Meet the May 2025 UK Commencement student speakers

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 5, 2025) — Four graduating students have been selected by University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto to represent the Class of 2025 as speakers at UK’s May Commencement Ceremonies, taking place Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10.

The students are Julianna Boulden, Ethan Morgan, Nigel Taylor and Tyler Chapman.

Julianna Boulden

Boulden, from Richmond, Kentucky, is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in music education from the UK College of Fine Arts. She will deliver the student address at the 9 a.m. Friday, May 9, ceremony.

During her time at UK, Boulden has been an active member of the campus music community, performing with the Wildcat Marching Band and Pep Band (as piccolo section leader), Wind Symphony, Symphony Band and Symphony Orchestra. She also served as a College of Fine Arts Ambassador.

Growing up as the daughter of the late George Boulden — a beloved UK faculty member who served as associate director of UK Bands and director of the Wildcat Marching Band — Boulden says UK has always felt like home, and becoming a student here has “fulfilled a lifelong dream.”

“I’ve formed such special friendships with my fellow classmates and amazing relationships with faculty who I know care about me,” she said. “What more could you ask for? It only makes it harder to say goodbye.”

Boulden’s father died in 2022, just before the start of her sophomore year — a heartbreaking loss for Boulden and her family, and for the university community. She says that writing her commencement speech was both a tribute to his memory and a way to inspire her fellow graduates.

“While I have loved my time here and have experienced the highest of highs, I’ve also experienced some significant lows,” Boulden said, “but I truly believe that each challenge we face is meant to teach us something. I want to show others that if I can come out stronger on the other side of these lows, they can, too. This opportunity is unreal, and I can’t believe that I get the chance to address a class of such driven, hardworking and visionary graduates.”

After graduation, Boulden hopes to work as an elementary music teacher or middle school band director.

“All kids need and deserve a safe place to learn, make mistakes, seek comfort and celebrate their successes, and I want my classroom to be all of those things for each student that walks through my door.”

Ethan Morgan

Morgan, from Fairdealing, Kentucky, in Marshall County, is graduating with bachelor’s degree in biology from the UK College of Arts and Sciences. He is also a member of the Lewis Honors College. He will deliver the student address at the 2 p.m. Friday, May 9, ceremony.

During his time at UK, Morgan has taken on numerous leadership and service roles across campus. He is the president and co-founder of HealthCare Cats, which was named the 2024 New Student Organization of the Year, and the inaugural president of the Kentucky Rural Health Association chapter at UK. He has served as a Lewis Honors College orientation leader and as the Lewis Liaison for biology in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Morgan has also contributed to campus life as a member of the UK Student Conduct Hearing Board, a Visitors Center tour guide and a tutor at the UK Biology Learning Center. In addition, he has conducted research in Associate Professor David Rodgers’ lab in the UK College of Medicine’s Department of Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry, and is involved with several student organizations, including Phi Delta Epsilon, the Apollo Society and the Appalachian Health Initiative. Last fall, Morgan was named UK’s 2024 Homecoming King.  

Morgan says coming to UK was a “dream come true.”

“I grew up on a farm in far Western Kentucky, and while my first clothes were a UK onesie, no one in my family had ever had the opportunity to attend UK,” he said. “Being able to live out that dream has been the experience of a lifetime and something I’ll carry with me forever.”

Morgan is honored to close his UK chapter by addressing his fellow graduates — an experience he calls “one of the greatest honors of my life.”

“I hope they take away the power of resilience — that when life gets hard, they are tougher than anything they face,” he said. “I want them to remember the lessons they learned here at the University of Kentucky and the valuable connections they have made in the Commonwealth. Most of all, I hope they always stay grounded in where they come from.”

After graduation, Morgan will pursue an MD and MBA, with a goal of practicing medicine in Kentucky’s underserved rural communities.

“Kentucky has given so much to me, and I look forward to giving back to the place that built me,” he said.

Nigel Taylor

Taylor, from Malden, Massachusetts, is graduating with a doctoral degree in communication from the UK College of Communication and Information. He will deliver the student address at the 6 p.m. Friday, May 9, ceremony. 

Taylor previously earned his bachelor’s degree in communication from UK in 2016, followed by a master’s in media ventures from Boston University in 2017. Returning to UK at age 25 to pursue his Ph.D., he says the experience has felt like a “full-circle moment.”

“This journey has meant everything to me,” Taylor said. “My community here has poured into me in ways that have deeply shaped the man I am today and the one I continue striving to become.”

During his time at UK, Taylor has been a dedicated campus leader. He served as an ambassador for the Martin Luther King Center and founded Underground Perspective, a student organization that encourages open dialogue, growth and belonging. Known affectionately as “uncle” or “gramps” by many undergraduates, he has helped create community on campus through efforts like an annual Thanksgiving dinner he hosts for students unable to travel home.

Taylor also collaborated with fellow UK alumni to co-author the children’s book, “The Endless Possibilities with Nora and Vincent.” This story follows two Black children as they explore various career paths, aiming to inspire children of color to envision a wide range of futures for themselves. Read more about the book and collaboration here.

His doctoral dissertation, titled “Black Love, Media Portrayals, and Social Identity,” explores how media stereotypes about Black relationships influence Black individuals’ perceptions, shaping their understanding and expectations of love. Following graduation, he plans to continue his career as a content creator, relationship coach and event planner. His ultimate dream: becoming a talk show host.

Taylor says delivering the student commencement address is the realization of a long-held dream.

“I hope they take away the message that it’s okay not to have everything figured out,” he said. “What matters most is recognizing that at every stage, you are still enough just as you are.”

Tyler Chapman

Chapman, from Ekron, Kentucky in Meade County, is graduating with a master’s degree in public administration from the UK Martin School of Public Policy and Administration. He will deliver the student address at the 9 a.m. Saturday, May 10, ceremony.

A first-generation college student, Chapman previously earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Western Kentucky University. 

During his time at UK, Chapman has worked as a graduate assistant for University Events, helping plan major campus programs including the College Business Management Institute and UK Commencement, representing the university at the North American Association of Commencement Officers. Through this role, Chapman also helped support student recruitment efforts.

As a student in the Martin School, Chapman recently completed a capstone project for the Kentucky League of Cities, focusing on real-world policy solutions to support local governments across the state. 

“UK has been a reminder that the hard moments are the ones that define you,” Chapman said. “Balancing grad school, work and running for office simultaneously wasn’t easy —  but it taught me the real meaning of showing up.”

This is the message Chapman hopes his fellow graduates will take away from his commencement address.

“It’s not about having a perfect journey — it’s about choosing to stay ‘in the arena,’” he said. “Especially in times like these, when so much feels uncertain and the ground seems to shift under our feet, showing up matters more than ever.”

While it’s easy to celebrate big moments like graduation, Chapman says it’s important to remember those who supported your journey. 

“It’s the people who stood by us through the hard days who really make it possible,” he said. “I’m proud to be part of the Class of 2025, and excited to see where we all go from here.”

After graduation, Chapman plans to continue working in public service — helping build stronger communities, making government more transparent and making sure the people who need it most aren’t left out of the conversation. 

“Wherever the path leads, I know I’ll keep showing up,” he said.

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The May 2025 Commencement Ceremonies will take place Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10, at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. More information is available at https://commencement.uky.edu/.