Student Commencement Speakers Wanted

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 8, 2011) — A time-honored tradition at the University of Kentucky is for a graduating senior to address their fellow graduates at Commencement. This year, three students will be given the opportunity to serve as the student speaker at their respective Commencement ceremonies. UK is currently accepting applications for student speakers at the 144th Commencement Ceremonies. Applications are available now at www.uky.edu/commencement.

Each year students are selected by the Commencement Speaker Selection Committee and have the honor to address their fellow 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 eligible 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 eligible to speak at the 6 p.m. Commencement Ceremony are students from the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Communications 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 8 Commencement ceremony. The applicant must have significantly contributed to the University of Kentucky through campus and/or community activities or through his or her chosen field of study. The student must show evidence of proven public speaking skills.

Undergraduate students must submit a resume, an information sheet and a proposed commencement speech no longer than three typed, double-spaced pages. Incomplete applications cannot 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 proposed Commencement speech and be able to attend the Graduate Commencement Ceremony at 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 8, at Rupp Arena.

The applications must be received by 5 p.m. on March 25. For more information, visit www.uky.edu/commencement.

MEDIA CONTACT: Katy Bennett, katy.bennett@uky.edu, (859) 257-1754, ext. 255