The University of Utah College of Nursing held its summer convocation ceremony on Wednesday, August 5, at the A. Ray Olpin Union, honoring 100 graduates: 61 from the pre-licensure program and 39 from the RN-BS program. College Student Council Co-President Justin Ly opened the ceremony before introducing Dean Marla De Jong, PhD, RN, CCNS, FAAN, who spoke to the college's 78-year history as Utah's flagship nursing program and the responsibility graduates carry into the profession. Graduates crossed the stage individually to receive the college's traditional nursing pin, a Maltese cross and beehive symbolizing nursing history and Utah's state identity, followed by their diplomas. Class representative Chelsea Keefer and closing speaker Natasha Ansari, PhD, MSN/Ed., RN, CNE, addressed the graduates before the ceremony concluded with tassels turning from right to left, formally marking the Class of 2026's entry into the profession.
Continue below for excerpts from the ceremony’s featured speeches and photos from the celebration.
"In a world that sometimes feels more divisive and uncertain than ever, draw strength from the community around you, and be the one who illuminates the path forward with compassion, evidence-based and patient-centered care, and unwavering commitment to both those in your care and your colleagues.
"As you leave this ceremony today, you carry your individual achievements and the collective hope of your profession."—Dean Marla De Jong, PhD, RN, CCNS, FAAN
"Today isn’t just about earning a nursing degree. It's about recognizing the countless hours studying, the early mornings and late nights through our clinical shifts, the moments of self doubt when we didn’t meet the CM benchmark and the meaningful and sometimes chaotic conversations we’ve shared with our patients that have helped shape us into the nurses we are today."—Chelsea Keefer
"You will never cease to be amazed by people’s capacity for love, courage, and endurance—and you will never cease to be changed by it. And make no mistake—nursing will change you.
"It will ask more of your heart than you think you can give… and then somehow, you’ll give more.
"Carry this forward. Advocate fiercely. Lead with presence. And never forget: what you do matters. You will touch lives in ways you may never see—but trust me, the impact is real. Those ripples change the world.
—Natasha Ansari PhD, MSN/Ed. RN, CNE
