From Lexington to Leadership: Jasmine Ngo Leaves Lasting Impact at CHS

By Ryan Clark
CHS Communications Director

For Jasmine Ngo, success in the College of Health Sciences has meant more than earning top grades or preparing for a future in healthcare.

It has meant building connections, serving her community and creating opportunities to make a difference long before beginning her professional career.

Today, Ngo will graduate with a degree in Human Health Sciences (from the pre-optometry track) during commencement ceremonies at 2 p.m. at Rupp Arena. The 21-year-old Lexington native leaves campus as an award-winning student leader whose impact has already extended well beyond the classroom.

“I knew I was going to take my science courses no matter what, so I wanted a major that would actually prepare me for what healthcare looks like in practice, not just in a lab or classroom,” Ngo said. “HHS felt like the right fit because it covers aspects of healthcare like interprofessional collaboration and ethics, which are the things that can really shape how a provider interacts with patients and other providers.”

Ngo said that practical, patient-centered approach to healthcare helped define her undergraduate experience.

A standout student academically, Ngo recently received the college’s HHS Academic Excellence Award, recognizing her achievements among a highly accomplished student body.

“It was an incredible honor to be selected for the Academic Excellence award,” she said. “I know firsthand just how many incredible students the College of Health Sciences has, and I know there are many other students who are just as deserving of the award. Ultimately, I am grateful to the faculty and staff at the college that believed in me.”

But Ngo’s impact at UK has stretched far beyond academics.

In 2023, she helped co-found MediKids, a service-based student organization focused on improving the health and wellness of children throughout the Lexington community. Since its creation, the organization has expanded its outreach through health education initiatives, volunteer programs and service projects supporting pediatric patients and local families.

“MediKids is a service-based student organization that focuses on promoting the health and wellness of the youth of Lexington,” Ngo said. “We have expanded our reach in the community by providing interactive health education, supporting pediatric patients, and participating in service activities like hospital volunteering, clothing drives and meal programs.”

Ngo said helping build MediKids became one of the most meaningful parts of her college experience because it allowed her to combine healthcare education with direct community service.

Alongside her work with MediKids, Ngo also served as a Resident Advisor, mentoring students and helping others navigate the same college experience she once entered as a first-year student herself.

“As a Resident Advisor, I’ve had countless conversations with students figuring out their path,” she said. “If there were one piece of advice I could give, it’s to take every opportunity that you can.”

Born and raised in Lexington, Ngo said attending UK always felt natural.

“I have always been a Wildcat,” she said. “Being born in Lexington, it’s hard not to feel a connection to UK.”

Now, after four years of academic achievement, leadership and service, Ngo said walking across the graduation stage represents years of determination and support from her family, including her parents, Lisa and David, and her siblings, Jayden and Jessica.

“Walking across the stage this Friday feels like the culmination of four years of hard work, but honestly, it’s a moment that I have been building toward for a long time,” she said. “I worked for years to get here, and this feels like proof that continuing to push myself was worth it. I’m incredibly grateful to my family and friends, because I truly could not have made it without them.”

Though she is preparing to leave UK, Ngo’s path in healthcare is only beginning. This fall, she will attend The Ohio State University College of Optometry to pursue her Doctor of Optometry degree.

“UK will always hold a special place in my heart,” Ngo said. “But I’m excited for what comes next.”