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The Maurice A. Clay Award recognizes an outstanding graduating senior in each academic college at UK, as selected by the Dean or the Dean’s representative. The basic criterion is a reflection of Dr. Clay's exceptional leadership and service to the student’s college while maintaining a strong academic record.

O∆K recognizes superior scholarship, leadership and exemplary character.  The Clay Awards are one way in which the UK Circle and National Leadership Society can bestow on graduating seniors a “Mark of High Distinction."

2023-2024 Maurice A. Clay Award Recipients

  • Whitney Evans, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
  • Jason Marcus, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Jack Ballard, Gatton College of Business and Economics
  • Cailey Bingham, College of Communication and Information
  • Mason Gohde, College of Design
  • Patrick Haycraft, College of Education
  • Rachel Barber, Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering
  • Briann Cox, College of Fine Arts
  • Claire Gulley, College of Health Sciences
  • Wilson Hourigan, College of Nursing
  • Ashley Grospitch, College of Public Health
  • Kotomi Yokokura, College of Social Work
  • Zachary Owen, Martin School for Public Policy and Administration

2022-2023

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  • Merideth Grace Carson, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
  • Kameron Kraus, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Caitlin Mueller, Gatton College of Business and Economics
  • Rayleigh Deaton, College of Communication and Information
  • Katherine White, College of Design - School of Architecture
  • Sophie Gershtenson, College of Design - School of Interiors
  • Andrew Schmitt, College of Education
  • Julia Stekardis, College of Engineering
  • Joy Chou, College of Fine Arts
  • Moncerrat Bravo, College of Health Sciences
  • Sydney G Cooper, College of Nursing
  • Kangai Miriti, College of Public Health
  • Grace Berger, College of Social Work
  • Hunter J McCormick, Martin School of Public Policy and Administration

 

 

2021-2022

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  • Maya Fuller, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment 
  • Katherine Elliott, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Anna Scott, Gatton College of Business and Economics
  • Chance Baldwin, College of Communication and Information
  • Grace Butler, College of Design, School of Architecture
  • Krisia Estes, College of Design, School of Interiors
  • Chloe Ditka, College of Education
  • Alexander Barrera, College of Engineering
  • Mackenzie Walden, College of Fine Arts
  • Alexis Remshak, College of Health Sciences
  • Claire-Marie Hall, College of Nursing
  • Gabrielle Cochran, College of Public Health
  • Alexandra Pazdzior, College of Social Work

2020-2021

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  • Emma Heimlich, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
  • Jillian Chamberlain, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Matthew Susemichel, Gatton College of Business and Economics
  • Trace Williams, College of Communication and Information
  • Daniel Langford, College of Design, School of Architecture
  • Haydon Gaines, College of Design, School of Interiors
  • Taylor E. Brown, College of Education
  • Rosemary Alden, College of Engineering
  • Jada Phillips, College of Health Sciences
  • Lily Silverstein, College of Nursing
  • Abbi Peck, College of Public Health
  • Mary Elizabeth Smith, College of Social Work

 

2019-2020

Recipients were not selected due to COVID-19.

2018-2019

  • Rachel Hinton, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
  • Lilly Do, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Rose Hamdan, Gatton College of Business and Economics
  • Brooke White, College of Communication and Information
  • Sonata Caric, College of Design, School of Architecture
  • Elizabeth Schertler, College of Design, School of Interiors
  • David Brown, College of Education
  • Benjamin Wells, College of Engineering
  • Savannah Guzman, College of Fine Arts
  • Alexius Stevenson, College of Health Sciences
  • Brianna Damron, College of Nursing
  • Honour McDaniel, College of Public Health
  • Elizabeth Biggs, College of Social Work

2017-2018

  • Marcus Tyler, Jr., College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
  • Christina Hermanns, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Andrea Bomkamp, Gatton College of Business and Economics
  • Joshua Morris, College of Communication and Information
  • Irvin Shaifa, College of Design, School of Architecture
  • Emily Hozza, College of Design, School of Interiors
  • Mariam Hazlett, College of Education
  • Virginia Smith, College of Engineering
  • Alexandra Burns, College of Fine Arts
  • Sydney Lammers, College of Health Sciences
  • Kelsey Lacroix, College of Nursing
  • Esias Bedingar, College of Public Health
  • Alma Banks, College of Social Work

2016-2017

  • Chelsea Noel Folmar, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
  • Eva Adele Cortes, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Sarah J. Rodrigue, Gatton College of Business and Economics
  • Jesse Brennen Stallsworth, College of Communication and Information
  • Sommer Taylor Cade, College of Design, School of Architecture
  • Emily Ann Preece, College of Design, School of Interiors
  • Dylan J. Kissack, College of Education 
  • Elizabeth D. Priddy, College of Education
  • Brooklynn Hope Yonts, College of Engineering
  • Abby Noelle Schroering, College of Fine Arts
  • Cameron Lorranie Ainslie, College of Health Sciences
  • Morgan Elizabeth Brown, College of Nursing
  • Shelby Lucille Bryce Ferrell, College of Public Health
  • Grace Marie Nadler, College of Social Work

2015-2016

  • Katlyn McNeill, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
  • Michelle Rueff, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Malia Dunn-Reier, Gatton College of Business and Economics
  • Riley Miller, College of Communication and Information
  • Sarah Wagner, College of Design, School of Architecture
  • Alaina Bauer, College of Design, School of Interiors
  • Samantha McKeough, College of Engineering
  • Ellen Gompers, College of Fine Arts
  • Haylie Dennis, College of Health Sciences
  • Elizabeth Combs, College of Nursing
  • Sara Shalash, College of Social Work

2014-2015

  • Mary C. Boulanger, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
  • Connor Appelman, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Colby Kirk, Gatton College of Business and Economics
  • Heather C. Chapman, College of Communication and Information
  • Brittany Holian, College of Design
  • Tanner Smith, College of Design
  • Rachel Allgeier, College of Education 
  • Sean Karlage, College of Engineering
  • Daniel P. Johnson, College of Fine Arts
  • Lindsay Kroes, College of Health Sciences
  • Corinna Hughes, College of Nursing
  • Elizabeth Kunnecke, College of Social Work