Bucky Knaebel is a parent who was interested in anything that would expose his son to college life in advance when he found out about the University of Louisville college readiness program Cardinals Rising. Liam Knaebel, a rising junior at Francis Parker High School, is one of 80 students from seven area middle and high schools who participated in the first year of the program, launched in 2025 through UofL’s Office of Access and Opportunity. Cardinals Rising gives students from eighth through 12th grades a step up in transitioning to the world of collegiate culture and academics.
“Freshman year in college is such a trial by fire and it will be great if Liam has a small semblance of what college life looks like,” Knaebel said. “I also like that Cardinals Rising is slowly teaching him independence so he can start making decisions for college on his own.”
Douglas Craddock, vice president for community engagement and interim vice president for access and opportunity, said the program is creating a vital pathway for early engagement, mentorship and ongoing support for students coming to UofL’s campus.
“It’s about presenting opportunities to help middle and high school students explore their interests, understand options to make a decision for their future and connect with early meaningful relationships,” he said.
Cardinals Rising offers these young students mentorship and an introduction to college academics and culture through monthly learning sessions paired with UofL student ambassadors representing a variety of college majors such as education, pre-med, engineering and communications.
“The ambassadors support students and families all the way through this ongoing career exploration and orientation to college,” said Craddock. “It’s really good for the students to have someone they can identify with going through this experience.”
Cardinals Rising Director Daquarius Mahone said the program’s participating middle and high schoolers hail from both private schools and Jefferson County Public Schools including Francis Parker School, W.E.B. Dubois Academy, Grace James Academy, Noe Middle, Fern Creek High, Iroquois High, West End Middle and Meyzeek Middle, with more schools expressing interest.
“The program takes what used to be a two-day college introduction in the summer and essentially makes it a four-year comprehensive orientation,” Mahone said. “Cardinals Rising’s goals are simply to help students understand the university, understand what it means to go to college, and to demystify college, specifically UofL.”
Monthly sessions open doors
To advance these goals, monthly Saturday sessions are tailored to grade levels and introduce students to interaction with different academic departments, college professors and career paths.
Cardinals Rising program coordinator Kennedy Frye said the monthly sessions encompass a wide range of activities including: working with the Speed School of Engineering on a rocket-building project, creating podcasts and videos using a digital media suite with the Communications Department, delving into the business side of UofL Athletics, learning CPR with UofL School of Nursing students, staging a mock trial with UofL Brandeis School of Law students and talking entrepreneurship with the College of Business as well as exploring opportunities for service with current Muhammad Ali Scholars.
As student progress through each grade level of the program, subsequent sessions explore timely and relevant college readiness topics, such as working with UofL’s Writing Center on college essays and resumes and working with the Admissions Office on potential scholarship opportunities and financial aid preparation.
In its inaugural year, Cardinals Rising posted impressive results, with near-perfect retention of both students and ambassadors, and word of mouth about the program has generated significant interest among educators and local schools, according to Mahone.
“It’s been tremendous seeing the students blossom and build community with one another as well as academic departments really getting behind this powerful work,” he said.
Mahone said connecting students with opportunities while also engaging parents is key to the program’s success. For the Knaebel family, it’s about surrounding Liam with information, resources and encouragement.
“Cardinals Rising has been an awesome opportunity for Liam to be exposed to an academic environment, not just the buildings, but the energy and opportunity to learn with peers about what the future might hold,” said Liam’s mom, Jennifer.
Liam, who enjoys his high school courses in chemistry, photography and history, said he is hoping to gain more knowledge about college and find his own unique path. “I am meeting new people and more prepared for what’s ahead so when I get here, I’ll be ready,” he said.
UofL students interested in becoming a Cardinals Rising ambassador or volunteering for the program can reach out to Daquarius Mahone.
