Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other members of the UK campus community were on hand Monday at the Singletary center to officially celebrate UK's 150th anniversary. President Eli Capilouto was joined by his predecessors Dr. Charles Wethington and Dr. Lee Todd to take part in the convocation. Keynote speaker for the event was Dr. Brit Kirwan, son of UK’s seventh president Albert D. Kirwan.
"What a remarkable story we celebrate today," Kirwan said. "The evolution of a small A & M college founded 150 years ago, into a leading land grant public research university. It is a story made possible by contributions by the thousands of talented, dedicated women and men. But as powerful as this story is, even more exciting is what this university can and I am confident it will achieve for Kentucky and the nation in the decades to come," Kirwan said.
Kirwan explained what a high honor it was to deliver the keynote address.
"I was born into this institution. It played a dominant role in shaping my life and values, and it will always occupy a special place in my affections because it is inseparable from my family," said Kirwan.
Kirwan, a 1960 alum, was president of Ohio State University from 1998 to 2002. He’s currently Chancellor of the University System of Maryland. UK’s sesquicentennial celebration continues all week.
