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UK's December graduates set to get degrees Friday

Graduation on Friday December 15, 2023. Photo by Mark Cornelison | UKphoto
Mark Cornelison/Mark Cornelison | UKphoto
Graduation on Friday December 15, 2023. Photo by Mark Cornelison | UKphoto

University of Kentucky will celebrate its newest alumni at the December 2025 UK Commencement Ceremonies. Nearly 1,300 graduates are expected to participate.

Overall, the UK Board of Trustees approved the conferral of 2,084 degrees, including 1,351 undergraduate, 723 graduate and 10 professional degree candidates for December 2025.*

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

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

3 p.m. ceremony

  • Gatton College of Business and Economics 
  • College of Design
  • College of Communication and Information 
  • College of Health Sciences 
  • College of Nursing 
  • College of Arts and Sciences 

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.

Student speakers

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

  • Brysen Honeycutt, from Pine Top, Kentucky, will speak at the 10 a.m. ceremony. He is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering. He is also a student in the Lewis Honors College. Read more about Honeycutt.
  • RaShaun West I, originally from Cincinnati and now residing in Lexington, will speak at the 3 p.m. ceremony. He is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in human communication from the College of Communication and Information. Read more about West.

Full video of each ceremony will be available 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.

Karyn Czar has been a journalist with WUKY since 2013 and is currently the Assistant News Director. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Kentucky and brings more than 30 years of broadcast experience to NPR. Karyn's work has been recognized with numerous Associated Press, Kentucky Broadcaster Association, Public Media Journalist, and Edward R. Murrow awards throughout her career.