Utah State University Celebrates More Than 6,600 Graduates in 2023

LOGAN, Utah — Utah State University is preparing to confer a total of 7,163 degrees to 6,649 students during the 136th commencement ceremony this week.

The university commencement ceremony in Logan will begin at 9 a.m. May 4 in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Graduates will process from the Quad beginning at 8:20 a.m.

College convocations and hooding ceremonies will begin the afternoon of May 4 and run through May 5. Tickets for the Logan Campus Commencement and Convocation events are not required and will not be issued.

A schedule of events is available on the USU commencement website. Ceremonies will be broadcast live on Aggie Cast, and photos will be uploaded throughout the day.

Paul Anthony Jones, notable university alumnus and president of Fort Valley State University, will serve as this year’s commencement speaker. Jones, along with philanthropist and businessman Jonathan W. Bullen, former U.S. Representative Mia B. Love and Elder Gary E. Stevenson, current member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will receive honorary degrees during the ceremony.

Due to construction near the Quad, Champ Drive will be closed and inaccessible from U.S. Highway 89/400 North. Approved drop-off zones the morning of May 4 are at the base of Old Main Hill, the roundabout between the Latter-day Saint Institute property and the Fieldhouse, and in central campus on 950 East near the west side of the Merrill-Cazier Library. Parking is available in several lots around campus.

USU Commencement Statistics (Spring 2023)

The number of graduation candidates reported at commencement is based on preliminary graduation data; candidates for graduation must still complete all requirements to receive their degrees or certificates.

Numbers of degrees:

• Certificate: 344
• Associate: 1,150
• Bachelor’s: 4,412
• Graduate certificate: 67
• Master’s: 1,045
• Education specialist’s: 8
• Doctorate: 137

Geographic origin:

• Foreign countries: 45 (Top 3: China, 235; South Korea, 8; India, 7)
• U.S. states (not including Utah): 49

Race and ethnicity unique student demographics:

• American Indian: 133
• Asian: 362
• Black, non-Hispanic: 60
• Hispanic or Latino: 415
• Multiple: 164
• Native Hawaiian: 17
• White, non-Hispanic: 5,719
• Not specified: 189

U.S. Air Force Commissions: 15

U.S. Army Commissions: 14

Most popular degrees (undergraduate):

• Economics: 332
• Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education: 288
• Psychology: 218
• Integrated Studies: 172
• Elementary Education: 159
• Kinesiology: 138
• Mechanical Engineering: 132
• Marketing: 132
• Finance: 127
• Computer Science: 121
• Management: 109

Most popular programs (graduate):

• Master of Business Administration: 144
• Social Work: 105
• Psychology: 82
• Human Resources: 55
• Accounting: 49
• Instructional Technology and Learning Science: 38
• Ecology: 38
• Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education: 33
• Public Health: 32
• Geographic Information Science: 30

Number of degrees awarded to first-generation students:

• Undergraduate certificate: 125
• Associate: 339
• Bachelor’s: 845
• Graduate certificate: 1
• Master’s: 31
• Doctorate: 3

Graduates by USU campuses:

• Logan: 4,324
• Eastern: 348
• Salt Lake: 298
• Kaysville: 285
• Orem: 218
• Uintah Basin: 142
• Blanding: 134
• Brigham City: 120
• Southwest: 105
• Tooele: 80
• Moab: 43

• International: 220
• Out-of-state: 332

Valedictorians:

• Caine College of the Arts: Charity M. Wardle
• College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences: Baylee Anne Vogler
• College of Engineering: Kate Elizabeth Christiansen
• College of Humanities and Social Sciences: Emma Lee Larson Geary
• College of Science: Dylan Joshua Julander
• Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services: Karli Victoria Ludwig
• Jon M. Huntsman School of Business: Isaac Vaughn Dixon
• S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources: Naomi Orchard

University Citizenship Award:

• Sybil Cutler
• Hunter Warren

Wynne Thorne Career Research Award: David Tarboton, College of Engineering

G. Peterson Extension Award: Denise Stewardson, Extension

Faculty University Service Award: Melissa Scheaffer, College of Engineering

Eldon J. Gardner Teaching Award: Beth Buyserie, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Teaching Excellence Awards:

• Caine College of the Arts: Cahill Smith
• College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences: Tyson Sorensen
• College of Engineering: Colin Phillips
• College of Science: Hannah Lewis
• Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services: Sarah Tulane
• Jon M. Huntsman School of Business: Reagan Siggard
• J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources: Eric LaMalfa

Statewide Campuses graduation ceremonies:

• USU Southwest: Thursday, April 20; 6 p.m., Beaver High School, Beaver
• USU Brigham City: Friday, April 21; 6 p.m., Box Elder High School, Brigham City
• USU Tooele: Saturday, April 22; 11 a.m., Tooele High School, Tooele
• USU Moab: Thursday, April 27; 6 p.m., HooDoo Moab, Moab
• USU Blanding: Friday, April 28; 2 p.m., San Juan High School, Blanding
• USU Eastern: Saturday, April 29; 10 a.m., Bunnell-Dmitrich Athletic Center, Price
• USU Uintah Basin: Saturday, April 29; 4 p.m., Roosevelt Junior High School, Vernal

More information can be found at usu.edu/commencement.