’s So Creative.” And I decided to have an imaginary conversation with Isabella over tea about just that subject. Right up till the moment the people were filing in and taking their seats, I still wasn’t sure if my speech would resonate.

My heart was pounding, and I looked out at the audience, and even though they didn’t have actual blue hair, they were a very conservative bunch.

I gulped and it hit me. Wait. What am I teaching here? That creativity is what we naturally do. That it’s about process, having fun, and not about making a product. And not caring about what people would think. This talk was not a product. And my breathing slowed, my heart regained its rhythm, and I began.

I actually did almost the identical talk I had done with the kids. Except it was Isabella and me having the imaginary conversation. Isabella argued with me, and said, Creative genius was a chosen thing. And I said, Forget genius. Just creativity unto itself. It’s what we’re made of.

And at the end, I had convinced Isabella to my way of thinking. (Of course, since I was in charge of the make-believe exchange.)

And together we told the folks to go home and write a poem and not worry if it was good, to paint a watercolor, or get some clay and make a little being with curly hair, or no hair.

But not to worry, we said, about the end result. It’s about process and the fun you’ll have creating. Because we know you. You are that woman (or man) who is so creative.

And lo and behold, I (we) got a standing ovation.

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The IIDA Student Mentoring Program provides hundreds of students—and professionals—the opportunity to be partnered with a mentor or mentee, an often life-changing experience. Students learn more about what their career can look like, and mentees are able to pay forward the impact that mentorship has had on their lives and careers. In this valuable exchange, mentees can glimpse the inner-workings of design firms and other design industry workplaces—after being paired with a mentor (an interior designer, manufacturer representative, dealer, educator or other design professional), students are able to shadow their mentor at work.

The Wilsonart Student Essay Competition offers participants the chance to receive a $1,000 prize for an essay about the experience. Scott Ware, Student IIDA , currently studying at Dakota County Technical College in Minnesota, is the 2024 Wilsonart Student Essay Competition winner for his essay about navigating a new career as a non-traditional student, an experience that he says proved to be priceless, invaluable, and unparalleled.

The Lighthouse: How Mentorship Helped Me Navigate New Beginnings

Scott Ware, Student IIDA Dakota County Technical College Navigating the waters of a new career path can be terrifying. It can feel lonely and overwhelming at times. Trust me, I know. Sometimes you wonder if you made the right decision. Can I really do this? As a non-traditional student going through a career change shortly after losing my father to a heart attack in 2021, a full-time job and full-time school, finding the time to attend network-building events is tough. IIDA, as an organization, makes this process a lot more manageable through its mentorship program and so many other great opportunities. Priceless. Invaluable. Unparalleled. These are words commonly used to describe situations that bring value to the user. Although they cannot begin to measure the experience provided to me during IIDA’s mentoring sessions. I count myself blessed to have been partnered with Tanya Schneider from Prevolv. Tanya was so quick to respond when I made initial contact and was so gracious with her time. We chose to meet virtually as her office and showroom were undergoing a remodel, but she has planned to invite me out the moment it is complete. No matter how busy she was I was never made to feel rushed in our meetings, nor did I feel like she was distracted. Total commitment to helping newer professionals coming up has always been my MO in life, and to see her showing what true mentorship and leadership is was heartwarming. On a professional level she was invaluable, ope, there’s one of those words. She took time to go through my resume and cover letter providing priceless (Hey! There’s another one.) feedback on how to save space and make it more marketable at a glance. She is currently investing her time in mentorship looking over my portfolio as well; I am beyond excited to hear what she has to offer! I look forward to the day I build a career as a designer and can pay it forward. I want to give others the same unparalleled (Yay, there’s the other one!) experience I have benefited from. On a personal level, she has been so supportive with what has been a trying time. In the current climate, as an adult with responsibilities, finding an internship has been challenging. She was so great staying in contact and offering information on places to look for internships. Tanya is a great listener; through our conversations I shared that I am absolutely in love with lighting schemes. I truly feel like light is simultaneously passive and assertive in our lives. When done well, it fades into the background to offer comfort and warmth but can step forward when accentuating wayfinding is necessary. Within hours of our first meeting, she sent me a link to a professional event centered around commercial lighting and its applications. In closing, I thank you all at IIDA for putting together this amazing program, for a new person entering the field, it is truly life-altering! I just wish dad was here to see graduation.

Learn more about the Wilsonart Essay Competition