LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kauner Shacklette discovered his passion for architecture through a simple choice: avoiding calculus.

The May 2026 graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Design and Lewis Honors College entered UK as a computer science major but quickly realized after struggling with introductory calculus that he needed a different path. During priority registration, Shacklette enrolled in Associate Professor Liz Swanson's introductory design course, which examined how design shapes everyday life. That decision fundamentally changed his trajectory.

"I took that in the spring, and by the next fall, I was in the architecture program," said Shacklette, who is from Vine Grove, Kentucky. "It eased me into what design work could look like, and that's where I found my passion."

As a first-generation college student, Shacklette credits his early college experience—which allowed him to earn an associate degree during high school—with keeping him on track and creating space for opportunities. His commitment to design deepened through innovative coursework, including an architecture studio where he designed a house for vampires and their various physical forms to explore accessibility in design.

The college's smaller class sizes and studio-based learning environment proved transformative. Shacklette became an instructional assistant for the very design course that sparked his initial interest, a position he said he could never have imagined four years earlier. He also served as student assistant program manager for the Gaines Center for the Humanities while earning a competitive Gaines Fellowship focused on independent research.

Beyond campus, Shacklette pursued extensive global experiences, including leading sustainability initiatives through the Student Sustainability Council and externing with Brooks + Scarpa Architects. He was also named one of 52 inaugural recipients of the NextGen Service Fellowship from the Institute of International Education, which took him to Ethiopia to redesign spaces for a community hub.

This fall, Shacklette will pursue a Master of Architecture degree at the University of Michigan. He hopes to eventually combine creativity and impact in his work, whether designing for companies like LEGO or contributing to preservation efforts through the National Park Service.

"UK gave me the foundation, opportunities and confidence to reach this moment, and I will always carry that with me," Shacklette said.