The 2023 University of Kentucky Libraries Spring Celebration will recognize this year's recipient of the UK Libraries Medallion for Intellectual Achievement, University of Kentucky Professor Emeritus of Educational Policy Studies & Evaluation John Thelin. The celebration will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 11, in the William T. Young Library on UK’s campus.
A historian who explores American colleges and universities as a "fantastic voyage" spanning five hundred years, Professor Thelin has written several award-winning books, including A History of American Higher Education and Going to College in the Sixties. Following his book on college sports scandals, Games Colleges Play, he contributed to an award-winning amicus brief about the commercial exploitation of college student-athletes, which was influential in the Supreme Court’s 9 to 0 decision in favor of college student athletes’ lawsuit against the NCAA in 2021.
Thelin is also a celebrated teacher, having received both the William B. Sturgill Award for outstanding contribution to Graduate Studies and the Provost’s Award for Outstanding Teaching among other honors throughout his career. Since retiring in July 2022, he continues to write books and journal articles as well as op-eds for The Washington Post and Inside Higher Ed.
The UK Libraries Medallion for Intellectual Achievement recipient is selected for this prestigious award by majority vote of the UK Libraries National Advisory Board. The award was created in 1990 to recognize a Kentucky resident whose accomplishments in the fields of science, literature, art, or philanthropy have made a profound impact on the Commonwealth and represent the pinnacle of creative or scholarly thought.
The UK Libraries Spring Celebration award presentations will begin at 6 p.m. A reception will follow with cocktails and heavy hors d'oeuvres. This event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required by May 3.
