Oct. 22, 2014

It pays to be a Kentucky basketball fan and attend the University of Kentucky.

For the second year in a row, John Calipari will award the actual 2015 spring semester in-state tuition for two lucky students who attend Monday’s annual Blue-White Scrimmage at Rupp Arena.

Students currently enrolled at the University of Kentucky can sign up at the regular student entrance at Rupp Arena, behind section 34. They must present a valid UK student ID and be signed up before 7 p.m. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.

The winners will be randomly selected and announced at the completion of the scrimmage. They must be present to win.

In the event of an out-of-state or graduate/professional student winner, the spring semester in-state undergraduate tuition amount will be applied.

Amanda Dowell, from Stanford, Ky., and Josh Lawson, a Boyle County native, won last year’s inaugural scholarship contest. After the game, the two noted the economic weight it lifted off them in their pursuit of higher education.

“It means I don’t have to take out loans, which is a pretty big deal,” Lawson said last year.

Calipari started the scholarship tradition at UK last season but previously did it during his days at UMass. With two scholarships on the line last year, a record 15,035 fans attended the 2013 Blue-White Scrimmage.

Tickets for this year’s Blue-White Scrimmage are still available. Lower-level tickets (singles only) are $10, and upper-level tickets are $5. Scrimmage tickets may be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or in person at statewide Ticketmaster outlets.

Proceeds from the John Calipari Coaches’ Clinic will be used to fund the scholarships.