Each year, the Sustainability Champion Awards recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to sustainability at the University of Kentucky. This year, one of those champions is Dr. Kenton Sena, whose passion for the natural world...
Kova Jones
Adreonna Rainey
Category - Community
University of Kentucky receives STARS silver rating for sustainability achievements
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 12, 2026) — The University of Kentucky has earned a STARS Silver rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in...
Pollinator garden is restored on south campus
The University of Kentucky’s Natural Resources and Environmental Science Club (NRES) and Horticulture Club removed invasive plants from a pollinator garden to provide a vital habitat for pollinators. The workday...
2025 Sustainability Showcase celebrates campus changemakers
The Sustainability Showcase is a celebration of the incredible sustainability work happening across campus – from research and student initiatives to operations and community engagement. Its awards recognize the...
Carlie Laughlin
Blueprint Kentucky student program helps reimagine local community
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 25, 2025) — This summer, five University of Kentucky students brought fresh energy and creative vision to Trimble County, working to revitalize the town of Bedford, Kentucky, as the...
Signage study at UK’s Arboretum explores new ways to foster environmental literacy
Walk through any arboretum, and you will find signs that guide your experience, naming plants, offering insights into the ecosystem’s role, or even helping you find your way around. However, many signs fall short of...
From waste to wonder: Narwhal art debuts at Kentucky Children’s Hospital
What do you get when you mix a mountain of medical waste, a splash of imagination and a pinch of pure magic? At Kentucky Children’s Hospital, the answer is two cheerful narwhals, stitched from syringe...
Intern Insights: From roots to reflection
Intern Insights is a mini-series that spotlights the interns participating in the Sustainability Internship Program (SIP) and their day-to-day activities and accomplishments. The Office of Sustainability partners with...
Graciela Martinez
Resiliently Rooted Art Showcase and Competition
Throughout your life, how many times have you relaxed, walked, or laid under a tree? Probably, and hopefully, a great number of times! Trees are instrumental to the health of planet Earth and the health of human beings...
Advancing Kentucky Together: UK horticulturist Alexis Sheffield
The production of synthetic dyes comes at a great environmental cost, accountable for nearly 20% of global industrial water pollution. The Sustainable Color for Kentucky’s Future project aims to replace synthetic...
Ella Sides
Sustainability in Focus: Leadership perspectives from Nancy Cox
Sustainability in Focus: Leadership Perspectives is a new mini-series that spotlights the remarkable faculty and staff leaders driving sustainability across our campus and showcases their innovative perspectives. These...
Katherine Johnson
Zero Waste, Infinite Creativity at Inaugural Kentucky Climate Symposium
On September 26, 2024, the Kentucky Climate Consortium made history by welcoming nearly 300 academic professionals, organizers, and community members to the Harris Ballroom in the Gatton Student Center at the University...
UK faculty roll out local food systems curriculum to inspire Kentucky youth
A collaborative project between the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE), Black Soil KY and Need More Acres Farm has resulted in an agriculture and food systems...
2024 Sustainability Showcase recognizes outstanding students, faculty, and staff for contributions to sustainability
The annual Sustainability Showcase was presented by the Office of Sustainability, The President’s Sustainability Advisory Committee, the Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment, and the...
Expanding the canopy: UK invites communities to celebrate Tree Week 2024
Tree Week, hosted by the Urban Forest Initiative (UFI), returns this year with an expanded reach across the state. This year’s events will occur throughout October, engaging communities across Kentucky to celebrate...
