Presenting SUU's Class of 2008

Published: April 22, 2008 | Read Time: 3 minutes

Southern Utah University is excited to celebrate its largest ever graduating class, with 1535 students, on Saturday, May 3, beginning at 9 a.m. in the Centrum Arena. Each of the six colleges will disburse degrees in individual Convocation ceremonies, delineated below.

Southern Utah University's 2008 Commencement

Main Commencement Ceremony:
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Centrum Arena, 9 a.m.

Individual College Convocations:
Saturday, May 3, 2008

11:30 am-12:30 p.m.
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Centrum Arena
College of Science, Sorenson Physical Education Building
College of Performing and Visual Arts, Randall L. Jones Theatre

2-3 p.m.
Beverley Taylor Sorenson College of Education and Human Development, Centrum Arena
School of Business, Sorenson Physical Education Building
College of Computing, Integrated Engineering and Technology, Randall L. Jones Theatre

THE CLASS OF 2008
Class Size: 1535

Graduates from 1998 (10-year comparison): 1109

Average GPA: 3.444

Average number of Semesters to Graduate: 10.5

Breakdown of Degrees:
Master’s Degrees – 346
Bachelor’s Degrees – 951
Associate’s Degrees – 235
Certificates – 3

Graduates come to SUU from ten different countries:
American Samoa
China
Japan
New Zealand
Nigeria
Peru
South Korea
Taiwan
Tonga
United States

Within the U.S., the class of 2008 comes from 35 different states:
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Maine
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
Wyoming

The University’s resident students come to SUU from 27 different Utah counties:
Beaver – 18
Box Elder – 11
Cache – 9
Carbon – 7
Davis – 25
Duchesne – 3
Emery – 13
Garfield – 14
Grand – 4
Iron – 532
Juab – 13
Kane – 20
Millard – 28
Morgan – 3
Piute – 5
Salt Lake – 195
San Juan – 10
Sanpete – 40
Sevier – 53
Summit – 3
Tooele – 14
Uintah – 7
Utah – 139
Wasatch – 13
Washington – 202
Wayne – 8
Weber – 13

Ethnicity:
American Indian/Alaskan Native – 14
Asian – 11
African American – 6
Caucasian – 1,432
Hispanic (includes all Hispanic origins) – 32
Pacific Islander – 9
Other – 6
Unspecified – 25

Gender:
599 Men
935 Women
Class includes 50 married couples

Age Range:
This year’s youngest graduate is 17
The oldest graduate is 67
The average age for a class of 2008 SUU graduate is 28 years old

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

Commencement Speaker:
Dr. Mario R. Capecchi, 2007 Nobel Laureate
See http://www.suu.edu/ad/pr/news/archives/viewarticle.aspx?id=486

Honorary Degree Recipients:
Dr. Mario R. Capecchi, 2007 Nobel Laureate to receive an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Science

Chief Justice Christine M. Durham of the Utah Supreme Court to receive an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humane Letters

Faculty Awards:
Outstanding Educator of the Year — Greg Powell
Outstanding Scholar of the Year — Todd Robert Petersen
Distinguished Educators of the Year — Robin Calland, Laura Cotts and Kirk Fitzpatrick

Staff Awards:
Outstanding Staff Members of the Year — Stacia Thomas, Casey Bowns
Distinguished Staff Members of the Year — Glen Pryor, Andrea Masterson

Students Speaking:
Opening Expression – Justin Bowles, SUUSA Academic VP, biology major from Gunnison, UT
National Anthem – J.P. Kentros, music education major from Las Vegas, NV
Student Graduation Address – Isaac C. Holyoak, communication major from Murray, UT
Closing Expression – Jesse Holt, SUUSA President, communication major from Tooele, UT

University Valedictorians:
Jodi Croft Dahlin – elementary education major from Cedar City, UT
Whitnee Sorenson – English major from Orem, UT
Brittany Jensen, communication major from Orderville, UT
Julie Noakes, elementary education major from Taylorsville, UT
Savanna Sorensen – nutrition and chemistry major from Prescott, AZ

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

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Contact Information:

435-586-5400
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