ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SECOND College of Life Sciences Convocation Brigham Young University April 28, 2017 5:00 p.m. Marriott Center Program University Representative Brian K. Evans Chief Financial Officer and Administrative Vice President Welcome Dean James Porter Invocation Chris Nielson Student Address Emily Barrett Vocal Solo Aubrey Odle “Lord, I Would Follow Thee” Christopher Madsen, accompanist Music by K. Newell Dayley Lyrics by Susan Evans McCloud Student Address Andrew Thomas Nilsen Distinguished Service Award Dr. Marion Bennion Stevens Presentation of Diplomas Deans and Department Chairs Remarks Dean James Porter Benediction Stephen Kasper Prelude and Recessional Music Sheri Peterson The audience will please remain seated until the recessional is complete. Distinguished Service Award Recipient MARION BENNION STEVENS Born in Murray, Utah, in 1925, Marion Stevens was raised in the remote Utah town of Delta. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from Utah State University in dietetics in 1947, she left Utah for the first time for an internship in New York City at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. Following her internship, she received a master’s in dietetics from Columbia University in 1949 before serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1950 to 1952 in what was then called the East Central States Mission. After returning from her mission, Stevens was hired at BYU by President Ernest L. Wilkinson as a faculty member in the former College of Family Living—under one condition: that she earn a PhD. Stevens followed through and moved to Wisconsin, where she received her PhD in food science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1956. Stevens worked as a professor in BYU’s Department of Food Science and Nutrition from 1952 to 1977. She served as department chair from 1955 to 1960 and again from 1962 to 1969. In addition to her work as a professor, Stevens was a member of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services for the U.S. Department of Defense from 1965 to 1968 and a delegate to the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health in 1969. In 1974 she was awarded the Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Teaching Award from Brigham Young University. Upon meeting her husband, Wayne Stevens, at age 50, Stevens decided to leave BYU and move to El Paso, Texas, where Wayne was working. Despite having left her position, Stevens didn’t let her relationship with BYU die. “I love working with the students at BYU,” she says. “That’s the best part of the whole job.” To continue helping BYU students succeed, Stevens set up the Beryl Hamilton Scholarship Fund in memory of her mother, who in 1920 was one of the earliest female graduates of the University of Utah. Stevens and her husband have returned to Utah Valley, and they continue to contribute to the scholarship fund. When asked if she has a secret to aging well or to enjoying life, Stevens says it’s important to use our brains. She says, “Have a positive attitude and do the best that you can.” Honored Students The following students were chosen by their departments as exemplary student representatives. The speakers and prayers have been selected from among these students. Emily Barrett, graduating cum laude in nutritional science, is the daughter of Bill and Mary Allen of Lehi, Utah, and the wife of Jordan Barrett. Emily was awarded a nutritional science grant and was on the dean’s list. Her hobbies include painting with watercolors, running, and baking. After graduation she plans to pursue a master’s degree in nutritional science and dietetics at the University of Utah. Cecily Eileen Fitch, graduating magna cum laude in wildlife and wildlands conservation with a second major in French studies, is the daughter of Shawn and Stephanie Wilson of Yakima, Washington, and the wife of Mark Fitch. Cecily served in the Madagascar Antananarivo Mission, and she teaches French at the Provo Missionary Training Center. She received a full-tuition, merit-based scholarship from BYU and was on the dean’s list. She also played the flute in the BYU Symphonic Band. Cecily won second place in the impromptu public speaking competition at the Society for Range Management annual meeting in 2016. She loves being outdoors, dancing, and spending time with family. After graduation she will work as a rangeland management specialist for the U.S. Forest Service. Jarom Gropp, graduating summa cum laude in physiology and developmental biology, is the son of Joseph and Janice Gropp of Boise, Idaho. Jarom served in the Armenia Yerevan Mission. He received a four-year, full-tuition scholarship from BYU and was on the dean’s list. He also received a full-tuition scholarship to attend the BYU Jerusalem Center during his final semester. Jarom enjoys music, singing, playing guitar, camping, vacationing, spending time with family and friends, and being nerdy about Tolkien and other high fantasies. After graduation he will work and also apply to medical school. Brooks W. Johnson, graduating summa cum laude in public health with an emphasis in health science, is the son of Reed and Marci Johnson of Gilbert, Arizona, and the husband of Ashlyn Larson Johnson. Brooks served in the Peru Piura Mission. He was a four-time president’s scholar at Mesa Community College and was on the dean’s list at BYU. His interests include volleyball, family, public health (including health promotion and healthcare legislation), political science, government, and all things science. He is currently working as a health coach for Healthways Inc. and will begin medical school this fall, either at the University of Arizona or the Mayo Clinic. Stephen Kasper, graduating summa cum laude in biology, is the son of Eric and Christine Kasper of San Luis Obispo, California. Stephen served in the Italy Rome Mission. He was on the dean’s list and received the Frank C. Holt Scholarship and a Garth L. Lee Undergraduate Teaching Award. He was a research assistant, a chemistry teaching assistant, a program director for the Y-Serve Tutoring Services, and a program director for the National Alliance on Mental Awareness. Stephen loves surfing, running, cycling, carpentry, and his pet cats. After graduation he will attend the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, California. Chris Nielson, graduating cum laude in microbiology, is the son of Chris and Melanie Nielson of Highland, Utah, and the husband of Madison Kieffer Nielson. Chris served in the Russia Samara Mission. At BYU he was on the dean’s list and received an ORCA grant for research in Professor William McCleary’s lab. He enjoys running, intramural flag football, waterskiing, playing piano, and traveling. After graduation he will apply to medical school. Andrew Thomas Nilsen, graduating summa cum laude in exercise science, is the son of Thomas and Jill Nilsen of Oakley, Idaho. Andrew served in the Illinois Chicago Mission. He was on the dean’s list at BYU. For the past three years, he has served as a volunteer country supervisor with the nonprofit organization Liahona Children’s Foundation, where he was responsible for overseeing the foundation’s operations in Peru. He loves running, and he completed the St. George Marathon in 2009. He also likes to spend time with family and friends, travel, and work on genealogy and family history. After graduation he will attend the University of Washington School of Medicine. Music Performers Christopher J. “CJ” Madsen, majoring in piano performance, is the son of Peter and Laura Madsen of Orem, Utah, the husband of Samm Boldrin Madsen, and the father of 10-month- old Hollis. CJ served in the Spanish-speaking North Carolina Raleigh Mission. He was on the BYU academic honor roll from 2014 to 2017. He won the Utah MTNA Composition Competition in 2015 and the BYU Concerto Competition in 2017. He was the accompanist for BYU Men’s Chorus in 2015–2016, and he composed and premiered the original choral work One Fold, One Shepherd in 2016. CJ loves spending time with his wife and daughter. He enjoys reading and also composing, conducting, and arranging music. After graduation he will pursue graduate degrees in choral conducting and will seek a position as a choral professor. Aubrey Odle, pursuing a master’s degree in vocal performance, is the wife of Wayd Odle, and they are the parents of 1-year-old Grant. Aubrey grew up in Portland, Oregon. She enjoys opera, board games, being with family and friends, and playing video games. After she and Wayd, who is majoring in vocal performance, complete their master’s degrees, they plan to go on an audition tour in Europe. Sheri Peterson, who earned a master’s degree in organ performance from BYU in 2016, is the daughter of Mike and Donna Lawyer of Springville, Utah, and the widow of Clay Peterson. She is the dean of the Utah Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and has been published in The American Organist Magazine. Sheri teaches piano and organ lessons and enjoys family history research, gardening, hiking, and spending time with her family. She plans to complete a doctoral degree in musical arts. Scholastic Recognition Summa Cum Laude Tanner Hansen Gray Roger P Chu Taylor Henning Hoj Annica Lyn Cooper Summa cum laude is awarded to the top Mackenzie Erin Jones S Joshua Denison 1.0 percent of those students receiving Megan Therese Modersitzki Eric John Esplin bachelor’s degrees who have earned at least 45 hours of credit at Brigham Young Karson Avery Mostert Bryan O’dell Frandsen University. Shawn Michael Nelson Garrett