Watch Online Recording of UK's In-person Commencement Celebrating May 2021, 2020 Graduates
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 19, 2021) —This past weekend, the University of Kentucky celebrated May 2021 and 2020 graduates at Commencement Ceremonies at Rupp Arena. Nearly 4,400 graduates participated in 10 ceremonies held Friday-Sunday, and more than 37,000 people viewed the livestreamed events. Recordings of those ceremonies are accessible at the links below.
Around 1,000 of the Commencement participants were 2020 graduates who were invited to take part in the 2021 ceremony after not having an in-person ceremony last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each graduate in attendance had the opportunity to invite four guests to their ceremony. Guests unable to be in attendance were able to view the ceremonies livestreams.
“Together, we did something that has never been done before and will be part of history one day,” said Ashley Reed, director of University Events and chair of the UK Commencement Committee. “These events could not have happened without the efforts and contributions of so many people, and it meant the world to our students and families.”
Overall, 5,173 May 2021 degree candidates were conferred for approval by the UK Board of Trustees. This includes 3,599 undergraduate, 1,085 graduate and 489 professional degree candidates*
Five student representatives, selected by UK President Eli Capilouto, virtually presented addresses to the audience. Given limitations on the number of people allowed on the stage, the speeches were pre-recorded. Read more about the student speakers here.
View all of the ceremonies from the Spring 2021 Commencement:
Friday, May 14: https://youtu.be/O16e23iFoFQ
- 9 a.m. - College of Education, College of Medicine (begins at 28:06 mark)
- Noon - College of Fine Arts, College of Public Health, College of Social Work, College of Pharmacy (begins at 3:27:14 mark)
- 3 p.m. - College of Nursing College of Health Sciences, College of Design (begins at 6:24:16 mark)
- 6 p.m. - College of Engineering (begins at the 9:27:49 mark)
Saturday, May 15: https://youtu.be/S6ETjbxsppg
- 9 a.m. - College of Arts and Sciences #1 (begins at the 9:40 mark)
*Humanities: African American and Africana Studies, English, Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures and Languages, History, International Studies, Linguistics, Philosophy, Spanish / Hispanic Studies, Writing, Rhetoric and Digital Media, Foreign Language and International Economics, Classics, German, French, Teaching English as a Second Language, Linguistic Theory and Typology, Teaching World Languages, Creative Writing
*Natural, Physical and Mathematical Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy, Earth and Environmental Studies, Geological Sciences, Mathematics, Mathematical Economics, Neuroscience, Statistics, Applied Statistics
- Noon - College of Arts and Sciences #2 (begins at the 3:08:12 mark)
*Social Sciences: Anthropology, Economics, Environmental and Sustainability Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies, Geography, Health, Society and Populations, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, US Culture and Business Practices, Liberal Studies, Applied Anthropology, Digital Mapping
- 3 p.m. - Gatton College of Business and Economics #1 (begins at the 6:10:53 mark)
*Marketing, Management, General Business, Supply Chain Management
- 6 p.m. - Gatton College of Business and Economics #2 (begins at the 9:10:27 mark)
*Accounting, Economics, Finance, Business Administration (Masters & Ph.D.)
Sunday, May 16: https://youtu.be/lfHi7lh0xFs
- 9 a.m. - College of Communication and Information; The Martin School of Public Policy and Administration; The Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce (begins at the 26:18 mark)
- Noon - College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (begins at the 3:23:42 mark)
*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.