“I was an entrepreneur before I knew what an entrepreneur was,” Allen said. “In elementary school, I would fold up paper and sell origami – probably not very good origami. In high school I would bake brownies and sell snacks to the students. When COVID hit, I offered homework assistance to other students for an additional stream of income. I didn’t realize that was an entrepreneur mindset, but it was something I really enjoyed.”

As a Central High School student, Allen was selected for the����with the��. The program offers high school students the chance to earn college credits and a direct path to admission to the school.

The stress of adding college coursework to two jobs, high school and navigating COVID restrictions nearly derailed the opportunity. She messaged the instructor that she wanted to quit the course.

“I was in distress. I just wanted to drop this class,” Allen recalled. “I had so much going on. I was a manager at Arby’s and that was all I knew.”

A conversation with Raymond Green, the then-principal at Central and current senior director of undergraduate programs in the College of Business, changed her attitude toward work and education.

“I didn’t know a story of going to college and finding a career. For the first time in my life, someone told me, ‘You have your whole life to work at fast food. This is an opportunity that you wouldn’t want to miss,’” Allen said. “So, I continued on with the course.”

After graduating from high school in 2021, Allen enrolled at UofL and took part in an internship with UofL Campus Dining, which she held for two years.��

“It didn’t feel like working,” Allen said. “I liked putting together events for students. Going from thinking of the promotions or activities and how to decorate and fast forward to being at the event and seeing everyone enjoying it was fulfilling.”

Allen also took advantage of Alternative Service Breaks, travelling to Puerto Rico and Chicago. Most recently, she took a trip to the Black Elk Wilderness and Mount Rushmore through the����and Campus Recreation.

Challenges and support

While Allen enjoyed her classwork and the college experience, mental health challenges threatened her success. Allen experienced several bouts of serious depression, resulting in failing grades and the loss of financial aid. She felt like her life was crumbling around her. Her instructors worked with her and encouraged her to get help at the��. She would find solutions only to experience another setback.

“There were a lot of moments where I didn’t know what the end looked like for me. It got so bad where I genuinely felt like it would be better to not be here anymore,” Allen said. “At one point, I attempted suicide.”

But her support network rallied to help.��

“I had so much support around me. I had support through the school, my friends and my family showed up for me. I have a community through church,” Allen said. “I told myself I would no longer be a victim. I just wanted to take control of my life.”

With help from her UofL instructors and staff and support through her employer, Allen’s financial aid was restored and she got back on track academically.��

This month, Allen graduated from UofL’s College of Business with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, a minor in entrepreneurship and a certificate in sales. She encourages anyone struggling with depression to get help and push through.��

“If I could talk to someone who is in that position I would tell them, ‘Don’t give up. Keep pushing. Keep trying. It’s OK to cry, wipe your tears and get back up. Just don’t give up.’”

A bright future

For her next step, Allen has secured a full-time position at Republic Bank, where she originally worked as an intern.

Kat Roberts, Allen’s director at Republic Bank, praised her growth since joining the bank.

“LaRoya Allen joined Republic Bank as a contact center intern and has since grown into a client experience representative who truly embodies our commitment to exceptional service,” said Roberts, VP and director of contact center client experience for Republic Bank. “She brings a rare combination of professionalism, warmth and genuine care to every interaction. I’ve had the privilege of watching her evolve from supporting behind-the-scenes initiatives to becoming a standout representative. LaRoya’s positive energy and dedication make her not only a valued team member, but a true ambassador of our client experience.”

Allen’s long-range plans include engaging her entrepreneurial spirit through additional education and creating a youth program.

“I do plan on going back to school after a few years of working. I want to focus on building my own business and climbing a ladder in the field that I choose

Those “Tech Sundays,” as they came to be known, helped Martin reach graduation this May at age 81 and helped Martin‑Galijatovic push through the final stretch of an equally demanding doctoral program.

This spring, the mother daughter pair will graduate from the University of Louisville, just one day apart. Martin will receive a bachelor of science in , along with minors in business administration and humanities. Martin‑Galijatovic will earn a doctor of social work from the . She also serves as director of faculty affairs at UofL and part-time faculty at the Kent School.��

Their shared academic journey was unplanned but deeply connected.

Martin‑Galijatovic returned to school first, enrolling in the doctoral program in fall 2022 during a period of major transition for their family. That year, Martin’s husband and Martin‑Galijatovic’s father had died, prompting reflection. With her children grown and out of the house, Martin‑Galijatovic decided it was finally time to pursue the degree.

“I always wanted to do this,” Martin‑Galijatovic said. “It was a very difficult program and difficult from the aspect of it was so long.”��

For Martin, watching her daughter navigate doctoral coursework encouraged her own journey. ��

“We talk a lot and you know, she would say, ‘Oh I’m so busy. I’m just so under pressure and all that.’ And I said, ‘Look, you can do it. You’re a smart girl, you’re going to do it. There’s no question about it, just stick to it.’ And she did! I’m so proud of her.”��

In early 2023, Martin contacted UofL to ask whether returning to school was even possible. She has earned college credit from various universities over the years but never completed the path for a full degree.��

The answer was yes.

With the help of academic advisors, Martin learned she needed only four additional courses to graduate. She completed most of them online, all except for one class on campus where Martin‑Galijatovic, whose office was nearby, would meet her in the parking garage and walk her to class.

“I didn’t know where to go and she would show me,” Martin said. “Once I learned I could do it myself, I knew if I needed anything she was here to help me.”��

As Martin‑Galijatovic balanced full‑time work, leadership responsibilities and the final stages of her doctoral research, the motivation flowed both ways. When her energy faltered, she thought of her mother.

“Universities are so different than they were back even when I went to undergrad,” she said. “So, I just kept thinking about my mom, if she can do this at the age of 81 and graduate, I certainly at the age of 57 can finish this program.”��

Martin‑Galijatovic’s hooding ceremony is scheduled for May 8 at the L&N Arena, followed by Martin’s commencement May 9 at the KFC Yum! Center. With leading into Mother’s Day, the achievements have blended into a large family celebration.��

For both Susan and Ramie, the experience affirmed something they now say with certainty: At UofL, students of any age, at any stage of life, can succeed.

“We just went through it together,” Martin said.

And together, they will celebrate the finish line they crossed side by side.��

More than 2,000 students who applied for degrees and certificates are expected to participate in commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 9, at the KFC Yum! Center, with two separate sessions at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Ready will speak at both ceremonies.

In a conversation with UofL News leading up to commencement, Ready reflected on his journey as a first-generation student, the experiences at UofL that shaped him and why returning as commencement speaker is especially meaningful.

UofL News: You’ve previously stated that stepping onto UofL’s campus was the moment you felt like you had “made it” as the first in your family to go to college. What did the UofL represent to you then, and what does it mean to return now as the commencement speaker?

Ready: As a first-generation college student, just getting there felt significant. I didn’t come with some big, polished vision of what my career would be. I just knew that being on campus meant that I had an opportunity that my family and I had worked really hard for and I wanted to make the most of it.

Coming back now as commencement speaker is really special because my time at UofL was truly transformative for me as I know it is for all the students. Graduation is one of those moments where you’re proud of what you’ve done, but you’re also standing right at the edge of a lot of unknowns and a lot of opportunity. To be invited back to be a part of that moment with all of these students is truly an honor.

UofL News: As a first-generation college student, how did your time at UofL shape your confidence and expand your sense of what was possible?

Ready: Confidence didn’t come from walking onto campus already knowing I belonged. In fact, I probably had a bit of imposter syndrome and wasn’t sure if I would make it. But little by little, I learned that I could handle more than I thought and I figured out that there were plenty of other people that were figuring it out as they went just like me.

I came from a family that valued hard work deeply. My parents encouraged me to do my best, but there wasn’t a roadmap for what a career like mine could look like. Silicon Valley and the tech world weren’t part of the environment I grew up in – I didn’t even know how to use a computer when I arrived on campus.

That’s one reason UofL mattered so much. It opened the aperture on what was possible and exposed me to people and opportunities that I couldn’t have imagined before. I also benefited from people who gave me nudges in the right direction – professors and mentors who saw something in me and challenged me to dream bigger. One professor, in particular, encouraged me to consider Harvard Business School, and that’s a great example of how important it is to have someone help you imagine a future you might not have imagined for yourself. And, sometimes all it takes is one person who sees something in you before you fully see it in yourself.

UofL News: Looking back, you’ve said some of the hardest moments in your life became the most character-building. Did you have any of those experiences during your time at UofL?

Ready: Absolutely. I think for a lot of first-generation students, one of the hardest parts of college is that you’re not just learning the material – you’re also learning the environment. You’re figuring out how to navigate a world that may feel very foreign, and you’re often doing that without the benefit of a family playbook for how college works. That can be challenging, but it can also be incredibly character-building.

While I was at UofL, I was working two or three jobs at a time along with fulltime coursework because I was terrified of taking on debt. There was a stretch where I would work second shift at a gas station or a call center depending on the night and then go work from midnight to 4 a.m. sorting packages at UPS.�� I had an 8 a.m. class – so, I’d sleep a few hours in my car on campus to save time from driving back to my apartment that was 45 minutes away and I’d shower at the gym at the student center.��

That felt really hard at the time but it actually gave me the motivation to take the leap with the first startup I was a part of. I wasn’t thinking I was going to be an entrepreneur, I was just thinking I could have one job instead of three. Later, it would be one of the best examples for me of how the toughest moments can also lead to growth that redefines what’s possible.

UofL News: We hear your connection to UofL is also personal – you met your spouse, Lucy, during your time here. How did that happen, and what memories from those days do you both still hold onto?

Ready: We met in high school but didn’t start dating until freshman year here at UofL. Lucy was a biology major – so we were actually on opposite sides of campus and neither of us realized that the other was going to college here. We randomly bumped into each other outside the student center one day and reconnected over how we were each working through the transition to college.��

We went to UofL in a time before cell phones were popular and we were on completely different schedules. We left notes on each other’s cars to communicate. I still have several of the notes she left for me. She’d often leave a few words of encouragement for me in those notes and her encouragement was a big part of what kept me going, especially in the toughest moments.

That chance encounter was certainly one of the most consequential of my life. We’ve now been together for nearly 30 years, and she’s been an amazing partner through all of life’s journeys. I don’t think any of it would have been possible without her.

UofL News: Many graduates today are stepping into a world that feels uncertain, whether that’s with AI, geopolitical tensions or the ever-changing job market. What advice would you give them about taking risks and moving forward when the path ahead isn’t clear?

Ready: It’s true that graduates today are entering a world that can feel uncertain. But in a lot of ways, uncertainty has always been part of any meaningful next step. The difference now is the pace of change, especially with AI and how quickly industries are evolving.

My advice is not to wait for the path ahead to become perfectly clear, because it rarely does. Instead, focus on building the skills and mindset that help you adapt. One of the most important things I’ve learned is that learning itself is a skill. The people who thrive are not the ones who have everything figured out on day one – they’re the ones who stay curious, keep growing and are willing to take thoughtful risks.

That’s especially true with AI. I think of AI as a tool, not a replacement for people – more in the passenger seat than the driver’s seat. Over time, it’s going to become table stakes for almost every job, much like email or the internet did for earlier generations. The key is not to fear it, but to learn how to use it well and responsibly.

All ceremonies will be broadcast live at��. For more information on commencement, visit the .

UofL Health, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and is governed by an independent board of directors. The agreement solidifies UofL/ULH roles as an integrated academic health system, combining UofL’s medical education and research with UofL Health’s clinical services (hospitals, clinics) to train future providers, advance medicine and offer comprehensive care. It also ensures that UofL’s Health Sciences Center serves as the academic arm, fostering research and education in medicine, dentistry and nursing, while UofL Health provides advanced patient care and expands access statewide through this academic integration.

Clubhouse Apartments Renovation Project

The Finance Committee approved a capital renovation project to the Clubhouse Apartments located on Crittenden Drive near Belknap Campus. The university purchased the property in July 2025 for $9.75 million. Assessment by architecture and engineering firm Luckett & Farley determined a need for significant renovations to the buildings on the property due to poor initial construction and lack of maintenance prior to the university’s purchase of the property.

The total cost of the renovation is estimated not to exceed $75 million. The committee also approved a financing plan for the project, which is scheduled to begin January 2026. Anticipated completion dates are August 2027 for two of the buildings and August 2028 for the third building.

Strategic Plan 2026-2030��Update

President Gerry Bradley and Executive Vice President and University Provost Katie Cardarelli submitted the latest draft of the University of Louisville’s�� to the board for review.

According to Bradley, this is the university’s most comprehensive strategic plan, which includes strategic priorities, goals, specific strategies to reach those goals as well as revisions to the university’s mission, vision and core values.

Initial drafts of the plan have been shared with trustees as well as university faculty, staff, students and other stakeholders since May 2025. Each new draft was developed based on constituency feedback. To further ensure transparency, Bradley, Cardarelli and strategic plan co-chairs gave plan updates to the UofL community at Town Halls and throughout the year.

Pending the board’s approval, the plan will be implemented in January. Then, the university’s academic programs and operating units will have until May 2026 to begin incorporating the plan’s goals and action items into their own strategic initiatives.

Other Board of Trustees Actions

As legally mandated by the 2025 Regular Session Kentucky Senate , the board approved the Combating Antisemitism policy, which prohibits all forms of bias, discrimination and harassment, including Antisemitism. All such complaints will be investigated by the Office of Legal Compliance and Investigations in accordance with the existing university policy on .

The board also approved the December degree and certificate candidates. UofL’s newest alumni will be celebrated at the .

The winners were approved by the Academic and Student Affairs Committee. Award winners in the categories of Music Composition, World Order, Psychology��and Religion were announced in early December 2025.

The next meeting of the UofL Board of Trustees is Jan. 22, 2026. Meeting minutes, dates and other information are available on the .��

President Gerry Bradley will preside at the event.

Non-traditional student Maria Rowland, graduating with her bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and learning from the College of ������Ƶ and Human Development, will serve as the student speaker.��

Over 980 degrees and certificates were conferred for Summer 2025 and an anticipated 1,526 will be conferred for Fall 2025.����

The ceremony will be broadcast live at��.

In addition to commencement at KFC Yum! Center, the UofL Graduate School will host a doctoral hooding and graduation ceremony at 2 p.m. on the same day. Seventy-four graduates are expected at the ceremony, which will be on Belknap Campus in the Swain Student Activities Center Ballroom, second floor.

Follow��#UofLGrads2025��on social media for updates. For more information, visit��.

But what do all those cords and hoods and tassels mean? It’s time for a graduation fit check to discover the history and symbolism behind commencement regalia.

Gowns and hoods

Many historians believe that graduation gowns and hoods date back to medieval times from the long garments worn by clerical scholars. There are many reasons for the design including showing their status and possibly keeping them warm in the stone, unheated buildings in which they lived and conducted their studies. Some say the hoods may have helped to keep their shaven heads warm as well.

The tradition of wearing the hood hanging down the back is said to be derived from medieval monks who were solicitors in the King’s Court and used the bag-like hanging hood as a “contribution bowl” for clients and well-wishers. Early scholars used the hood to collect the fees for lectures.

For advanced degrees, the hood has remained part of the commencement costume but now is worn on the shoulders. And it’s not just graduates who get in on the gown game – academic deans and other officers of the university wear the gowns and hoods of the various institutions from which they received their doctoral degrees during official commencement ceremonies.

Caps and tassels

The cap originated as a hood but evolved throughout the centuries, becoming a skull cap with a square board atop somewhere around the 1700s. The reason for the flat square design remains unknown, but some theorize it may represent the historic square courtyard at Oxford school in England or might allude to the shape of a book being carried on the head. The cap is often called a mortarboard cap, getting its name from the flat tool brick layers used to lay mortar.��

The tassels came in during the late 1800s. Before this standardization, some caps were topped with pom-poms. Though the exact reasoning for all these designs remains a mystery, the cap and tassel has long served as the standard for commencement attire.��

Modern-day graduates have the United States Naval Academy’s graduating class of 1912 to thank for starting the tradition of throwing caps into the air upon the official announcement of graduation during the ceremony. The naval graduates had just earned the right to wear officer hats and are said to have spontaneously and dramatically tossed aside the midshipman hats they were wearing. News of the toss spread to schools across the country and overseas, sparking a ritual continued to this day, even despite later codes trying to prohibit it.

Colors and cords��

The distinctive shade of each tassel represents the academic field of study for graduates. From salmon pink for public health graduates to lemon yellow for those majoring in library science, there are a rainbow of colors represented on graduation day. Even drab –��a light brown shade representing business majors –��gets to shine.��

On hoods, degrees are signified by the colors of the binding on the hood piece around the neck such as purple for law or kelly green for medicine. For all UofL doctoral and master’s graduates, advanced degrees are signified by the cardinal red and black lining of the hood.

The various color cords and stoles draped around graduates’ necks also have meaning, representing academic honors or membership in student organizations. Students graduating with Summa Cum Laude honors, for example, get to wear red and gold cords.��

Commencement is a distinguishing day in a student’s academic journey. As unusual as the attire may be, perhaps it is fitting to wear such a singular outfit for a singular day, honoring not only thousands of years of scholarly history but also one’s own years of personal growth.

Information compiled from the university commencement program and archival sources

More than 2,000 of the approximately 3,199 University of Louisville students who applied for degrees and certificates have indicated they will participate in�� ceremonies.

Student speaker Austin Browner, graduating from the , will address the morning ceremony, while Griffin Gould, graduating from the, will speak at the afternoon ceremony.

The����also will host a doctoral hooding and graduation ceremony for more than 90 graduates on Friday, May 9 at 2 p.m. at the

All of these ceremonies will be broadcast live at��.

In addition,����will hold a commissioning ceremony on Friday, May 9, at 3 p.m. in Stickler Hall Room 101. Seven��cadets will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Air Force. Earlier in the day,��, Cardinal Battalion, will hold its commissioning at 9 a.m. in the SAC Ballroom. About a dozen cadets will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army.

Follow��#UofLGrads2025��on social media for updates.

For more information, visit��.

“I love the process of learning a language. One word or grammatical structure unlocks a whole array of thoughts and feelings that can be expressed,” he said.��

An aspiring physician, Amirneni believes an understanding of multiple languages and cultures will help him connect with a diverse range of patients, whether they speak Spanish, Hindi or his native language, Telugu, spoken in southern India.

Amirneni’s desire to provide compassionate medical care for people from different cultures drove him to complete his Bachelor of Arts in both Biology and Spanish from��.��

Originally from Aldie, VA, Amirneni solidified the language skills he studied at UofL through study abroad programs in Mexico and India, as well as a medical Spanish immersion program in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His experience in a Spanish-speaking hospital environment while in Buenos Aires provided him with practical knowledge that will particularly apply to the medical field.

“Being in a hospital where people spoke only Spanish was crucial for understanding how words are used in real life.��Shadowing in another language would only be possible while abroad,”��Amirneni said.��

The real-life application of his language skills in a medical setting allowed him to grasp medical terms and colloquial language that are essential for effective patient care. The chance to observe firsthand the benefits of public health initiatives in Buenos Aires also inspired Amirneni to pursue public health as well as medicine.��

“Being part of Argentina’s public health care system cemented my desire to work on health policy,”��he said.��

As a result, Amirneni plans to earn a dual medical doctor and master of public health degree (MD/MPH) at the University of Miami. In fact, part of the reason he chose Miami was because of the city’s large and diverse population, which will offer additional immersive experience with multiple languages and cultures.

While at UofL, Amirneni shared his expertise in study abroad programs with other UofL students by working as a peer adviser in the��. He also provided academic support for students in biology and chemistry as a structured learning assistant at��.��

“It’s great to connect with younger students and converting complicated topics into an understandable form,” he said.��

He also worked as a substitute teacher for JCPS, where his favorite classes to teach were English as a Second Language. He said the Spanish-speaking students were always excited to chat with him in their own language.

In recognition of his academic excellence, campus activities and community service, Amirneni was one of two seniors who received the 2025 Cardinal Award from the Student Activities Board.��

.��

Five years apart, the siblings from northwest Illinois both found their way to the Louisville campus for their collegiate careers. Alex, who earned a biology degree from the in 2020, spent time working as an EMT before beginning medical school in the fall of 2021 through the U.S. Navy. His positive experience in Louisville played a significant role in Kaitlyn’s college decision. She started in the in the fall of 2021.

“I applied to only four colleges, all out of state. I applied to UofL because Alex said I should and they offered me the most financial aid,” Kaitlyn said. “Also, I knew I wanted to go to engineering school and the co-op program here at UofL is awesome. It made college much more affordable, and I gained a lot of experience from it.”

Alex also helped Kaitlyn acclimate to campus life, introducing her to mentors and groups such as the Both siblings were actively involved during their time at the university.

“One of the beautiful things about UofL is that it’s large but it’s also small. We have all the resources of that any large university has but if you are feeling overwhelmed there is always that safety net you can find,” Alex said. ����

A shared passion for sports further cemented their bond and appeal to Louisville.

“Sports are a big part of my life and Alex’s life, and it’s something we bond over,” Kaitlyn said. “Whether it’s a football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, or any Louisville sporting event, we have a great time.”

She fondly recalled their playful, and sometimes contentious, backyard games growing up.

“Whenever Alex and I would play catch, he would love to throw a curveball without telling me and usually hit me in the shins, the cause of many arguments,” she said.

While Kaitlyn will remain in Louisville to begin her career with C&I Engineering after graduation, Alex will head to the east coast for his residency. Adding to an already significant May, Alex will also be celebrating his wedding the weekend following graduation.

Even as their journeys branch out after graduation, the shared UofL experience will undoubtedly remain a heartwarming chapter in the Piekarczyk sibling narrative.

“(Kaitlyn) coming to UofL definitely made a big difference that we could get a lot closer,” said Alex.

Watch the video:

UofL President Kim Schatzel will preside at the event and Melissa Johnson, a graduate student from the School of Public Health and Information Sciences, and outstanding Air Force leader, will be the student speaker.

The ceremony will be broadcast live at��.

This year’s commencement will feature a with a walk-out song set to “Joker and the Thief,” a popular tune already familiar to Cardinal fans from athletic events. The Student Government Association initiative was created by students, for students and��is a collective way for graduates to mark their transition from student to alumnus.

In addition, 50 graduates are expected to attend the ‘s doctoral hooding and graduation ceremony at 2 p.m. on the same day. The ceremony will be held on the Belknap Campus in the Swain Student Activities Center Ballroom, second floor. Schatzel will preside.

For more information, visit��.