The School of Human Environmental Sciences is honored to award the Alice P. Killpatrick Fellowship to outstanding graduate students each academic year. During 2015-16, six students were named recipients of this prestigious fellowship. The fellowships are funded through an endowment created via a gift from the estate of Mrs. Killpatrick. Killpatrick graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1938 with a degree in home economics. Her career spanned from 1938 until 1971 and included positions as a home economist with the Farmers Home Administration and as a county Extension agent for home economics. She was the first home economics Extension agent in Meade County, and later transferred to Montgomery County, a position she held for 18 years. After retirement, she continued as an active community leader in Montgomery County and was inducted into the School of Human Environmental Sciences Hall of Fame in 2006.
The six 2015-16 recipients of the Alice P. Killpatrick Fellowship were honored April 29 as part of the School’s annual student awards ceremony. Recipients were:
- Lekie Dwanyen is completing her master’s degree in family sciences. She holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota and will return there this fall to pursue a Ph.D. Her master’s research focused on post-partum depression and the effects of a video-based intervention on knowledge and stigma. She received the Killpatrick Fellowship for both the fall and spring semesters.
- Luisyana Gamboa was selected as a Killpatrick fellow for the second consecutive year. She earned an undergraduate degree in her native Mexico before enrolling at UK to pursue a master’s degree in nutrition and food systems. Her research explored Hispanics perceptions of the dietary guidelines for American. Luisyana received the Killpatrick Fellowship for fall 2015.
- Behnoosh Farashahi is completing her master’s degree in retailing and tourism management. She holds a bachelor’s degree in textile engineering with a clothing minor and plans to pursue Ph.D. in Apparel and Textile Sciences. Her thesis research is evaluating the quality of denim jeans at differing price points. Behnoosh received the Killpatrick Fellowship for the spring 2016 semester.
- Lucia Novakova is completing her master’s degree in Family Sciences. Prior to enrolling at UK, Lucia earned a master’s degree in psychology in her native Czech Republic. She recently defended her master’s thesis entitled, “Perceptions in Predicting Actor and Partner Sexual and Relational Satisfaction in Couple Relationships.” She received the Killpatrick Fellowship for the spring 2016 semester.
- Emma Simpson is currently pursuing a master’s degree in nutrition and food systems, with expectation of graduating this fall. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from UK. Her thesis research is investigating the relationship between perceived stress, caffeine consumption and GPA. Emma received the Killpatrick Fellowship for the spring 2016 semester.
- Shu-Feng Tsao is completing her master’s degree in nutrition and food systems. She earned her undergraduate degree in her native Taiwan. Her thesis research is a cross-sectional study examining common factors that affect shopping at farmer’s markets in Lexington, Kentucky and Taipei City, Taiwan. She received the Killpatrick Fellowship for both the fall and spring semesters.