Commencement speakers reflect on EKU’s encouraging environment

RICHMOND — EKU celebrated more than 2,100 spring graduates at its commencement ceremonies held on May 15-16 at the Baptist Health Arena at Alumni Coliseum. 

“Today marks the end of a chapter on resilience, determination and success, and it also marks the beginning of a new, rewarding chapter in the story of your life,” said EKU President David McFaddin at the commencement ceremonies. “It is my hope for each of you that you leave today prepared to create a life not just of success, but of significance—a life that reflects your values, uplifts others and makes the most of the opportunities ahead.” 

Highlighting their personal journeys at EKU, graduates Meghan Sullivan, Melissa Klonowski, Ashley Smith and Alexander Pyzik each spoke at their respective ceremonies.

After nearly a decade at EKU, Meghan Sullivan reflected on a transformative journey that began in 2016 with a plan shaped by family expectations and evolved into a path defined by self-discovery. Through the support of peers and professors who recognized her potential, she found her true direction. Even after transitioning to online learning from Virginia, her connection to Eastern remained strong, proving that EKU is more than a campus; it’s a lifelong community.

Then, one phone call changed everything for her—offering the opportunity to return to EKU and work in the same parking office where she once served as a student worker. This brought her back to the place that shaped her. 

“And that's what Eastern does—it is a community that figures it out with you. It didn’t just bring me back, but propelled me forward,” she said.

Sullivan graduated with a Master of Public Administration. 

An Alaska-born former military child who moved between seven states, Melissa Klonowski was no stranger to change, but nothing prepared her for the challenges she initially faced in college. After struggling with the pressures of a rigid academic plan and experiencing severe depression, she made the brave decision to prioritize her well-being. Through resilience and reflection, she discovered a career path in speech pathology, transferred to EKU and found both purpose and a renewed sense of self.

“I fell in love with learning again and am extremely passionate about my current field of study. I would not be standing in front of any of you now without the opportunities EKU gave me during my time here,” said Klonowski, who graduated with a degree in communication disorders. “I learned how to be vulnerable about the changes in my life and accept support from others to adapt.”

Ashley Smith overcame academic probation and personal loss to earn dual degrees in criminal justice and biomedical science, raising her GPA from 1.8 to 3.7. Her journey to commencement speaker reflects the resilience and purpose that now fuels her mission to serve underserved communities in Kentucky through healthcare and justice. 

“Through the support of my friends, my family and my mentors that I met along the way, such as Dr. Middleton, Dr. Vance, Dr. Wentzel and Dr. Sweat, I was able to grow and evolve here at EKU,” said Smith, from Danville, Kentucky. “They showed me that love does not have boundaries and is not conditional on failing a test, not getting a job or even getting through college.”

Smith continued, “We will carry forward the lessons of resilience, compassion and perseverance that EKU and our support systems have instilled in us.”

Alexander Pyzik, commencement speaker for EKU’s College of Business, was shaped by the support of both given and found families, from his parents’ unwavering encouragement to the mentors and peers he met at EKU and abroad. His experiences, including a transformative semester in Japan, highlight his deep appreciation for community, culture and the power of education to build lasting legacies.

“The gift of education that we have found at Eastern Kentucky University and our College of Business is not just a gift for us, it is a tool to build legacies in our Kentucky home and abroad,” said Pyzik.

EKU formally conferred 1,817 undergraduate degrees and 580 post-graduate degrees. Four ceremonies were held to celebrate master’s and doctoral graduates from all colleges and graduates from the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences and the College of Education and Applied Human Sciences; the College of Health Sciences and College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; and the College of Business and College of Justice, Safety, and Military Science. 

Of EKU’s Class of 2025, 40 percent are the first in their families to earn a higher education degree. The top degrees awarded include nursing, psychology, criminal justice, general business and communication disorders.