Community Engagement UK ITS Year in Review

Local Career Fair and STEM Nights

STEM night at Lexington Universal Academy

Designed to educate elementary through eighth grade students about science, technology, engineering and math, the UK ITS team led interactive activities and answered questions about technology.  
Students made binary code bracelets, by using a chart that showed combinations of ones and zeros used to make up a letter. Participants were encouraged to create their first initial using the chart and beads. Students also worked with ITS team members to build snap circuits, an activity using child-friendly circuit boards to introduce the foundations of electrical engineering. READ MORE

UNDRCVR Lex Tech, Entrepreneurship, and Creative Showcase

Miles Fortner, Jackie Campbell, and Nick McClure attended UNDRCVR Lex Tech, Entrepreneurship, and Creative Showcase on Wednesday, March 6. The sixth annual networking event gave employers in the tech industry, creative and sales fields the opportunity to discuss job opportunities and connect with community members.

Picadome Elementary STEM Class

On March 21, 2024, Nick McClure, Enterprise Systems Associate Director, visited Ms. George's 5th grade STEM class at Picadome Elementary to share his knowledge on several key topics. The discussion included an introduction to programming, an overview of Chat GPT and its implications for future technology, the role of technology in enhancing education, and the importance of maintaining online safety. 

George Washington Carver STEM Academy for Boys

On Thursday, April 11th, volunteers from the UK ITS team participated in George Washington Carver's STEM night. They led activities such as bracelet making, working with Snap circuits, and exploring the world of technology with students.

Mercer Intermediate Career Day

On Monday, April 29th, Chris Larmour addressed 200 students at Mercer Co. Intermediate School in Harrodsburg, KY. His engaging talk covered coding, cybersecurity, and insights into an IT career. The students left inspired and curious about the tech world.

Bryan Station High School Career Fair

On Thursday, May 9, Colin Baker (Enterprise Networking & Infrastructure) and Truett Cohorn (Enterprise Systems) presented an enlightening session on careers in information technology. This presentation aimed to inspire and inform 9th grade students about dynamic and diverse career paths within IT and in UK ITS. Colin and Truett shared their personal experiences, highlighted emerging trends in technology, and discussed the skills students can develop for a successful future in their respective fields.

RockIT Women Event

Smitha Chopra, Director of Product Development & Integration in Enterprise Applications & Outreach spoke at a RockIT Women event on Wednesday, July 31 at The Lexington School. Smitha joined a panel of three women IT professionals in a session titled "It's OK To Toot Your Own Horn!" The session addressed topics of self-promotion, empowering others, and perseverance. 

Careers in Cybersecurity: A Panel with University of Kentucky Alumni

This event was co-sponsored by UK Information Technology Services, UK Alumni Career Services, and the UK Graduate School. The panel featured distinguished UK alumni who shared their experiences, discussed emerging trends, and provided guidance for those interested in a cybersecurity career. The panelists included Isaiah White, Regional Solutions Architect at Trace3; Greg Schloemer, Threat Intelligence Analyst at Microsoft; Jenn Edwards, Cybersecurity Analyst Lead at the University of Kentucky; and Kelly Fyffe, Enterprise Sales at Blackpoint Cyber. The event was hosted by Alex Keedy, Senior Strategic Advisor at Flashpoint. The session was well-received, with attendees praising the informative and enjoyable discussion.

Destined for Greatness Girls Summit

Smitha Chopra (Enterprise Applications & Outreach), Rosalynn King (PACE), and Mary Kathryn Starkey (IRADS) attended the "Destined for Greatness Girls Summit" at Frederick Douglass High School this Saturday, September 21. Sanjana Chopra, a 9th grader at Dunbar's Math Science Technology Center (MSTC) program, also joined the group to encourage girls to consider High School STEM programs. The event was for girls grades 6-8 to ignite potential and inspire greatness. At the event, Chopra, King, and Starkey hosted a workshop session called "Girls in STEM: Discovering Your Future!" with interactive sessions, hands-on activities, and inspiring discussions with female role models, to encourage exploration of various STEM careers, debunk myths, and ignite curiosity!

FCPS College & Career Fair

In October 2024, UK ITS participated in the Fayette County Public Schools College and Career Fair at the Central Bank Center. Team members Jessica McClure, Jarone Farley, Lynda Bennett, Marci Adams, Nick McClure, and Corinne Boyer connected with Fayette County seniors, sharing insights about exciting careers in information technology. They discussed the diverse paths within IT, opportunities for innovation, and the vital role technology plays across industries, encouraging students to explore IT as a future career.

UK Curiosity Fair 

Members of the Enterprise Cybersecurity team presented at the University of Kentucky's Curiosity Fair. The team presented an interactive demo featuring the versatile Flipper Zero. Through three engaging tech hacks—BadUSB, RFID Hacking, and Infrared Hacking—they demonstrated how everyday devices can be exploited in surprising ways. Attendees learned how modified USB firmware can transform a flash drive into an attack tool, how RFID signals can be intercepted and cloned, and how common devices can be manipulated through infrared vulnerabilities. The event sparked curiosity, lively discussions, and a deeper understanding of the critical need for security awareness in our digital world!

Fayette County Public Schools Career Expo

At the FCPS Career Expo, held on November 20, 2024, over 3,200 freshmen explored future career possibilities and pathways. Members of the ITS team proudly represented the field of Information Technology, engaging with students at our booth to discuss the exciting opportunities a career in IT offers. Through interactive conversations and real-world examples, we showcased how IT professionals drive innovation, solve complex challenges, and shape the future. It was an inspiring day filled with curiosity, discovery, and meaningful connections with the next generation of tech talent!

Giving Back to the Community

Fall Festival Raises Funds for American Heart Association

UK ITS held a Fall Festival event in 2024 featuring basket raffle, chili cookoff, and a cornhole tournament. Together, over $1,800 was raised for the American Heart Association, and more than 200 vaccinations were administered.

Kentucky Children's Hospital Reverse Trick or Treat

UK ITS dressed up and participated in “Reverse Trick-or-Treat”, an annual event at Kentucky Children's Hospital. Rather than kids making the rounds and demanding treats under the threat of tricks, staff from all over UK HealthCare go door-to-door throughout the inpatient units, handing out goodies to patients sitting outside their rooms. Patients who don’t feel well enough to participate hang a bag on their closed door so they can enjoy their treats later. READ MORE

Big Blue Move In

A UK ITS team including Amber Campbell, Marci Adams, Chris Larmour, Corinne Boyer, Tonya Prince, and Jessica McClure helped to move in approximately 75 students into Woodland Glen IV, ensuring a smooth and welcoming start to their new academic journey. 

Honor Flight

Memorial Day Weekend honored thousands of veterans across the country. Angela Parker, ITS Administrative Services Asst. Senior, ventured to Washington, D.C. this weekend to honor the service of her father and U.S. Army veteran, JP Knight. Knight served in Germany in the early 1960s, acting as a surveyor in the 4th Howitzer Battalion. 

Washington, D.C., home to Vietnam, Korean and WWII memorials, hosted several events in remembrance of those who have fought for the U.S. military. Parker got the chance to witness the changing of the guards, as well as a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Arlington National Cemetery. However, she describes the most special part of the trip to be their homecoming, as a multitude of Vietnam veterans never got a “Welcome Home.” 

“When we returned to Louisville, there were around 1,500  people there to welcome them home,” she said. “There were a lot of tears."

National Volunteer Month

During National Volunteer Month in April, the University of Kentucky Information Technology Services (UK ITS) encouraged everyone to participate in various volunteer opportunities. These opportunities included organizing events, engaging with students and participating in community clean-up activities. Volunteering with UK ITS is a chance to make a positive impact and foster a sense of community and innovation. READ MORE

CrowdStrike Incident Response

Resiliency is an essential component of a mature cybersecurity operation. One event that put resilience to the test was the global CrowdStrike outage in July 2024. The outage heavily impacted UK and UK HealthCare, resulting in thousands of UK computers workstations crashing. UK ITS teams mobilized quickly to restore critical systems and manually reboot computers. UK HealthCare and IT employees from across the enterprise, including many who had never provided done desktop support before, collaborated to restore functionality to computers affected by the global outage. READ MORE

Women in Tech Relaunches in 2024

Women in Tech, formerly Women in IT, launched its first programing since the COVID-10 pandemic. Women in Tech hosted various events including panels sessions to share expertise and networking coffee hours. Through these initiatives, the group fostered a supportive community and contributed to the advancement of women in technology at the University of Kentucky. READ MORE