Applications for May 2026 Commencement student speakers now open
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 12, 2026) — University of Kentucky’s May 2026 Commencement ceremonies are quickly approaching, and the Commencement Speaker Selection Committee is now accepting applications to continue the tradition of featuring a student speaker at each ceremony.
The student speaker will give a three- to five-minute speech addressing the class of May 2026.
Applications for student speakers are now open and will close 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, March 31. Apply at commencement.uky.edu/student-speakers.
Students interested in applying must be receiving a degree as a May 2026 graduate. Additionally, the committee looks for students who have must have contributed to the university in some way, whether through campus involvement, community activities or contributions in their chosen field of study.
All applicants must demonstrate public speaking ability and be willing to present their address to the Commencement Speaker Selection Committee, which sends recommendations to the UK president.
All final interviews will tentatively be April 13 and 14, at the Gatton Student Center.
Students should prepare application materials before applying including a resume that includes activities, work experience and accomplishments achieved during the applicant’s study at UK.
In addition to the application materials, the student must submit a summary of no more than three typed, double-spaced pages of the proposed speech. All documents must be submitted in PDF format and titled with the student’s first and last name.
Ceremonies will take place Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9, at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. View the ceremony schedule at commencement.uky.edu/may-2026.
If you have further questions, please contact the commencement graduate assistant at 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.