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OREM — Mitt Romney was announced Tuesday as the speaker for Utah Valley University’s 74th annual commencement ceremony.
The announcement comes on the heels of Romney announcing Friday he would not be running for the 2016 presidential election. Romney has had a lengthy career in politics as the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, 2008 Republican Party presidential candidate and the former governor of Massachusetts.
He also has several ties to Utah, including a degree from Brigham Young University, his service as the CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics and his membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“We are honored to welcome Mitt Romney to our campus as our commencement speaker,” UVU President Matthew S. Holland said in a news release. “His achievements, both public and private, are inspiring and will underscore to our students the tremendous things that can be accomplished after graduation through hard work, continuous learning, and a sense of service… The valuable observations and suggestions he will share with our graduating students will undoubtedly be a highlight of our commencement celebration.”
The UVU Student Association recommended Romney as the 2015 commencement speaker to the Board of Trustees.
“He was at the top of our wish list coming into the school year, and we were elated when he accepted our invitation earlier last fall,” UVU student body president Tyler Brklacich said in a news release. “We are thrilled our students will have the chance to hear from one of the nation’s leading figures in industry and public service.”
The commencement ceremony will also honor two public figures as honorary degree recipients — Pamela Atkinson, founding member and former chair of the UVU National Presidential Advisory Board, and recently deceased, former Speaker of the House, Becky Lockhart.
UVU’s commencement will be held April 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the UCCU Center.
