USU EASTERN COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
April 30, 2022
ACADEMIC HERALDRY The history of academic heraldry reaches back into the early days of the university. A statute of 1321 required that all “Doctors, Licentiates and Bachelors” of the University of Columbia wear gowns. When American colleges and universities decided to adopt some suitable system of academic apparel, it seemed best to agree on one that all might follow. From a conference of various institutions’ board representatives held at Columbia University in 1895 came a code of academic dress for higher learning institutions in the United States, which most adopted.
GOWNS The academic gown for the bachelor’s degree has pointed sleeves and is designed to be worn closed. Master’s degree gowns have an oblong sleeve, open at the wrist. The sleeve base hangs down in the traditional manner. The rear part of its oblong shape is square cut, and the front part has an arc cut away. It is designed this way so it can be worn open or closed. The gown for the doctoral degree has bell-shaped sleeves and may be worn open or closed.
COLORS For all academic purposes, including trimmings of doctoral gowns, edging of hoods and tassels of caps, the colors associated with the different academic disciplines are as follows: • • • • • •
Agriculture, Maize Arts, Brown Business, Drab Education and Human Services, Light Blue Engineering, Orange Humanities and Social Sciences, White
• • • • •
Natural Resources, Russet Science, Gold-Yellow School of Graduate Studies, Black Associate Degrees, Black Integrated Studies, Black
HOODS Academic hoods are worn by recipients of advanced degrees. Master’s degree hoods are three-and-one-half feet in length and lined with the official color(s) of the college or university conferring the degree, which at Utah State University are navy blue and white, displayed in the heraldic chevron. The doctoral hood consists of a larger and longer assemblage of institutional color draped over the recipient’s shoulders, falling well down the back. The binding or edging of the hoods is of velvet or velveteen, three inches wide for the Master’s degree and five inches wide for the doctoral degree.
CAPS Academic caps come in two forms: the traditional mortarboard (from Oxford) or square cap, and a soft cap that resembles an oversized beret (from Cambridge). The mortarboard used by Utah State University is worn with a tassel.
ACADEMIC PROCESSION The commencement procession is composed of three divisions: (1) color guard, University President, Utah Board of Higher Education members, Board of Trustees, administrative officers and special guests; (2) the faculty; and (3) candidates for degrees.
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY EASTERN COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY PROCESSIONAL PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS U.S. Army 116th Engineer Company
NATIONAL ANTHEM Benjamin A. Jones
WELCOME Greg Dart Associate Vice President, USU Eastern
STUDENT SPEAKERS Ella Bradley – Valedictorian Bryson Pugh – Student Body President
INTRODUCTION OF COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER Greg Dart Associate Vice President, USU Eastern
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER Michael Mower Senior Advisor to Governor Spencer Cox
INTRODUCTION OF VAL J. HALAMANDARIS CARING AWARD RECIPIENT Greg Dart Associate Vice President, USU Eastern
MUSICAL SELECTION “Wide Open Spaces” Composed by Sarah Quartel – USU Eastern Concert Choir
CONFERRING OF DEGREES Noelle E. Cockett President
PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS Greg Dart Associate Vice President, USU Eastern
GREETING TO GRADUATES Kim Larson Executive Director, USU Alumni Association
RECESSIONAL –1–
MICHAEL MOWER SENIOR ADVISOR TO GOVERNOR SPENCER COX Commencement Speaker Mike Mower serves as a Senior Advisor to Utah Governor Spencer Cox. Prior to this, Mower held other positions in the Utah Governor’s Office including time as Deputy Chief of Staff to both Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. and Gary R. Herbert. He is currently the longest serving senior staff member of any governor’s office in the nation. In his role, he oversees Community and Intergovernmental Relations for Gov. Cox and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson. Mower has worked for one mayor, two U.S. Congressmen, and three Utah Governors. Mower has served on many boards and commissions including the Utah Bar Association, the Utah Prison Relocation Commission, the Utah Valley University Board of Trustees, the S. J. Quinney College of Law at University of Utah Alumni Association, the Provo-Orem Chamber of Commerce, the Truth Initiative, and the J. Reuben Clark, Jr. Farm and Homestead Advisory Board. Mower was raised in the incredible town of Ferron, Utah. He worked milking cows for Lemon’s Dairy and served as Student body President of Emery County High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University and his Juris Doctor degree from the S. J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah. He is married to Liz Smith Mower and they are the parents of seven children.
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ELLA BRADLEY VALEDICTORIAN Student Speaker
A key member of the USU Eastern women’s basketball team, Ella joined USU Eastern in Fall of 2020. Born in London, England, Ella spent her first 5 years living in north London where she started her Montessori schooling journey. When her parents returned to New Zealand, Ella moved from a city of 9 million to the small town of Cambridge in the North Island. Her love of sports quickly became apparent in the outdoor- and sports-mad country. She played several sports competitively through secondary school and won numerous awards and national titles prior to leaving school. Her love of basketball began at St Peter’s Cambridge, a private Anglican secondary school where the head coach was ex New Zealand Tall Fern and two-time Olympian, Leanne Walker. As a New Zealand age group representative, Ella played basketball in Australia, India, Malaysia, Greece, and Belarus. As well as her sporting successes, Ella achieved academic honors and became a school prefect, graduating high school in 2019. An opportunity to continue with her basketball and academic goals became available at USUE, and she began her Associate of Science degree looking to continue her studies in chemistry, biology, and calculus. After a successful first year despite the Covid pandemic, Ella returned to complete her degree and has achieved a GPA of 4.0 and a 98th-percentile result across all colleges in her ACS final exam in the fall for Chemistry. Ella attributes her success to her lecturers and coaches allowing her to balance her time between the classroom and court.
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MADISON BENNETT
SALUTATORIAN
Madison Bennett, the daughter of Ray and Michelle Bennett, grew up in Aurora, Utah and graduated with a 4.0 GPA from North Sevier High School with the class of 2020. During high school, Madison was actively involved in student government, Rho Kappa, national honor society, volleyball, softball, drill team and track. Madison enjoys spending her time hunting, snowboarding, boating, camping and being with her family and friends. Madison has a passion for service and helping others which helped her to be accepted as a HOBY Utah Ambassador her sophomore year, and she has gone back as a staff member ever since. A HOBY Leadership Scholarship helped lead Madison to USU Eastern where she has obtained her associate degree in General Studies and plans to graduate with her bachelor’s degree next spring where she is majoring in psychology and minoring in criminal justice. During her time at USU Eastern, Madison has worked as an Assistant to the Director of Operations and has loved the opportunity to be involved in campus operations and getting to work with a variety of people on this campus. After her time here at USU Eastern, Madison plans to continue her education by attending graduate school or a law program where she strives to make her career out of helping children. Madison loves the atmosphere at USU Eastern and is thankful for the opportunity to be this year’s salutatorian.
BRYSON PUGH
STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT Student Speaker
Bryson is a current sophomore at Utah State University Eastern. Raised in the small town of Bluebell, Utah, he’s the seventh of his siblings to attend USU Eastern. During Bryson’s freshman year, he immediately went to work in the service of his fellow students and community. He got involved as the Vice President of the Serving Utah Network (SUN) Center, where he partnered with the campus community to plan and execute service projects. Still in his first year of college, he ran for and was elected President of the Eastern Utah Student Association (EUSA). As EUSA President, Bryson has supported USU Eastern’s student events, organizations, and community college athletic teams. He’s advanced initiatives related to mental health, safety, and equity on his campus. He set a productive precedent of collaboration with USU student leaders from around the state and meaningfully contributed to the Utah State University Student Association (USUSA), Statewide Executive Council and Utah Student Association (committee of Utah student body presidents). He has strongly advocated for and elevated concerns of our statewide students and assisted in optimizing many USUSA policies. Bryson’s worked diligently to unify all USU students across the state. Bryson is studying biology and plans to become a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. He loves rural communities, and he hopes to return to his hometown and expand their accessible medical resources. –4–
STEVIE HANNA
VAL J. HALAMANDARIS AWARD
Stevie is a resident of Price and has been for the last twenty years. She has always had a love for service and caring for others. During high school she was a member of the Carbon High Drill Team where she participated in many service events. A few projects Stevie was involved with were cleaning out mud and water from the houses in Wellington after the 2017 floods, Christmas caroling at nursing homes, and participating in the Carbon Day of Caring, where the community comes together to clean up the trash around the community. Once Stevie advanced into her college years, she was a member of the SUN Center here at USU Eastern for two years. The SUN Center did too many service projects throughout each school year to count, but her favorite was always helping out at Kiwanis Kid’s Day. She has worked as a CNA at a retirement home for the last year. Stevie loves every moment taking care of her residents. Stevie developed a love for the healthcare profession ever since taking the CNA course in 2019. This year, Stevie was accepted into the Nursing PN program to continue her education and plans to advance into the ADN program next year. She has always had a love for caring for others and nursing was a perfect fit. She is so thankful for her experiences at USU Eastern and everyone who has helped her along the way.
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2022 CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION Names listed in this program do not constitute graduation.
CERTIFICATE LAW & SOCIETY AREA STUDIES
Alexandria Atwood++ Braelee Bergon
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION ACCOUNTING PRACTICES
DIESEL MECHANICS
Carlie Bennett Barnell Davis++ Lucinda Hansen
Jared Crank Douglas Denison Chad Rowley
APPRENTICE ELECTRICIAN
ENGINEERING DRAFTING & DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
Jaden Defa++ Dakota Lantz Julian Montoya
Braxton Wright
IT SUPPORT & WEB DEVELOPMENT
AUTOMATED MANUFACTURING James McKendrick++
Shane Madsen Christopher McNeil
AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY
MEDICAL ASSISTING
James Edwards Michael Yazzie
Jordan Lupo++ Sayer Nelson++ Janice Peterson Mackenzi Young
COSMETOLOGY Ashlyn Alger++ Aspynn Anderson+ Brooklyn Booth++ Indie Gardner+ Tara Gonzales Araya Jacobsen Angellina Keefer+ Mia McCourt Molly Miller Hailee Pett Heidi Smith Bailey Tucker
PHARMACY TECHNICIAN Cheyenne Brinkerhoff
PRACTICAL NURSING Danyesa Alford Melissa Birch+ Regan Bossow+ Tayln Burnside Perla Cisneros++ Elizabeth Dove+ Shelby Gnagy Stevie Hanna++ Emily Holt++ –6–
Caitlin Iverson++ Alyssa Lemere++ Jennifer Martinez+ Jorge Martinez-Hernandez Merlinda Molinar+ D’Ali Nenna Helen Porta+ Josie Ramstetter+ Chapel Taylor-Olsen++ Rajens Wilson+
UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS DRONES Heather Barstow++ Brad Duncan++
WELDING Jacob Adair Ty Anderson Gage Atkin WELDING Jordan Packer Jacob Adair Steven Powell Ty Anderson Shawn Ramsey Gage Atkin Kagen Rhodes+ Jordan Packer Mattias Schlag Steven Powell Jason Smart Shawn Ramsey Connor Tait Kagen Rhodes+ Mattias Schlag Jason Smart Connor Tait
CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT Cheyenne Brinkerfhoff Elece Burr++ Olivia Decker++ Jordan Lupo++ Janice Petersen Gracie Powell++ Mackenzi Young
COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S LICENSE Francisco Alvarado Draydon Balone Sandra Black Angela Bloom Seth Christiansen Beau Cook+ Ruben Cordova Ladd Coyne Jonathan Damron Laythan Hansen Dallas Howa++ Michael Jenks+ Koy Jensen Lyndsey Jensen
Stockton Jensen Kaejha Johnson++ Kayden Ledbetter Kayden Mitchell Jared Murray Timothy Muth++ Ashley Pruitt+ Tracy Reid Thomas Robinson Eric Snow Bryan Sprague Rjay Stucki Matthew Thatcher Chaz Wood
DIGITAL DESIGN Kamryn Alley Thomas Koerner+ Christopher McNeil
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN Misty Adair Destinee Andrews++
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HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR
Brinttany Walls Bralin Wilde
Samuel Hedrick++ Aaron Mecham+ Lane Moosman Timothy Muth++ Thomas Robinson
PHLEBOTOMY Elece Burr++ Shaylee Grange++ Jordan Lupo++ Ericka Morris Sayer Nelson++ Janice Peterson Gracee Powell+ Delanie Young Mackenzi Young
NAIL TECHNICIAN Abbie Christensen Shayley Cartwright Shyanne Jensen Lexi Martinez Katie Palmer Bailey Tucker
ASSOCIATE DEGREES PROVOST’S OFFICE Francis D. Galey Executive Vice President and Provost ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE – COSMETOLOGY Brooklyn Booth++ Araya Jacobsen Angellina Keefer+ Mia McCourt Molly Miller Hailee Pett Heidi Smith Bailey Tucker
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE – DIESEL MECHANICS Jared Crank
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE – GENERAL TECHNOLOGY Sabrina Van Wagoner
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE – IT SUPPORT & WEB DEVELOPMENT Christopher McNeil
ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE – CRIMINAL JUSTICE Shawn Addley+ Stacy Addley+ Ellicia Alcon Alexandria Atwood+ Michael Bejarano Kayley Eaton Krystle Hyatt Tiffani Hutchens++ Kallie James++ Andres Guerrero Morales T’Ann Passarella+ Abygale Wilkinson
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ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE – REGISTERED NURSING Jesse Anderson++ John Barnett++ Dalia Batioja++ Cyene Bigelow+ Steven Cardwell Lizabeth Rodriguez Celestino Darla Chaves+ Lexi Chynoweth+ Dansie Hardy Senaida Juggert Daniel Lester+ Makayla Lupo+ Tiana McElprang+ Hanna Mills++ Andraya Montgomery++ Britni Moreno++ Brigit Muava’a+ Gentry Noyes++ Stasha Pressett++ Jeridi Price Dustin Rich++ Miranda Shaw+
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE – SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY Erika Morris
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE – WELDING Isaac Arellano Gage Atkin Branson Gross Joshua Saunders Jacob Service Anthony Shober Lukas Worthington++
ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE – GENERAL STUDIES Jesse Anderson++ Riley Ashton Ty Barker
Braxton Bennett Dalia Batioja++ Shaleia Behling Michael Bjarano Madison Bennett++ Ashelynn Birch++ LeeAnne Blanton+ Brooklyn Booth++ Devin Bradley+ Eliza Bradley Ella Bradley++ Ryan Brady++ Cheyenne Brinkerhoff Jose Briseno Jordan Brown Trevor Brunson Sarah Bullock++ Elece Burr++ Hanna Carlisle+ Shayley Cartwright Madyson Childs Rawlie Childs++ Baylee Christensen++ Emma Christensen+ Ethan Clark Emma Cook Nikkita Cooke Lexie Cooper Elley Cowdell++ Barnell Davis++ Nicole Deabenderfer+ Kyden Decker Vaughn Deming Camber Dodson Jace Draper Ashley Ebright+ Reagan Edelman++ Ellie England Jessica Fox Indie Gardner+ Paulisa Gaspar Barbosa David Gaspar-Pacheco Easton Gordon Tyell Gustavson++ Aubree Guymon –9–
Miranda Hales++ Savahna Hall Casey Hamilton Jessie Hansen++ Alexis Hatch Kira Heywood++ Samantha Hooper Bonnie Hribar Adrienne Hunt Hanna Huntington++ Katelyn Hurst+ James Jewkes Benjamin Jones Josh Jones Seth Justice Jessica Kendrick++ Callee Killpack Haley Kimber+ Haylee Lamb++ Gabriel Lang Skyler Lauver JonL Leautaud Trinady Lindsey Malorie Luck++ Malek Malual Shawnda Mangum Naomi Mantz++ Christian Marasco Izabella Marshall Jennifer Martinez+ Jeffrey McCourt Nellyann McCue James McKendrick++ Eli Mckenzie Jacob Miller++ Haylee Mills Merlinda Molinar+ Andres Guerrero Morales Muhammad Nawaz Kody Nelson
Sayer Nelson++ Reagan Neuenswander Race Nielson Grace Oki+ Tanner Olsen++ Lindsey Otero++ Lexi Paulsen++ Tamara Payne++ Cali Pollastro+ Brooklyn-Aaliyah Pouwhare Emily Prescott Amya Prettyman++ Bryson Pugh+ Breanne Bitter Rich++ Garrett Rowley+ Adrian Sanchez Sydney Sandoval++ Parker Sermon Makayla Sheeran++ Sarah Simmons++ Oakley Small Xavier Smith Gracie Sorensen++ Olivia Sorensen+ Spencer Staheli Kyler Stilson Maryn Stoddard++ Morgan Tanner+ Samantha Theobald Carmen Villalba Kurt Wegscheider Kamryn Wiese++ Connor Wiggins++ Bralin Wilde+ Stephen Wilson Alexis Winter++ Raquel Worley
The quality of performance in academic work enables those indicated to be graduates with distinction: ++High Honors................................................................................................................................ grade point average of 3.75 to 4.00 +Honors............................................................................................................................................. grade point average of 3.50 to 3.74
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BACHELOR’S DEGREES COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE & APPLIED SCIENCES Kenneth L. White, Dean
TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS Christopher McNeil
JON M. HUNTSMAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Douglas D. Anderson, Dean MANAGEMENT Kacie Quinn
EMMA ECCLES JONES COLLEGE OF EDUCATION & HUMAN SERVICES Alan L. Smith, Dean
COMMUNICATIVE DISORDERS & DEAF EDUCATION Bryndee Anderson
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION Kaytlyn Farley* Sarah Garvin Tristan Garvin* Lindsey Misener
FAMILY LIFE STUDIES Morgan Bailey** Sarah Bradley** Josephine Hatch** Brooke Roper**
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT & FAMILY STUDIES Autumn Huntsman**
ONLINE PRACTICAL TEACHER TRAINING Alexander Anderson Mallorie Bradley Amanda Nelson**
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REGISTERED NURSING Erica Davis** DesiRae Lantz* Andraya Montgomery**
COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES Joseph P. Ward, Dean ENGLISH Janelle Bates** Bonnie Swenson**
HISTORY Kevin Van Der Spek
INTERDISCIPLINARY Abygale Wilkinson
SOCIAL WORK Brielle Bogdin Tawni Manzanares Aurelio Rodriquez Medrano** Marcos Suarez*
SOCIOLOGY Alexandria Atwood* Sarah Haller**
S. J. & JESSIE E. QUINNEY COLLEGE OF NATURAL RESOURCES Chris Luecke, Dean RECREATION RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Dale Gagon
WILDLIFE ECOLOGY & MANAGEMENT Kyler Stilson
– 12 –
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE Michelle Baker, Interim Dean BIOLOGY Spencer Downs Dillon Sorensen**
PROVOST’S OFFICE
Francis D. Galey, Executive Vice President and Provost INTEGRATED STUDIES Scott Arnold Tristan Gordon Luke Haney Teresa Hansen Danielle Jensen* Cody Phelps Gracie Steele Alexis Tallerico
The quality of performance in academic work enables those indicated to be graduates with distinction: ***Summa Cum Laude ..................................................................................................................... grade point average of 3.95 to 4.00 **Magna Cum Laude........................................................................................................................ grade point average of 3.80 to 3.94 *Cum Laude....................................................................................................................................... grade point average of 3.50 to 3.79
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SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES Richard Cutler Interim Vice Provost of Graduate Studies
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE S. J. & JESSIE E. QUINNEY COLLEGE OF NATURAL RESOURCES Bryan Telarole
Geographic Information Science
MASTER’S DEGREES COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE & APPLIED SCIENCES Coreen Cogswell
Master of Food Safety & Quality
JON M. HUNTSMAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Nesreen Iskandrani
Master of Business Administration
Daniel Peczuh
Master of Business Administration
EMMA ECCLES JONES COLLEGE OF EDUCATION & HUMAN SERVICES Cheryl Maughan
Master of Education in Teacher Education & Leadership
– 14 –
UTAH BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION Harris H. Simmons, Chair Nina R. Barnes, Vice Chair Aaron V. Osmond, Vice Chair Jesselie B. Anderson Mike Angus Jera L. Bailey Stacey K. Bettridge Lisa Michele Church Wilford Clyde
Sanchaita Datta Alan E. Hall Patricia Jones Crystal Maggelet Tanner Marcum Arthur E. Newell Shawn Newell Valirie Serawop Scott L. Theurer
David R. Woolstenhulme, Commissioner of Higher Education
UTAH STATE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Kent K. Alder, Chair John Y. Ferry, Vice Chair Clara Alder Gina Gagon David H. Huntsman Kacie Malouf
Wayne L. Niederhauser Steven L. Palmer David A. Petersen Jacey Skinner Tessa White
Janalyn G. Brown, Interim Secretary to the USU Board of Trustees
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY EASTERN ADVISORY COUNCIL Greg Dart, Chair Paul Anderson Gil Conover Jason Dunn Gina Gagon Jared Haddock Joel Hatch-Jensen Kevin Hurst Michael Jensen Brock Johansen
Angelo Kiahtipes Anthony Martines Ryan Maughan Frank Peczuh Renee Pressett Bryson Pugh Mika Salas Amy Schmidt-Peters Laurens Smith Bradley Watson