UK Gaines Center for the Humanities

We cant believe that graduation has already come and gone here on campus! Who else is still in their feels?? 🥹 🎓

We thought since the semester has concluded, its a good time to highlight the two administrators who help make the many Gaines initiatives come to life! First up is our program coordinator, Catherine Breteton!

Catherine joined the Gaines team in 2021. She is an alumna of the UK Creative Writing MFA, the Chellgren Fellowship Program, AND the Gaines Fellowship! Whether its keeping our budget running smoothly, compiling custom birthday bags for each of the 24 Fellows, applying for (and winning) multiple competitive grant opportunities, or helping carry out the dozens of events each semester, Catherine is an indispensable part of this community!

Right now, Catherine is in Grenoble, France helping to coordinate the 2026 Bingham Seminar alongside professor Rebekah Radtke. Enjoy this pic of her from a day trip to Geneva, Switzerland! We are so grateful for all she brings to the Center and are sure anyone who has had the pleasure of interacting with her would agree! ☺️

Where in the world are Gaines seniors AJ and Duda?! Thanks to the Zolondek Scholarship for European Travel they have been in France 🇫🇷, Germany 🇩🇪, and Spain 🇪🇸 to see some of the most impressive sites in the world! Check out their scrapbook (last pic!) and a couple pictures from their many adventures. We are so grateful to Gaines supporters like Evelyn Zolondek, who build incredible enrichment opportunities like this for our students!

Annnnnd theyre off!! The Gaines Bingham Seminar has landed in Grenoble, France where theyre jumping right into their studies on post-mining communities. Pictured here in rising senior Gaines Fellow, Vay- rocking her tote bag! 🥰

We are so proud of AJ!

UK student 1 of 65 nationally to receive Udall Scholarship UK student AJ Hopkins, a natural resources and environmental science major, was named one of 65 Udall Scholars nationwide, recognizing her commitment to environmental stewardship and leadership.

Our spring 2026 newsletter is hot off the press! Visit tinyurl.com/GAINESSPRING2026 to read all about what we've been up to, our graduating seniors, NYC, and more!

Yesterday, in front of their peers, faculty, and friends, the Gaines seniors received their scarves. The scarf ceremony is a tradition that goes back to the very beginning of the Fellowship program (see last photo!) Frequently worn during commencement ceremonies, the scarf represents the lifetime community made in the Gaines Fellowship. We are so proud of these seniors and love knowing they will have a piece of Gaines with them as they walk across the stage in a few short days! 🥹

Gaines is thrilled to introduce our new Philanthropy liaison, Dr. Kenton Sena! If Dr. Sena looks familiar, its because he actually taught for the Gaines Center during our year on "Mountains!" Dr. Sena has served as a long time faculty member in the Lewis Honors College and the Appalachian Studies dept, and is eager to begin this new role cultivating alumni relationships and giving for both Lewis and Gaines.

We are so excited to have him on board-- let's show him what a warm welcome from the Gaines Community looks like! 😀

Designing his own path: UK grad’s journey from first-gen student to future architect First-generation student Kauner Shacklette turned opportunity into impact — gaining global experience and preparing for a future in architecture.