The 2018 recipients of Lyman T. Johnson Awards.
Awards and an endowed scholarship fund announcement highlighted the 28th annual Lyman T. Johnson Torch of Excellence Awards Dinner on Friday, Oct. 19, at the Woodford Reserve Club at Kroger Field.
The University of Kentucky Alumni Association Lyman T. Johnson African American Alumni Group honored students and alumni during the awards ceremony as part of the 2018 Lyman T. Johnson Homecoming Celebration.
UK’s academic colleges and units select one African-American alum whose faith, hard work and determination has positively affected the lives of people on the UK campus, the city, state or nation. These individuals received the Lyman T. Johnson Torch of Excellence Award. These units also choose an African-American student within their respective colleges/departments whose academic achievement and ability to impact the lives of others would warrant them to receive the Lyman T. Johnson Torch Bearer Award.
The group’s establishment of the Lyman T. Johnson Endowed Scholarship Fund was also announced. The scholarship, which has an initial fundraising goal of $70,000 by the 70 Years Reunion that will be held during Homecoming 2019 to honor the 70 years of integration at the University of Kentucky, will provide minority students financial assistance in their pursuit of higher education.
William H. Wilson, a retired educational television and higher education leader, emceed the event. Lyman M. Johnson, son of Lyman T. Johnson, was the evening’s keynote speaker. The UK Black Voices Gospel Choir, under the leadership of President Sterling Crayton and direction of Monique Shanks, provided entertainment.
In addition, UK President Eli Capilouto, UK Vice President for Institutional Diversity Sonja Feist-Price and Lyman T. Johnson African American Alumni Group President Lee Jackson all spoke.
“The Lyman T. Johnson Torch of Excellence Awards Dinner is in its 28th year and continues to serve as an important opportunity for the University of Kentucky’s colleges and units to recognize the significant achievements of its African-American students and alumni,” Jackson said. “This year’s event was particularly special because of the partnership between the Lyman T. Johnson African American Alumni group, the UK Alumni Association and the UK Office for Institutional Diversity. Through these partnerships, and with the support of many of UK’s colleges and units, this special night honored Lyman T. Johnson’s legacy at the University of Kentucky and acknowledged the many men and women of color who work every day to continue carrying the torch of diversity and inclusion on our campus, in our local community and across the world.”
The UK Office for Institutional Diversity, UK Provost’s Office and the UK Alumni Association, along with a number of colleges and campus units, were honored to partner on this awards program.
“Institutional Diversity was proud to partner with the UK Alumni Association and the LTJ Alumni Group to expand the size and prominence of UK’s annual LTJ Banquet,” Feist-Price said. “With participation from many UK colleges, UK HealthCare and UK Athletics, we were able to highlight the extraordinary accomplishments of outstanding African-American alumni and student leaders who make our university and Commonwealth stronger.”
Award winners were:
College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
Torch Bearer: Carley Fort
Torch of Excellence: Quentin Tyler
College of Arts and Sciences
Torch Bearer: Cassie Bradley (humanities), Isaiah Brown (math and natural sciences) and Kortni Dubose (social sciences)
Torch of Excellence: Arnold Farr
Gatton College of Business and Economics
Torch Bearer: Lauryn McNair
Torch of Excellence: Samuel Delaney
College of Communication and Information
Torch Bearer: Maria Jones
Torch of Excellence: Shawn Long
College of Dentistry
Torch Bearer: Lisa Kwarteng
Torch of Excellence: Dr. Zindell Richardson
College of Education
Torch Bearer: Angelo Lacoude
Torch of Excellence: MiKeiya Morrow
College of Engineering
Torch Bearer: Chelsea Elizabeth Robinson
Torch of Excellence: Taunya Phillips
College of Fine Arts
Torch Bearer: David Foster
Torch of Excellence: Terry Adkins (posthumously)
College of Health Sciences
Torch Bearer: Kennedy Guess
Torch of Excellence: Andy Duclos
College of Law
Torch Bearer: Christian Rice
Torch of Excellence: T. Fitz Johnson
UK Libraries
Torch Bearer: Javoughn Brown
College of Medicine
Torch Bearer: Eseosa Ighodaro
Torch of Excellence: Dr. Wendy Jackson
College of Nursing
Torch Bearer: Nana Ntodi
Torch of Excellence: Alalia J. Mack
College of Pharmacy
Torch Bearer: Kirstyn Hill
Torch of Excellence: Adebayo Ogunniyi
College of Public Health
Torch Bearer: Tsage Douglas
Torch of Excellence: Timothy N. Crawford
College of Social Work
Torch Bearer: Daniel Beasley
Torch of Excellence: Doris Wilkinson
The Graduate School
Torch of Excellence: Nigel Vinegar
Lewis Honors College
Torch Bearer: Maya Woolfolk
Torch of Excellence: La Tasha Buckner
For information, contact Hannah Simms at 859-257-7174 or email Hannah.Simms@uky.edu.
The UK Alumni Association is a membership supported organization committed to fostering lifelong engagement among alumni, friends, the association and the university. For more information about the UK Alumni Association or to become a member, visit www.ukalumni.net or call 800-269-2586.