Julianna Boulden

Student Speaker, May 2025

Boulden, from Richmond, Kentucky, is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in music education from the UK College of Fine Arts. She will deliver the student address at the 9 a.m. Friday, May 9, ceremony.

During her time at UK, Boulden has been an active member of the campus music community, performing with the Wildcat Marching Band and Pep Band (as piccolo section leader), Wind Symphony, Symphony Band and Symphony Orchestra. She also served as a College of Fine Arts Ambassador.

Growing up as the daughter of the late George Boulden — a beloved UK faculty member who served as associate director of UK Bands and director of the Wildcat Marching Band — Boulden says UK has always felt like home, and becoming a student here has “fulfilled a lifelong dream.”

“I’ve formed such special friendships with my fellow classmates and amazing relationships with faculty who I know care about me,” she said. “What more could you ask for? It only makes it harder to say goodbye.”

Boulden’s father died in 2022, just before the start of her sophomore year — a heartbreaking loss for Boulden and her family, and for the university community. She says that writing her commencement speech was both a tribute to his memory and a way to inspire her fellow graduates.

“While I have loved my time here and have experienced the highest of highs, I’ve also experienced some significant lows,” Boulden said, “but I truly believe that each challenge we face is meant to teach us something. I want to show others that if I can come out stronger on the other side of these lows, they can, too. This opportunity is unreal, and I can’t believe that I get the chance to address a class of such driven, hardworking and visionary graduates.”

After graduation, Boulden hopes to work as an elementary music teacher or middle school band director.

“All kids need and deserve a safe place to learn, make mistakes, seek comfort and celebrate their successes, and I want my classroom to be all of those things for each student that walks through my door.”