Faculty Awards The Albert D. & Elizabeth H. Kirwan Memorial Prize and The William B. Sturgill Award

The Albert D. and Elizabeth H. Kirwan Memorial Prize shall be awarded annually to a full time faculty member at the University of Kentucky who is deemed to have made outstanding contributions to original research or (creative) scholarship within the last four academic years. 

History

At the request of their two sons, The Albert D. and Elizabeth H. Kirwan Memorial Fund recognizes their parents' collaborative efforts in many research activities and Dr. Kirwan's efforts to create an environment at UK that promoted high quality research and scholarship.

Head football coach from 1938 to 1944 and later dean of men, Ab Kirwan was a distinguished faculty member and scholar in the field of southern history, dean of the Graduate School, and president of the University from 1968 to 1970.

Elizabeth Kirwan was awarded the Sullivan Medallion in 1973 for her service to both the University of Kentucky and the Lexington community, service that included executive roles in over ten organizations such as president of UK Women’s Clubs and chairman of Lexington Parks and Recreation Board.

Qualifications

Nominees must be full time faculty members in any of the colleges or professional schools at the University of Kentucky.

Evidence of a nominee's significant contributions to original research or scholarship shall be based on publications and/or other evidence of (creative) scholarship produced at the University of Kentucky during a period of time not to exceed four academic years prior to the time of the nomination (Aug. 2019 through the present).

Nominations

Candidates for the Kirwan Memorial Prize may be nominated by faculty, students, or others within the university community.

The nomination must include a primary letter (1) describing the candidate's research and/or scholarly activities within the last four academic years, (2) arguing what/how those activities have contributed to the field or fields, and (3) describing the degree and scale of graduate student involvement in the pertinent research project(s). A full or abbreviated CV should be included for reference. The nomination packet may include letters of support from colleagues and students. Supporting evidence, such as impact factor data, scholarly reviews of activities, etc., is welcomed. The selection committee shall take into account the varying disciplinary methods of assessing and estimating the impact of one's research and scholarly activity and will look to the nominator's letter and any other letters of support for primary guidance.      

Please upload the nomination packet as a single PDF here. 

Completed nominations for the 2024 Kirwan Memorial Prize are due by Monday, March 3, 2025. 

The William B. Sturgill Award is presented annually to a graduate faculty member for outstanding contributions to graduate education at UK.

History

William B. Sturgill was born in Lackey, Kentucky in 1924. A 1946 graduate of the University of Kentucky, Sturgill became prominent in the coal industry as an executive and owner of several coal operations. Sturgill also served in a variety of other businesses including East Kentucky Investment Company, Fourth Street and Gentry Tobacco Warehouses, and Hartland Development Project. In the 1980’s, he served Gov. John Y. Brown, Jr. as both Secretary of Energy and Secretary of Agriculture at a salary of one dollar a year. He was involved in numerous civic organizations, boards, and commissions.

His contributions to higher education include organizing and serving as president of the Hazard Independent College Foundation, as well as working closely with legislators to develop the commonwealth’s community college system. At the University of Kentucky, Sturgill served 18 years on the Board of Trustees, 10 years of which he served as chairperson. The Sturgill Development Building is named in his honor.

Nominations for the 2025 award are due by Monday, March 3, 2025. The nomination packet should include:

• a letter of nomination;
• the nominee's curriculum vitae;
• evidence of major contributions to graduate education within and beyond the nominee's department or program (e.g., influences on graduate curricula, graduate student professional and career development, and scholarly activities with respect to graduate education);
• comments on reputation as a mentor who cultivates academic and career success;
• a list of master's/doctorates directed and career status of graduates, when available;
• names of students whose dissertations and theses are still in progress; and
• letters of support (from graduate students, faculty, and/or alumni).

Please upload the nomination packet as a single PDF here.