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Lexington, Ky. (Dec. 15, 2022) — University of Kentucky President Eli Capilauto has selected two student representatives to speak at the UK December commencement ceremony this Friday, Dec. 16, at Rupp Arena at the Central Bank Center.
The two student speakers are Alyssa Hargis and Princess Valencia.
Alyssa Hargis
Hargis, of Milford, Ohio, is a first-generation college student who graduated with a dual bachelor’s degree in public health and environmental and sustainability studies. He is also a member of the Lewis Honors College. He will speak at the ceremony at 10 am.
During her time at UK, Hargis studied abroad in Santo Domingo, Ecuador through UK’s Shoulder to Shoulder Global Program and worked with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. She served as president of Gamma Phi Beta sorority, a student ambassador for the UK College of Arts and Sciences, and a student wellness ambassador. She has also served on the UK Student Philanthropy Board.
In 2021 she received UK’s Emerging Leader Award, and this year she was named UK Undergraduate Intern of the Year at the Kentucky Department of Public Health for her work in the Kentucky Environmental Public Health Tracking Network, where she led Kentucky’s partnership with statewide centers. A pilot study to examine patterns in cold-related illness mortality for disease control and prevention.
“I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to receive my education at a university that has allowed me to grow not only as a student but as a person,” Hargis said. “The campus community at UK is unparalleled with unwavering encouragement and camaraderie, and I know as a UK graduate, I am poised for success as I enter the next phase of my life.”
Hargis hopes her fellow graduates will listen to her speech and reflect on their own experiences as students.
“I want them to remember the academic, professional and personal growth they’ve had throughout their journey and envision the future they’re starting to ‘build,'” she said. “I applied to be a speaker hoping to express my appreciation for my transformative experience. If anything, I wanted the opportunity to formally say ‘thank you’ to all the leaders, teachers, staff and fellow students who have shaped me into the person I am today.
Princess Valencia
Princess Valencia, of Georgetown, Kentucky, graduated from the UK College of Arts and Sciences with a degree in English and a minor in economics. She transferred to UK last year from Western Kentucky University, and William C. Parker is a recipient of the Diversity Scholarship.
“I’ve been a UK fan all my life, and it’s an honor to finish my degree at my dream school,” she said. “There are not enough words to describe how much I love the University of Kentucky. The people here have given me so much knowledge and advice that I feel confident and prepared for the future. I have also made friendships that will last me a lifetime. I will carry the UK tradition with me forever.”
An infielder, Valenica is a member of the UK softball team. He also spends his time as a coach and mentor for young athletes. Before transferring, Valencia was named to the 2020 All-Academic Team for Conference USA for excelling in the classroom.
Valencia celebrates her achievement with her family, including her grandparents who immigrated to the US to give their children a brighter future. As a result, Valencia has stood on the UK commencement stage once before – alongside her mother, who graduated 20 years ago.
“There was nothing in their way to give their children the best life possible,” she said. “So, thanks to my parents (and grandparents) who stopped at nothing to give me everything I needed to succeed.”
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Both UK commencement ceremonies will be livestreamed on the UK’s YouTube channel, accessible tomorrow via the UK Commencement website and the UKNow homepage.
For more information about the December 2022 commencement ceremony, visit https://commencement.uky.edu/december-2022.
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