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By: Amy Charles | March 19, 2021
The University of Pikeville (UPIKE) is pleased to announce commencement ceremonies for the class of 2021 will be held in person. To safely host celebrations, there will be three commencement ceremonies held over the course of three days to recognize students earning degrees in undergraduate, graduate and health professions.
Masks will be required at the ticketed event along with additional COVID-19 safety measures for all graduates and guests, including temperature checks and social distancing. Graduates and families who would prefer to celebrate virtually will be able to watch any of the ceremonies via livestream.
All ceremonies will be held at the Appalachian Wireless Arena in downtown Pikeville which can seat 6,500 guests with a COVID capacity of 2,200.
The ceremony for the College of Nursing & Human Services and the Patton College of Education will be held on Thursday, April 29, at 6 p.m. Commencement for the Coleman College of Business and the College of Arts & Sciences will take place on Friday, April 30, at 6 p.m.
The keynote speaker for both undergraduate ceremonies is Nate Morris, founder & CEO of Lexington, Kentucky-based Rubicon, a software platform that provides smart waste and recycling solutions for businesses and governments worldwide. Among his many professional accomplishments, Morris is the first Kentuckian to be named to Fortune Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list and is the youngest person to be inducted into the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame.
The commencement ceremony for the Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) and the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine (KYCOM) is being held on Saturday, May 1, at 9:30 a.m.
Chief Executive Officer of Big Sandy Healthcare Ancil Lewis will deliver the keynote address to graduates from KYCOM and KYCO. With nearly 50 years of experience working in various healthcare settings, Lewis holds three master’s degrees in sociology, social work and business administration and is an outspoken proponent of improved health services for children.
UPIKE President Burton J. Webb, Ph.D., is happy to continue with the in-person commencement tradition.
“We are pleased to be able to offer our students a face-to-face option for Commencement this year. After spending a year under pandemic restrictions, we are looking forward to celebrating this important milestone with our newest class of alumni,” said Webb. “It is our fervent hope that infection rates will continue to fall as the spring semester progresses.”
For more ceremony information, visit upike.edu/commencement.