Campus News

UK to Honor May 2021, 2020 Graduates This Weekend

photo of UK December 2019 Commencement Ceremony.
UK December 2019 Commencement Ceremony. Pete Comparoni | UK Photo.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 10, 2021) — This weekend, the University of Kentucky will honor its May 2021 and all 2020 graduates at the May 2021 UK Commencement Ceremonies. Around 4,400 graduates registered to participate across 10 ceremonies May 14-16.

More than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate degree candidates are eligible for May 2021 degree conferral.

All ceremonies will be livestreamed on the university's YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/IiGmgAyStYo. This link will also be accessible via the UKNow homepage beginning Friday.

In the interest of health and safety, multiple ceremonies were scheduled to limit seating, ensuring proper physical distancing can be implemented. Masks are required for all graduates and their guests who attend. All seating is reserved and graduates were required to secure complimentary tickets for up to four guests prior to May 7.

The ceremony schedule is as follows:

Ceremony 1

9 a.m. Friday, May 14

  • College of Education
  • College of Medicine

Ceremony 2

Noon Friday, May 14

  • College of Fine Arts
  • College of Public Health
  • College of Social Work
  • College of Pharmacy

Ceremony 3

3 p.m. Friday, May 14

  • College of Nursing
  • College of Health Sciences
  • College of Design

Ceremony 4

6 p.m. Friday, May 14

  • College of Engineering

Ceremony 5

9 a.m. Saturday, May 15

  • College of Arts and Sciences 1

Ceremony 6

Noon Saturday, May 15

  • College of Arts and Sciences 2

Ceremony 7

3 p.m. Saturday, May 15

  • Gatton College of Business and Economics 1

Ceremony 8

6 p.m. Saturday, May 15

  • Gatton College of Business and Economics 2

Ceremony 9

9 a.m. Sunday, May 16

  • College of Communication and Information
  • Martin School of Public Policy and Administration and Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce 

Ceremony 10

Noon Sunday, May 16

  • College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Honorary degrees The Board of Trustees has approved honorary degrees for four citizens who have distinguished themselves in their careers and community service. The recipients are W. Harry Clarke, F. Joseph Halcomb III, Deirdre Lyons and Carl F. Pollard. 

Honorary degrees will be presented at the following ceremonies:

  • W. Harry Clarke: noon Friday, May 14
  • F. Joseph Halcomb: 6 p.m. Friday, May 14
  • Deirdre Lyons: noon Sunday, May 16

Pollard, who is unable to attend this weekend’s ceremonies, will be honored at a later date.

Student speakers In addition to UK President Eli Capilouto, a student representative will give a pre-recorded address at the ceremonies. The speakers include:

  • Sy Bridenbaugh, from Richmond, Kentucky, will speak at the 9 a.m. and noon ceremonies Friday, May 14. He is graduating with a doctoral degree in educational policy studies and evaluation from the UK College of Education.
  • Lauren Sammons, from Gurnee, Illinois, will speak at the 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. ceremonies Friday, May 14. She is graduating with a bachelor's degree in clinical leadership and management in the College of Health Sciences, with minors in Spanish and health advocacy.
  • Bilal Shaikh, from Louisville, Kentucky, will speak at the 9 a.m. and noon ceremonies Saturday, May 15. He is graduating with a bachelor's degree in political science from the UK College of Arts and Sciences. He is also a student in the Lewis Honors College.
  • Abbi Woodcock, from Bowling Green, Kentucky, will speak at the 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. ceremonies Saturday, May 15. She is graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics from the UK Gatton College of Business and Economics. She is also a student in the Lewis Honors College.
  • Cameron French, from Wolfe County, Kentucky, will speak at the 9 a.m. and noon ceremonies Sunday, May 16. He is graduating with a bachelor's degree in community leadership and development from the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment with a minor in political science.

For more information, visit https://commencement.uky.edu/ or contact commencement@uky.edu.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.