WATCH LIVE: The May 2022 UK Commencement Ceremonies
Watch the ceremonies from Friday, May 6 here: https://youtu.be/T5s-Eef_ZBs The 9 a.m. ceremony begins at 00:35:40; the 2 p.m. begins at 05:32:25; the 6 p.m. begins at 09:31:07
Watch the ceremony from Saturday, May 7 here: https://youtu.be/RN5G4Nt7vvw The 9 a.m. begins at 00:27:10
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 6, 2022) — Today and tomorrow, the University of Kentucky will celebrate its newest alumni at the May 2022 Commencement Ceremonies.
More than 3,900 graduates are expected to participate across four ceremonies taking place May 6-7, in Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Overall 5,346 May degree candidates were conferred by the UK Board of Trustees last week. This includes 3,625 undergraduate, 1,169 graduate and 552 professional degree candidates for May 2022.*
Ceremonies include:
9 a.m. Friday, May 6
- College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
- College of Communication and Information
- College of Pharmacy
- College of Public Health
- Martin School of Public Policy and Administration
- Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce
2 p.m. Friday, May 6
6 p.m. Friday, May 6
- Gatton College of Business and Economics
- College of Health Sciences
- College of Fine Arts
- College of Nursing
9 a.m. Saturday, May 7
All four ceremonies will be livestreamed on UK’s YouTube channel, which will be accessible this weekend via the UK Commencement website and the UKNow homepage.
Following each ceremony, the UK Alumni Association will host receptions for the graduates and their families in the second floor meeting rooms at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Graduates are encouraged to come and enjoy free refreshments, photo opportunities gifts and prizes. More here.
Honorary Degrees
The Board of Trustees has approved honorary degrees for two citizens who have distinguished themselves in their careers and community service. The recipients are Terry Woodward and Kris Kimel.
Honorary degrees will be presented at the following ceremonies:
- Terry Woodward: 6 p.m. Friday, May 6
- Kris Kimel: 9 a.m. Saturday, May 7
Read more about the May 2022 honorary degree recipients.
Student Speakers
In addition to UK President Eli Capilouto, a student representative will address the audience at each of the ceremonies, per UK tradition.
The four speakers include:
- Robert E. Anderson III, from Covington, Kentucky, will speak at the 9 a.m. Friday, May 6 ceremony. He is graduating with a master’s degree in nutrition and food systems from the College Agriculture, Food and Environment.
- Haley Brents, from Louisville, Kentucky, will speak at the 2 p.m. ceremony Friday, May 6. She is graduating with a bachelor's degree in special education from the College of Education, as well as a minor in psychology and certifications in learning/behavior disorders and moderate/severe disabilities.
- Deborah Myers, from California, Kentucky, will speak at the 6 p.m. ceremony Friday, May 6. She is graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and marketing from the Gatton College of Business and Economics, and a degree in agricultural economics from the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
- Amy Luu Ngo, from Bowling Green, Kentucky, will speak at the 9 a.m. Saturday, May 7. She is graduating with a bachelor's degree in biology from the College of Arts and Sciences, and a minor in health advocacy and a certificate in clinical health care management from the College of Health Sciences.
Read more about the student speakers here.
Full video of each ceremony will be available after Commencement on the university’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/universityofkentucky.
Due to limited parking in the High Street lots at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, the university has secured additional parking and shuttle options for graduates and their guests. More here.
Social media users are encouraged to use the hashtag #UKgrad.
For more information about UK Commencement, visit http://commencement.uky.edu/.
*These numbers reflect degree candidates, not individual graduates (some graduates earn more than one degree, thereby being counted as a degree candidate multiple times). Degrees will be certified by the UK registrar, ensuring individuals have satisfactorily completed all requirements. The most up-to-date information is available through UK and Institutional Research, Analytics and Decision Support.
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.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.