Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — For Calli Dressen, a college degree has been eight years in the making.
Family, work and a baby have taken the Salt Lake City native to various places across the country. But Thursday was the culmination of years of work, late nights and lengthy assignments at the University of Utah for Dressen, who now holds a bachelor's degree in psychology.
"It feels so good. Huge weight lifted off my shoulders," she said. "I loved it. It was a lot of fun."
Dressen and other graduates of the U. were encouraged to remember that "care is as important as career, heart is as important as head, and family is as important as fame."
That was the counsel of national policy and thought leader Anne-Marie Slaughter, the university's featured commencement speaker Thursday.
"Family in many different incarnations is not the thing that you have to struggle to make time for as you reach for the stars," Slaughter said. "Family is the foundation of your ability to thrive."
Slaughter is an author, esteemed professor at Princeton University, and the president and CEO of New America. In that company, she leads a team of scientists, technologists and economists in finding solutions to problems of national security, health, education and other issues.
This year, Utah's flagship university awarded 8,761 degrees to 8,291 graduates, down slightly from 8,830 degrees given to 8,363 people last year.
Roughly two-thirds of this year's awards were bachelor's degrees, one-fourth were master's degrees, 7 percent were doctorates, and the remaining 3 percent consisted of juris doctors, doctors of medicine and doctors of pharmacy.
The university's class of 2016 represented 23 Utah counties, all 50 U.S. states and more than 90 countries.
The U. also awarded four honorary degrees. Kem C. Gardner was given a doctor of business for his contributions in building Utah's business economy. Lynette Nielsen Gay received a doctor of humane letters for her humanitarian contributions in Africa. Kirk M. Ririe received a doctor of science in recognition of his innovative work in science. And George D. Smith was given a doctor of humanities for his influence and contributions to the publishing industry.
Gay's award sparked controversy prior to commencement, with some students and university administrators opposed because of her association with the World Congress of Families, a global consortium of organizations that advocate for traditional marriage.
Because the congress opposes gay marriage, roughly two dozen graduates turned their backs in protest while Gay received her award. A few others held signs and chanted outside the Jon M. Huntsman Center prior to commencement.
But most who gathered at the U. on Thursday gave cheers and applause for Gay, as for the other honorees.
In his address, U. President David Pershing encouraged the graduates to keep a positive outlook on life, even when the circumstances may seem bleak.
"Cynical headlines have spelled doom and gloom for many graduating classes," Pershing said. "Every generation before you has had big concerns, and each has gone on to aid the progression of society through individual actions."
Slaughter echoed Pershing's counsel, calling on students to build on Utah's work ethic "that is as communal as it is strong."
"Strive and struggle and work really hard," she said. "But always, always make room for the precious, indispensable and priceless work of care." Email: mjacobsen@deseretnews.com Twitter: MorganEJacobsen
