The University of Kentucky Alumni Association honored five outstanding individuals for their leadership, service and commitment to the university and their communities during its annual Awards Banquet on June 12. Dozens of in- and out-of-state alumni clubs were also recognized during the ceremony.

The association presented its 2026 Distinguished Service Awards to Robert "Rob" L. Crady III of Louisville, Alan Jones of Union City, Tennessee, Carl Nathe of Lexington, and Tim Self. Matthew Karijolic was recognized as the 2026 Joseph T. Burch Young Alumni Award recipient.

The Distinguished Service Award, one of the highest honors bestowed by the UK Alumni Association, recognizes individuals who have demonstrated sustained service to the university and Alumni Association while making meaningful contributions to their professions and communities.

Crady, who recently served as president of the UK Alumni Association, earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the UK Gatton College of Business and Economics in 1994. He quickly established himself as a student leader during his time at UK, serving on the Freshman Representative Council and holding several Student Government Association leadership positions. He began his career in financial services with Fifth Third Bank before serving in trust leadership roles with Stock Yards Bank and National City Bank. He now serves as a director at RW Baird and as a founding member of the firm's Wealth & Family Office Group. Crady is a graduate of Leadership Lexington and Ignite Louisville and has served on the boards of the Bingham Child Guidance Center, Cabbage Patch Settlement House and Nativity Academy at St. Boniface.

Jones, a 1988 graduate of the UK College of Dentistry, is a third-generation dentist who returned to his hometown of Fulton, Kentucky, to join the family dental practice established by his grandfather in 1908. He has been an active member of the Fulton County UK Alumni Club since 1989 and has served for more than 25 years as president, vice president and executive board member. His community service includes work on the Fulton Independent Schools Board of Education, the Fulton County Health Board and the Twin Cities Chamber of Commerce Board.

Nathe, of Lexington, has devoted more than 50 years to broadcasting and communications and more than three decades to serving the university. After graduating from the University of Maryland in 1974, he served as a sports anchor and reporter at WLEX-TV in Lexington before joining UK Public Relations in 1989. Since 1997, he has served as the public address announcer for UK football at Kroger Field, becoming one of the most recognizable voices of the Wildcats' game-day experience. Although he retired from full-time service in 2019, Nathe continues to assist UK with special assignments. His honors include induction into the Kentucky Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 2023.

Self is managing partner at Siesta Wealth and has dedicated decades of service to nonprofit and civic organizations throughout the Sarasota community. In 2005, he founded the Sarasota Suncoast UK Alumni Club, which has grown into one of the largest out-of-state alumni clubs. Karijolic demonstrated sustained commitment to leadership and mentorship, including service with the Greater Dayton UK Alumni Club Board of Directors and as treasurer of the Nation's Capital UK Alumni Club.

The UK Alumni Association also recognized outstanding alumni clubs during the banquet, honoring clubs for excellence in alumni engagement, community service and philanthropy, scholarships, student recruitment and retention, innovative programming and overall improvement.