29 Wildcats Inducted into Frank G. Ham Society of Character

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky inducted 29 student-athletes into the Frank G. Ham Society of Character on Wednesday at a dinner prior to Kentucky’s men’s basketball game against Vanderbilt. The student-athletes were introduced on the court at Rupp Arena at halftime of the game.  
 
The Society of Character annually honors Wildcats who have shown an extraordinary commitment to academic excellence, athletic participation, personal development, career preparation and serving as a role model. The SOC was founded during the 1998-99 school year and is named for Ham, a longtime UK administrator. 
 
The following is an alphabetized list of this year’s induction class and highlights of their accomplishments. 
 
César Bourgois, Men’s Tennis 

• 32nd-ranked doubles player in?2019-20 Preseason ITA Division I Men’s National Rankings 
• Team captain 
• SEC Community Service Team 
• Men’s tennis representative on the UK Student-Athlete Advisory Committee 
• Dean’s List 
• Marketing major 

 
Glen Brown, Swimming & Diving 

• 2019-20 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President 
• 2018-19 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Vice President 
• 2019 NCAA qualifier 
• 2019 All-America Honorable Mention in 400-yard freestyle relay 
• 2019 SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll and 2017 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll 
• 2019 SEC Community Service Team selection 
• 2019 CSCAA Scholar All-America First Team 
• Majoring in Accounting
• Volunteered over 100 hours to community service, including The Humane Society, God’s Pantry and Salvation Army 

 
Josephine Chang, Women’s Golf 

• Scheduled to graduate in the spring of 2021 with degrees in Kinesiology and Biology 
• Plans to attend Medical school after college with aspirations to work at a non-profit hospital 
• Two-time Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar First Team member 
• Three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member and appeared on the UK Dean’s List six times 
• 2019 SEC Community Service Team 
• Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar Team member as a junior 
• Kentucky Heritage Scholarship recipient 
• Active member in the community, including volunteering with the Salvation Army, UK Children’s Hospital, Shriner’s Hospital, Special Olympics, God’s Pantry and the American Cancer Society 
• Appeared in 25 events in her four-year career, including a runner-up finish at the 2019 Colonel Classic, two top-10 finishes and four top-20 showings; named a captain for the 2019-20 season 
• SEC Freshman of the Week on March 22, 2017 

 
Carson Coleman, Baseball 

• Three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll majoring in Integrated Strategic Communication
• Showed his commitment to personal and team development by returning to school for the 2019-20 school year/season despite being selected in the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft 
• Highly regarded by teammates and coaching staff for his positive attitude and work ethic 
• Deeply involved with off the field programs including the March to End Alzheimer’s, ALZ/4MOM Foundation, Miracle League, Catholic Action Center, God’s Pantry, NEGU, Shriner’s Hospitals for Children and elementary school reading programs 
• Has worked with local community service organizations each of the past three summers as part of his summer baseball leagues 
• Has pitched in 43 career games with five saves and 68 strikeouts in 48.0 innings 

 
T.J. Collett, Baseball 

• Two-time member of the SEC Community Service Team 
• Three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll majoring in Communication
• Has been instrumental in UK Baseball’s community outreach and service initiatives 
• Heavily involved with NEGU/Jessie Rees Foundation, whose mission is connecting with families of young cancer patients, bringing awareness to their stories, offering them a network of helpful resources and sending the entire family encouragement during their journey 
• Spearheaded an effort where members of the UK baseball team deliver Joy Jars to young cancer patients. The jars are stuffed with toys, games and other items to brighten patients’ days 
• Worked with UK and NEGU to bring cancer-stricken children and their families to home games for behind-the-scenes experiences on game day, including being announced during the game 
• So highly regarded as a teammate that when he participated in the College Home Run Derby in Omaha, Nebraska last summer a teammate’s family drove more than an hour to the event just to support him 
• During his career has been named both National Player of the Week and SEC Player of the Week for his play 
• Has persevered through numerous injuries that significantly impacted both his freshman and sophomore seasons 

 
Jacob Cook, Men’s Golf 

• Has appeared in 11 events during his three-year career with his low round, low tournament score and best tournament finish coming during the 2019 fall season 
• Pursuing a degree in Management
• He’s a three-time Academic All-SEC selection majoring in Management
• Serves as the men’s golf representative for the Student Athletic Advisory Committee and is heavily involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes program 
• Served on a mission trip to Nicaragua where he played with kids, built a house, visited local schools and made concrete blocks 
• Other service projects include: Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, Special Olympics, God’s Pantry and Salvation Army 

 
Tanner Dowdy, Track & Field 

• Finance and Political Science major
• Has interned for the Special Olympics and represented the state at naturalization ceremonies to register new citizens to vote 
• Volunteered with the Carnegie Center Art Night to assist in making food and cleaning the area to display local art 
• Has completed at least 65 hours of community service while competing with both the track and field and cross country teams 
• Tanner has given his time generously to both the Lexington and Louisville communities 
• Has been on the Dean’s List every semester of his time at Kentucky 

 
Nicole Fautsch, Track & Field 

• Earning both her B.B.A. in Marketing and B.A. in Psychology 
• Served on a mission trip to Ethiopia where she helped pass out food and supplies to communities in need, spent time playing with orphans and learned about the importance of sponsorship 
• Has also volunteered with Walk to End Alzheimer’s where she helped assemble and hand out pinwheel flowers to walkers and volunteered with Jesus Prom at Southland Christian Church where she spent the evening with special needs prom guests to give them a night of fun 
• Nicole was the student coordinator for Adopt a Family where she organized the track and field team in December to deliver presents to local families in need during Christmas 
• Has completed over 100 hours of community service 

 
Ian Foos, Rifle 

• Two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll 
• Two-time CRCA Scholastic All-American 
• Recipient of the Elton E. Mackin Marine Corp League Scholarship 
• Team Captain for the 2019-20 UK rifle team 
• Four-year member of the UK rifle team who was part of 2018 NCAA National Championship team 
• USA Shooting Junior National Champion in 2015 
• Social Work major
• Heavily involved in community outreach and service project 

 
Luke Fortner, Football 

• A Mechanical Engineering major who, along with Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky and other engineering students, helped design a specially built push cart vehicle to provide a Kentucky Children’s Hospital patient the chance to both accompany the Wildcats on the Cat Walk and attend a game at Kroger Field in a project called “Lift Them Up” 
• Leads the UK football team in community service hours 
• Heavily involved in UK football’s weekly visits to the UK Children’s Hospital 
• Has appeared in 31 career games, starting every game of the 2019 season 
• His blocking helped UK set team records for rushing yardage, rushing touchdowns, and rushing average during the 2019 season 
• Three-time UK Dean’s List honoree 
• Three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll honoree 

 
Ali Galyer, Swimming & Diving 

• 2017, 2019 CSCAA Scholar All-America First Team 
• Four-time NCAA First Team All-American (2017-2019) 
• 2018, 2019?SEC Academic Honor Roll and 2017 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll 
• Marketing major
• 2017, 2018, 2019 NCAA Qualifier 
• 2017, 2018, 2019 All-SEC Second Team, 2017 All-Freshman Team 
• 2019 SEC Silver Medalist in 200-yard backstroke 
• 2019 SEC Bronze Medalist in 800-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard medley relay 
• 2018 SEC Bronze Medalist in 200-yard backstroke 
• 2017 SEC Silver Medalist in 800-yard freestyle relay 
• Volunteered over 200 hours to community service, including The Hope Center, God’s Pantry and Salvation Army 

 
Autumn Humes, Softball 

• 2019 SEC All-Tournament Team Member 
• Two-times elected as a team captain 
• SEC Pitcher of the Week in 2019 
• Two-time member of the SEC Honor Roll 
• 2019 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete
• Among her numerous service activities was leading a mission trip for college students to Nicaragua in 2019
• Majoring in Kinesiology with plans to attend graduate school in Physician Assistant Studies

 
Lesedi Jacobs, Women’s Tennis 

• 2018, 2019 SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll and 2017 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll 
• 2019 ITA Scholar-Athlete majoring in Accounting and Finance
• 2019 and 2016 Ohio Valley Regional Doubles Champion (main draw) 
• 2019 ITA National Fall Championships singles and doubles qualifier 
• 2019 Baylor Invite Doubles Champion (main draw) 
• Won eight straight singles matches and 11 straight doubles matches during the 2018-19 regular season 
• 2016 USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships doubles qualifier 
• Participated in community service projects with the Habitat for Humanity, God’s Pantry, Read Across America, Amachi Central Kentucky and Special Olympics Kentucky 
• Represented UK at the SEC Career Tour

 
Leon Jones, Men’s Soccer 

• Two-time All-Conference USA 
• Anchored defense that led nation in shutouts in 2018 
• C-USA All-Academic Team 
• Dean’s List 
• Chemical Engineering major 

 
Morgan Lakes, Swimming & Diving 

• Human Health Science major on a pre-dental school track 
• Won the Team Spirit award at the 2019 Kentucky swimming and diving awards banquet 
• Set career highs in eight events last season, including the 200-yard breaststroke, 200-yard butterfly, 200- and 400-yard individual medley, 100- and 200-meter breaststroke and the 200- and 400-meter individual medley 
• Participated in research associated with UK College of Dentistry and has more than 100 hours of shadowing dentists 
• 2018, 2019?SEC Academic Honor Roll and 2017 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll 
• Kentucky Governors Scholar Program Scholarship recipient 
• Volunteered over 250 hours to community service, including The Hope Center, Salvation Army and Amachi Central Kentucky 
• Member of Omicron Delta Kappa 

 
Katherine Marianos, Gymnastics 

• WCGA Scholastic All-American 
• SEC Winter Sports Academic Honor Roll 
• Dean’s List every semester 
• Double major in Marketing and Management 
• Set to graduate in three years 

 
Alex Martens, Softball 

• SEC All-Freshman Team in 2017 
• NFCA All-Region Second Team in 2019 
• Elected as a 2020 UK team captain 
• UK Offensive Player of the Year in 2018 
• Interned with Nike in the summer of 2019, working at Nike World Headquarters in Oregon
• Integrated Strategic Communication major with an Art Studio minor

 
KeKe McKinney, Women’s Basketball 

• Traveled with a group of UK student-athletes to Ethiopia in the summer of 2019 for a service trip interacting with people, passing out food and clothes and tried to make a difference in their lives 
• Has also spent time volunteering with the Kentucky Toyota Miracle League, Gainesway Ministry, Lighthouse Ministry and God’s Pantry Food Bank 
• A two-year member of the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll majoring in Social Work 
• A three-year starter for the women’s basketball team that has been a leader since the first day she stepped in the gym. Is having her best season yet as a junior, averaging 7.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game 

 
Lizzy Merriman, Swimming & Diving 

• Kinesiology major 
• Set career highs in seven events last season, including?the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke, 200- and 400-yard individual medley, 50- and 200-meter breaststroke and the 400-yard individual medley 
• 2018, 2019 SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll and 2017 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll 
• 150+ hours of shadowing physical therapists 
• Volunteered over 150 hours to community service, including The Hope Center, The Humane Society and God’s Pantry 
• Member of Omicron Delta Kappa 

 
Megan Monfredi, Gymnastics 

• SEC Winter Sports Academic Honor Roll 
• Dean’s List 
• Recorded season-high 9.725 floor routine twice in 2019 
• Recorded career-high 9.800 floor routine in 2018 freshman debut 
• Majoring in Psychology

 
Kendyl Paris, Volleyball 

• Went to Ethiopia as part of the UK Athletics’ mission trip in the summer 
• SAAC leadership council 
• Kinesiology major earned SEC Honor Roll in 2018 and 2019 
• Professional school aspirations in Physical Therapy
• Part of three SEC Championship teams in her first three years as a Wildcat 
• Works with Step-by-Step, God’s Pantry, Special Olympics and the George Pruitt Recovery Center

 
 Kameron Roach, Women’s Basketball 

• Has been heavily involved in community service since arriving on campus, volunteering with the Toyota Bluegrass Miracle League, Immanuel Baptist Church mentoring program, Lighthouse Ministries and more 
• A two-year member of the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll majoring in Kinesiology and Health Promotion 
• Injuries limited her time on the court last season and early this season, but is recovering and expected to be full speed soon 
• Best game of her career against Alabama State last season where she scored four points with four rebounds, three steals and one assist, hitting a 3-pointer 

 
Bailey Rouse, Men’s Soccer 

• Started all 21 matches in 2019 
• Recorded one goal and one assist while primarily playing defense in 2019 
• Team captain 
• C-USA All-Academic Team 
• Dean’s List 
• Civil Engineering major 

 
Asia Seidt, Swimming & Diving 

• Kinesiology major
• 2019 Gold Medalist at Phillips 66 National Championships in 200-meter backstroke 
• 2019 NCAA Elite 90 recipient, Arthur Ashe Female Sports Scholar of the Year, SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team 
• 2017-18, 2018-19 USA Swimming National Team and U.S. World University Games Team 
• Eight-time NCAA First Team All-American (2017-2019) 
• Eight-time NCAA All-America Honorable Mention (2017-2019) 
• 2017, 2018, 2019 All-SEC First Team 
• 2017, 2018, 2019 SEC Champion in 200-yard backstroke 
• 2018 SEC Champion in 100-yard backstroke 
• 2018, 2019 SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll and 2017, 2018, 2019 CSCAA Scholar All-America First Team 
• Volunteered over 200 hours to community service, including The Hope Center, Kentucky Aquatics and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass 

 
Sarah Shipley, Women’s Golf 

• Scheduled to graduate in the summer with a degree in Integrated Strategic Communication and a minor in Community Leadership Development  
• Two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member and has been on the Dean’s List
• Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes 
• Chosen for the 2018 SEC Community Service Team, she has more than 200 hours of service during her time at UK, including volunteering with the Special Olympics, UK Children’s Hospital and the Salvation Army 
• Selected for service trips to Panama and Nicaragua 
• Key member of the UK women’s golf team with 35 college appearances, four top-10 finishes and seven top-20 showings 
• Won the individual match-play bracket at the East & West Match Play Challenge as a freshman 
• Two-time tournament champion in the summer of 2019 (Golf Association of Michigan Women’s Championship and 119th Women’s Western Amateur) 

 
Avery Skinner, Volleyball 

• Went to Ethiopia as part of the UK Athletics’ service trip in the summer 
• Part of three SEC Championship teams in her first three years as a Wildcat 
• 2017 SEC All-Freshman Team 
• 2018 Preseason All-SEC Team member 
• 2019 Arthur Ashe Jr. Scholar-Athlete Award winner 
• Communication Sciences & Disorders major

 
Larissa Spellman, Softball 

• SEC Honor Roll and SEC First-Year Honor Roll member 
• Works with Habitat for Humanity 
• Has helped with UK Softball’s relationship with the Special Olympics 
• Assisted with God’s Pantry to help pack sack lunches for underprivileged kids 
• Interned in the summer with Special Olympics 
• Management and Communication double major

 
Bailey Vick, Softball 

• 2017 SEC All-Freshman Team 
• Two-time SEC Freshman of the Week 
• 2018 SEC All-Defensive Team   
• Dean’s list in all seven semesters of her educational career 
• 2018 Scratch Award winner at the CATSPYs 
• Accounting major

 
Landon Young, Football 

• Has appeared in 36 career games, starting every game at left tackle during the 2019 season 
• 2019 third-team All-SEC and SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honoree 
• Named captain of the prestigious 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his impact off the field 
• Has visited a local nursing home several times, including a pre-Super Bowl party to give joy to the residents 
• Guest speaker at local churches and elementary schools on seven different occasions, talking about life lessons, fighting through adversities, faith and football 
• Volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, Kentucky Children’s Hospital, Hope Center and Lexington Christian Church 
• As an Animal Science major, has volunteered his time for eight straight years at a veterinary clinic in Cynthiana, Kentucky 
• Participated in a one-week service trip to the Ethiopia in May of 2019.