By Stephanie Swarts
The has selected 12 exceptional undergraduates as new scholars for the university鈥檚 for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 academic years. Gaines Fellowships are given in recognition of outstanding academic performance, demonstrated ability to conduct independent research, an interest in public issues, and a desire to enhance understanding of the human condition through the humanities.
Gaines Fellowships are awarded for the tenure of students鈥 junior and senior years; students in all disciplines and with any intended profession are given equal consideration.
UK鈥檚 12 new Gaines Fellows are:
- Schuyler Baas, of Louisville, Kentucky, majoring in ;
- Umair Bhutto, of Louisville, majoring in and chemistry;
- Andrew Calvert, of Lexington, majoring in and ;
- Kate Cox, of Lexington, majoring in ;
- Victoria Cruz-Falk, of Washington, D.C., majoring in ;
- Hannah Edelen, of Versailles, Kentucky, majoring in English;
- Erin Fitzpatrick, of Demossville, Kentucky, majoring in English and and minoring in ;
- Montre鈥檃le Jones, of Louisville, majoring in ;
- Cathryn Perini, of Greeley, Colorado, majoring in history and minoring in ;
- Anna Stamm, of Lexington, majoring in ;
- Madan Subheeswar, of Louisville, majoring in biology and business management; and
- Madison Von Deylen, of Louisville, majoring in biology.
All Gaines Fellows are required to take a specially designed, four-credit hour per semester seminar in the humanities during both semesters of their junior year. In addition, each junior fellow must complete a jury project, planning and optionally carrying out an improvement to a community, whether it be our campus, Lexington, the fellow鈥檚 hometown, or a community further afield.
In the senior year, each fellow must complete a major independent study project of six credit hours. At conclusion of this project, a thesis paper must be submitted and defended in front of a thesis committee of three university faculty members and the director of the Gaines Center.
The Gaines Fellowship is highly regarded on campus because of the new opportunities and experiences in humanities it offers scholars. 鈥淚 was delighted to be chosen, and to have all the opportunities for immersive learning and personal growth that Gaines affords,鈥 sophomore Hannah Edelen said.
Founded in 1984 by a generous gift from John and Joan Gaines, the Gaines Center for the Humanities functions as a laboratory for imaginative and innovative education on UK鈥檚 campus. The Gaines Center is designed to enrich the study of the humanities as an intellectual activity and as a means to self-betterment. The center offers courses and sponsors activities that appeal to faculty and students in all disciplinary fields.
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