2 UK Students Named Forbes Under 30 Scholars

Two University of Kentucky students have been named 2019 Forbes Under 30 Scholars — among the world's best and boldest young leaders, creators and thinkers. Ryan Page, a business and organizational communication major, and Carlos Lewis, an integrated strategic communication major, both in the College of Communication and Information, have been awarded the Forbes honor.

Each year Forbes accepts between 1,000 and 1,500 students from all over the world. Students apply for the program, and each scholar is chosen based on various criteria including a written statement about how they embody the under 30 tenets of leadership and innovation. All scholars are invited to attend the Forbes Under 30 Summit free of charge Oct. 27-30, in Detroit, where the world's best young leaders, founders and creators experience four days of connecting, learning, teaching and building.

Page, a Nashville native, came to UK and has left no stone unturned — looking to make the most of every opportunity to fulfill his goals and create the most successful future possible.

“If I see something that applies to me, I want to apply for it,” Page said. “Closed mouths don’t get fed, and I don’t want to leave any opportunities behind while I am here in college.”

Since his time at UK, Page has been part of multiple entities ranging from UK Athletics to the Black Student Union. The skills and knowledge he has acquired from his education at UK and his work in these organizations will be put on full display at the Forbes summit, and he also wants to promote the talent of his entire university.

"I not only want to showcase myself, but showcase the university as an outstanding and top-tier school."

His hard-working mentality has now given him the chance to come face-to-face with some of the world’s best in hopes to be the next leader of his generation.

Lewis was also heavily involved in organizations and attributes his success to resources available at UK. As president of the American Marketing Association, vice president of National Association of Black Accountants, a Student Wellness ambassador and a member of My Brother’s Keeper at the Martin Luther King Center, he took advantage of all UK has to offer.

However, Lewis says the Stuckert Career Center is the resource he most utilized.

“Mark Williams at the Career Center coached me and encouraged me to have more meaningful positions on campus. He helped me learn skills I needed to lead others,” Lewis said. “He became my mentor and molded me into a leader.”

Lewis, an Ohio native, found out about the Forbes Under 30 program at a leadership conference he attended.

Next week's Forbes Under 30 Summit will feature a private music festival, A-list speakers, investor speed-pitching, industry-focused field trips, a food festival and a day of community service. Speakers will include tennis star Serena Williams and basketball great Kevin Durant.

“Kevin Durant is one of my favorite players, and I’m excited to see what all he does off the court,” Lewis said.

Page and Lewis are passionate about their dreams, and they hope this experience will help them broaden their knowledge and abilities to be leaders in their generation and empower the next generation to push for their dreams.

"I hope that what I am doing today can inspire someone tomorrow to stand up and be a leader in their community, and to never give up on their dreams," Page said.