Spring commencement exercises honored students graduating from BYU’s doctoral, master’s and baccalaureate programs at the Marriott Center on April 21. Nearly 6,000 students received degrees according to President Kevin J Worthen.
Susan Sirrine, a mother of five, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in family history after nine years of study. She said her youngest daughter is also graduating this year with a high school diploma.
“It feels wonderful,” Sirrine said. “It took me a long time, a lot of late nights helping my kids, and now I’ve been able to do this for myself.”
Elder L. Whitney Clayton, Senior President of the Quorum of the Seventy, gave the commencement address about strengthening connections with family, friends and God.
“Our connection with heaven is the most valuable blessing we have and the most important one we can secure,” Elder Clayton said. “It strengthens every other worthy connection in our lives.”
President Worthen conferred an honorary doctoral degree upon Ambassador Su Ge, who received a Doctor of International Leadership. An honorary degree is the highest degree the university has the power to give, according to President Worthen.
In his greeting address, President Worthen encouraged graduates to press on with an eternal perspective in their future work and family affairs.
“As we celebrate your past accomplishments and look forward to your future, I urge you to view things from an eternal perspective, in the light of God’s great plan of salvation,” President Worthen said. “As you do so, your past, present and future will be more meaningful, more fruitful and more joyful.”
