Mehmet Saracoglu, a doctoral candidate in mining engineering was one of three University of Kentucky students presented with the Viji Jeganathan Award for Cross-Cultural Understanding. The award and $1,000 scholarship applicable toward tuition for the fall 2009 semester was awarded to Saracoglu by the UK Office of International Affairs.

Saracoglu, a native of Turkey, has been at the heart of a movement on the UK campus that builds cultural and religious understanding, appreciation and celebration. Along with students of various faiths, Saracoglu founded the Interfaith Dialogue Organization (IDO) at UK. As a student, he embodies the mission of IDO, which is to promote dialogue, friendship, understanding, respect and love toward fellow human beings by sharing cultures and spiritual traditions of the world�s religions.