COMMENCEMENT: Stats On The Class Of 2006

Published: May 01, 2006 | Read Time: 3 minutes

Southern Utah University is proud and excited about graduating 1,272 students in just a few weeks on Saturday, May 6, beginning at 9 a.m. in the Centrum Arena. Each of the six colleges will disburse degrees in individual Convocations ceremonies, delineated below. “It's exciting to know that we are having what we believe is a positive influence on more and more people's lives as they prepare for their futures,” Dean O’Driscoll, Director of Commencement, says. “We are very pleased with the number of students we are helping move into important professional and leadership positions in our society.”

Institution of Higher Education:
Southern Utah University

Commencement Location/Name of Facility:
Saturday, May 6, 2006
Main Commencement Ceremony, Centrum Arena, 9 a.m.

Individual College/School Convocations:
11:30 am-12:30 pm
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Centrum Arena
College of Science, Sorenson Physical Education Building
College of Computing, Integrated Engineering and Technology, Randall Jones Theatre
2-3 pm
College of Education, Centrum Arena
School of Business, Sorenson Physical Education Building
College of Performing and Visual Arts, Randall Jones Theatre

Class Size:
1,272

Graduates from 1996 (10-year pattern):
692

Average GPA: 3.316

Average number of Semesters to Graduate: 7.78

Breakdown of Degrees:
Associate’s Degrees: 109
Bachelor=s Degrees: 914
Certificates: 20
Master’s Degrees: 229

Geographic Origin: From which countries, graduates hail from--
Bolivia
China
Japan
Peru
Samoa
Slovak Republic
Taiwan
United States
Virgin Islands

From which states—
Minnesota
Alaska Missouri
Arizona Montana
California Nebraska
Colorado Nevada
Florida New Hampshire
Hawaii New Jersey
Idaho New Mexico
Illinois New York
Indiana Ohio
Kansas Oklahoma
Oregon

Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin

From which Utah Counties--
Beaver - 23 Piute - 4
Box Elder - 7 Salt Lake - 150
Cache - 11 San Juan - 8
Carbon - 22 Sanpete - 23
Daggett - 1 Sevier - 49
Davis - 31 Summit - 1
Duchesne - 4 Tooele - 18
Emery - 32 Uintah - 6
Garfield - 22 Utah - 76
Grand - 7 Wasatch - 7
Iron - 219 Washington - 162
Juab - 10 Wayne - 8
Kane - 16 Weber - 10
Millard - 32

Ethnicity:
American Indian/Alaskan Native 6
Asian 4
African American 2
Caucasian 1,230
Hispanic 12 (includes all Hispanic)
Pacific Islander 7
Other 2
Unspecified 9

Gender:
Male 567
Female 705
Class includes 46 married couples

Age Range:
Youngest is 19
Oldest is 58
Average age is 25

Most Popular Majors:
Accounting, Biology, Communication, Criminal Justice, Elementary Education, Nursing, Physical Education, and Psychology

Commencement Speaker:
Dr. Stephen Covey, co-founder and vice-chair of the Franklin Covey Company, a leading global-professional services firm, with offices in 123 countries
See http://www.suu.edu/news/view_articles.asp?HS=April%202006%20Headlines&ID=306

Honorary Degree Recipients:
Dr. Kathryn Berg, professor emeritus
Val Clark, doctor of dentistry and alumnus
Tom Hatch, state senator
See http://www.suu.edu/news/view_articles.asp?HS=April%202006%20Headlines&ID=294

Faculty Awards:
Outstanding Educator of the Year—Eric Brown
Outstanding Scholar of the Year—Jim Vlasich
Distinguished Educators of the Year—Steve Barney, Rea Gubler, Larry Ping
Outstanding Staff Members of the Year—Lea Decker, Randy Humphries
Distinguished Staff Members of the Year—Dianne Werber, Blaine Edwards
See http://www.suu.edu/news/view_articles.asp?HS=April%202006%20Headlines&ID=300

Students Speaking:
Invocation--Micah Paul Keith, SUUSA President,Finance major from St. George, UT

National Anthem--Andy Rasmussen, Music major from Taylorsville, UT; member of Utah National Guard and veteran of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom

Student Graduation Address--Bret Nelson, Interpersonal communication and Management major from Copperas Cove, Texas

Benediction--Rachelle Carroll, SUUSA VP of Clubs and Student Involvement, Psychology major from Sandy, UT

University Valedictorians:
Ashley Andersen—from Bluffdale, UT, Communication major/Dance minor
Kim Beynon Chandler—from Johannesburg, South Africa, Family and Consumer Sciences major with emphasis in Nutrition and Food Science.
Christine Leavitt Welsh-- Cedar City, UT, Spanish and Political Science double major

Graduation Information Headquarters is at www.suu.edu/graduation

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Contact Information:

435-586-5400
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