ST. GEORGE, Uta — Utah Tech University celebrated the 2025 graduating class of 3,088 students at its 114th Commencement ceremonies this week.
To accommodate friends and family of the growing collective body of UT graduates, four commencement ceremonies were held on May 1 and 2 in the M. Burns Arena on Utah Tech’s campus.
The 2025 graduating class included the following local students:
Olivia Cobian of Littlefield,
McKenzie Polhert of Lake Havasu City, AZ
Denise Ruiz-Chavez of Beaver Dam, AZ
Mindy Rivera of Desert Springs, AZ
Max Barlow of Hildale, UT
Veronica Ruiz of Littlefield, Arizona
Zittlalis Gonzalez of Littlefield, AZ
Chloe Elliott of Kingman, AZ
Savanna Blackwell of Logandale, NV
With 3,088 individual graduates and 3,547 total degrees and certificates awarded, the 2025 class stands as a testament to the university’s commitment to hands-on learning, innovation and student success.
“Today, we celebrate not just a milestone in our graduates’ academic journeys, but the pioneering spirit of resilience, innovation and purpose that defines Utah Tech University,” University President Shane B. Smeed said. “I am confident these graduates are well prepared to enter the workforce and make a difference in their industries and communities.”
This year, each college named one student as its Valedictorian, who each spoke at their specific commencement ceremony, including:
- College of Arts – Kensington Owens
- College of Business – Teancom Denevan
- College of Education – Jordan Boyce
- College of Health Sciences – Evan D. Thomas
- College of Humanities & Social Sciences – Emma Mancuso
- College of Science, Engineering, & Technology – Rachel L. Krupnek
- University College – Victoria Wallentine
For more information about Utah Tech University, visit utahtech.edu.
