September 18, 2025 - Jill Smith & Tom Mathews (Alumni Association & 2025 Homecoming)

 LEXINGTON, Ky. (September 18, 2025) – For more than a century, beginning in 1915, the University of Kentucky has marked Homecoming Week as a celebration of tradition, spirit and community. The week brings together students, alumni, families and friends to honor what it means to be a Wildcat. Homecoming 2025, held October 12–19, once again features the collaboration of the UK Alumni Association, Student Organizations and Activities, Black Student Union, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Student Activities Board, the Office for Student Success and other campus partners. This year, the Alumni Association will also welcome the Golden Wildcats from the Class of 1975 for a series of reunion activities, including their formal induction into the Golden Wildcat Society. A full schedule of events and registration details can be found on the UK Alumni Association’s website. From the National Pan-Hellenic Council Step Show to the Lyman T. Johnson Awards Luncheon, Big Blue Day at Keeneland, the Alumni Commons Block Party, and the Homecoming Tailgate at the Tobacco Research and Development Center, the week offers opportunities for alumni of all ages to reconnect. The celebration culminates in the Homecoming football game against Texas on Saturday, Oct. 18. On this episode of Behind the Blue, UK Alumni Association Executive Director Jill Smith and incoming Alumni Association President Tom Mathews reflect on the importance of alumni engagement and the worldwide reach of the Wildcat community. Mathews, a 1993 chemistry graduate and Louisville native, shares his UK journey and career path, while Smith highlights the role of the Alumni Association in keeping alumni connected, supporting signature programs like the Hall of Distinguished Alumni and the Great Teacher Awards, and preparing for the future of a growing alumni base. “Behind the Blue” is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. “Behind the Blue” is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show’s blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.