# UK launches inaugural Tracy Farmer Scholars program **Published:** 2026-05-06T15:16:33.000Z **Source:** [University of Kentucky News](https://uknow.uky.edu/research/12-students-selected-1st-cohort-tracy-farmer-scholars) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/uk-launches-inaugural-tracy-farmer-scholars-program LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky's [Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment](https://research.uky.edu/tracy-farmer-institute-sustainability-and-environment) has selected 12 students for the inaugural cohort of Tracy Farmer Scholars, a fellowship program designed to support undergraduate and graduate students conducting research in environmental and sustainability fields. The inaugural cohort includes eight graduate students and four undergraduates, each receiving a $6,000 fellowship to support their research during the summer or the 2026-27 academic year. Scholars will work under the supervision of UK faculty and staff research mentors and meet regularly to collaborate across disciplinary boundaries. The program received 38 applications from students across 20 departments in five colleges. Applications were reviewed by subject matter experts, and the selected 12 students achieved top marks and represent a diverse range of academic disciplines, according to a [University of Kentucky news release](https://uknow.uky.edu/research/12-students-selected-1st-cohort-tracy-farmer-scholars). "The Tracy Farmer Scholars represent the next generation of environmental and sustainability research in the Commonwealth," said Lauren E. Cagle, Ph.D., Tracy Farmer Institute director. "Our investment in scholars is an investment in an environmentally resilient and sustainable future." The scholars' research spans multiple disciplines. Anthropology Ph.D. candidate Jessica Nwafor is examining how residents of Florida's Space Coast understand and prioritize risks where spaceflight, conservation and coastal hazards intersect. Master's student Isabel Anne Tessier Shirey, from the College of Fine Arts, is researching the utility of natural materials for artistic practice. Undergraduate scholar Ella K. Shields is evaluating strawberry varieties for resistance to an emerging disease threatening Kentucky production. Her faculty mentor, Manoj Sapkota, noted that the fellowship provides students "the time, confidence and resources to turn curiosity into meaningful research" while advancing sustainable agriculture solutions. [The Tracy Farmer Institute was first established in 2000](https://www.research.uky.edu/tracy-farmer-institute-sustainability-and-environment/about) as the Center for the Environment through a generous gift from Tracy Farmer, a Lexington-area entrepreneur and horseman. [The institute now operates as a cross-college research center](https://research.uky.edu/tracy-farmer-institute-sustainability-and-environment) with a mission to enhance the well-being of Kentuckians through improved environmental stewardship and sustainable development. The new scholars program aims to expand student engagement in environmental and sustainability-focused research across the university's colleges and programs. ## Sources - [University of Kentucky News](https://uknow.uky.edu/research/12-students-selected-1st-cohort-tracy-farmer-scholars) - [Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment official website](https://research.uky.edu/tracy-farmer-institute-sustainability-and-environment) - [TFISE history and background information](https://www.research.uky.edu/tracy-farmer-institute-sustainability-and-environment/about) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from University of Kentucky News, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://uknow.uky.edu/research/12-students-selected-1st-cohort-tracy-farmer-scholars.