The Department of Economics with Chris Bollinger, President-elect of the Kentucky Economics Association (KEA) and program organizer, hosted the Kentucky Economic Association annual meetings . Over 120 economists from all over the state attended and participated in the event, which consisted of 15 concurrent sessions. The KEA honored Eugenia Toma with the “Kentucky Distinguished Economists for 2016.” Her presentation, “Education in Kentucky: Progress and Challenges” highlighted both her research, and how a researchers at the University of Kentucky are working on important challenges to the Commonwealth.