The University of Kentucky Women’s Forum announced the four winners of the 2025 Sarah Bennett Holmes Award at a celebratory luncheon March 26. Award winners, nominees and other invited guests heard remarks from UK President Eli Capilouto and a keynote address titled "Standing Strong — Empowering Women to Define Their Path," presented by Tukea Talbert, D.N.P.
Xu Tao is a Ph.D. candidate in Department of Computer Science, under the supervision of Simone Silvestri, Ph.D. She previously worked as a researcher at the LINKS Foundation in Italy from 2018 to 2021, and holds a Master of Science in computer engineering from Politecnico di Torino, Italy, earned in 2018. Her research interest lies in harnessing the potential of Internet of Things, Cyber-Physical System and LPWAN Network to revolutionize smart agriculture.
Yue Cao, a doctoral student and research assistant in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has been named a 2025 winner of the International Institute of Welding’s Henry Granjon Award in the “Human Related Subjects” category.
Recently, students from the UK Pigman College of Engineering Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering had the unique opportunity to visit the GE Aerospace Additive Technology Center in West Chester, Ohio, gaining firsthand exposure to the cutting-edge advancements shaping the aerospace industry.
Ohio native Ervin J. Nutter enrolled in the undergraduate program in mechanical engineering at UK in 1934. He later dropped out to go to work for, among other companies, Procter and Gamble. During this time he became the youngest person ever in the state of Ohio to pass a professional engineer’s license exam. After a job promotion went to a colleague holding an engineering degree, Nutter moved his family back to Lexington where he convinced UK administrators to allow him to enroll in the middle of the semester. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1943.
Born and educated in Fayette County, Kentucky, Samuel M. Cassidy received his Bachelor of Science in metallurgical engineering in 1925. After graduation, he accepted a position with Allen and Garcia Company, consulting and construction engineers, in Chicago, Illinois, where he received valuable experience in the field of coal mining. While employed at Allen and Garcia, he completed the requirements for a masters degree in mining engineering (’28). In 1946, he became president of Consolidation Coal Company (KY) in Jenkins, Kentucky.
By his own description, Louis Ware’s career was a planned one which, “with tenacity, the help of other competent people, a good health record and, of course, a goodly portion of luck, worked out as planned.” Following receipt of a Bachelor of Mining Engineering degree from the University of Kentucky College of Mining Engineering in 1917, Mr. Ware headed for the mines to become miner and underground boss for Old Dominion Copper Company in Globe, Arizona. His plan included getting experience in all types of mining, and he did just that.
Miss Margaret Ingels came to the University of Kentucky from Paris, Kentucky, hoping to pursue a degree in architecture. Fortunately for the engineering profession, there was no degree program in architecture at UK at that time and Dean F. Paul Anderson persuaded her to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering as “the next best thing.” She was the first female engineering graduate from this institution when she received her Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering in 1916.
Joseph A. Boyd, educator, scientist and business executive, was born in Oscar, Ballard County, Kentucky. He earned his Bachelor of Science in 1946 and Master of Science in 1949 in electrical engineering from the University of Kentucky. He held a position on the UK faculty while working on his graduate degree and, in 1950, he joined the electrical engineering faculty at the University of Michigan. Dr. Boyd received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 1954.
His nominator accurately described David Blythe when he wrote, “In a career which covers 50 years he has touched thousands of UK graduates as an instructor, mentor, colleague, leader and engineer of the highest character.” Born and educated in Georgetown, Kentucky, Dean Blythe received his Bachelor of Science in civil engineering at the University of Kentucky in 1940. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Corps of Engineers and served in the Air Force as an engineering officer advancing from 2nd Lieutenant to Major during his four and a half years of service.
