The CATSPY Awards: Celebrating Kentucky’s Best and Brightest

The CATSPY Awards: Celebrating Kentucky’s Best and Brightest

Each spring, the University of Kentucky brings its student-athletes together for one unforgettable night — a night filled with pride, honor, and celebration. It’s called the CATSPY Awards, and it has become a cornerstone of the Wildcat athletic tradition.

The CATSPY Awards were first introduced in 2003 under the leadership of athletics director Mitch Barnhart. Inspired by the nationally recognized ESPY Awards, Barnhart envisioned an event that would shine a spotlight on the incredible achievements of Kentucky’s student-athletes — not just on the field, but in the classroom and throughout the community as well.

What started as a simple idea has since evolved into one of the most anticipated events of the academic calendar at UK. The awards showcase excellence across all 22 of Kentucky’s varsity sports, highlighting the individual and team accomplishments that define what it means to be a Wildcat.

Each year, athletes gather to celebrate more than just championships and stat sheets. The CATSPYs honor academic success, athletic dominance, and community service — pillars that represent the true spirit of the University of Kentucky. Awards are handed out in a wide variety of categories, including Male and Female Athlete of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and the Community Service Award, among others.

Beyond the trophies and honors, the CATSPY Awards serve as a powerful reminder that being a Wildcat is about more than just sports. It’s about striving for greatness in all areas of life, lifting up those around you, and representing the Big Blue Nation with pride, dignity, and heart.

In many ways, the CATSPYs are the grand finale of each academic year — a chance to reflect on the blood, sweat, and tears poured into every practice, every study session, and every act of service. It’s a celebration of memories made, challenges overcome, and futures still to be written.

From breakout freshmen to senior leaders, from quiet contributors to record-breakers, every athlete honored at the CATSPYs helps weave the rich, ever-growing legacy of Kentucky athletics. And each year, as the lights dim and the final applause fades, one thing becomes clear: at Kentucky, excellence is the standard, and the CATSPYs are the ultimate tribute to that spirit.