University of Kentucky President Lee Todd recently recognized Kentucky-based Alltech for its outstanding contributions to the university by naming the company a Presidential Fellow. This is the highest honor the university offers. 
Alltech is one of only seven Presidential Fellows inducted this year and is the only inductee who presented the university with a gift of over $1 million in annual support.
According to President Todd, Alltech’s gift will support research into enzyme production by solid-state fermentation and rumen microbiology. 
“Alltech’s continued support of the University of Kentucky is a source of immense pride to all of us. Alltech receives this Presidential Fellow in recognition of the company’s local and global accomplishments, as well as their unfailing generosity throughout the years,” said Todd.
Upon receiving the award, Alltech President Dr. Pearse Lyons said, “Our relationship with the University of Kentucky has helped us to achieve our present status as one of the top 20 animal health companies in the world. We have always felt honored and privileged to have the University of Kentucky so close to us and so open to providing support, ideas and inspiration.”
For 15 years, Alltech has supported the University of Kentucky and worked closely with them in providing research funds for students and employment opportunities for graduates. To date, Alltech has employed more than 15 graduates from the University of Kentucky and is currently sponsoring the graduate work of 10 more. 
Alltech has always been committed to education through research, as demonstrated by the compay’s Bioscience Program, which has been recognized by over 40 universities internationally. According to Professor Karl Dawson, Alltech’s director of research, Alltech is currently providing full financial support to 39 Ph.D. students across the United States.  
“This investment,” said Dawson, “is crucial to the company’s emergence as the 17th largest company in the world in the area of animal health. Alltech has a policy of total reinvestment into the company’s development and research; the recent recognition from the University of Kentucky is testament to that.”
The University of Kentucky Fellows Society was established in 1966 to encourage further private support for the university’s advancement in education and research. The Fellows Society honors those alumni, friends, corporations, foundations and organizations that generously contribute time, energy and resources to the university. Of the five types of fellows – University, Barker, Bowman, Patterson and Presidential – Presidential is the highest honor. There are only 30 Presidential Fellows in the organization to date.