Watch Live: The December 2016 Commencement Ceremonies

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 16, 2016) — Today, the University of Kentucky will celebrate with more than 1,000 students as they take part in the December 2016 Commencement Ceremonies in Rupp Arena.

The ceremonies will recognize the accomplishments of undergraduate, graduate and professional students who will have completed their degrees by the end of the fall 2016 semester. Graduate and professional degrees will be conferred at 10 a.m. EST and undergraduate degrees will be conferred at 3 p.m. EST

Today's events mark the third time December Commencement will be held in Rupp Arena. The December ceremonies initially took place in Memorial Coliseum since they began in 2010. The change was necessary due to the growing number of participants and their guests. Approximately 866 undergraduates and 179 graduate and professional students are expected to participate in the ceremonies. Overall, a total of 1,795 undergraduate, 839 graduate and 117 professional degrees have been approved by the UK Board of Trustees for August and December 2016. 

Graduates and their friends and family are encouraged to share their experience via social media using #UKGrad.

Honorary Degrees: Donald R. Ball and Mira S. Ball, a couple with a long history of service to the greater Lexington community and to the University of Kentucky, will receive honorary doctorates of humane letters at the 10 a.m. Graduate and Professional Ceremony. An honorary doctorate of humane letters recognizes extraordinary contributions to philanthropy, human development, education or societal well-being.

Read more about Donald and Mira Ball: http://uknow.uky.edu/campus-news/uk-board-approves-honorary-degrees-don-and-mira-ball.

Student Speaker: UK President Eli Capilouto will deliver remarks at both ceremonies, and a student will address the audience during the 3 p.m. undergraduate ceremony, as per UK tradition. Mary Elizabeth Wood, an agriculture economics major from Frankfort, Kentucky, has been selected by the president to serve as the student speaker. 

Read more about Elizabeth Wood: http://uknow.uky.edu/student-life/ag-econ-senior-address-grads-parents-uk-commencement.

Livestream: Both ceremonies will be available to watch live through YouTube, and may be viewed at http://uknow.uky.edu, the university’s news website. Full video of each ceremony will be available within two weeks after Commencement on the university’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/universityofky.