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Drew Trimble (middle) with two UK students

Senior Student Speaker is Passionate About Life, UK

If passion, heart, and perseverance are necessary elements for succeeding in a given endeavor, University of Kentucky graduating senior Drew Trimble has what it takes, and in great quantity.

Selected to be the Class of 2009's representative to speak to the thousands in attendance at UK's Main Commencement Ceremony at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 9, in Rupp Arena, this Johnson County, Ky. native relishes a challenge.

When Trimble told his mother that he not only intended to attend the Commonwealth's flagship university, he planned on getting involved in campus life and making his mark, she cautioned him that he was now about to be "a small fish in a big pond."  After all, she said, the size of Johnson Central High School pales in comparison to that of UK.

Trimble had attended a Preview Night for high school students in his home region and listened intently to one of UK's student ambassadors talk about what the university is like. Trimble liked what he heard, made a campus visit and fell in love with UK.  At that moment, he made it a goal that he one day would become a student ambassador himself speaking at a future Preview Night, and would also become a student tour guide.  His dream was fulfilled on both counts – Trimble has been a tour guide for UK's Visitor Center since 2006 and he has spoken to prospective students at Preview Nights.

A double major in political science and communication with a 4.0 GPA, Trimble will receive his Bachelor of Arts degree May 9.  And, as part of the University Scholars Program, he is concurrently finishing up his first year of graduate work toward a master's in public administration from UK's highly-regarded Martin School of Public Policy and Administration.

 As for the future, he is strongly leaning toward attending the UK College of Law to round out his education.

Deeply committed to his faith, recent summers have seen Trimble travel to Peru and Panama to do evangelistic missionary work and help with health care clinics.

His involvement on campus includes the University Leadership Summit, serving as a K Book editor, Student Development Council, and his aforementioned role as a UK Ambassador.

Trimble sees great things ahead for the University of Kentucky and for the people of the state, including the citizens of the mountains in Eastern Kentucky.

"I don't buy into the stereotypes which outsiders often use to describe Kentucky and its people," said Trimble.  "The best way to overcome a stereotype is to confront it and beat it.  When UK students go up against their peers from other top schools around the country in academic competitions and win, you don't hear those stereotypical comments anymore."

If you want to be inspired, come to UK's Main Commencement Ceremony and listen to this young man speak about his love for the University of Kentucky and his passion for life.