Clouds and rain in downtown Salt Lake City on Thursday did little to dampen the spirits of more than 500 students who celebrated their hard work and academic achievement at the 122nd LDS Business College commencement.
This year's graduates received 336 two-year degrees and 185 one-year certificates during the ceremony at Assembly Hall on Temple Square, according to spokeswoman Louise Brown. Overall enrollment at the institution is about 1,400 students, most of whom are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In addressing the graduates, LDS College president J. Lawrence Richards stressed the importance of using the lessons that education can teach to become productive when students go out into the world.
"Only heaven knows for sure where you will be five or 10 years from now," he said. "We pray that you will have developed wisdom ?— the power to judge rightly — and are following the best course of action based upon knowledge, experience and your ability to hear and heed the still, small voice. … When we meet again in 10 years, we pray that the legacy you have built will be one of service to family, church and community — that you have spent your time lifting others."
"Now is the time to decide where we will go," student Katie Van Tienderen said in her commencement address. "No matter where we are from, or how old we are, our lives are now changing.
"We are now going out into the world with this knowledge ready to either continue our education or start out into the real world and find a job," she said. "With this change comes the need for courage."
Overcome with emotion, student Stacey Jean Bowman offered heartfelt congratulations to all of her fellow graduates. And with the enthusiasm that comes with youthful exuberance, she implored the graduates to pursue their dreams.
"We have accomplished a worthwhile goal in attaining an education," she said.
"Continue to set worthwhile goals and work diligently to reach them. Our futures are exciting and limitless!" Bowman said through tears.
Among the current and former students honored at the event was 1981 graduate and entrepreneur Joseph T. Sorenson, the recipient of the 2009 Distinguished Alumnus Award and principal owner of Endeavor Capital Group.
The last person to address the audience was Elder Paul V. Johnson, commissioner of the church educational system, who spoke about the different ways that people face difficult life circumstances.
"When faced with challenging times or events, some people complain and blame circumstances or other people for their problems," he said.
Others seem to live in the past and dwell on how things used to be, while others dream about the future without giving their all to positively impact their own lives, he said.
"Your individual future is either bright or cloudy, depending on you," he told the graduates. "I guarantee that you will face challenges. … But remember, your future is bright."
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