LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) celebrated a record-setting graduating class of 2026 on Friday, May 8, at Rupp Arena and at the CoSW’s Graduation Celebration.
Over 850 CoSW graduates walked across the stage on Friday, representing the largest graduating class in the College’s history.
CoSW has been committed to developing outstanding professionals, leaders who will serve individuals, families, and communities through innovative and effective practices that are guided by a pragmatic understanding of the human condition for over 80 years.
The Class of 2026 join the ranks of CoSW alumni, poised to shape the future with integrity, passion, and unwavering commitment to excellence.
“Walking across the stage means more than just earning a degree,” Ben Ison, a CoSW student ambassador and double major in social work and criminal justice, said. “It represents the beginning of a lifelong commitment to helping others.”
Prior to the commencement ceremony Friday afternoon, the College of Social Work hosted a Graduation Celebration at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Lexington, inviting all graduates and their loved ones to come together and meet their fellow graduates.
“We are incredibly proud of our spring graduates and all they have accomplished. Their hard work, resilience, and passion for learning have prepared them well for what’s ahead. As they begin this next chapter, I encourage them to lead with purpose and continue making a difference in the communities they serve,” said Matt Moore, Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs.
Among those who walked across the stage in Rupp Arena was Shawn Hunter, a Bachelor of Social Work graduate who shared that attending the University of Kentucky was more than just a personal goal – it was “always the dream.”
The road to this milestone in Hunter’s life has been shaped by incredible resilience.
“The trying times in my life helped me develop empathy toward others,” Hunter said. “They instilled in me an unwavering passion for achieving success and helping others realize their full potential. Social work feels like a path where I can turn what I’ve been through into something meaningful.”
The College of Social Work congratulates the class of 2026 and looks forward to the impact CoSW graduates continue to make on the Commonwealth and beyond, improving the human condition always, in all ways.