Utah State University Eastern Celebrates 2024 Graduating Class

Utah State University Eastern is proud to have celebrated its class of 2024 on Saturday, April 27. The class of 2024 consists of 385 individuals earning 210 associate, 51 bachelor’s, 20 master’s and one doctorate degree, and 166 certificates.

“Few days I enjoy or am more excited for than commencement,” Chief Campus Administrator Doug Miller told graduates. “Commencement is several things; among them it is an acknowledgement of past accomplishments that have come to an end. For our institution, it is mission fulfillment, and for each of you, our graduates, it is a beginning — a springboard to the rest of your life and, for right now, a moment you should savor.”

USU Eastern celebrated graduates with a ceremony inside the Bunnell-Dmitrich Athletic Center. Miller welcomed the graduates and introduced the keynote and the student speakers.

The first student speaker was Valedictorian Madisen Justesen, who graduated with an Associate of Science degree. Justesen reflected on three values that she felt guided her and her fellow graduates to achieve their educational goals: perseverance, sacrifice and determination. She closed her remarks touching on her definition of success.

“Success is not merely measured by the accolades we receive or the titles we hold,” Justesen said. “True success is found in the lives we touch, the impact we make, and the legacy we leave behind. We should judge our success at USU Eastern as much by the things we have done and lives that we have been able to be a part of and impact, as much as we judge it by our GPA and academic achievements. As we step into the future, let us do so with the confidence, courage and commitment to always persevere, be willing to sacrifice, have determination and always choose to succeed.”

Dyson Lighthall, USU Student Association Eastern regional vice president, was the ceremony’s second speaker. Lighthall is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology with the ultimate goal of entering medical school. Lighthall shared his story of ending up going to school in Price, Utah. Originally thinking of it as a one-year steppingstone, Lighthall recounted all of the amazing things that kept him coming back and how his years at USU Eastern shaped him for the better.

“I consider Price a hidden gem and one of Utah’s best kept secrets,” Lighthall said. “I could go on and on. My best advice to those coming back to Eastern is that you will get out of Eastern what you put into it. Enjoy your time here because it goes by fast. Don’t take for granted all the amazing experiences you’ve had and the lifelong friendships you’ve built while being here at Eastern.”

The keynote speaker was Greg Dart, president of Western Nebraska Community College and former senior associate vice president and chief campus administrator at USU Eastern.

In his message, Dart recounted three life lessons:

There are no shortcuts that make up for a lack of hard work and discipline.
Those who make the most impact, build upon a legacy.
The two most powerful forces on earth are failure and love.

These three lessons were accompanied by stories from Dart’s life that included a fall through the deep snow, stealing and replacing 14 photographs, and the quick coming and going of a foster child. Dart added quotes from several famous achievers including Isaac Newton, Theodore Roosevelt, and even fictional soccer coach Ted Lasso.

“I have just a few more words for you,” Dart said in closing. “Work hard. Avoid shortcuts. Honor and build on tradition yet leave your own legacy. Don’t be afraid to fail. And … I love you.”

After the speech, Miller awarded the Val J. Halamandaris Caring Award to Prisma Mendez Herrera. USU President Elizabeth R. Cantwell then provided a short message and conferred upon the students their degrees. Once the graduates received their diplomas, Matthew White, vice president of Advancement and president of the USU Foundation, delivered a welcome address.

Located in picturesque Price, Utah State University Eastern provides the best of both worlds for students — the personalized attention and small student-to-faculty ratio of a small-town college, with the educational opportunities and resources of a large university. USU Eastern boasts student government opportunities, clubs and programs like theater, choir, and the award-winning student newspaper “The Eagle,” as well as its own athletic program. USU Eastern provides personal or professional development training, technical education in Health Professions, Technical Careers and Business, as well as associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees and certificates of proficiency. Learn more at eastern.usu.edu.