Scan the above QR code for a full digital Commencement program.
Commencement Exercises - May 2, 2024
Logan Campus College Convocations - May 2-3, 2024
Statewide Campuses Graduation Ceremonies - April 18-27, 2024
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.
MESSAGE FROM THE President
Dear Esteemed Graduates,
On this extraordinary day, I extend my warmest congratulations to you, the graduating class of 2024, from Utah State University. As we gather to celebrate your achievements, I am deeply honored to address you for the first time as the President of our esteemed institution.
Your journey to this moment has been marked by dedication, resilience, and a profound commitment to excellence whether you pursued your studies online, on campus, or across our beautiful state. Each of you has played an integral role in advancing our university's mission as a public service institution.
As we look ahead to the future, I am filled with optimism and confidence in your ability to make a meaningful impact in the world. Armed with the knowledge, skills, and values instilled by your education at USU, you are well-equipped to address the challenges of our time with integrity and compassion.
As you embark on the next chapter of your journey, I urge you to embrace the opportunities that come your way and to continue striving for excellence in all that you do. Remember that you are not just graduates of Utah State, but ambassadors of change and champions of the greater good.
Wherever your paths may lead, may you continue to embody the spirit of service and innovation that defines our university.
Congratulations, Class of 2024! Your achievements are a testament to your hard work and determination, and I am honored to celebrate this momentous occasion with you.
With warm regards,
Dr. Elizabeth R. Cantwell President, Utah State University
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY SOUTHWEST COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
MASTER OF CEREMONY
Spencer Kohler
Director of Students, USU Southwest
PROCESSIONAL
PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS
American Legion
NATIONAL ANTHEM
Juab High School Choir
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT’S GREETING
Nancy Glomb USU Southwest
STUDENT SPEAKERS
Cheryl Hawkins
USU Southwest Student Body Vice President, 2024-2025
Paola Hawkins
MUSICAL NUMBER
Juab High School Choir
ADDRESS TO GRADUATES
Julie Stevens
Clinical Assistant Professor College of Humanities and Social Sciences, USU
CONFERRING OF DEGREES
Laurens H. Smith
Provost & Chief Academic Officer, USU
PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS
Nancy Glomb
Associate Vice President, USU Southwest
GREETING TO GRADUATES
Kim Larson
Executive Director, USU Alumni Association
RECESSIONAL
JULIE STEVENS
CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Commencement Speaker
Julie Stevens, LCSW, is a clinical assistant professor for the Social Work department in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. She received her Bachelor of Social Work from USU Logan in 2016, which started in Delta and Nephi extension sites from spring 2012 to fall 2013. Following her Master of Social Work she returned to Millard County, UT, and worked in clinical practice for nearly four years. Julie worked with individuals, families, and groups in therapy to address mental health and addiction concerns. One of her specialties was working with children from a neuroscience perspective. She participated on a committee to implement Utah’s Intergenerational Poverty Initiative for Millard County. She also worked with crisis intervention in emergency rooms in the six-county area. She continues to reside in Millard County and has joined the statewide faculty at USU for the Ephraim Campus in 2022. The undergraduate courses she has taught include Intro to Social Work, Generalist Social Work Practice, and Field Practicum. She also collaborated with Blanding professor Charlie Bayles, LCSW on Indigenous Test Prep and adapting instruction for Indigenous students.
CHERYL HAWKINS
USU SOUTHWEST STUDENT BODY VICE PRESIDENT, 2024-2025
Student Speaker
Cheryl grew up in Southern California where she attended Fontana High School. She chose to further her education across the country in Virginia, but then returned home to serve an LDS mission in Peoria, Illinois where she met her husband, James. Her studies were put on hold after she returned home while she raised her four children. Then a few years after moving her family to Utah, she chose to finish what she had started almost 25 years before. She attended Utah Tech but then found a home at Utah State University where she could continue her job as a paraprofessional at Hurricane High School while getting her bachelor’s degree in education. Her mother also found joy in education as a special education aide in a classroom for many years, which is what inspired Cheryl to continue her education even further with a master’s degree in special education this fall.
PAOLA HAWKINS
Student Speaker
Paola graduated from Hurricane High School in 2019. She served as captain of the Swim and Water Polo team in her senior year. After a year at Utah Tech, she served an LDS mission in San Antonio, Texas. When she returned home and began working at the Institute of Forensic and Neuropsychology in St. George under Dr. Tim Kockler. She loves the opportunities this role offers her to work on a wide variety of cases and the interactions she has with clients and patients at the clinic every day. She found her home at Utah State University where she completed her bachelor’s degree in sociology. She will continue her education in the fall with Utah State's Master of Human Resources program while she continues to work at the Institute of Forensic and Neuropsychology.
