Gaines Fellows also participate in all social and cultural activities sponsored by the Gaines Center. Any student enrolled at the University of Kentucky, including its community colleges, is eligible for consideration. The Thomas D. Clark Lectureship in the Humanities Created to bring eminent scholars and authors to the campus for an extended residency, the Thomas D. Clark Lectureship stipulates that the recipient will offer two or three public lectures to be published by the University Press of Kentucky, and will lead several sessions of a special humanities seminar related to the Lecturer's professional field of interest. Juniors and seniors, selected on the basis of written application, participate in this seminar. An unusual opportunity for undergraduates to assist university faculty in major research projects, this assistantship is awarded to faculty members on a competitive basis.
Selected students enroll for experiential education credit and receive a stipend.
The Edward T. Breathitt Lectureship is the first undergraduate lectureship established at an American university. It is named in honor of an eminent Kentuckian and an outstanding alumnus of the University of Kentucky whose interest in higher education has been exceptional. The lectureship is awarded to an undergraduate student whose qualities of mind and spirit have been expressed eloquently on one or more of the basic characteristics that distinguish the humanities as fields of study. Any university faculty member may nominate a qualified upper level student from any discipline. The recipient receives a special award and an honorarium.