UofL President Kim Schatzel will preside at the event and Melissa Johnson, a graduate student from the School of Public Health and Information Sciences, and outstanding Air Force leader, will be the student speaker.

The ceremony will be broadcast live at .

This year’s commencement will feature a with a walk-out song set to “Joker and the Thief,” a popular tune already familiar to Cardinal fans from athletic events. The Student Government Association initiative was created by students, for students and is a collective way for graduates to mark their transition from student to alumnus.

In addition, 50 graduates are expected to attend the ‘s doctoral hooding and graduation ceremony at 2 p.m. on the same day. The ceremony will be held on the Belknap Campus in the Swain Student Activities Center Ballroom, second floor. Schatzel will preside.

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Jessica Carney-Perks, an undergraduate communications student in the College of Arts and Sciences, attended Noe Middle School and duPont Manual High School. Her collegiate journey took her to two other universities before transferring to UofL where she completed her degree.

“There’s nothing like it, especially to return home. These are my roots,” she said. “To be in this space and transition from all of these locations, it’s all been a part of the journey.”

Carney-Perks said the decision to transfer to UofL came with support from her family.

“They’ve been through every twist, turn, curve I’ve hit,” said Carney-Perks.

Carney-Perks was surprised with a letter from her mother, who spoke of her intelligence, strength and humor.

Alison Jackson, a graduate student in the College of ����ֱ�� and Human Development, is from Lexington and said UofL created an environment where she felt connected to her fellow students from day one.

“I was looking for an environment that was supportive of non-traditional students,” said Jackson.

Jackson completed her bachelor’s degree in May 2023 and jumped into the master’s program soon after, all while having a full-time job and taking care of her family. She said she would often do homework with her grandson at the kitchen table.

“He calls me ‘honey’ and he would often look at me and say, ‘Honey, are you finished with your work?’ Being able to see him encourage and support me was fun and made a difference in my life and his as well,” she said.

Jackson’s daughter Ashlee wrote the letter and spoke on Jackson’s resilience and dedication to achieving her education all while supporting their family.

This heartwarming event serves as a reminder of the profound impact that family support has on the lives of UofL students and the importance of celebrating their achievements.

UofL President Neeli Bendapudi will preside at the event, and Cynthia Schepers will be the student speaker.

Schepers, who is earning a bachelor’s degree in health and human performance (exercise science track), is a resident of Family Scholar House, a program serving disadvantaged youth and single-parent families pursing postsecondary education. After entering the foster care system at 13 and attending five high schools before graduating from North Bullitt High School, the Louisville native became homeless at 21 before connecting with Family Scholar House.

Schepers cited a National Foster Youth Institute statistic that said nationwide fewer than 3 percent of former foster youth graduate from a four-year college.

“I have shown so much resiliency throughout my college journey. I have experienced so many hardships. Despite all of them, I was still dedicated to becoming a part of that 3 percent,” Schepers said. “I’m going to be one of those foster kids who graduate to show other foster kids it’s possible.”

The graduate’s goal is to become a personal trainer working to provide low-cost services to former foster youths.        

“I would tell someone in my position to never give up. I think that you can do anything you put your mind to, and if that means getting resources and support from people, then that’s what you’ve got to do,” Schepers said. “There are so many people at UofL who just want to support you, so making sure that you’re taking advantage of that support that’s offered is crucial to succeeding.”

At commencement, graduating students and their guests should enter the center through the doors facing Main Street between Second and Third streets and allow extra time to go through security. All bags will be checked and should not be larger than 14-by-14 inches. Balloons are prohibited.

In addition to commencement at KFC Yum! Center, the UofL Graduate School will host a doctoral hooding and graduation ceremony at 2 p.m. on the same day. That ceremony will be on the Belknap Campus, Swain Student Activities Center Ballroom, Room W215.