-4-
political prisoners Ahmed Kathrada and Barbara Hogan during April. They visited classes,
spoke at a convocation where they received honorary degrees, opened an exhibit that honors
Kathrada‘s commitment to non-racialism and democracy, and signed his new book published by
University Press of Kentucky, No Bread for M oridelo: M ernoirs of Ahmed K othrczdcz, Prisoner
No. 468/64. The book covers his anti-apartheid activity and resulting imprisonment with Nelson
Mandela and other activists.
UK Celebrates Impact of Research Challenge Trust Fund
The UK Council of Endowed Professors and Chairs held a luncheon and presentation March 30
at the Hilton Lexington/Downtown to recognize the significance of the Research Challenge Trust
Fund, also known as "Bucks for Brains.“ The first round of matching funds from the state for the
program was made available in 1998. Since that time, more than 12,000 donors have given gifts,
qualifying for approximately $230 million in matching funds. RCTF funds at UK resulted in 78
endowed chairs, 190 professorships, 280 fellowships, scholarships, lectures, enrichment funds,
research support, and an endowment for the William T. Young Library. UK‘s matching funds
include 33,012 gifts from 12,731 donors, including 6,095 alumni, 5,518 non—alumni, 826
corporations, and 120 foundations.
President Todd asked the Board to look at the following three items in PR 1 which relate to the
STEM area, and announced that Kentucky is doing very well in the math sciences.
CASTLE to Relocate to UK College of Education
The Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE) will
relocate to the University of Kentucky College of Education. The center, which was originally
housed at Iowa State University, will work with the Kentucky P20 Innovation Lab to partner
with regional educational organizations and schools to facilitate the implementation of
technologies that help improve teaching and student leaming.
Six Colleges Host Annual STEM Symposium
The annual UK STEM Symposium took place in late April. The event focused on "Connecting
STEM Education across the Bluegrass State” and was co-sponsored by the colleges of
Education, Engineering, Arts and Sciences, Agriculture, Communications, and Medicine.
CAER Holds MATHCOUNTS Night
The organizers of MATHCOUNTS (a national club and competition program that promotes
mathematics achievement) approached the Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) to
organize a fun event for middle school students the night before their state final competition in
Lexington on March 26. The MATHCOUNTS regional winners built ping-pong launchers,
raced edible cars, and created miniature dams at CAER.
Tax Increment Financing to Accelerate Development at Coldstream Research Campus
President Todd thanked Dr. Len Heller, Vice President for Commercialization and Economic
Development, and Steve Byars, Assistant Vice President for University Relations, and others for
their part in working with the Kentucky Legislature to approve a new law which pennits the
establishment of a tax increment financing (TIF) district on the Coldstream Research Campus.