Commencement Speaker Applications Due April 1

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 25, 2011) — The deadline for applications for student speakers at the 144th Commencement Ceremony has been extended. Each year an outstanding graduating senior is selected to deliver a three- to five-minute address to their graduating class. Undergraduate, graduate and professional students are encouraged to apply. Applications are available now at www.uky.edu/commencement. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 1, at 5 p.m.

Each year students are selected by the Commencement Speaker Selection Committee and have the honor to address their peers at either the Undergraduate or Graduate Commencement Ceremony. This year two undergraduate students will be selected and one graduate or professional student. One undergraduate student will be selected to address the 1 p.m. ceremony and one undergraduate student will be selected to address the 6 p.m. ceremony. The selected graduate or professional student will address their class at 9 a.m.

Undergraduate students applicable to speak at the 1 p.m. Commencement Ceremony are students from the colleges of Agriculture, Business and Economics, Education, Engineering and Nursing. Undergraduate students applicable to speak at the 6 p.m. Commencement Ceremony are students from the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Communication and Information Studies, Design, Fine Arts, Health Sciences and Social Work.

To be qualified for the undergraduate student speaker, applicants must be receiving an undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky at the May Commencement Ceremony, have significantly contributed to the University of Kentucky through campus and/or community activities or through his or her chosen field of study, and must show evidence of proven public speaking skills.

For the undergraduate application, students must submit a resume, an information sheet and a proposed commencement speech no longer than three typed double-spaced pages. Incomplete applications will not be accepted or considered by the selection committee.

To be qualified to apply for the graduate and professional student speaker, applicants must provide a typed copy of their commencement speech and be able to attend the Graduate and Professional Student Commencement Ceremony at 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 8, at Rupp Arena.

For more information, visit www.uky.edu/commencement.