Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) will celebrate students’ academic success during the fall 2025 commencement ceremonies on Thursday, Dec. 4 and Friday, Dec. 5, at the EKU Center for the Arts. There are five ceremonies scheduled to honor graduates from the university’s six academic colleges, as well as master’s and doctoral graduates from all colleges.
The schedule and graduate speaker for each ceremony are as follows:
Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025
- 1 p.m. – Master’s and Doctoral Graduates from all Colleges
- Speaker: Chris Butcher, doctoral student in educational leadership and policy studies from Berea, found a home and career at EKU and will be a three-time EKU graduate.
- 3:30 p.m. – College of Justice, Safety and Military Science, and College of Education and Applied Human Sciences
- Speaker: Josiane Sadiki, construction management major from Louisville, says she learned how to build not only structures, but opportunity at EKU. The U.S. Army reservist will graduate as the first in her family to earn a college degree.
- 6 p.m. – College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences
- Speaker: Justin Mink, public relations major from Livingston, came to EKU as a first-generation college student feeling unsure of his path, but discovered it within his major and a student organization.
Friday, Dec. 5, 2025
- 9 a.m. – College of Health Sciences, and College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
- Speaker: Toluwanimi Olatoye, healthcare administration major, says EKU has been a land of opportunity for him, where he developed a project of national importance and had the opportunity to present his research at Harvard University.
- 11:30 a.m. – College of Business
- Speaker: Emma Ashlock, from Somerset, is a double major in public accounting and risk management and insurance and has also earned a certificate in financial literacy.
EKU will be recognizing 1,405 graduates: 185 certificates, 59 associate degrees, 907 bachelor’s degrees, 244 master’s degrees, 1 post-master’s certificate and 9 doctoral degrees.
Graduates range in age from 19 to 79. They come from 8 countries, 34 states and 106 Kentucky counties; 45% are first-generation college graduates.
A livestream of the ceremonies will be available at youtube.com/ekustories on the day of commencement. Find more information about this year’s ceremonies at go.eku.edu/graduation.
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Eastern Kentucky University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, educational specialist, and doctorate degrees.