Graduation spring 2008

Cameron Harper

News Story

Graduation

As Utah State University’s graduation approaches, nearly 2,000 students prepare to enter the real world.

USU’s graduate students will be recognized Friday, May 2, with the graduation ceremony beginning at 1:30 P.M. Undergraduate students will be recognized on Saturday, May 3 with the procession beginning at 9:30 A.M. and the commencement ceremony beginning at 10:30.

"Graduation's just a great time to honor the accomplishments of our great students," said Sydney Peterson, chairwoman of the Commencement and Graduation Committee for about six years.

According to a document given by Marci Smith, the supervisor of records at the registrar’s office, 1,937 students are graduating this spring. That is 1,143 more students than fall's graduation.

Only about 50 percent of graduates will attend their ceremony. "In spring we usually have a little bit more who will attend," Smith said. "It's probably just because spring is the traditional time of year for graduation."

Peterson said this spring's graduation will be different than last spring's because there will be a ceremony for graduate students Friday afternoon and a separate ceremony for undergraduates Saturday morning.

The undergraduate ceremony will begin its academic procession at the Quad on campus, and ending at the Spectrum where the ceremony is held. After the procession the honorary degree recipient, James H. Quigley will address the graduates. After he speaks the other honorary degree holders will be recognized. This year they have selected, in addition to Quigley, Clark P. Giles, W. Eugene Hansen, L. Tom Perry and Beverley P. Sorenson.

Next on the agenda, valedictorian Andrew Braithwaite from the College of Natural Resources will speak and the graduating students will be honored. Valedictorians choose who will be the speaker by all getting together and giving the remarks they would give to the graduates, to the other valedictorians. Following hearing the others remarks, they than vote as a group for who they want to be the graduation speaker.

USU President Stan Albrecht will then give his concluding remarks after which senior vocalist Mary Jane Lee will sing the "Star-Spangled Banner" and lead the audience in USU's alma mater hymn.

Derrick Bunn, a senior graduating in exercise science can’t wait for his diploma. “I have worked for this for seventeen years now and I’m excited to take this next step in life,” said Bunn, “Seventeen years well worth it.”