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USU BLANDING COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
April 28, 2023
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
HOODS
• Natural Resources, Russet
• Science, Gold-Yellow
• School of Graduate Studies, Black
• Associate Degrees, Black
• Integrated Studies, Black
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 BLANDING COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
PROCESSIONAL WELCOME
Kristian Olsen
Associate Vice President, USU Blanding
PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS
Blanding City Police
NATIONAL ANTHEM
Nadia Armajo
San Juan High School Student
REMARKS & LAND GRANT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Kristian Olsen
Associate Vice President, USU Blanding
STUDENT ASSOCIATION GREETING
Hunter Warren
USUSA Executive Vice President, USU Blanding
STUDENT SPEAKER
Debra McKee
Valedictorian
ADDRESS TO GRADUATES
Dustin Jansen
Director, Utah Division of Indian Affairs
CONFERRING OF DEGREES
Noelle E. Cockett
President, USU
PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS
Sue Naiki
Program Coordinator, USU Blanding
GREETING TO GRADUATES
Steven L. Palmer
President, USU Alumni Association & USU Trustee
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Rich Etchberger
Interim Vice President & Vice Provost, Statewide Campuses
RECESSIONAL
DUSTIN JANSEN DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF INDIAN AFFAIRS Commencement Speaker
Dustin Jansen is originally from Coyote Canyon, New Mexico. He was born and raised on the Navajo reservation and is an enrolled member. Dustin received his Associate of Science from Utah Valley University, his history B.A. from Brigham Young University, and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Utah, SJ Quinney College of Law.
Dustin practiced as an Attorney and Judge in the tribal court systems for nearly fifteen years. He served as a Judge for the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, a Hearing Officer for the Navajo Nation Office of Hearings and Appeals, Judge pro tempore for Zuni Pueblo, and has been teaching at UVU since the fall of 2015 — where Dustin is the program coordinator for the American Indian Studies program. Recently, Dustin was appointed as Director the Utah Division of Indian Affairs by former Governor Gary Herbert.
DEBRA MCKEE Student Association Speaker
Debra McKee has been a Monticello resident since 2020, when she and her husband moved from the Kanab area. Upon arriving in southeastern Utah, she was inspired to finish the degree she had started over ten years ago. With the close proximity to Blanding, USU was her school of choice for her bachelor’s degree in social work. Throughout her academic career, Debra was nominated BSW Student of the Year for all of the Statewide Campuses. This award was given for her academic success, as well as her involvement with the community through her internship in the San Juan County Economic Development Department.
Debra has also been awarded the highest academic honor of Valedictorian for the USU Blanding Class of 2023. Upon finishing her internship with the county, she was recently hired as the new San Juan County Economic Development Specialist. You will find her mountain biking, hiking and kayaking in her spare time with her rescue dog, Mesa. She also enjoys attending as many local events as possible as she has a strong desire for building community. Debra is outgoing and loves to meet new people. If you see her around, be sure to say hello!
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2023 CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION
Names listed in this program do not constitute graduation.
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY & MANAGEMENT
Jileo Oscar Begay +
Treynae Shania BooSilas
Deeona Billy Clitso Wilson
Dillon M. Dash ++
Sampson Enrico ++
Latrell Dave Holiday
Sergio Harry June Lopez
Shaun Donovon Ketchum
Seelek Lusuno Morris Tillahash
Dusty Ray Parrish
Tristen P. Richardson +
Mikee Tyrone Yazzie +
DATA PROCESSING TECHNICIAN
Tamra D Tully +
IT SUPPORT & WEB DEVELOPMENT
JJ Joseph Harvey ++
MEDICAL ASSISTANT
Nikki Odina Butler
Megan Flynn ++
Natalie Dawn Hunter
Shastee Kira Holliday
Vanessa Rebecca Keith
Chele Alyce Rockwell
Domonique Summer Yazzie
PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
Kendall Joy Ekker
PRACTICAL NURSING
Kiersten Halladay Anderson +
Layton Bethea +
Autumn Michelle Bradford +
Hannah Merschel ++
RANCH HORSE MANAGEMENT
Cortney C. Greenwood
Ireland Malley Meyers
Ian Cal Lameman
Karlyn Loveland
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CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY
COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S LICENSE
Bryon Yazzie Begay
Jileo Oscar Begay +
Dale Clifford Bezzant +
Abraham Black ++
Landon McKay Black
Leonard Lee Billsie
Treynae Shania BooSilas
Sage Bahe Charley
Paxton Coby Christensen
Olivia Tisha C. Claw +
Anferny Badback Cly
Dillon M. Dash ++
Ralston R. Descheny +
Trent Nicholas Disbro
Christopher Farland ++
Tavee Quinayah Filfred
Towan Westbear Fragua ++
Joseph Wayne Hathale +
Latrell Dave Holiday
Aaron David Jim
Shaun Donovon Ketchum
Jaylen Aaron Lee
Colton Cade Lewis
Michelle Novak
Ben Lloyd Peterson
Shawndel Lee Reed
Daniel Suraj Rozman
Peyton R. Secody
Dan Thompson
Tyrel Kirby Thompson +
Paul Alan Turner
Troy L. Whitethorne
HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR
Abraham Black ++
Tammy Alison Black
Dominic Carr ++
Philmore Chee
Paxton Coby Christensen
Ralston R. Descheny +
Christopher Farland ++
Towan Westbear Fragua ++
Kason Levi Hall ++
Zedekiah Richard Hall ++
Joseph Wayne Hathale +
Jason Lamour Keith
Shaun Donovon Ketchum
Tyler Ray Litsui ++
Gloria Martinez
Delvin Navajo
Dusty Ray Parrish
Leander Tabaha
Warren Olsen Yazzie ++
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ASSOCIATE DEGREES
PROVOST’S OFFICE
Laurens H. Smith, Provost & Chief Academic Officer
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE –GENERAL TECHNOLOGY
Jileo Oscar Begay +
Kason Levi Hall ++
Shaun Donovon Ketchum
Mehki Nez
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE –IT SUPPORT & WEB DEVELOPMENT
JJ Joseph Harvey ++
Brevin James Olson ++
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE –MEDICAL LAB TECHNICIAN
Dessarae DeAnn Davis +
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE –NURSING
Brittney Bastian +
Tiarra Ashleigh Begay
Marilisa Rachelle Boone
Ben J. Brewer
Angel Cristine Card ++
Ashley Hoggard ++
Taylor Rayn Martinez +
Abi Nielson ++
Kyle Wilson
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE –SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
Jhaynee Rhae Pugh ++
Skylar A. Tso
ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE –AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
Karlyn Loveland
Kristin Hope Richards
Corey Tartsah
Leah Ann Wheelwright ++
ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE –CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Daan Rainy Filfred
Elijah Lee
Victoria Trevizo
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ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE –GENERAL STUDIES
Brittany Barry ++
Mariah Tehya Begay
Allie Karen Black
Megan Black
Morgan M. Blackhorse
Autumn Michelle Bradford +
Velena Rose Burke
Autumn Rae Card
Nicneal Crank
Adrienne Eddie
Daan Rainy Filfred
Tavee Quinayah Filfred
Mariah Cheyenne Frost +
Cortney C. Greenwood
Rex Harvey
Jeanna Nizhoni Holiday
Kaia Virgie Jay +
Sonja Cee John
Rachelle Taylor Jones
Josh C. Lacy
Erreiche Jaxon Manheimer
Chessica Zandrea Rose Mann
Chenina Nez
Jacy Lynn Nez
Pam Ann Pearson-Fuller
Tyra Nicole Redhouse
Elucia Sue Stanley
Kailee Tohonnie
Calvin Mark Tohsonii ++
Tamra D. Tully +
RoShaunda Tamika Yazzie
Sydney Megan Yazzie
Abbey Storey Yoakam
Diana Lorraine Whitehair
Shantelle Geana Whitehorse +
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
Renisha Lori Joe
JON M. HUNTSMAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Douglas D. Anderson, Dean
ACCOUNTING
Vicky Lynn Kuykendall
DATA ANALYTICS INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Adrian Cory Bitsinnie *
ACCOUNTING
Kim A. Palmer *
EMMA ECCLES JONES COLLEGE
OF EDUCATION & HUMAN SERVICES
Alan L. Smith, Dean
HEALTH EDUCATION & PROMOTION - HEALTH SCIENCE
Chanel Amber Bahe
Fallon Adriano Silversmith
Michelle Sullivan *
Dawn Raine Wartz
RN TO BSN COMPLETION PROGRAM: NURSING
Caitlin Lyman *
Kammy Lynn Palmer **
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COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES
Joseph P. Ward, Dean
SOCIAL WORK
Debra McKee **
Lindsie S. Lyman
Ophelia Ann Holiday *
ENGLISH
Megan Ashkiiya Harvey *
SOCIOLOGY
Ashley Lynn Tallman
Daniel Ethan Young *
S. J. & JESSIE E. QUINNEY COLLEGE OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Linda Nagel, Dean
RECREATION RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Carrie Renee Bean
PROVOST’S OFFICE
Laurens H. Smith, Provost & Chief Academic Officer
INTEGRATED STUDIES
Jacinda Lynn Begay
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
Vice Provost of Graduate Studies
MASTER’S DEGREES
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE & APPLIED SCIENCES
Megan Sandra Mower-Harris
Master of Education
COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES
Sherry Begay
Master of Social Work
Clydene Benally
Master of Social Work
Dinah Holiday
Master of Social Work
Grant Laws
Master of Social Work
Toni L. Pelt
Master of Social Work
Hunter Harris Warren
Master of Social Work
USU BLANDING VALEDICTORIANS
Leah Ann Wheelwright Associate of Science
Debra McKee
Bachelor of Science
USU BLANDING SALUTATORIANS
Kason Hall
Associate of Science
Kammy Palmer
Bachelor of Science
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UTAH BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Lisa Michele Church, Chair
Jesselie Barlow Anderson, Vice Chair
Grace Acosta
Stan L. Albrecht
Julie Beck
Stacey K. Bettridge
Rich Christiansen
Sanchaita Datta
Hope Eccles
Korianne Gibson
Patricia Jones
Arthur E. Newell
Shawn Newell
Steve Starks
Scott L. Theurer
Richard Wheeler
Xitlalli Villanueva
David R. Woolstenhulme, Commissioner of Higher Education
UTAH STATE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Kent K. Alder, Chair
John Y. Ferry, Vice Chair
Gina Gagon
David H. Huntsman
Kacie Malouf
Wayne L. Niederhauser
Steven L. Palmer
David A. Petersen
Abraham Rodriguez
Jacey Skinner
Tessa White
BLANDING’S LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We recognize Utah State University Blanding resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, and the White Mesa Ute peoples. USU commits to creating and instilling a continuous relationship with tribal nations and fostering a partnership through community, family (clan/bands), research, education, and programming. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Tribal Sovereignty, history, and experiences.
USU Blanding appreciates the flowers donated by Elk Petroleum
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Janalyn G. Brown, Secretary to the USU Board of Trustees
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