Kylah Spring, middle, a freshman who was physically assaulted and called racial slurs by another student while working at Boyd Hall, stands amid demonstrators with her mother, Betsy Spring, left, during the March Against Racism on campus.
PHOTO BY JACK WEAVERFrom the sunrise over Kroger Field on game days in the fall to the late nights of studying at “Willy T,” our campus community always has a story to tell.
This year, our community grew like we’ve never seen before as the university welcomed its largest freshman class in history – 6,120 students. However, this year was not without its challenges. Through protests, both on and off campus, our community has stood up against
inequities and shown resilience in the face of challenges. But through it all, we’ve celebrated the moments of joy and connection that have kept us going.
Our photographers at the Kentucky Kernel have spent early mornings and late nights both on campus and across the country documenting these moments that have defined this year, and I’m proud to present this magazine as a culmination of our work. Thank you for allowing us to tell your stories.
Jack Weaver Photo Editor
FEBRUARY 26, 2023
Kentucky moves the ball up the court during the Kentucky vs. Tennessee womens basketball game at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington. Renovations on Memorial Coliseum are set to begin in April.
APRIL 12, 2023
People bow their heads in prayer at the Muhammad Ali Center during a community vigil honoring the victims of the mass shooting at the Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky.
KENTUCKY LANTERN PHOTO BY ABBEY CUTRER
APRIL 12, 2023
Keri Foy stands with her children in front of a memorial for the lives lost in the Louisville mass shooting while speaking on the impact that violence has on her children at the Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky.
KENTUCKY LANTERN PHOTO BY ABBEY CUTRER
Kylah Spring, a freshman who was physically assaulted and called racial slurs by another student while working at Boyd Hall, speaks to a crowd of hundreds of demonstrators during the March Against Racism on campus.
Demonstrators march to the Bowman Statue during the March Against Racism.
NOVEMBER
NOVEMBER
JANUARY 4, 2023
JANUARY 4, 2023
President Biden speaks to Kentucky Gov. Beshear, left, and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, second from left, on stage after delivering remarks during Biden’s visit to the state.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2022
Police examine paperwork at the scene of a shooting at an off-campus fraternity party on University Avenue in Lexington.
PHOTO BY JACK WEAVER
SEPTEMBER 10, 2022
A couch burns on State Street in Lexington during a student celebration after No. 20 Kentucky football defeats No. 12 Florida 2616.
PHOTO BY MARIA RAUH
SEPTEMBER 10, 2022
Students gather around a flipped car on State Street during a student celebration after Kentucky football defeats Florida.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2022
A burning couch illuminates a large crowd of students on State Street during a student celebration after Kentucky football defeats Florida.
MARCH 31, 2023
A demonstrator holds a sign during the Queer Youth Visibility March in downtown Lexington.
MARCH 31, 2023
A demonstrator holds a rainbow-colored umbrella during the Queer Youth Visibility March.
MARCH 31, 2023
Demonstrators listen to a young speaker during the Queer Youth Visibility March.
MARCH 31, 2023
Demonstrators march through downtown Lexington during the Queer Youth Visibility March.
MARCH 31, 2023
Demonstrators cross North Limestone Street at a rainbowcolored crosswalk during the Queer Youth Visibility March in downtown Lexington.
PHOTO BY JACK WEAVER
AUGUST 19, 2022
The Class of 2026, the largest freshman class in the university’s history, forms the shape of the state of Kentucky during Big Blue U at Kroger Field in Lexington.
AUGUST 16, 2022
UK President Eli Capilouto waves a cheerleader’s pom poms during move-in at Blazer Hall.
AUGUST 19, 2022
The Class of 2026 and other incoming students sit in the student section during Big Blue U at Kroger Field in Lexington.
MARCH 31, 2023
Hundreds of students gather in the Gatton Student Center as rapper The Kid LAROI greets fans ahead of his concert at Rupp Arena.
PHOTO BY JACK WEAVER
NOVEMBER 8, 2022
Students gather to listen to evangelical Christian preacher and TikTok star “Sister Cindy” speak behind Memorial Hall in Lexington.
PHOTOS BY MORGAN SIMMONS
NOVEMBER 8, 2022
A student takes a signed pin from evangelical Christian preacher and TikTok star “Sister Cindy.”
SEPTEMBER 23, 2022
The University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra performs Hector Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique” on the opening night of its 104th concert season at the Singletary Center in Lexington.
JANUARY 17, 2023
The United Voices Chicago choir performs at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Singletary Center.
DECEMBER 3, 2022
Katelyn Rose, a member of UK’s women’s a capella group Paws and Listen, gets ready in a dressing room before a concert at Singletary Center.
SEPTEMBER 23, 2022
John Nardolillo, conductor of the University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, looks onto the stage before making an entrance for the second piece of the opening night concert.
OCTOBER 15, 2022
Homecoming Queen Gracelyn Bush and Homecoming King Johnny Zelenak are recognized during a Homecoming ceremony at halftime of a football game at Kroger Field in Lexington.
OCTOBER 14, 2022
Students perform in the National Pan-Hellenic Council Homecoming Step
Show at the Gatton Student Center in Lexington.
JANUARY 12, 2023
Adam Zoolalian, a sophomore piano major, looks at a book at the Lucille Caudill Little Fine Arts Library in Lexington.
FEBRUARY 8, 2023
Ethan Staten, a freshman electrical engineering major, studies at William T. Young Library in Lexington.
MARCH 26, 2023
Student dancers participate in “Rave Hour” during the DanceBlue marathon at 4:21 a.m. at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington.
PHOTOS
BY SAMUEL COLMAR
MARCH 26, 2023
Students participate in a game stacking cups and plates during the DanceBlue marathon at 3:44 a.m.
MARCH 26, 2023
Students perform the hourly line dance on stage during the DanceBlue marathon at 3:06 a.m.
MARCH 26, 2023
Student dancers participate in “Rave Hour” during the DanceBlue marathon at 4:24 a.m.
MARCH 26, 2023
Committee members reveal that a total of $1,650,857.26 was raised during the 24-hour DanceBlue marathon at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington.
PHOTO BY ABBEY CUTRER
SEPTEMBER
NOVEMBER
OCTOBER
SEPTEMBER
Defensive back Jordan Lovett (25) and linebacker
J.J. Weaver (13) tackle Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (1) during the No. 20 Kentucky vs. No. 12 Florida football game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. UK won 26-16.
OCTOBER 15, 2022
Kentucky players run onto the field before the No. 22 Kentucky vs. No. 16 Mississippi State football game at Kroger Field in Lexington. UK won 27-17.
PHOTO BY JACK WEAVER
NOVEMBER 19, 2022
Running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (24) runs the ball during the Kentucky vs. No. 1 Georgia football game at Kroger Field in Lexington. UK lost 16-6.
OCTOBER 8, 2022
Linebacker Trevin Wallace (32) returns an interception during the No. 13 Kentucky vs. South Carolina football game at Kroger Field. UK lost 24-14.
AUGUST 29, 2022
Forward Eythor Bjorgolfsson (9) jumps over Seattle defender Josh Thacker (5) during the No. 8 Kentucky vs. Seattle mens soccer match at The Bell in Lexington. UK won 1-0.
PHOTO BY JACK WEAVER
NOVEMBER 6, 2022
Forward Eythor Bjorgolfsson
(9) heads the ball during the No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 8 South Carolina mens soccer match in the first round of the Sun Belt Tournament at The Bell. UK won 2-1.
NOVEMBER 6, 2022
Two Kentucky players celebrate after scoring a goal during the No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 8 South Carolina mens soccer match in the first round of the Sun Belt Tournament at The Bell.
Middle blocker Bella Bell (14) and outside hitter Adanna Rollins (8) block the ball during the No. 3 Kentucky vs. Loyola Chicago volleyball match in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington. UK won 3-0.
PHOTO BY JACK WEAVER
MARCH 30, 2023
Outside hitter Megan Wilson (33) jumps to hit the ball during the Kentucky vs. Athletes Unlimited exhibition volleyball match at Memorial Coliseum.
AUGUST 26, 2022
Kentucky players celebrate during the No. 11 Kentucky vs. Marquette home opener volleyball match at Memorial Coliseum. UK lost 3-2.
MARCH 4, 2023
Jillian Procasky performs her floor routine during the No. 12 Kentucky vs. No. 9 Auburn gymnastics meet at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington. UK won by 1.225 points.
JANUARY 13, 2023
Isabella Magnelli performs her beam routine during the “Excite Night” gymnastics meet at Rupp Arena in Lexington. No. 12 Kentucky defeated No. 10 LSU in front of 10,558 fans.
JANUARY 13, 2023
Raena Worley smiles before performing her bars routine during the “Excite Night” gymnastics meet at Rupp Arena.
PHOTO BY JACK WEAVER
FEBRUARY 10, 2023
Arianna Patterson performs her floor routine during the No. 10 Kentucky vs. Eastern Michigan gymnastics meet at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington. UK won by 3.550 points.
MARCH 4, 2023
Raena Worley performs her floor routine during the No. 12 Kentucky vs. No. 9 Auburn gymnastics meet at Memorial Coliseum. UK won by 1.225 points.
NOVEMBER 15, 2022
(On the far left) Guard Antonio Reeves (12) shoots the ball during the No. 4 Kentucky vs. Michigan State Champions Classic mens basketball game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. UK lost 86-77 in double overtime.
JANUARY 24, 2023
Forward Chris Livingston (24) dunks the ball during the Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt mens basketball game at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee. UK won 69-53.
JANUARY 28,
2023
Guard CJ Fredrick (1) shoots the ball during the Kentucky vs. No. 9 Kansas mens basketball game at Rupp Arena in Lexington. UK lost 77-68.
PHOTO BY JACK WEAVER
DECEMBER 10, 2022
Forward Ugonna Onyenso (33) fights for the ball during the No. 16 Kentucky vs. Yale mens basketball game at Rupp Arena in Lexington. UK won 69-59.
JANUARY 21, 2023
Forward Lance Ware (55) blocks a shot during the Kentucky vs. Texas A&M mens basketball game at Rupp Arena. UK won 76-67.
MARCH 17, 2023
Head coach John Calipari jumps on the sideline during the No. 6 Kentucky vs. No. 11 Providence mens basketball game in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. UK won 61-53.
JANUARY 24, 2023
Guard Sahvir Wheeler (2) dribbles the ball towards the basket during the Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt mens basketball game at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee. UK won 69-53.
Guard Antonio Reeves (12) celebrates with guard CJ Fredrick (1) after hitting a 3-pointer during the No. 6 Kentucky vs. No. 11 Providence mens basketball game in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. UK won 61-53.
JANUARY 21, 2023
Guard Cason Wallace (22) high fives his teammates as he is introduced before the Kentucky vs. Texas A&M mens basketball game at Rupp Arena in Lexington. UK won 7667.
JANUARY 28, 2023
Players on the Kentucky bench react to a play during the Kentucky vs. No. 9 Kansas mens basketball game at Rupp Arena. UK lost 77-68.
FEBRUARY
JANUARY 12, 2023
Guard Maddie Scherr (22) makes a move with the ball during the Kentucky vs. No. 1 South Carolina womens basketball game at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington. UK lost 95-66.
PHOTO BY JACK WEAVER
FEBRUARY 26, 2023
JANUARY 12, 2023
(On the far right) Guard Jada Walker (11) falls to the ground during the Kentucky vs. No. 1 South Carolina womens basketball game at Memorial Coliseum. UK lost 95-66.
MARCH 2, 2023
Guard Robyn Benton (1) and forward Ajae Petty (13) high five fans after the No. 14 Kentucky vs. No. 6 Alabama womens basketball game in the second round of the SEC Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. UK won 71-58.
MARCH 2, 2023
Liam Draxl hits the ball during the No. 5 Kentucky vs. No. 6 South Carolina mens tennis match at the Boone Tennis Complex in Lexington. UK lost 4-3.
MARCH 2, 2023
Justin Lapadat hits the ball during the No. 5 Kentucky vs. No. 6 South Carolina mens tennis match at the Boone Tennis Complex.
MARCH 2, 2023
Liam Draxl celebrates after scoring a point during the No. 5 Kentucky vs. No. 6 South Carolina mens tennis match at the Boone Tennis Complex.
APRIL 2, 2023
Florencia Urrutia hits the ball during the Kentucky vs. Alabama womens tennis match at the Boone Tennis Complex in Lexington. UK lost 4-1.
PHOTOS BY CARTER SKAGGSAPRIL 2, 2023
Florencia Urrutia serves the ball during the Kentucky vs. Alabama womens tennis match at the Boone Tennis Complex.
APRIL 2, 2023
Zoe Hammond sprints to return the ball during the Kentucky vs. Alabama womens tennis match at the Boone Tennis Complex.
FEBRUARY 25, 2023
FEBRUARY 26, 2023
FEBRUARY 21, 2023
Pitcher Mason Moore (20) pitches the ball during the Kentucky vs. Evansville home opener baseball game at Kentucky Proud Park. UK won 6-3.
FEBRUARY 28, 2023
Kentucky players watch from the dugout during the Kentucky vs. Morehead State baseball game at Kentucky Proud Park. UK won 15-1.
FEBRUARY 28, 2023
Catcher Chase Stanke (9) and pitcher Travis Smith (33) talk at the mound during the Kentucky vs. Morehead State baseball game at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington. UK won 15-1.
PHOTO BY JACK WEAVER
MARCH 8, 2023
Infielder Erin Coffel (21) throws the ball to first base during the No. 16 Kentucky vs. Dayton softball home opener at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington. UK won 5-4.
MARCH 8, 2023
A Kentucky player warms up in the on-deck circle during the No. 16 Kentucky vs. Dayton softball home opener at John Cropp Stadium.
MARCH
MARCH
APRIL 7, 2023
A spectator sits on a bench beneath the grandstand as horses exercise on the main track during morning training on the opening day of the Spring Meet at Keeneland.
APRIL 7, 2023
Horses exercise on the main track during morning training on the opening day of the Spring Meet at Keeneland.
APRIL 7, 2023
A person pets a horse while it is washed during morning training on the opening day of the Spring Meet at Keeneland in Lexington.
APRIL 7, 2023
A horse and its rider race along the main track during morning training on the opening day of the Spring Meet at Keeneland.
APRIL 7, 2023
A horse is washed under a tree during morning training on the opening day of the Spring Meet at Keeneland.
PHOTO BY ABBEY CUTRER
FEBRUARY 12, 2023
Lauryn Hagan, a sophomore human health sciences major, shows off her monogrammed necklace at University Flats in Lexington before her blind date.
FEBRUARY 12, 2023
Elijah Vann, a freshman theater design major, puts on his shoes at his apartment in Lexington while getting ready for his blind date.
FEBRUARY 12, 2023
Ansley Colvin, a sophomore landscape architecture major, applies mascara at University Flats while getting ready for her blind date organized by the Kentucky Kernel.
FEBRUARY 12, 2023
Elijah Vann plays with his cat, Dinner, before leaving for his blind date.
MARCH 19, 2023
APRIL 4, 2023
Fans stand for the national anthem before the Kentucky vs. Dayton baseball game at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington.
PHOTO BY SAMUEL COLMAR
JANUARY 26, 2023
Frank X Walker poses for a portrait with his children’s book titled “A is for Affrilachia,” a term he coined to represent the African American artists, writers and musicians hailing from Appalachia at the Dickey Hall Education Library in Lexington.
JANUARY 17, 2023
Lonnie Ali, the wife of the late boxing legend Muhammad Ali, looks at a photo of the day she met her future husband by photographer Steve Schapiro at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2022
Robert Beatty, a Lexington-based artist and musician, poses for a portrait in his home studio in Lexington.
PHOTO BY MARTHA MCHANEY
MARCH 1, 2023
Owner Joe Bologna stands in front of his portrait on the 50th anniversary of Joe Bologna’s Restaurant and Pizzeria in Lexington.
SEPTEMBER
18, 2022
A model poses during KRNL’s “Below Zero” fashion photo shoot at Shillito Park in Lexington.
ABBEY CUTRER
JACK WEAVER, PHOTO EDITOR
ISABEL MCSWAIN
MORGAN SIMMONS
BRADY SAYLOR
MARIA RAUH
OLIVIA HALL
CARTER SKAGGS
MARTHA MCHANEY
SAMUEL COLMAR
DAVID FALADE
MICHAEL SMALLWOOD
TRAVIS FANNON