UC Blue Ash celebrates top students and recognizes Honor Student of the Year
The University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College recently hosted a special event that celebrated students for exceptional achievements during the 2025-26 academic year. The honorees included academic award winners, student engagement award winners, Latin Honors graduates, and the 2026 UC Blue Ash College Honor Student of the Year.
The annual Celebrating the Best event was held on April 30 on the UC Blue Ash campus. It featured a program where students were recognized with award certificates and honor cords (for Latin Honors graduates) and was followed by a reception that included food, music, a photo booth, and selfie stations. The UC Bearcat also made an appearance and was dressed for the occasion in his red and black tuxedo.
Honor Student of the Year
2026 Honor Student of the Year Shelby Keister gave an inspiring speech about stepping outside your comfort zone to help you grow personally and pursue your goals.
Shelby Keister was honored as the 2026 Honor Student of the Year after being selected among the 18 candidates for the award. Keister gave an inspiring speech at Celebrating the Best about taking risks and stepping out of your comfort zone. She shared examples of how she has done this, and how it helped her find an encouraging and collaborative community at UC Blue Ash where she has thrived as a student.
Keister said she took a little bit of a leap of faith attending UC Blue Ash after being accepted at other schools because the liked the welcoming environment. “I know that I made the right choice because I was able to find a community of designers like me and I have had great professors who pushed me to grow and expand my skills and who have become a support system I can always rely on. Most importantly, I now have so many opportunities for my future that I never thought possible.”
Keister is studying applied graphic communication and will continue her education in the digital media collaborative program at UC’s College of Arts & Sciences. She was recognized for her excellence in the classroom and studio, her work as a peer mentor to other students, and her strong performance as a graphic design intern in the UC Blue Ash Marketing & Communications Office. UC Blue Ash Dean Robin Lightner surprised Keister with the news about being named Honor Student of the Year and the video was shared across the college’s social media sites. You can see it on the UC Blue Ash YouTube page.
Recognizing Excellence in Academics and Leadership
At the Celebrating the Best reception, students could pose for photos with the Bearcat, as well as their family and friends.
Elizabeth Luong also spoke at Celebrating the Best as a representative of the Student Engagement Award recipients. Luong, who is studying radiologic imaging technology, came to UC Blue Ash as a shy freshman but has grown into a respected campus leader who has served as a student orientation leader and student ambassador.
More than 80 UC Blue Ash students received an award for excellence in their academic program, while several more were recognized for completing the UC Blue Ash Honors program. Students were also honored for their service to the college and their leadership on campus. This group included student ambassadors, student government officers, students who completed an internship or co-op, and those who served in a leadership role in a student organization.
A total of 153 UC Blue Ash students were also celebrated for graduating with Latin Honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude), indicating that they maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.6 or higher out of a 4.0 scale. All of the honorees for the Celebrating the Best event are featured on a dedicated page on the college website.
UC Blue Ash serves over 5,000 students through more than 50 academic programs. Each year, an average of 700 UC Blue Ash students transition to the UC Uptown campus to complete their bachelor’s degree or attend graduate school. Statistics show they are well prepared for this next step – they have a combined GPA of 3.2 in their first year after making the transition.
Featured photo: UC Blue Ash student ambassador Elizabeth Luong spoke at Celebrating the Best on behalf of the Student Engagement Award recipients.
About UC Blue Ash College
UC Blue Ash College is a regional college of the University of Cincinnati. It combines the resources and academic excellence of UC with low tuition, personal attention and a welcoming campus community that is nationally recognized for advancing student success. The college is located on a scenic 135-acre wooded campus in the heart of Blue Ash, Ohio. To learn more, visit us online, call 513-558-9495, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X and Instagram.
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