LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 8, 2025) — The University of Kentucky Women’s Forum announced the four winners of the 2025 Sarah Bennett Holmes Award at a celebratory luncheon March 26. Award winners, nominees and other guests heard remarks from UK President Eli Capilouto and a keynote address titled "Standing Strong — Empowering Women to Define Their Path," presented by Tukea Talbert.
These awards recognize individuals and teams who promote the growth and well-being of women at the university and across Kentucky, individuals who reflect the accomplishments and legacy of Sarah Bennett Holmes, for whom the award is named. Holmes, a distinguished former dean of women at UK, championed the rights of women throughout her career.
Widowed at an early age, Holmes raised four children while completing her own education. She then began a career at UK, where she inspired young women to persevere and pursue their career goals. Among her accomplishments, Holmes developed work programs for women during the Great Depression. In her honor, the UK Women’s Forum created the Sarah Bennett Holmes Award and since 1994 has been honoring women at UK who demonstrate the same principles as Holmes through their work and service.
Faculty, staff and graduate student recipients receive a monetary award and a plaque. The team and its members receive a framed certificate and plaque for their achievement. All winners are named on plaques in UK’s Main Building. The Sarah Bennett Holmes Award is among the most esteemed recognitions bestowed at UK and brings recognition for efforts that might otherwise go unnoticed.
The 2025 Sarah Bennett Holmes award winners are:
- Amanda Fallin-Bennett, Ph.D. (faculty): College of Nursing.
- Abeni El-Amin, Ph.D. (staff): College of Education.
- Pegah Safavi (graduate student): Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering.
- Operation Be You (team).
Last year, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Sarah Bennett Holmes Awards, an inaugural “30 Under 30” recognition was created to honor the contributions of undergraduate and alumni women who have championed women during their undergraduate or professional endeavors. This year, the Women’s Forum received 18 nominations to continue this recognition.
The alumni recipients include:
- Angel Chapman (2021): College of Arts and Sciences, J. David Rosenberg College of Law.
- Alexis Fellows (2024): Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
- Madeline Lewis (2024): College of Health Sciences.
- Courtney Martin (2022): College of Arts and Sciences.
- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone: College of Communication and Information.
- Olivia Raley (2018 ): College of Arts and Sciences.
- Ella Sarpong (2021): College of Communication and Information.
- Cindy Sossa (2023): College of Arts and Sciences.
- Abby Steiner (2022): College of Education.
- Cami Williams (2018): College of Communication and Information.
The undergraduate recipients include:
- Anaya Ali: Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
- Amia Carter: College of Arts and Sciences
- Najiya Clayborn: College of Fine Arts.
- Sara Dickens: College of Public Health and Lewis Honors College.
- Mandy Dickerson: College of Public Health.
- Kennedi Fishback: College of Arts and Sciences and Lewis Honors College.
- Aniyah Maxey: College of Social Work and Lewis Honors College.
- Myka Smith-Jackson: College of Arts and Sciences and Lewis Honors College.
Nominees for the 2025 Sarah Bennett Holmes Awards include:
Faculty category
Christal Badour: College of Arts and Sciences.
Kelly Bradley: College of Education.
Amanda Fallin-Bennett: College of Nursing.
Yosra Helmy: Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
D’lorah Hughes: J. David Rosenberg College of Law.
Kimberly Parker: College of Communication and Information.
Julie Youssefi: College of Medicine.
Graduate Student category
Faezeh Akbari: Pigman College of Engineering.
Faraneh Fathi: Pigman College of Engineering.
Fatemah Hamedi: Pigman College of Engineering.
Katie Land: College of Medicine.
Ayesha Riaz: College of Arts and Sciences.
Pegah Safavi: Pigman College of Engineering.
Jordyn Tipsword: College of Arts and Sciences.
Staff category
Sandy Bell: UK Athletics.
Catherine Brereton: Gaines Center for Humanities..
Maranda Brooks: Cooperative Extension Service
Judith Burgess: College of Medicine.
Abeni El-Amin: College of Education.
Lindsey Jasinski: UK HealthCare.
Bethany Setser: UK HealthCare.
Jennifer Strange: College of Public Health.
Team category
It’s On Us: Christal Badour.
Operation Be You: Roberta Davis.
Sexual Violence Resource Center of the Bluegrass: Amy Coppiccie.
For more information about the UK Women’s Forum, visit https://www.uky.edu/womensforum/ or contact UKWF@uky.edu.