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 invited 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, D.N.P.
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, tirelessly 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 successful career at the university where she inspired young women to persevere in the face of hardship 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:
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:
The undergraduate recipients include:
Nominees for the 2025 Sarah Bennett Holmes Awards include:
Faculty category
Christal Badour: College of Arts and SciencesKelly Bradley: College of EducationAmanda Fallin-Bennett: College of NursingYosra Helmy: Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and EnvironmentD’lorah Hughes: J. David Rosenberg College of LawKimberly Parker: College of Communication and InformationJulie Youssefi: College of Medicine
Graduate Student category
Faezeh Akbari: Pigman College of EngineeringFaraneh Fathi: Pigman College of EngineeringFatemah Hamedi: Pigman College of EngineeringKatie Land: College of MedicineAyesha Riaz: College of Arts and SciencesPegah Safavi: Pigman College of EngineeringJordyn Tipsword: College of Arts and Sciences
Staff category
Sandy Bell: UK AthleticsCatherine Brereton: Gaines Center for HumanitiesMaranda Brooks: Cooperative Extension ServiceJudith Burgess: College of MedicineAbeni El-Amin: College of EducationLindsey Jasinski: UK HealthCareBethany Setser: UK HealthCareJennifer Strange: College of Public Health
Team category
It’s On Us: Christal BadourOperation Be You: Roberta DavisSexual 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.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
Pegah Safavi, a graudate student in the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering, is the 2025 Sarah Bennett Holmes graduate student award winner.
Tim Webb
Amanda Fallin-Bennett, Ph.D., with the College of Nursing, is the 2025 Sarah Bennett Holmes faculty award winner.
Abeni El-Amin, Ph.D., with the College of Education, is the 2025 Sarah Bennett Holmes staff award winner.
Charles Davis and Roberta Davis accept the 2025 Sarah Bennett Holmes team award for “Operation Be You.”
