‘Behind the Blue’: Spotlight on UK’s December graduates
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 19, 2024) – This Friday, Dec. 20, the University of Kentucky will honor nearly 2,000 of its newest alumni during the December 2024 Commencement ceremonies.
On this episode of “Behind the Blue,” UK is spotlighting two of those graduates — Jayla McCoy and Nathan Reynolds — hearing their stories about their time at UK, the memories they’ll carry forward and how they’re ready to apply what they’ve learned to the next exciting chapters of their lives.
Jayla McCoy
Jayla McCoy, a graduating senior from Cleveland, Ohio, is earning her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in computer science from the UK Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering. She is also a member of the UK Lewis Honors College. Throughout the past four years, McCoy has become a standout leader in her colleges and beyond.
During her sophomore year, she joined a materials and manufacturing research lab, taking the initiative to contact her professor, Julius Schoop, Ph.D.
“I was trying to get out there, get more experience,” McCoy said. “It was definitely hands-on... and I didn’t realize you could do research in that area until I got here.”
In addition to excelling academically, McCoy held leadership roles, including serving as president and parliamentarian of the National Society for Black Engineers (NSBE) and vice president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. She says her involvement in NSBE was transformative.
“NSBE gave me a safe place... It showed me that it is possible to be a Black engineer and that I am just as worthy of being in this room as anybody else.”
McCoy also made time to give back, volunteering at local food pantries, mentoring students and advocating for others.
“You never know what people are going through,” she said. “Whatever you can do, however small, you’re helping somebody, and that warms my heart.”
And her efforts have not gone unnoticed. McCoy received the prestigious Lyman T. Johnson Torchbearer Award in 2021, a recognition voted on by faculty.
“The fact that my professors thought of me made me feel very special... like I’m doing the right thing and giving back to the community,” she said.
After completing five internships, including positions at GE, Toyota and Northrop Grumman, McCoy says she is prepared to continue her engineering career.
For future students, her advice is simple but powerful:
“Find a support system to keep you going, have faith in yourself, and take care of your mental and physical health. You’re just as worthy as anyone else to be here.”
Listen to the podcast above to hear more about McCoy’s UK experience.
Nathan Reynolds
Nathan Reynolds found his calling through personal experiences with his sister’s spina bifida and his mother’s dedication as a nurse. After a pandemic detour led him to UK, he pursued a career in nursing with extraordinary focus, earning scholarships and interning in advanced pain management and AI applications in anesthesia.
From enduring a 30-degree house during the 2022 ice storm to planning a future as a nurse anesthetist, Reynolds’ UK story exemplifies resilience and compassion, offering an inspiring look at a young professional ready to transform health care. He will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Read more about Reynolds in this UKNow feature from earlier this week, and listen to the podcast above to learn more about his UK story.
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The UK December 2024 Commencement ceremonies will take place at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20. For more information, visit https://commencement.uky.edu/.
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As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.