Leadership Kentucky’s Flame of Excellence Award Presented to Dr. Eli Capilouto
Leadership Kentucky hosted its 24th Annual Alumni Luncheon in Lexington at the Central Bank Center on January 8, 2026, where the Flame of Excellence Award was presented to Dr. Eli Capilouto, President, University of Kentucky.
The Flame of Excellence Award honors an outstanding Kentuckian who bravely lights the way for others.
“Leadership Kentucky is proud to honor Dr. Eli Capilouto with the Flame of Excellence Award for his significant work toward improving our state,” said Janice Way, President and CEO of Leadership Kentucky. “Dr. Capilouto exemplifies the very best of Kentucky leadership. He leads with integrity, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to people. His impact reaches far beyond the University of Kentucky, inspiring communities across the Commonwealth to believe in what’s possible when leadership is grounded in service.”
Dr. Eli Capilouto became the 12th president of the University of Kentucky in 2011 and has since led a period of historic growth and statewide impact that strengthens UK’s role as Kentucky’s flagship and land-grant institution. Under his leadership, the university has undergone an unprecedented transformation, with new and renovated facilities supporting student success, research excellence, and advanced clinical care focused on the Commonwealth’s most pressing health and economic challenges.
Under Dr. Capilouto’s leadership, UK HealthCare has expanded throughout the state, integrating UK King’s Daughters and UK St. Claire to deliver advanced care closer to home while training the next generation of providers for rural and underserved communities. Central to this work is the Advancing Kentucky Together Network, a statewide framework that brings together partners across education, healthcare, workforce development and local communities to strengthen talent pipelines, improve well-being, and expand opportunity in every region of the Commonwealth.
A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Dr. Capilouto previously served as provost of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and dean of the UAB School of Public Health. He holds multiple degrees from the University of Alabama system, a Doctorate of Dental Medicine from UAB and a doctorate in health policy and management from Harvard University.
Past Leadership Kentucky Flame of Excellence Recipients:
2002 – Dr. Thomas D. Clark, Kentucky Historian Emeritus
2003 – Edward T. “Ned” Breathitt, Former Governor
2004 – John R. Hall, Retired Chairman/CEO, Ashland Inc.
2005 – Martha Layne Collins, Former Governor; Chair/CEO Kentucky World Trade Center
2006 – Wendell H. Ford, U.S. Senate, retired, Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center
2007 – Albert P. Smith, Jr., Retired Host of “Comment on Kentucky”
2008 – David A. Jones, Founder & Former Board Chairman, Humana, Inc.
2009 – Eula Hall, Founder, Mud Creek Clinic
2010 – Owsley Brown Frazier, Founder & Chairman, Frazier International History Museum
2011 – Dr. T. Pearse Lyons, Founder & CEO, Alltech
2012 – William T. Samuels, Jr., Chairman Emeritus, Maker’s Mark Distillery, Inc.
2013 – Dr. Lee T. Todd, Jr., Past President, University of Kentucky
2014 – Bill Goodman, former Host, KET
2015 – John A. Williams, Sr., Computer Services, Inc.
2016 – Helen Carroll, Toyota, retired
2017 – William (Bill) Jones, U.S. Bank
2018 – David Adkisson, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, retired
2019 – Myra Ball, Ball Homes and Donamire Farm
2020 – Alice and Wade Houston, HJI Supply Chain Solutions
2021 – Porter G. Peeples, Sr., Urban League of Lexington-Fayette County
2022 – Former Governor Paul E. Patton and Judi Conway Patton
2023 – Wilson W. Wyatt, Sr., LKY Founder, Statesman, (Posthumous)
2024 – Steven E. Trager, Executive Chair of Republic Bank and Republic Bancorp
