University of Louisville Yarmuth Book Award

History

The UofL Yarmuth Book Award began in 1987 with 53 schools.  Each year, the book award has grown to include more high schools across the state of Kentucky and some out-of-state, including Southern Indiana.  Its purpose is to recognize juniors who show academic promise, intellectual curiosity, and are community service oriented.  The program is funded by an endowment from the family of Mr. John Yarmuth.  It was started to honor his father, Stanley Yarmuth.  Although not a college graduate himself, Mr. Yarmuth gave his family one of the greatest gifts of all—the desire to learn.

Program

The program awards a book, chosen by a University of Louisville committee, to deserving high school juniors throughout the state of Kentucky and Southern Indiana.  Each recipient should meet the requirements below and others set by the individual high schools.  The final decision of the winner is determined by each high school Junior Class Counselor(s) or awards committee. 

Each junior class guidance counselor will submit their award recipient’s information online.  Each school is provided with a plaque and nameplate.  Each award recipient is provided a book award and UofL program invitations, as determined by the University of Louisville. In addition, all recipients are invited to a dinner reception in their honor the summer before their senior year.

Criteria

1. The student must be in the top twenty percent of the high school’s junior class

2. The student must show academic promise as determined by the junior high school counselor, faculty member, or awards committee

3. This should not be limited to grade point average or test scores, but also include factors such as intellectual curiosity, contributions to school and community, etc.

Congratulations to the 2015 Yarmuth Book Award recipients and thanks to all who attended the special reception! See photos from the event.

Please contact Donna Robbins at donna.robbins@louisville.edu with any questions or concerns.