Representing 31 countries, about 200 students (more than half from outside the United States) will receive undergraduate degrees this Saturday at Brigham Young University-Hawaii's fall commencement exercises. Commencement begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Cannon Activities Center. (For a breakdown of countries represented, see below.)
Elder M. Russell Ballard, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will be the featured speaker.
The student speaker will be Ty Dennis, an exercise and sports science major, who will represent the graduating class. The student speaker is selected as a student who is well-rounded in academics and other aspects of university life. BYU-Hawaii will no longer declare valedictorians or salutatorians at commencement.
"As we stress both the academic and the spiritual in the university, we want to have the flexibility to make sure that the speaker is someone who is both academic and spiritual," said Keith Roberts, vice president for academics. Roberts expressed confidence that graduates will leave BYU-Hawaii ready to take action. "The most important thing is that the students, when they leave here, should know what their next step is. Each class gets better at that. If you talk to them and say, 'What are you going to do next?' They'll have an answer."
Tickets are not required to attend the event. However, the public is asked to be seated by 9:00, with processional to begin at 9:15. Following commencement, the president's reception in the Aloha Center Ballroom offers an opportunity to meet graduates.
Elder Ballard (pictured at right) was called as an apostle on October 6, 1985.
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He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 8, 1928, to Melvin R. and Geraldine Smith Ballard. He attended the University of Utah.
Along with the students set to graduate this week, more than 100 others will march but will officially graduate in April. Of the total number marching at December's commencement, there are 184 females and 121 males.
Country, Prospective Grad Count
United States, 95
Korea, Republic of, 11
Hong Kong, 10
Taiwan R.O.C., 9
Japan, 8
Samoa, 8
Fiji, 7
Tonga/South Pacific, 6
New Zealand, 4
Brazil, 3
French Polynesia, 3
Mexico, 3
Mongolia, 3
Philippines, 3
Indonesia, 2
Malaysia, 2
Marshall Islands, 2
Cambodia, 1
Canada, 1
China, 1
Cook Islands, 1
Kiribati, 1
Niue, 1
Pakistan, 1
Papua New Guinea, 1
Romania, 1
South Africa, 1
Thailand, 1
United Kingdom, 1
Venezuela, 1
Vietnam, 1