What if there was a Card Nation party and everyone was invited?
The month of October features events that celebrate so much of what makes the University of Louisville a special place. Here’s a tour of events from Oct. 14 to Oct. 26 that applaud our alumni, our diverse engineers and our work in the area of sustainability, with a little something for everyone.
Let’s begin with the J.B. Speed School of Engineering and its annual Celebration of Diversity Oct. 14-16, featuring free events for students, faculty and staff. It all begins with “Donuts for Diversity” on the front lawn of the Speed Building (or in the lobby in the case of inclement weather) Oct. 14, followed later by “We Are Speed” photos (“Diversity in a Snap”) and a dine-and-dance event focusing on black and Latinx culture.
Indian food and henna tattoos are on tap for Oct. 15 in the Belknap Academic Building (noon to 2 p.m. and 4:30-6 p.m.). That evening, a friendly competition from 4-6 p.m. in Sackett Hall will highlight “Women in STEM Trivia Night.”
Learn more about the LGBTQ community while making tie dye shirts and enjoying rainbow popsicles at “Tie-Dyeversity” Oct. 16 in the Duthie Center, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
To wrap up the events Oct. 16, Ankur Gopal, alumnus and founder of the award-winning Interapt IT services firm, will be the keynote speaker at the Diversity Jubilee, a 5:30 p.m. buffet dinner in the Student Activities Center multipurpose room. Interapt is recognized nationwide and internationally for its unique paid IT workforce training program that focuses on serving underemployed and unemployed individuals in rural and urban areas, as well as veterans.
“This fun week of activities at the Speed School is designed to cheer on and empower our diverse population,” said Emmanuel Collins, dean of the Speed School. A full schedule of events can be found here.
Next up will be a chance to learn more about UofL’s efforts toward responsible environmental, social and economic stewardship during Sustainability Week, which is Oct. 17-25.
Events begin Oct. 17 with the annual Farm-to-Table Dinner and the Josh Smith Sustainability Award Ceremony, 5-8 p.m., at the Red Barn.
Justin Mog, assistant to the provost for sustainability initiatives, will bring his perspective from a decade of working at UofL when he gives a talk, “Business-as-Usual Is Killing Us! The need for institutional weirding in the age of global climate weirding.” There are two opportunities to attend: Oct. 18, noon to 1 p.m. in Kornhauser Auditorium 103 on the Health Sciences Center campus, and Oct. 21, noon to 1 p.m., in Ekstrom Library W104 on Belknap Campus.
On Oct. 23, UofL’s 12th Annual Campus Sustainability Day Fair will be held in the Humanities Quad, featuring booths and information about what UofL and community organizations are doing to advance sustainability.
For a full schedule of activities, visit the UofL Sustainability Council website here.
Homecoming Week wraps up the month Oct. 21-26 with a full slate of activities.
At the Alumni Awards on Oct. 24, the university is honoring Executive Director of Admissions Jenny Sawyer as the 2019 Alumna of the Year. Sawyer is the start of many of the relationships between students and the university. She maintains many of those relationships through students’ collegiate careers and often serves as a mentor after graduation.
Along with Sawyer, the Alumni Awards will recognize 13 Alumni Fellows from the university’s colleges and schools while celebrating UofL’s past, present and future.
Alumni, students, faculty, staff and community members are joining forces during the week for Cards Come Together, a week of service in the city. The week features volunteer opportunities at sites around Louisville as well as donation drives.
Cardinal supporters can “Raise Some L” during the annual UofL Day of Giving on Oct. 22 and 23. Beginning at 6:02 p.m. on Oct. 22, for 1,798 minutes, Cardinals everywhere will come together to celebrate who we are and raise money to fund essential areas of need across campus. If you don’t know the significance of 1,798 minutes, check here.
Other events for the week include the Golden Reunions for the Classes of 1968 and 1969 and the Homecoming football game against Virginia.
For a full schedule of events, including student activities, visit the 2019 UofL homecoming page.
Have fun, love the Earth, be safe and Go Cards!
