LEXINGTON, Ky. – As December commencement draws near, Tiffany Malicote, 2025 University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) graduate, reflects on the last thing her older sister, Ashley, said to her before passing away in June 2025.
“I’m proud of you.”
Those words have guided Malicote, who will graduate on December 19 with her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. The first of her family, alongside her brother, to graduate from college.
Malicote’s journey has been far from easy, losing five family members, including her sister, in the span of 22 months. A mom of four, Malicote leaned on her support system at UK and the CoSW as she made it to the finish line of her degree.
“Walking across that stage to receive my diploma, it means so much to me because I had every reason not to,” Malicote shared. “I had every reason not to keep going. But I did. Everything I’ve been through in my life, and all the experiences I’ve had, I never thought I would graduate but here I am.”
Earning two Associate Degrees of Applied Science from Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC), Malicote enrolled in the CoSW’s new Criminal Justice Program in the fall of 2023. The support system at UK played a large part in Malicote’s decision on where to further her education, sharing that her transition from BCTC was smooth and comfortable due to the responsiveness and degree planning provided by the CoSW advisors.
Another support that came right on time, shared Malicote, was the UK Women & Philanthropy Scholarship she received prior to the 2025 school year, during a time of deep grief.
“The scholarship helped me persevere to finish my degree,” Malicote said. “My sister’s death was very hard on me; I missed a large amount of work and school. This scholarship came right on time. It helped me with my tuition and inspired me to keep going.”
Persevering through adversity was the theme of Malicote’s UK experience, navigating grief while also pursuing her dream of working in the criminal justice field.
While at the CoSW, Malicote had the opportunity to participate in a job shadow at the Lexington Police Department (LPD), as well as complete her internship at the LPD.
“I’m excited that the College of Social Work has a partnership with the Lexington Police Department and that UK gives students the opportunity to engage with them and get to know them as the humans that they are, not just cops, because that is probably the most life-changing thing that’s happened to me,” Malicote said.
Following graduation, Malicote will continue her education, enrolling in the Master of Criminal Justice (MSCJ) program at the CoSW, as well as continuing her passion in forensics through workshops and trainings.
By sharing her experience, Malicote hopes it inspires other students, as well as her children, to keep going, regardless of the obstacles in their path. Malicote also shares that scholarships, like the UK Women & Philanthropy Scholarship, make a large impact for students with similar experiences to her.
“When you have students like me who’ve just been given obstacle after obstacle, and then they earn a scholarship, it lights a fire. And it makes you feel recognized, and it gives you that courage to realize, I can really do this. I can really do this,” Malicote said.
With her family in attendance on December 19, Malicote will receive her degree, proving to herself that she can do it and showing her four children the true courage and strength of their mom.
And through it all, Ashley will be there every step of the way.
“She kept me going. Even when losing her would have been the thing that could have taken me out and made me quit. I just hope that my sister knows that I am everything I am because I always wanted to be just like her. I knew that she was proud of me, and I want to continue to make her proud.”
