It’s time to celebrate the University of Utah’s class of 2024! For many of the students graduating this year, their higher education journey began amid a global pandemic.

“Despite facing unprecedented challenges, you persevered, and the degree you’ve earned is a testament to your hard work, resilience, and dedication,” said U President Taylor Randall. “Now, armed with your education, you’re on the brink of an exciting future filled with possibility.”

The 155th General Commencement will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 2 at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. In-person college convocations will be held in the Alumni House, Huntsman Center, Kingsbury Hall and Union Building on May 2 and 3. The Colleges of Law and Pharmacy will hold their ceremonies on May 10, and the Schools of Dentistry and Medicine will hold theirs on May 17.

“Regardless of where your journey takes you next, I encourage you to harness the skills and knowledge you’ve gained to become an agent of positive change,” Randall said. “At the U, we’re guided by a vision to inspire, innovate, and serve as we work toward becoming a university with unsurpassed societal impact. Let these values guide you, too, as you build your future and contribute to our global society.”

Eron Powell, graduating with a bachelor’s of science in biology, is this year’s student commencement speaker. Powell began his college experience plagued with a variety of worries— from how a health condition would impact his education, to succeding in a challenging course, to finding community in a new place. 

“It was three suggestions from an advisor that helped me get through,” Powell said in his commencement address. “One: Be willing to rely on others. Two: Be willing to let others rely on you. Three: Be ready to succeed.”

Throughout his years at the U, Powell says he often thought about that last piece of advice. 

“Do we allow ourselves to succeed?” he said “Do we believe we can be excellent people?”

Read more student stories from the Class of 2023 here.

“It’s truly remarkable—the resilience this graduating class has shown, especially throughout the challenges brought on by the pandemic,” said Lori McDonald, vice president for Student Affairs. “As faculty and staff, we’ve witnessed them overcome obstacles, learn from their experiences, and discover more about themselves along the way. And now, we’re ready to cheer them on as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.”

Founder and president of Interfaith America, Eboo Patel, will be this year’s keynote commencement speaker. He is also one of the U’s Impact Scholars. 

Patel says his message for today’s college students is to be leaders.

“Be the pilot, not the passenger,” Patel said. “It’s the pilot’s job not just to guide the plane through turbulence but to remain calm and give people confidence. And that’s the kind of leadership we need right now. We need people to set up and ask the question: How am I going to make this situation better?”

By the numbers

Students in the Class of 2024 represent 24 Utah counties, 56 U.S. states and territories and 64 foreign countries.

• 8,652 graduates
• 9,266 degrees (some graduates receive more than one degree); 5,903 bachelor’s degrees; 2,413 master’s degrees; 644 doctoral degrees; 96 juris doctors; 112 doctors of medicine; 81 doctors of nursing practice; 47 doctors of pharmacy; and 51 doctors of dentistry
• 4,179 self-identified men, 4,414 self-identified women and 59 nonbinary/unidentified
• 3.471 is the average undergraduate grade point average
• 24 is the average age of bachelor’s degree recipients; the youngest graduating undergraduate is 16, the oldest is 67
• 31 is the average age of students receiving graduate degrees; the youngest is 21 and the oldest is 69
• The top 10 undergraduate majors are: psychology, biology, communication, health/kinesiology, computer science, nursing, finance, games, economics, political science
• 531 graduates are receiving honors degrees
• 335 veterans are receiving degrees

Speakers

President Taylor Randall will officiate
Student speaker: Eron Powell, who is graduating with a degree in biology
Keynote speaker: Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith America

Special awards

• Honorary doctoral degrees will be presented to Pamela J. Atkinson, Catherine Roper Meldrum and Steven G. Parker.
• The Rosenblatt Prize for Excellence, a $50,000 cash award and the most prestigious honor the university bestows on its faculty, will be announced separately.
• Faculty receiving special awards will be recognized in a video during the commencement ceremony.

Schedule for college convocations

• In-person college convocations will be held May 2-3, 2023.

Join the event

• Friends and family are welcome to watch from seats in the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
• The event can be live-streamed here.
• Information for parking on campus can be found here.
• Graduates are encouraged to share memories of their time at the U and graduation photos on social media using #UtahGrad24.