Scan the above QR code for a full digital Commencement program.
To purchase a full, personalized printed version of the Commencement program that includes the graduate’s name on the cover, visit usu.edu/commencement.
Scan the above QR code to order gifts from the USU Campus Store.
Individual graduate headshots will be available one week following the event. Images are free to download and can be found at aggie.link/25-grad-photos.
2024-2025
Commencement Ceremony - April 30, 2025
Logan Campus College Convocations - May 1-2, 2025
Statewide Campuses Graduation Ceremonies - April 17-26, 2025
Utah State University is a premier land- and space-grant institution committed to excellence, access, and inclusion. We empower all people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact, and we champion exceptional education, research and discovery, and community contribution.
I extend my warmest congratulations on your well-deserved accomplishment. Your graduation is an important milestone that marks a pivotal moment in your life. We share in your joy and know that the next chapters you write for your stories will be extraordinary.
Your dedication and perseverance have culminated in an achievement that is both personally and professionally transformative. The education you have earned is an enduring asset, a foundation for resilience and lifelong growth. It empowers you to navigate challenges with critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication—durable skills that will enrich your lives and contribute to your success.
As graduates of a land-grant university, you carry a special responsibility. You are stewards of knowledge, equipped to address the challenges facing our communities and our society. I challenge you to think broadly, to consider the ways in which your education can be applied to create positive change, to innovate, and to lead with integrity.
You are prepared for more than you might currently imagine. You have demonstrated wisdom in pursuing your education. And now, you are ready to apply your talents and insights in ways that will shape you personally and professionally. Build upon this foundation, embrace the opportunities before you, and never underestimate the power of your education to transform lives, including your own.
We at USU are immensely proud of your accomplishments and look forward to witnessing the remarkable contributions you will make to the world. Congratulations, Class of 2025! I am honored to celebrate this momentous occasion with all of you.
Sincerely,
Alan L. Smith, Ph.D. Interim President, Utah State University
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY UINTAH BASIN COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
PROCESSIONAL
White Peaks Centennial Pipe Band
WELCOME
David Law, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President, USU Uintah Basin
NATIONAL ANTHEM
Faith Simper
STUDENT SPEAKER
Cara Murray
Rachel Arocho, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Family Science, Utah Valley University
Laurens H. Smith, Ph.D.
USU Provost and Executive Vice President
David Law, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President, USU Uintah Basin
GREETING TO GRADUATES
Ryan Dent
President-Elect, USU Alumni Advisory Board
HONOR SONG & RECESSIONAL
Red Spirit Singers
Commencement Speaker
Rachel Arocho, Ph.D., CFLE, SFHEA is an associate professor of family science at Utah Valley University and an alumna of Utah State University Uintah Basin (’13, Bachelor of Family, Consumer, and Human Development). Rachel grew up in Vernal, Utah and began taking classes at USU through Uintah High School’s concurrent enrollment offerings in 2008, and officially matriculating to USU in summer 2010. Through classes she developed her passion for family science, research, and teaching, and through the mentorship of USU professors she found her path. Following her undergraduate education at USU, she earned a Ph.D. in human development and family science at The Ohio State University and worked as a postdoctoral scholar in population science at the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before taking a position in family science at Utah Valley University in 2019. At UVU, Rachel has taught classes on research methods, contemporary family relations, family demography, fertility, family science careers, and the Stronger Families Project practicum. She also mentors students in research projects and finding their own paths, continuing a legacy of mentorship and development learned from her time at USU Uintah Basin.
Cara Murray is a first-generation college graduate earning her degree in health education and promotion with a health science emphasis. In fall 2025, she will begin the Master of Public Health program with Utah State University. She has worked for Utah State University Extension since 2020 and with this degree, she will step into her long-time goal of becoming Extension faculty in the Home and Community Department.
Cara is passionate about serving the Uintah County community, focusing on nutrition, physical activity, diabetes prevention, and substance use disorder prevention. She is especially dedicated to increasing access to health resources in rural and tribal communities, ensuring individuals and families have the resources and education required to live fulfilling lives.
Outside of her work, Cara enjoys running and hiking with her dogs. She and her husband live on a working cattle ranch, where she loves preparing show calves for competition. She is also a proud mom of two—one a Utah State University graduate and the other currently attending Casper College.