Undergraduate Student Programs
Kentucky Junto – reading group and scholarship
The Gatton College formed the Kentucky Junto in the fall of 2016. The Junto is co-sponsored with the BB&T Program for the Study of Capitalism. Named for the original Junto started by Benjamin Franklin in 1727, the Kentucky Junto’s purpose is to engage students in an exploration of ideas and issues at the intersection of business, economics, and policy. The Junto meets six to eight times per semester guided by both students and faculty.
The readings and discussion are focused through the lens of market-based solutions to economic and social issues. Past topics have included the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship, economic development of low income countries, fairness and markets, how to organize college sports, school choice, and pharmaceutical regulation
In conjunction with the Kentucky Junto, the UK Institute for the Study of Free Enterprise and BB&T Program have established Undergraduate Scholar Awards. Scholars participate in and help organize activities for the Kentucky Junto. Students are selected competitively for available awards based on academic and extracurricular records and their commitment to the ideals of the Junto.
Scholar award winners for the Fall of 2017 are:
- Abby Herman
- Elayne Bischoff
- Hajin Yoo
- Harper White
- Joyce Gilfillan
- Kevin Short
- Kylana L Taylor
- Madan A Subheeswar
- Michael Morris
- Nicholas Graf
- Payton Wallace
- Rebekah Courtney
- Schuyler Baas
- Victoria Scott
- Wusheng Wang
Graduate Student Programs
Summer 2017 fellowships
The Institute for the Study of Free Enterprise would like to congratulate the following PhD students in Accounting, Economics, and Finance who have been awarded summer 2017 fellowships:
Russell Williamson, Accounting
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brian Bratten
Topic: The effect of regulatory changes on the firm value effects and decision usefulness of voluntary disclosures using evidence from the Environmental Protection Agency's 2009 MRGG expansion
Ahn Li, Economics
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Aaron Yelowitz
Topic: Pre-existing conditions and insurance coverage in the Affordable Care Act
Kenneth Tester, Economics
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Aaron Yelowitz
Topic: Understanding the impact of state pension deficits
Samuel Ingram, Economics
Faculty Mentor: Dr. John Garen
Topic: Occupational licensing and effects on social welfare
Alex McGlothlin, Economics
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Frank Scott
Topic: Efficiencies and market power from mergers in craft beer brewing
Guowen Chen, Economics
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ana Herrera
Topic: Resource misallocation in China
Marc Painter, Finance
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kristine Hankins
Topic: Market effects of bank regulation using evidence from the municipal bond market
“We are proud, during a pivotal time in their career, to enable students to explore topics of such great importance,” said John Garen, director of the Institute. “We hope that the focus on understanding the effects of markets will have a lasting impact on their future research.”
“We are engaging with students from all of Gatton College’s departments,” explained Aaron Yelowitz, associate director of the Institute. “It is a joy to partake in the students’ excitement as they interact with each other and Institute affiliates,” he said.