A former Hartselle High School graduate will be the commencement speaker for her graduation from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Ashley Boggs is a 2014 Hartselle High graduate, and will be speaking at her graduation in December.

Kim Boggs is Ashley’s mother, and said she was surprised and excited when she learned her daughter would be the commencement speaker. “It is not a question of whether she is capable of it, she has always been our smarty pants. She is very intelligent, I guess you dont call a college graduate smarty pants anymore. She has always been a leader, we have seen that in her. It still has not really sunk in that she is going to speak, even when I got the letter from the president saying my daughter is speaking. I think my face is going to hurt for a month from grinning so big,” Kim said.

Kim said her daughter underwent an extensive interviewing process after being nominated to be the speaker. After the interviews, the president of the university  made the final decision. “She interviewed in front of a panel and from that panel the president of UAB picked the one person that is going to speak at graduation and he selected her. I was blown away,” Kim said.

Ashley will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering. During her time at UAB she has been actively involved in her school and in the community. Ashley is president of the engineering honors society at UAB, and has been working with a local dental implant company to gain experience. She also volunteers with YMCA and is involved with her church. Kim attributes her involvement to her time at Hartselle High School.  “Her teachers in high school that had her writing stuff and giving speeches and problem solving and her being an ambassador has helped her to problem solve on her on and get out there in the community at UAB,” Kim said.

Ashley has also been part of the science and technology honors program, and has made it to the presidential honors list and the engineering dean’s list. Kim said that largely is due to the preparation that she received in high school. “When she was entered her first year of college she began as a second semester freshmen. She went in already a semester ahead. I did see some of her teachers after I found out about this, and I said I want to thank you because of all you did to help her prepare for college. She is able to step up and speak at college graduation because they see leadership in her,” Kim said.

To make it even more special, Ashley will be graduating on her father’s birthday. Kim said that Ashley announced the special news to her father herself, and that they will be sitting in the president’s box during graduation as a special benefit. “That’s one of the perks. She gets to pick 25 of her family and friends to sit in the president’s box. We have personalized invitations from the president to sit in the box. We are just like blown away. It is unreal,” Kim said.