NOELLE E. COCKETT

Congratulations, Class of 2023 graduates. Today, you close a very important chapter of your journey and prepare to embark on the next. Whether you will be starting a career, continuing your education, or taking a different path, you are each empowered to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact.

You are graduating from one of the best land-grant universities in the country. A place where faculty have been committed to providing an exceptional learning experience, and staff supported you along the way. You have benefitted from USU’s long-held commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion.

Every Aggie journey looks different. You have faced personal and unique challenges, seized opportunities for growth and success, and matured into a different person than you were when you first arrived. Perhaps you took advantage of our outstanding faculty to work side-by-side with them on research that is changing the world. You may have connected with experts to learn more about the world we live in and solve emerging issues such as those related to land, water, and air. Maybe you unlocked a passion for service and engagement through our many outreach groups on campus and in the broader community. And some of you may have taken the opportunity to share your knowledge and experiences with the next generation of Aggies by serving as a peer mentor to other students.

I celebrate your creativity, your hard work, and your dedication to earning your degree. The opportunities your education offers are endless, and the connections you have made are invaluable. I hope you continue to share the passion, sense of adventure, love of learning, and compassionate understanding you have established while at Utah State University.

It has been an honor to be included in this significant part of your life. Thank you for the privilege and opportunity to serve as your university president. I am proud and excited for all of you, and I hope you each remain an engaged member of our community – once an Aggie, always an Aggie.

Noelle E. Cockett President