At the U, Chloe Carr excelled academically while being deeply involved in the community. She completed her degree in two and a half years, was a business scholar, a member of Pi Beta Phi and the director of media for HerCampus Utah, among many other extracurricular activities. And, of course, Carr joined the MUSS and frequently attended athletic events.

Sam Aguilar’s path to becoming the University of Utah’s 2022 Commencement student speaker is long and winding. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, he and his family trekked north when he was six years old. A “Dreamer” under DACA, 31-year-old Aguilar will recount that fraught childhood experience and his circuitous route to a double major in kinesiology and writing and rhetoric studies.

After putting off school to raise her child, Kirsten Caron is graduating with a degree in psychology and a certificate in applied positive psychology at age 43. Caron first attended the U when she was 18 to study film. She then got married, moved away and had her child, Skylar.

Miranda Stewart, who graduated with majors in sociology and international studies, was the student speaker and noted that her graduating class was dealt some challenging hands.

Student speaker Alisa Cloward came to Utah after living in Japan for 17 years with her parents and 11 siblings. She will graduate this year with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and as part of the Miller Enrichment Scholarship program.

Hodan Abdi, a Somali refugee who fled to Ethiopia with her family, spoke to students at commencement about her experience at the U and dream of becoming a doctor.