ONE HUNDRED AND FORTIETH College of Life Sciences Convocation Brigham Young University April 24, 2015 11:00 a.m. Marriott Center Program Administrative Representative Craig H. Hart Associate Academic Vice President Welcome Dean Rodney J. Brown Invocation Morgan Christiansen Student Address Brady Hunt Vocal Duet Ariana and Eric Fonnesbeck “O Divine Redeemer” Ben Walley, accompanist Words and music by Charles Gounod Student Address Zachary Liechty Presentation of Diplomas Deans and Department Chairs Remarks Dean Rodney J. Brown Benediction Cerissa Hayhurst Prelude and Recessional Music Sheri Peterson The audience will please remain seated until the recessional is complete. Convocation Participants The following are honored students chosen by their departments as exemplary student representatives. The speakers and prayers have been selected from among these students. Morgan Christiansen is the daughter of Stephen and Christy Christiansen of Bountiful, Utah, and is married to Eric Nelson. She is graduating magna cum laude in molecular biology. Morgan received a full-tuition scholarship throughout college and was on the dean’s list six consecutive semesters. She earned a 2014–15 Myriad Excellence Scholarship and the 2014 Garth L. Lee Undergraduate Teaching Award. Morgan served as Life Sciences Student Council vice president from 2014 to 2015 and was in the HART Club presidency from 2013 to 2014. She also was a teaching assistant for organic chemistry for four semesters and a research assistant in an immunology lab. Morgan enjoys running, playing soccer and racquetball, and spending time with her husband and family. After graduation she will be pursuing a graduate degree in molecular biology. Cerissa Hayhurst is the daughter of Ren and Rena Hayhurst of Aliso Viejo, California. She is graduating magna cum laude in public health with an emphasis in health promotion. She served in the Canada Toronto Mission in 2013. Cerissa was on the dean’s list each semester and was awarded a four-year, full-tuition scholarship from the university. She is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi, and Golden Key honor societies. Cerissa has a sincere passion for women’s health issues. She loves reading and sewing and secretly wishes she could become a fashion designer. After graduation she will pursue a master’s in public health at BYU. Brady Hunt is the son of Truman and Linda Hunt of Sandy, Utah. He is married to Bailee Hunsaker Hunt. Brady served in the Thailand Bangkok Mission from 2008 to 2010. He is graduating magna cum laude in biophysics. Brady is a Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) Rise Scholar and a Crocker Innovation Fellow, and he received a grant from the Office of Research and Creative Activities (ORCA). He also earned the distinction of being a Student Innovator of the Year Competition finalist and won third place and Crowd Favorite in the BYU Mobile App Competition. Brady was selected as the Phi Kappa Phi communications chair, competed as an NCAA Division I football athlete, and is a member of the Biophysical Society and the BYU Biomedical Engineering Club. He coauthored a research poster at the 2014 Biophysical Society Meetings in San Francisco. Brady is an avid BYU sports fan who enjoys football, basketball, lacrosse, coaching Jr. Jazz, entrepreneurship, biotechnology, computer programming, creative problem solving, and team triathlons with his wife. After graduation he will attend Rice University in Houston, where he has received a full-ride scholarship to pursue a PhD in bioengineering. Nicholas Jensen is the son of David and Carol Jensen of Cedar Hills, Utah. He is graduating magna cum laude in bioinformatics. Nick was on the dean’s list for seven consecutive semesters. He presented his research at the 2013 Student Research Conference in the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and was a coauthor on two papers on the topics of phylogenetics and transcriptomics, both of which will be submitted for peer review soon. Nick served on a homecoming committee with BYUSA and in the Clubs Night crew. He enjoys running, making chainmail jewelry, dabbling on the banjo, and learning modern and biblical Hebrew, as well as family history and the sciences. He loves large projects, like building a deck or running a marathon, and completed a marathon in Xiamen, China, in January 2015. After graduation he hopes to serve a mission. His long-term goals are marriage and a PhD in biology. Zachary Liechty is the son of Kent and Beth Liechty of Cedar Hills, Utah. He is married to Katie Gerhardt Liechty. Zach served in the Germany Berlin Mission from 2010 to 2012. He is graduating magna cum laude in genetics and biotechnology. Zach was awarded a four-year, full-tuition scholarship and a 2014 Myriad Excellence Scholarship. He also received a research grant from the Office of Research and Creative Activities (ORCA) in 2015. Zach completed an internship with the Max Planck Institute of Chemical Ecology in 2014. He has four publications in peer-reviewed journals and was the president of the BYU Genetics and Biotechnology Club. Zach enjoys filmmaking, camping, hiking, playing the guitar, working with wood, and dinosaurs. After graduation he will pursue a PhD in plant genetics. Daniel Tueller is the son of John and Rebecca Tueller of San Diego. He served in the Washington Spokane Mission from 2009 to 2011. Daniel is graduating summa cum laude in dietetics. He worked for six semesters as a teaching assistant for Dr. Chad Hancock’s section of Nutrition and Metabolism in Sports and Exercise. Daniel also authored a publication and presented at the 2013 Institute of Food Technologists’ Annual Meeting in Chicago. He enjoys playing tennis and mountain biking. After graduation he will complete an accredited dietetics externship and pursue graduate studies in nutritional science. Andrew Welling is the son of Darrel and Kimberly Welling of Bountiful, Utah, and is married to Katie King Welling. Andrew served in the Canada Calgary Mission from 2010 to 2012. He is graduating summa cum laude in exercise science in June. Andrew has been on the dean’s list every semester and received the university’s full-tuition scholarship. He was a coauthor with Dr. Brian Poole on a scientific review, which was published in Immunology Letters. Andrew played on the BYU lacrosse team for three years and received all-conference honors for his position. He also enjoys rock climbing, boating, hiking, playing sports with friends, playing the guitar, and spending time with family. After graduation he will attend dental school at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. Music Performers Ariana Fonnesbeck is the daughter of David and Linda Viera of Danville, California, and is married to Eric Fonnesbeck. She will be graduating in August 2015 with a bachelor of arts degree in music. Ariana was a member of the Concert Choir from 2010 to 2012 and has been a member of the BYU Singers since 2012. She is currently the BYU Singers secretary and alto section leader. Ariana enjoys baking, cooking, competitive swimming, and gardening. She will be an Air Force wife after graduation and plans to run a small baking business out of her home. Eric Fonnesbeck is the son of Robert and Ida Kristine Fonnesbeck of Castro Valley, California. He is married to Ariana Viera Fonnesbeck. Eric served in the Romania and Moldova Mission from 2010 to 2012. He is majoring in global supply chain management. He is the recipient of the G. Roger and Marilyn M. Victor Scholarship and also the William A. and Julia F. Hoops Scholarship (2014–15). He also received the Airlift/Tanker Association Scholarship and an Air Force ROTC full-tuition scholarship. In September he will begin his career as a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force as an acquisitions manager at Hanscom Air Force Base in Boston. Sheri Peterson is the daughter of Mike and Donna Lawyer of Springville, Utah, and the widow of Clay Peterson. She is the mother of six children and two grandchildren. Sheri is dean of the Utah Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. She has published in The American Organist Magazine and teaches piano and organ lessons. Sheri enjoys family history research, gardening, hiking, and spending time with family. She is pursuing a master’s degree in organ performance at BYU and plans to complete a doctoral degree in musical arts. Ben Walley is the son of Glenn and Karen Walley of Richland, Washington. He served in the New Mexico Albuquerque Mission from 2008 to 2010. Ben graduated in music performance with an emphasis in piano from BYU in 2014. He received many prestigious scholarships while he was a student, one of which was the Reid Nibley Award from the School of Music. He enjoys accompanying, making friends, reading, running, and music in a variety of venues. He plans to pursue a master’s degree in piano performance. Scholastic Recognition December 2014 April 2015 Summa Cum Laude 3.99 Summa Cum Laude 4.0 Magna Cum Laude 3.91 Magna Cum Laude 3.93 Cum Laude 3.85 Cum Laude 3.88 Summa Cum Laude Tori Shiann Somerville Rhett James Nance Callie Rose Thackeray Lindsay Denise Nausin Lauren Brook Facer Clinton Joe Ulmer Colton Lee Palmer Jacob Alton Halgren Shelby Anne Williams Houston Reynolds Rachel Diane Jenkins Connor William Woodward Joel Brandon Richards Jessica Elizabeth Rivera Jessica Nicole Jensen DECEMBER 2014 GRADUATES Jacob Delon Selman Kenneth Rodger Miller Blake Ammon Bartholomew Steven Anthony Shatzer Kristin Ruth Prince Steven Dirk Bunker Kristen Ann Stringham Madeline Paige Rippstein