March 20, 2009
For Immediate Release

For an Interview:
Erin Spurgeon
(801) 863-6807

LDS President Monson to Speak to UVU Grads, Receive Honorary Degree

Thomas S. Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will be the featured speaker at Utah Valley University’s 68th Commencement May 1. He and Frances, his wife of nearly 60 years, will also be presented with honorary degrees from UVU, as will long-time friend of UVU Phyllis Christensen.

"President Monson has been a long-time supporter of Utah Valley University and its students, and we are pleased he has agreed to address our graduating class of 2009," said Elizabeth Hitch, UVU's interim president. "Our mission is to 'prepare professionally competent people of integrity who, as life-long learners and leaders, serve as stewards of a globally interdependent community.' President Monson provides a model for students of those characteristics that we hope they demonstrate as graduates of this institution of higher learning. We look forward to hearing his message."

Monson’s remarks will be given during UVU’s Main Commencement Ceremony, which will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the McKay Center. A former member of the state Board of Regents, Monson has visited UVU multiple times, most recently to attend ceremonies commemorating university status in July 2008. He attended the institution’s groundbreaking for the Orem campus in 1975.

Monson will address a graduating class projected to be UVU’s largest ever. Unofficially, UVU will graduate 3,743 students compared to 3,287 last year and 3,153 in 2007 (official graduation numbers are released in the summer). This growth in graduates reflects rising enrollment at UVU, especially recently. With more than 26,000 students, UVU is now the second-largest state university in Utah.

Prior to Commencement, convocations will be held for the College of Humanities, School of Education and University College beginning at 8 a.m. Beginning at 12:30 p.m., afternoon convocations will be held for the College of Technology & Computing, College of Science & Health, School of the Arts and Woodbury School of Business.

About President Monson
Monson was named the 16th president of the LDS Church in February 2008. In addition to church service that includes more than 44 years as an LDS Apostle, Monson was appointed by Ronald Reagan to the President's Task Force for Private Sector Initiatives and is the recipient of the Silver Buffalo, the highest accolade given by the Boy Scouts of America.

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Written by:
Brad Plothow
(801) 863-7149