Thompson Selected as December 2014 Commencement Speaker

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 16, 2014) — University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information senior Lauren Thompson will graduate this Friday while also taking part in a UK Commencement tradition: serving as student speaker.

Thompson, a communication major from Louisville, was selected among several candidates by UK President Eli Capilouto to represent her class at the December 2014 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony.

"Being selected as the Commencement speaker is honestly a dream come true," said Thompson. "As a freshman, I decided I wanted to speak at my college graduation, and now I am!"

During her time at UK, Thompson participated in the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, the National Association of Black Accountants, Ad Club, and served as a UK 101 Peer Instructor. She was also selected for the German-American Fulbright Commission Summer Session last year, spending a month in Berlin.

"UK means everything to me; I have had so many opportunities presented to me that I would not have known if I went anywhere else," she said. "My experiences at UK have hands-down prepared me for the future. I feel that I'm leaving the school stronger, wiser, and better than I was when I came in."

After graduation, Thompson will move to Atlanta where she has been offered a job with Aramark.

"I'm super excited to be moving and a little nervous. However, I have been told that Atlanta has a great UK Alumni group, so I will be sure to join as soon as I get settled in."

The December 2014 Commencement Ceremonies will be held Friday, Dec. 19, in Memorial Coliseum. The Graduate and Professional Commencement Ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m., followed by the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony at 6 p.m.  The ceremonies will also be live streamed on UKNow.

For more information about the December 2014 Commencement Ceremonies, visit www.uky.edu/Commencement.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jenny Wells, 859-257-5343; jenny.wells@uky.edu