As part of UofL’s dedication to make college affordable, the Cardinal Commitment Grant, previously available only to Pell-eligible students, is now offered as two versions in order to extend the offer to students with financial need who do not qualify for a Pell Grant. The first is need-based aid with a $1,000-$5,000 award amount and the second is a 100% Tuition Coverage award.

“Increasing access to education is important to UofL, and this expanded grant will help bridge the financial gap for students to attend college,” said President Kim Schatzel. “We hope this grant helps clear the path for more Kentucky students to earn a degree without the stress of a heavy financial burden.”

The Cardinal Commitment Grant Need-Based Aid $1,000-$5,000 award is available to incoming Kentucky freshmen with a 3.25 GPA who have been admitted to UofL full-time and have a demonstrated financial need based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Cardinal Commitment Grant 100% tuition coverage award is available to incoming Kentucky freshmen with a 3.25 GPA who have been admitted to UofL full-time and are eligible for a Pell Grant based on the FAFSA.

The grant is renewable for students who continue to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress policy. However, the award amount is locked for renewed years, regardless of changes to a student’s state or federal aid.

Eligible students should  by May 1 to be considered for the Cardinal Commitment Grant. Additional details on the scholarship are available at .

The inaugural 5K Louisville H.E.R.O. – Honor Earned. Remembrance Owed. – Run/Walk/Ruck will honor military personnel who have died while serving and those who died because they have borne the battle, said Jason Beare, race organizer and research manager with the University of Louisville’s Cardiovascular Innovation Institute.

The family-friendly event welcomes participants of all fitness levels, ages and abilities and will be held at UofL’s Track and Field Stadium, 2125 S. Floyd St.

Proceeds will benefit the newly established UofL Veteran and Dependent Scholarship Fund, as well as Veterans Club Inc. The 5K route will leave the track and field stadium, take participants through the University of Louisville campus and finish on the track. There also are options for participants to take part in virtual runs on the

All races begin at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, June 4. Advance registration is available on the race website. Packet pick-up will be held Friday, June 3, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Mission BBQ, 4607 Shelbyville Road, and from 7:30-8:30 a.m. on race day at Cardinal Park, located adjacent to the track stadium.

Cost is $20 for all active military and veteran personnel and $25 for all others. Children 12 and under can race free of charge in the 100-meter Kids Run.

All finishers will receive a commemorative coin. The top male and female age-group finisher also will receive an award. The age categories are 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70 and over. 

The program will provide full-tuition scholarships to female and minority students, along with needed resources to earn an engineering degree from either the University of Louisville or the University of Kentucky. Bluegrass Community & Technical College also is part of the collaboration with students first acquiring a two-year associates degree before enrolling in an engineering program in the commonwealth. 

“Building a stronger Kentucky will require deliberate and sustainable efforts to provide equal access to quality education,” said Susan Elkington, president, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky. “This program will give more people a chance to build great careers in fields like engineering. Toyota is committed to providing resources, time and knowledge to help build stronger communities in which we operate. We’re thankful for great education partners that have the same mission.”

Beginning Fall 2021, 35 students over a five-year period will be selected to receive full-tuition scholarships. The students also will be mentored by Toyota engineers and participate in a paid co-op opportunity with the company, earning $17 to $21 per hour. Additionally, students will complete two to three co-op rotations that will provide critical hands-on experience in multiple areas of the field.

Emmanuel Collins, dean of the University of Louisville’s J.B. Speed School of Engineering, highlighted the program’s focus on increasing diversity and inclusion in engineering.

“There is critical shortage of women and minorities in the engineering workforce,” Collins said. “Toyota’s investment and partnership to help diversify our talent pipeline perfectly aligns with the university’s goals and we are grateful to be a part of this collaboration.”

“Toyota has been a long-time partner of UK since locating in Kentucky nearly 35 years ago,” said Rudolph Buchheit, UK College of Engineering dean. “This is another example of Toyota seeing a need and stepping up to do something about it. It’s imperative to increase gender and ethnic diversity among our faculty, staff and students.”

Stephen Brennen, vice president of production engineering at Toyota’s Production Engineering Manufacturing Center, agrees that strengthening the industry’s talent pipeline and staying ahead of customer demands will require new ways of thinking.

“Not only for the continued growth and innovation of the field, but also to help Toyota move forward as we work toward our mobility vision for the future,” Brennen said.

BCTC’s Provost Greg Feeney echoed the others and added that “diversity creates rich and productive workplaces and communities. We are pleased to join Toyota and our university partners to create opportunities for students.”

Information about scholarships available at is available .

Check out more information in the video below: 

The gift will create the Fund at UofL. The fund will provide support in three main areas: diversity and inclusion, food security and sustainability and leadership development.

“Kroger is so proud to be part of this innovative and truly remarkable partnership,” said Ann Reed, Louisville Division President for Kroger. “We love the University of Louisville and all the wonderful programs that are available in the city through its leadership. Our combined efforts around food insecurity and sustainability and our focus on diversity and inclusion will drive innovation and improvement for Kroger and the university.”

Highlights of the Kroger gift include:

• $80,000 annually for undergraduate scholarships, beginning in fall 2020. Strong preference will be given to low-income, under-represented minorities pursuing STEM+H careers. Kroger Zero Hunger, Zero Waste Scholars will develop and present projects to a panel of UofL, Kroger and community professionals. Projects will focus on such topics as food waste diversion, food access for underprivileged families and communities and recycling and sustainability initiatives.
• $30,000 annually to UofL’s Office of Diversity & Equity to provide student services that will increase the likelihood of retention and degree completion of Black, Latinx, LGBTQ and female students.
• $30,000 annually to create and fuel a UofL Employee Success Center. These funds will enable the center to provide leadership and professional development training to thousands of UofL staff and faculty.
• $10,000 annually to UofL’s Sustainability Center for increased zero waste efforts and on-site composting expansion.

“We are thankful to the Louisville Kroger Division and its many associates for stepping up to assist the students, faculty and staff of the University of Louisville,” said UofL President Neeli Bendapudi. “This generous gift will greatly strengthen our efforts to foster diversity and inclusion, promote sustainability on campus and build the next generation of leaders.”

The Kroger gift includes support for the renovation and expansion of the Cardinal Cupboard and the donation of a vehicle to help volunteers gather items to stock the on-campus food pantry. The Kroger agreement also creates a partnership with the Kroger Mobile Market, through the Dare to Care Food Bank. The mobile market will make stops at the Belknap and Health Sciences Center campuses to provide healthy and convenient fresh food access.

UofL faculty and staff further stand to benefit through the creation of an exclusive discount program for all full- and part-time employees. By presenting a current UofL ID at checkout, faculty and staff will be offered special discounts and offers.

Through the partnership, Kroger dietitians, nutritionists and other experts also will host cooking classes and information sessions on nutrition and other topics.

Kroger’s Louisville Division operates 116 retail food stores in Kentucky, Southern Indiana and Southern Illinois.