25th anniversary – UofL News

A retrospective look at UofL through the photographer’s lens

Janet Cappiello — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 19:32:54 +0000

He knows all the best parking spots on both campuses and how to get to any university building. He takes photos of every single University of Louisville graduate walking the stage at commencement – many of them the same students he photographed during orientation when they were freshmen. He spends a great amount of time perched on an upper floor or crouched on the ground to get just the right angle or just the right light.

UofL staff photographer Tom Fougerousse has taken thousands upon thousands of photos of everything UofL, shaping our visual image from every conceivable angle of campus life.

For the first time, to celebrate his 25^th anniversary working for the university, some of his favorite photos will be on display to the public.

“Tom Fougerousse: 25 Years of UofL Photography,” an exhibit of more than 40 of Tom’s favorite images, opens Oct. 6 in the Photographic Archives Gallery, located in Archives and Special Collections in the lower level of Ekstrom Library. The free exhibit, which will be open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., runs through Dec. 23. An opening reception will be held Oct. 11 at 5 p.m.

“We are fortunate to have such a gifted photographer to chronicle the history of our university. Tom’s images are a delight today, but will also provide future generations with a wonderful sense of who we were and what we did. This exhibit celebrates that work,” said Carrie Daniels, director of Archives and Special Collections.

Each image in the exhibit includes details of how the photo was made. The images will be housed in Archives and Special Collections at the end of the exhibit.

Tom is a self-described commercial photographer from Southern Indiana who started working at UofL on the Health Sciences Campus. At that time, there were six staff photographers and they worked on developing film and making slides and presentations.

Today, he’s the sole full-time photographer working in the digital era. His images can be found in almost every official university communication and most are also digitally archived on the .

“I hope I’ve put the university in a good light,” he said. “I hope I’ve stirred emotion.”

Niki King contributed to this story.

McConnell Center celebrates Silver Anniversary with nine new scholars

Matt Lambert — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 14:53:41 +0000

The McConnell Center is celebrating its 25th anniversary by welcoming nine new McConnell Scholars to the Belknap campus this fall. Throughout the last quarter century the center has provided more than $3 million in scholarships to more than 200 of Kentucky’s best and brightest students – including 12 Fulbright and three Truman Scholars.

“The primary goal of the McConnell Center is to nurture and cultivate the next generation of Kentucky leaders by providing them unique and expansive educational opportunities,” said Gary Gregg, the center’s director.

This year’s class is comprised of students from all across the commonwealth. They are Eric Bush (Louisville), Evan Clark (Owensboro), Celia Cusick (Elizabethtown), Garrett Kasey (Elizabethtown), Dasha Kolyaskina (Lexington), Jasper Noble (Fort Thomas), Parin Rekhraj (Lexington), Jared Thomas (Cynthiana) and Evan Wright (Louisville).

Students will participate in year-long programming on leadership, literature and political philosophy. In addition to traveling to the People’s Republic of China and other trips throughout the course of their four years at UofL, they will meet and engage with local, state and national leaders.

McConnell Center series has brought a bevy of political heavyweights to UofL

Matt Lambert — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 16:33:28 +0000

Throughout the past 25 years, McConnell Center has made a lasting impact on the Kentuckiana region, funding more than $3.5 million in student scholarships and providing continuing civics education opportunities for high school educators. But what the center is most known for is its , which provides its McConnell Scholars exclusive access to a multitude of high-powered, international world leaders.

The series kicked off on Oct. 5, 1993 when it welcomed then-U.S. Secretary of State George Schultz.

In the second part of a three-part series celebrating the center’s silver anniversary, we provide a look back at some of the other political heavyweights who’ve also visited the Belknap campus, helping to establish the McConnell Center one of the most acclaimed academic programs in the country:

Senator Marco Rubio – March 25, 2013 – Spoke to the McConnell Scholars about the American dream, the economy and the value of higher education.

House Majority Leader John Boehner – Oct. 31, 2011: Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner discussed jobs, the economy and the institution of the House at the University of Louisville.

March 2, 2007: President George W. Bush held a private question and answer session with the McConnell Scholars. He visited as a part of the McConnell Center’s Distinguished Speaker Series.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton – April 9, 2010: U.S. Sec. of State Hillary Rodham Clinton gave a public talk entitled, “No Greater Danger: Protecting our Nation and Allies from Nuclear Terrorism and Nuclear Proliferation.”

U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice – March 8, 2004: U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice spoke about President Bush’s foreign policy objectives and strategies as a guest of the McConnell Center.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts – April 18, 2009: U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts spoke at the Cardinal Arena in the Swain Student Activities Center as a guest of the McConnell Center.

Senator Ted Kennedy – April 3, 2006: U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) spoke at the University of Louisville as a guest of the McConnell Center.

On April 12, 2010, The McConnell Center welcomed the former president of India, Abdul Kalam to The University of Louisville. President Kalam had a panel discussion in the law school.