Maria Carolina Burn

Student Speaker, May 2026

Burn, from Downers Grove, Illinois, is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in integrated strategic communication from the UK College of Communication and Information, with minors in business and Spanish. She is also a student in Lewis Honors College. She will deliver the student address at the 2 p.m. Friday, May 8, ceremony.

A student leader with a passion for storytelling, content creation and service, Burn has taken a hands-on approach to building her experience both on and off campus during her time at UK.

“It feels so surreal,” Burn said of graduating. “I remember hearing everyone say, ‘College is going to fly by,’ and I always thought it was just something people say, but they were so right.”

Burn strengthened her skills in content creation and digital media through multiple internships, including work with UK Athletics Sports Video. She later became the social media coordinator for the Association for Women in Sports Media, where she helped elevate the organization’s presence and engagement.

Her college experience also took her abroad to Barcelona, Spain, where she studied at Pompeu Fabra University, adding an international perspective to her academic and professional interests.

In addition to her communications work, Burn has been deeply involved in service through UK 4 Paws for Ability. As a service dog trainer and primary handler, she worked closely with dogs in training and eventually served as the organization’s fundraising assistant, supporting its mission to provide service animals to those in need.

“My time at UK has meant so much to me,” she said. “College shows you your true colors, and how they change and adapt in a new chapter of life. UK taught me the beauty of being a chameleon, showing me the ins and outs of friendships, relationships and everything that comes with the college experience.”

As a UK Commencement speaker, Burn hopes her message encourages her classmates to embrace uncertainty as they begin their next chapter.

“I hope my fellow grads take away that there will always be time,” she said. “There’s time for an extra celebration, time for friends and family, time to find your dream job and time to figure everything out.”

After graduation, Burn plans to explore opportunities in social media and marketing, with long-term goals of working for a sports team, athletic brand or entertainment company.