USU-Southwest Holds 2016 Commencement

On Thursday, April 21, 2016 Utah State University-Southwest held its annual graduation ceremony in Nephi, Utah. USU-Southwest’s graduating class of 2016 was comprised of ten associate’s, 20 bachelor’s and three master’s degrees.

Mona Boy Scout Troup #1579 presented the colors while the Juab High School Madrigal Singers sang the national anthem. USU-Southwest’s Dean Steve Hawks greeted the graduates and attendees before introducing student speaker, Alynn Hansen.

Hansen graduated with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education, with a mathematics and science emphasis. She hopes to spend the rest of her life teaching and inspiring children to reach their full potential.

Hansen was born and raised in Lyman, Utah. She graduated from Wayne High School in 1995 and earned her cosmetology license in 1996 from Evans Hairstyling College. In 2013, she began her studies at USU-Nephi and is currently on the Dean’s List. Hansen lives in Mona, Utah, with her husband, and their four children, Cambrie, Cooper, Cade, and Case. She enjoys sports, cooking, gardening, and making people laugh. She recently hiked to the top of Mt. Nebo because her son didn’t think she could do it. Earning a degree has always been one of her dreams and she is very grateful for the support of her friends, family and the amazing staff at USU-Nephi for making her dream a reality.

Mark Stoddard, from the Utah Board of Regents and President and CEO of Central Valley Medical Center in Nephi addressed the graduates. Stoddard was appointed to the State Board of Regents in 2011. He also serves as Chairman of the Rural Health Group, Chairman of Rural Health Foundation, and President of Rural Health Management Corporation. He has served as the Snow College Alumni President, on the Snow College Board of Trustees, and is currently serving as the Snow College Foundation Chairman.

USU’s Provost Noelle Cockett led the conferring of the degrees while Ryan Baldwin, director of alumni relations closed the ceremony by welcoming the new graduates to the Aggie alumni family.