The development of the Staff Appreciation Garden, located near the Barnhart Building, was made possible by a generous gift from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous. 

The garden has created a sense of community by bringing groups together and has also provided a place for employees to gather. A gift account has been established so that donors can honor staff by contributing to the care of the garden.

At the heart of the garden is a sundial installed by the CAFE Business Center in collaboration with the Department of Plant & Soil Sciences to honor the memory of Christine Tawasha, a longtime and beloved employee of UK CAFE who passed away in 2016.  

Employees and students in several departments have rotated maintenance of the garden for a year at a time. In 2012, the college's student ambassadors helped with trimming and mulching as a service project.

Faculty and staff interested in making a donation to the Staff Appreciation Garden in honor of a staff member(s) should contact the College Philanthropy office at (859) 257-7211. Donations will be used for beautification and maintenance of the garden.