UK graduates will still get to hear their names called in unorthodox public ceremony
Thousands normally pack Rupp Arena every December and May to watch University of Kentucky graduates cross the stage and hear their names called out on the arena’s loud speakers.
With social distancing still in effect, and large crowds forbidden, no tassle-swinging, gown-wearing graduates will cross the arena stage this month.
Yet the university’s student-run radio station has found a way to at least recapture the sound of a traditional commencement ceremony.
“We all suggested airing the grad names over the air,” said Allison Pin, the general manager of WRFL, and a UK senior graduating in December. “Everyone loved that idea and we just kind of ran with it.”
Starting at 1 p.m. Sunday, the traditional sound of the UK Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra will take over the airwaves of WRFL, while the booming voice of Carl Nathe — best known to Cats fans as the PA announcer at UK football games — will announce every graduating student’s name.
“It’s as if you’re in Rupp Arena at graduation,” Pin said. “But on the radio.”
From Sunday until Saturday, May 9, more than 5,000 names of the undergraduate, master’s, professional and doctoral students who applied for a May or August graduation, will be aired on 88.1FM or via streaming on the WRFL website.
Nathe, who works with UK’s Public Relations and Strategic Communications office, said in a phone interview that he and a member of the university’s Office of Events, recorded every name last week in two, 5-hour recording sessions, last week—“counting bathroom breaks, water breaks, that sort of thing,” Nathe said.
“We were trying to do the names as much as possible like you were doing them live,” said Nathe, who has been reading the names of graduates in Rupp Arena for the past 10 years.
The ceremony is probably more fun in Rupp with parents, guardians, faculty and students all assembled, he said. But he’s happy graduates will still be able to get their name called this May.
“It’s a different approach but they’re trying to do what they can to honor the graduates, so I think it’s very good that they’re doing that and a worthwhile effort,” Nathe said.
Each broadcast will be by college and will last a half hour. According to the detailed schedule released by UK, a graduation broadcast will typically air at 1 and 3 p.m. each day.
On Saturday, speeches from university President Eli Capilouto and Student Government Association President Michael Hamilton will wrap up the week-long broadcast.
The radio broadcast will not take the place of the previously delayed commencement, a UK press release stated. The university will announce future commencement plans in the coming weeks.
Below is the schedule from UK:
All times EDT
Sunday, May 3
1-1:30 p.m. — College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Part 1 (doctoral degrees and BS degrees in ag economics; agriculture; ag and medical biotechnology; animal sciences; career and tech education; community and leadership development; community communications and leadership development; dietetics; equine science and management; family sciences; food science; forestry; horticulture, plant and soil science; hospitality management and tourism; human nutrition; landscape architecture; merchandising apparel and textiles).
3-3:30 p.m. — College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Part 2 (BS degrees in natural resources and environmental science; sustainable agriculture and community food systems; undergrad certificates in agriculture; masters degrees); College of Dentistry (all); J. David Rosenberg College of Law (all); College of Medicine (all); Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce and Martin School of Public Policy and Administration (all).
Monday, May 4
1-1:30 p.m. — College of Arts and Sciences, Part 1 (all doctoral and masters degrees, BA degrees in anthropology, biology, chemistry and economics).
3-3:30 p.m. — College of Arts and Sciences, Part 2 (BA degrees in English; environmental and sustainability studies; foreign language and international economics; gender and women’s studies; geography; geological sciences; health, society and populations; history; international studies; linguistics; mathematical economics; mathematics; modern and classical languages, literatures and cultures; philosophy; political science; sociology; Spanish; topical majors; U.S. culture and business practices; writing rhetoric and digital studies; Bachelor of Liberal Studies; BS degrees in mathematics).
Tuesday, May 5
1-1:30 p.m. — College of Arts and Sciences, Part 3 (BA degrees in psychology; BS degrees in anthropology; biology; chemistry; foreign language and international economics; geography; geological sciences; international studies; mathematical economics; modern and classical languages, literatures and cultures; neuroscience; physics; political science; psychology; undergraduate certificates in global studies, Appalachian studies; international film studies).
3-3:30 p.m. — Gatton College of Business and Economics, Part 1 (doctoral degrees, MBA degrees, Master of Science in Accounting degrees, Master of Science in Finance degrees, BA of Business Administration in Finance degrees).
Wednesday, May 6
1-1:30 p.m. — Gatton College of Business and Economics, Part 2 (BA of Business Administration in Management degrees, BA of Business Administration in Marketing degrees).
3-3:30 p.m. — Gatton College of Business and Economics, Part 3 (BS degrees in accounting and economics); College of Fine Arts (all); College of Pharmacy (all).
Thursday, May 7
1-1:30 p.m. — College of Health Sciences (all); College of Design (all).
3-3:30 p.m. — College of Education (all).
Friday, May 8
1-1:30 p.m. — College of Communication and Information (all).
3-3:30 p.m. — College of Engineering, Part 1 (doctoral degrees, graduate certificates, masters degrees, and BS degrees in mining engineering, biosystems engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering and materials engineering).
Saturday, May 9
1-1:30 p.m. — College of Engineering, Part 2 (BS degrees in mechanical engineering and mining engineering); College of Nursing (all).
3-3:30 p.m. — Student Government President Michael Hamilton; UK President Eli Capilouto; College of Public Health (all); College of Social Work (all).