Commencement speaker Ashley Smith overcame personal and academic obstacles on her path to earning two degrees. After failing two semesters, she lost her scholarships and academic standing. At one point, she couldn’t imagine herself walking across the graduation stage.
With her mother’s passing, she lost her focus on completing college and direction for what she wanted to do with her life. When placed on academic probation, Smith felt like she had nothing left, until EKU pulled her back in.
“I found strength and courage in the people around me. They picked me up and kept me going, even when I didn’t want to,” Smith said during her commencement speech.
Once connected with Dr. Lara Vance, Dr. Lisa Middleton, Dr. Starr Wentzel and Dr. Ashley Sweat at EKU, the course of her life changed in unimaginable ways. These mentors helped her embrace her true calling and the many resources available at EKU to get her back on track.
Smith, from Danville, Kentucky, discovered her passion for medicine when she recognized the urgent need for healthcare access in rural areas. Rural counties in Kentucky have 26% less primary care physicians per 100,000 population than the national average, according to Creating a Culture of Health in Appalachia. Seeing this issue, Smith committed herself not only to reclaiming her path in criminal justice but also to pursuing a pre-med degree.
“I felt a higher calling to medicine,” Smith said. “But I also dedicated myself to getting back on track with criminal justice with hopes to one day serve the underserved populations of rural Kentucky.”
After reflecting on her journey, Smith addressed her fellow graduates and the uncertainty they may face ahead.
“When times get tough and doubt creeps in, remember, you are, will be and always have been enough and you are never alone. There are people who believe in you and want to see you succeed,” she said. “Believe in yourselves, because I believe in every single one of you. I know that we are all destined to change the world.”
Smith raised her GPA from 1.8 to 3.7, completed two degrees and now stands as a symbol of the resilience, compassion and perseverance that EKU fosters in students.
EKU President David McFaddin said to the Class of 2025, “Here, you’ve gained more than knowledge; you’ve developed resilience, critical thinking, compassion and a deep sense of purpose. You are ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow with confidence and clarity.”
Following graduation, Smith will be working in a research lab at the University of Kentucky, while applying for medical school.
“If I looked back at my old self, I don’t think I ever would have believed I’m in the place that I’m in now and applying to medical school,” she said.
Smith graduated with a degree in biomedical sciences and criminal justice. She spoke to fellow graduates at the Friday, May 16, 1 p.m. ceremony for the College of Health Sciences and the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Smith was one of more than 2,100 eligible graduates at EKU for Spring 2025.
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