The graduates of Salt Lake Community College's 44th commencement didn't let it rain on their parade Friday night. As the wind pounded the microphone and clouds blackened the sky, the 1,550 proud graduates stepped up to receive their diplomas.
As it has been done in the past, the exercises began at 6 p.m. as the graduates filed to the Redwood Center's campus quad, 4600 S. Redwood Road, outside the Jay L. Nelson administration building. They were greeted with an occasional cheer from friends and family members who were scattered throuhout 3,000 spectators in the standing-room-only crowd.After formally greeting the crowd, SLCC President Frank W. Budd addressed the graduates and encouraged them to continue the search for knowledge.
"You are prepared to go into the work force, but remember that commencement does not mean the end--it means the beginning."
Student speaker John Fackler, an accounting major who will continue his studies at the University of Utah, said that the preparation for life is like basic training.
"We have concluded our basic training at SLC."
Fackler, complimented the college's administration and went on to explain what was expected of the graduates.
"We not only have the challenge, but we have the duty of seeing that future generations enjoy the same or better conditions that we enjoy," he said. "We have the duty to see that high-quality public and higher education systems continue in Utah. We have the challenge to see that they are properly funded."
In keeping with the Earth Summit now under way in Rio de Janeiro, Fackler stressed the importance of the environment.
"We also have the duty of putting our acquired knowledge to work in preserving Mother Earth and her precious resources. Each of us will leave here tonight with more dedication, ability and knowledge than we had when we first arrived. We leave...with the ability to make a difference.
The graduates were presented by Dr. Ann Erickson, academic vice president, who said that each "of us must love and accept differences because in spite of them, we are very much alike."
Dr. Joan Burnisde, a member of the SLCC Board of Trustees, accepted the graduates with a challenge to "examine, evaluate and define the purpose of each action" to further the success of life.
During the tow-hour ceremony, Dr. Lombardo F. Palma and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, were awarded Honorary Doctorate degrees in Humane Letters. And President Frank W. Budd presented SLCC's 1992 Teaching Excellence Awards to Ronald L. Ash, Grace K. Birch, George Miyatake, Nicole Stansbury and Rodney W. Walker.