Kara Covert is the Assistant Dean for Advancement for A&S.  Before arriving at UK in October, she worked as the Associate VP for Advancement at Transylvania University.  Prior to that, Kara served Eastern Kentucky University as Associate VP for Development, and Washington University in St. Louis working in both Alumni Relations and Development.  Kara’s undergraduate degree is from Transylvania and she holds a Masters degree from Vanderbilt University.  Despite growing up in Louisville, Kara credits her late grandmother for instilling a love of blue early in life.  Kara lives in Lexington with her husband Michael, who is the Associate Dean of Students at Transy, and their nine-year-old son, Evan.

Becoming part of the A&S Wired LLP is to this day one of the best choices I have ever made. This is not because I was given a fancy new iPad, and a guaranteed spot in a suite style dorm, but because I met some of the most amazing people, and felt like I was actually known in the huge sea of students at UK. Being part of Wired gave me the opportunity to become part of an actual small community that throughout my freshman year became more of a family. It never failed that someone else from Wired was in one of my classes, and I always saw someone to say greet when walking around campus. I met some of my best friends through wired, that I otherwise may never have known (despite the fact that we had gone to rivalry high schools and lived twenty minutes apart out entire lives). These are friendships that I will have forever regardless of where we may go in our futures. When looking ahead, I see these friends at my wedding, sharing family vacations, and reliving our best days as Wildcats at college reunions.  Any incoming freshman that is traveling far from home, feeling clueless about the college life, or just interested in meeting new people they have something in common with should consider joining Wired.

If you clicked on the link to this article, there is a very good chance that you have already at least heard of A&S Wired. There is also a good chance you know that A&S Wired is one of several organizations that the University of Kentucky refers to as “living-learning communities.” At this point, you may think to yourself, “This all sounds good, but what exactly is the point of A&S Wired?” I wondered this very same thing during the college selection process while I was looking at UK and first heard of A&S Wired. After being a part of the program for nearly two years now, I have realized that A&S Wired can be described in detail by looking at the three words that make up its title – “living”, “learning”, and “community.”

How A&S Wired will change your academic career

By: Andrea Richard

It’s your freshman year at UK.

You may be thousands of miles away from home, a few hours away, or live right down the block. Your entire high school may ‘bleed blue,’ or, you may be one of two. You’ll encounter several new faces throughout your first few weeks, yet will remember only a few. A&S Wired unites first-year students of similar majors, with similar interests, all with the common goal of achieving academic success.

The people you live with are students you’ll sit next to in your biology classes, math classes and English classes too. You study together, brainstorm with each other, and learn from one another as well. Wired is the support system each freshman wishes to have when stepping foot on the college campus.        

Post by: Grant Austin

Post by: Icyana Abner

As time nears for you all to make huge decisions that will affect your future to come, one thing most people forget about is community. When most people think of a community, they think of where students will be living. But what people do not realize is that it means so much more than that. Any freshman can just live in a residences hall, but to actually be a part of a Living Learning Program is a big deal. Not only do you get to meet your fellow neighbors, but you build a bond that is stronger than the normal residence halls. This is because the students learn and grow in common classes that teach a variety of skills. Skills that will help them in the future like team building, public speaking, and thinking outside the box. Students are normally asked to work in groups for long periods of time, and this helps to build relationships that are long-lasting and can last outside of their first year. Also, most of the Wired classes help students become familiar to Lexington due to minor projects that relate to the University and how we fit in Lexington. 

Post by: Erin White