Serving speed and strategy: Lexington Chick-fil-A spotlights UK’s True Lean impact
By Lilli Dubler, Building Kentucky Just before noon, the lunch rush begins. Orders stack up. Team members move in rhythm behind the counter of a busy Lexington Chick-fil-A — one of the highest-volume restaurants in the region. For Jeff Stryker, owner of the Nicholasville Road and Turfland locations, growth has always been a welcome challenge […]
Launch your teaching career through the Louisville Teacher Residency program
By Marina Fraire, Building Kentucky Jefferson County Public Schools is actively recruiting future educators for its Louisville Teacher Residency (LTR) program, a one-year, paid pathway to earning teacher certification while gaining hands-on classroom experience. Designed for individuals with limited or no prior teaching experience, the residency allows participants to earn a Master of Arts in […]
VIDEO: UK launches Kentucky’s first degree in artificial intelligence
By Lilli Dubler, Building Kentucky The Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering at the University of Kentucky has launched the Commonwealth’s first Bachelor of Science in AI. The program, designed to prepare graduates with the technical skills, ethical grounding and real-world experience needed to use AI effectively and responsibly across a variety of industries, will welcome its first class […]
Jefferson Community and Technical College opens Center for Science and Discovery
By Marina Fraire, Building Kentucky Jefferson Community and Technical College (Jefferson) recently celebrated the grand opening of its new Center for Science and Discovery, marking a significant milestone in the college’s multi-year Jefferson Rising campus revitalization project. The 40,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art STEM facility features modern classrooms and cutting-edge laboratories designed to support hands-on learning and prepare students for today’s evolving workforce. The center is located at 640 […]
University of Kentucky launches campus-wide artificial intelligence initiative
By Lilli Dubler, Building Kentucky University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto recently announced the launch of CATS AI, an initiative designed to coordinate and advance artificial intelligence efforts and expertise across the UK campus and throughout the Commonwealth. CATS (Commonwealth AI Transdisciplinary Strategy) AI will serve as a central hub to integrate AI activities across UK’s […]
VIDEO: A new era of health education is on the horizon with construction of UK’s Rankin Health Education Building
By Lilli Dubler, Building Kentucky As its great steel structure continues to rise toward the sky on the University of Kentucky campus, it is hard to miss the construction — and the excitement — of the Michael D. Rankin MD Health Education Building. Once completed in Spring 2027, the 509,000-square-foot facility located at the intersection […]
Thomas More University ranked top Kentucky college by The Wall Street Journal
By Lilli Dubler, Building Kentucky Thomas More University has once again earned national recognition for its exceptional return on investment, ranking among the Best Colleges in the U.S. for 2026 by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ)/College Pulse. The rankings, published online on late last month, highlight institutions that best prepare graduates for financial success. For […]
Raising the Bar: Jefferson Jubilee sets sights on student scholarship record
By Marina Fraire, Building Kentucky The Jefferson Community and Technical College (Jefferson) Foundation will host The Jefferson Jubilee at 6 p.m. on Friday, October 10 at The Olmsted, 3701 Frankfort Avenue in Louisville. Since its inception, the annual fundraiser has awarded more than 300 full-time, full-year scholarships to Jefferson students, including a record-setting 30 scholarships […]
UofL Speed School opens $90M Student Success & Research Building
By Derek Doyle, Building Kentucky The J.B. Speed School of Engineering’s Student Success & Research Building has opened its doors on the University of Louisville Belknap Campus. The four-story, 114,000-square-foot center for student collaboration and research innovation stands within Speed School’s home on Eastern Parkway. “UofL is a nationally recognized leader in driving innovation, spurring […]
Walsh Construction, Goodwill Kentucky, UK launch Pre-Apprenticeship Program
By Lilli Dubler, Building Kentucky The University of Kentucky, in partnership with Walsh Construction and Goodwill Kentucky, launched a new Pre-Apprenticeship Program on Aug. 1. The initiative, tied to the construction of the UK Cancer and Advanced Ambulatory Building, is designed to introduce participants to careers in the skilled trades through an eight-week, hands-on learning […]
Thomas More University establishes new office for higher education advocacy, names inaugural director
By Lilli Dubler, Building Kentucky Thomas More University proudly announced the establishment of the Office of Community and Government Relations on July 3. The establishment of this office ensures the University’s clear and consistent presence in critical conversations happening on local, state and federal levels impacting higher education. Courtney Kleier has been named director of […]
More than 7,000 JCPS students engage in summer learning
By Tom Lally, Building Kentucky Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) is tackling students’ “summer slide” with nearly a month of free, weekday, educational programming. More than 7,000 students in first through 12th grade are enrolled in the 2025 Summer Success League (formerly Backpack League). The program is operating from June 16 to July 11, excluding […]
UK study suggests maple syrup industry can greatly tap into, expand Kentucky’s economy
By Lilli Dubler, Building Kentucky Kentucky’s forests, traditionally valued for their timber and recreation, could soon become a source of sweet economic opportunity, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. The study, “Economic impacts of maple syrup production potential in Kentucky: Input-output analysis,” published […]
Louisville education leaders celebrate grand opening of new Head Start facility on E. Burnett
By Quin Welch, Building Kentucky Louisville Metro Director of Early Childhood Development Leanne French joined OVEC leaders on Thursday to celebrate the grand opening of OVEC’s 22nd Head Start facility in its region. After a soft opening in December, Burnett Head Start is fully open and operational. Currently, 28 children attend the school, but Burnett has […]
Record donations from Jefferson Giving Day will fund student scholarships, emergency support
By Stephanie Smith, Building Kentucky More students will receive needs-based scholarships and access to food pantries, emergency aid and enrichment services thanks to the 123 donors who collectively contributed more than $24,000 on Jefferson Giving Day. “We are grateful to our community of supporters who join us in our commitment to removing barriers to quality […]