By Joe Bandy
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 27, 2024) — The University of Kentucky Alumni Association announced the selection of 32 students who will serve as Alumni Ambassadors for the 2024-25 academic year. As official student hosts of the UK, Alumni Ambassadors promote the university at numerous events in partnership between the Office of the President, Office of Philanthropy and the UK Alumni Association.
Alumni Ambassadors represent the best and brightest of UK students, demonstrating high achievement in their collegiate careers and a dedication to the advancement of the university. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher and represent diverse backgrounds, cultures and areas of campus involvement.
Alumni Ambassadors for 2024-25, including class, hometown and major(s), are:
- Madison Argue, senior, Dayton, Ohio; agricultural and medical biotechnology.
- Molly Arnold, sophomore, Bowling Green, Kentucky; marketing; Lewis Honors College.
- Molly Bachman, sophomore, Madisonville, Kentucky; marketing and management; Lewis Honors Colleg.
- Kenzie Bennett, senior, Columbia, Kentucky; integrated strategic communication.
- Josephine Bernier, junior, New Lenox, Illinois; political science.
- Mimi Boaukham, senior, Elizabethtown, Kentucky; international studies.
- Celia Brungs, junior, Fort Wright, Kentucky; clinical leadership and management.
- Caroline Bruser, senior, Murfreesboro, Tennessee; civil engineering.
- Trinity Cross, sophomore, Crestwood, Kentucky; marketing; Lewis Honors College.
- Morgan David, junior, Louisville, Kentucky; communication and integrated strategic communication.
- Andersen Detwiler, senior, Prospect, Kentucky; chemistry.
- Sydney Druin, sophomore, Taylorsville, Kentucky; psychology; Lewis Honors College.
- Molly Evola, junior, Louisville, Kentucky; neuroscience; Lewis Honors College.
- Gabi Franzone, senior, Rochester Hills, Michigan; public policy; Lewis Honors College.
- CeCe Gregory, sophomore, Shelbyville, Kentucky; integrated strategic communication.
- Jacob Grider, senior, Columbia, Kentucky; biology.
- Ella Hoehner, junior, Simpsonville, Kentucky; equine science and management.
- Taylen Kaster, junior, Tipp City, Ohio; finance and marketing.
- Noah Kuhn, junior, Kalamazoo, Michigan; marketing.
- Sydney Lilley, senior, Augusta, Kentucky; management and psychology.
- Kara Bane Luckett, junior, Owensboro, Kentucky; foreign language and international economics (Spanish); Lewis Honors College.
- SJ Lycans, junior, Ashland, Kentucky; chemical engineering; Lewis Honors College.
- Camryn Mudd, junior, Louisville, Kentucky; history.
- Audrey Nealy, junior, Bowling Green, Kentucky; finance and management.
- Bonnie Beth Olsen, junior, Owensboro, Kentucky; elementary education.
- Jon Luke Owens, senior, Alexander City, Alabama; foreign language and international economics (Russian).
- Siena Pilati, junior, North Canton, Ohio; public policy.
- Sarah Samiri, senior, Alexandria, Virginia; journalism; Lewis Honors College.
- Anamei Walli, junior, Versailles, Kentucky; public policy and political science; Lewis Honors College.
- Grace Wells, sophomore, Cincinnati, Ohio; human health sciences; Lewis Honors College.
- Michael Wheeler, junior, Lexington, Kentucky; finance and management; Lewis Honors College.
- Emily Yanetta, sophomore, Springboro, Ohio; biology.
UK Alumni Association Program Coordinator Samantha Seitz serves as adviser to the group.
The Executive Board is President Jacob Grider, Vice President of Membership Caroline Bruser, Vice President of Events Bonnie Beth Olsen, Vice President of Communications Mackenzie Bennett and Vice President of Philanthropy Morgan David.
The Alumni Ambassadors are available upon request to serve at university functions. Requests should be submitted at least two weeks in advance of the event and approved by UK Alumni Association staff.
For more information on the Alumni Ambassadors and to request an ambassador for an event, visit www.ukalumni.net/AlumniAmbassadors.
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.