University of Kentucky MBA program at the Gatton College of Business and Economics hosted a special UK MBA Graduation Reception and Ceremony for the 2019 graduating class at the Hilary J. Boone Center on campus, which included over 100 students from the One Year MBA, Professional MBA and Professional MBA (For Leaders in Healthcare) programs. Graduates of the 2019 UK MBA class at the graduation ceremony toasted and celebrated with each other along with family, friends, faculty and staff of the UK MBA.

"Our students graduating each year is bittersweet for us," says Harvie Wilkinson, MBA Program Director. "We are excited to have the opportunity to celebrate our students graduating and then witnessing them pursuing their personal and professional goals, however we will miss seeing them in the hallways and classrooms of Gatton."

Students from both the One Year MBA and Professional MBA programs spoke for their classmates regarding the overall experience and impact of the UK MBA program. Professional MBA graduate, Joe Laco, spoke to the commitment of an MBA program while balancing working full-time along with family and other important personal commitments. Joe thanked his classmates, the Gatton faculty and the UK MBA staff for supporting his educational journey and challenged everyone that was graduating to continue learning. 

One Year MBA graduate, Emma Guilfoil, spoke to the unity of the class and how the program brought so many young, emerging leaders together. Emma acknowledged the roller coaster ride that the accelerated one-year program presents to candidates throughout the year, but she was thankful of the tremendous support from everyone in the program and glad that she was a part of the 2019 class.

The highlight of the evening was delivering the very first "Emerging Leader Award", which was awarded to one person in both the One Year MBA and Professional MBA cohorts. Their peers were asked to nominate a classmate that exhibited certain qualities in areas of leadership, service, attitude, academic success and engagement. Nominations were then evaluated by the faculty and staff of the UK MBA. The winners were William Sanders IV of the One Year MBA program and Tasha Keeton of the Professional MBA.

"It was an honor to receive the emerging leader award from faculty and peers, especially given the number of deserving classmates in our cohort," says William. "I extend my sincere thanks to the MBA faculty, staff, and alumni who made the many wonderful opportunities possible for learning and growing as a leader. I am excited to see how the program will continue to evolve, and I look forward to the opportunity to give back to the program in the future to help other students grow as leaders."

"I was truly honored to receive this award," says Tasha. "I really enjoyed the program and my classmates, and it's exciting to have my MBA from Gatton along with this recognition from my peers in the program."

The official campus graduation commencement event will be on May 3rd at Rupp Arena.