2 students selected to speak at December Commencement
To hear the “UK at the Half” interview with UK December graduates Esther Ndashaala and Isabella Nkemeh, click the play button above.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 19, 2024) — Two student representatives have been selected to speak during the University of Kentucky's December 2024 Commencement ceremonies Friday, Dec. 20, at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.
The student speakers are Esther Ndashaala and Isabella Nkemeh.
Esther Ndashaala
Esther Ndashaala, from Namibia, is graduating with a Master of Science in nutrition and food systems from the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. She will give the student address at the 10 a.m. ceremony.
After witnessing food insecurity firsthand in her home country, Ndashaala’s passion became food science and, she says, “a drive to understand how nutrition could impact lives on a larger scale.”
Ndashaala has spent her time at UK exploring issues such as food security, public health and sustainable nutrition, while also experiencing firsthand the importance of collective community action. Through UK’s Campus Kitchen project — an initiative where students work to provide free meals to fellow students in need — Ndashaala remains committed to service, equity and kindness.
“Being selected as the student speaker is an incredible honor and a humbling experience,” she said. “It feels surreal to represent my graduating class and to have the opportunity to share a message that reflects our shared journey, growth and aspirations. It’s a moment that underscores not just my individual achievements, but the collective resilience and accomplishments of our class.
“My goal is for my fellow graduates to walk away feeling proud, motivated, and ready to embrace the opportunities ahead with confidence.”
After graduation, Ndashaala plans to return home and visit her family in Namibia, then return to UK, possibly to pursue a Ph.D.
“UK has been instrumental in preparing me for this next chapter, not just academically but also through the relationships, experiences and opportunities I’ve had here,” she said. “Whether it’s through rigorous coursework, supportive professors or diverse community involvement, I feel equipped with the skills and mindset to make a meaningful impact moving forward.”
Isabelle Nkemeh
Isabella Nkemeh, from Chicago, is graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing from the UK Gatton College of Business and Economics. She will give the student address at the 3 p.m. ceremony.
During her time at UK, Nkemeh has worked as a student event coordinator for Office of University Events, served as an officer for LeadHer Women Executives and is currently working as a brand consultant for Bandido Taqueria restaurant in Lexington.
Facing academic struggles, a chronic health condition and the pressures of breaking family traditions, Nkemeh says she chose to “bet on herself.” By switching majors, studying abroad in South Korea and finding a new path, she encourages her fellow graduates to embrace uncertainty, persevere and stay “hungry for hope.”
“My time at UK has given me incredible opportunities, including networking opportunities, studying abroad and exploring parts of the country I’d never visited before,” she said. “I’m excited to see where life takes me next and what new opportunities and destinations lie ahead.”
Commencement is especially meaningful for Nkemeh, who, like so many of the 2024 UK graduates, did not get to have a high school graduation in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“My hope is that [my fellow graduates] feel inspired to take everything they’ve learned at UK and confidently forge their own paths.”
After graduating, Nkemeh plans to enter the workforce and continue to travel.
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Hear more from Ndashaala and Nkemeh in last weekend’s “UK at the Half” above. “UK at the Half” airs during halftime of each UK football and basketball game broadcast on the radio and is hosted by UK Public Relations and Strategic Communications and UK Marketing and Brand Strategy.
UK’s December 2024 Commencement ceremonies will be 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, and livestreamed on YouTube. Visit uknow.uky.edu or commencement.uky.edu on Friday to watch.
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.