Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) celebrated the Class of 2026 at spring commencement ceremonies held on May 7 and 8, 2026, at the Baptist Health Arena at Alumni Coliseum.
“At EKU, every path is made possible,” said EKU President David McFaddin at the commencement ceremonies. “Each of you took a unique path to get to this point, and while you may have the next few steps mapped out, your path forward will include turns you can’t yet see. What matters is not that the path is perfect, but that you continue moving forward with curiosity, resilience and a commitment to making a difference.”
Sharing their personal journeys at EKU, graduates Dyana Jackson, Nadia Grullon, Claudia Douglas and Kyra Mills each spoke at their corresponding ceremonies.
After beginning graduate school in fall 2022, Dyana Jackson quickly realized her journey would not follow a perfect plan. Feeling as though she had taken on more than she could handle at the time, she took a break from her graduate studies but then decided to re-enroll while deployed to the Middle East in 2024. Testing far more than academic ability, Jackson’s experience meant balancing coursework in an unpredictable environment, even submitting an assignment moments after seeking shelter in a bunker.
Returning home brought an unexpected relocation from North Carolina to California during finals week. With children in the backseat and belongings packed up, Jackson submitted a final paper from a hotel parking lot, using her phone’s hotspot, minutes before the deadline.
“At some point, this journey stopped being about perfect grades and became more about not giving up,” Jackson said. “It was never just about the syllabus. It was about who we had to become to make it here.”
Jackson graduated with a master’s in public administration.
Nadia Grullon from Richmond, Kentucky, reflected on arriving at EKU feeling nervous and afraid. After dropping a course out of fear and self-doubt, an unexpected conversation with a professor changed her path. Instead of judgment, she found understanding and mentorship. With guidance and persistence, she built her confidence, became involved across campus and stepped beyond the fear that once kept her silent.
Her time at EKU was also marked by profound loss, as she mourned both maternal grandparents within six months. Yet through grief, she found strength in the community she had built—friends, faculty and peers who supported her through life’s most difficult moments.
“Be comfortable with the uncomfortable,” Grullon emphasized in her speech to classmates. “The thought of graduating and the uncertainty of our futures might make us uncomfortable, but let’s push past those feelings of discomfort and make ourselves comfortable within it.”
Grullon graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology and Spanish.
Claudia Douglas from Stanford, Kentucky, reflected on the growth that comes from stepping outside of comfort zones. As a commuter student driving an hour to campus each day, she began her journey feeling isolated and unsure she would find connection at EKU.
One small decision—turning around in class to say “Hi” to a classmate—changed everything. That simple moment led to belonging, meaningful friendships and involvement across campus. Through hard work and opportunity, Douglas secured a nursing position before graduation and embraced experiences that shaped her both personally and professionally.
“Growth will happen when you take your fate into your own hands,” Douglas said. “Make those decisions. Take that risk. We only live once—why not make it our own? If we fail, try again. Try harder.”
Douglas graduated with a Bachelor of Science in nursing.
Kyra Mills, from Bardstown, Kentucky, shared a story about what once felt like the end of her college career. After starting two weeks late due to Army training, she quickly fell behind, stopped attending classes and saw her GPA drop to 1.6. Convinced college was not for her, she emailed the dean of students to withdraw.
Instead of confirming her doubts, she found someone who believed in her and a community of support in mentors who rebuilt her confidence. Choosing to stay became a decision that changed the direction of her life and led Mills to find her new purpose in emergency medical care.
“None of that would have happened if I hadn’t failed first—failed in the path I originally chose and been brave enough to change direction,” Mills said. “Failure did not end my story, it rewrote it.”
Mills graduated with a Bachelor of Science in emergency medical care.
EKU held four ceremonies, formally conferring 1,684 undergraduate degrees and 350 post-graduate degrees. Of EKU’s Class of 2026, 46% are the first in their families to earn a higher education degree. The top degrees awarded include nursing, psychology, criminal justice, aviation and communication disorders.
By A’Mya Kendrick
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