Watch here: UK’s December 2024 Commencement Ceremonies

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 20, 2024) — Today, the University of Kentucky will celebrate its newest alumni at the December 2024 UK Commencement Ceremonies. More than 1,200 graduates are expected to participate.

Overall, the UK Board of Trustees approved the conferral of 1,975 degrees, including 1,218 undergraduate, 752 graduate and five professional degree candidates for December 2024.*

Both ceremonies will be livestreamed on UK’s YouTube channel, and can be accessed here on UKNow or the UK Commencement website.

The ceremony schedule is as follows:

10 a.m. ceremony

• Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
• College of Education
• Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering
• College of Fine Arts
• College of Medicine
• College of Pharmacy
• College of Public Health
• College of Social Work
• Martin School of Public Policy and Administration
• Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce

3 p.m. ceremony

• College of Arts and Sciences
• College of Communication and Information
• College of Design
• College of Health Sciences
• College of Nursing
• Gatton College of Business and Economics
• J. David Rosenberg College of Law

Grad Gathering

The UK Alumni Association will host receptions for the graduates and their families in Club C of the lower level of Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. After graduates cross the stage, they are encouraged to bring their families to the gathering to enjoy free refreshments, photo opportunities, gifts and prizes. More here.

Student speakers

Following remarks by UK President Eli Capilouto, a student speaker will address their fellow graduates at their respective ceremony.

• Esther Ndashaala, from Namibia, will speak at the 10 a.m. ceremony. She is graduating with a master’s degree in nutrition and food systems from the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
• Isabella Nkemeh, from Chicago, will speak at the 3 p.m. ceremony. She is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the Gatton College of Business and Economics.

Read more about the student speakers here.

Full video of each ceremony will be available within two weeks after Commencement on the university’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/universityofkentucky.

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.