PROVO, Utah, August 7, 2021 – Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP) celebrated recent graduates during its summer commencement ceremony held at the Utah Valley Convention Center, with 115 graduates participating in person and 34 graduates virtually.
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Mark Horacek, PT, MS, PhD, told graduates, “This day represents the culmination of years of dedicated study and the recognition and celebration of your academic accomplishments. You have demonstrated your ability to dedicate yourself to a noble purpose. To persevere in the face of difficulty and to defer immediate gratification for something more important and more significant in the future. That future has arrived for you today. “
Horacek recognized the challenges graduates faced over the past year, particularly with the COVID-19 pandemic and now the unknown that the Delta variant may bring, and commended them for their persistence in moving forward to reach their graduation.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced RMUoHP to host the past four commencement ceremonies virtually, so this commencement ceremony not only brought together the summer 2021 graduates but those who were unable to participate in person over the past year. While many graduates came to the ceremony in Provo, a live stream of the event and virtual participation allowed graduates to be celebrated from a distance. With the live stream, over 1,600 viewed the proceedings online, commenting and celebrating with their graduates.
The commencement address was given by Cameron Martin, PhD, Vice President of Operations and Chief of Staff. Martin invited graduates to “remember this [day] and other meaningful and memorable moments in your life; thus, becoming your own best master teacher.”
Remarking that life is full of moments, whether blissful, tragic, or other, he said, “Every such moment, and countless others, that give you cause to reflect and refine, to learn and unlearn, to act and become a better person, are moments that I encourage you to remember by recording them…in a way that helps you remember their significance and meaningfulness — so the lessons learned are not forgotten, and continue to mold and guide you in positive ways…”
Martin shared some of his personal creeds with graduates, “hoping that what you hear and feel will create a personal learning experience that motivates you to be your own best master teacher”: look for ways to be of service versus any excuse not to be; how you respond influences the quality of the outcome; choose to not be offended; and lead from where you are.
Martin added, “The ability to lead yourself as well as those around you to be better, do better, and become better does not require a title or position of authority; but rather, it requires the humility, attitude, and fortitude to follow, inspire, and act consistently, regardless of circumstance, true to your ethos — your creed — and the core values and mission of the organizations to which you are associated.”
Citing the university’s core values, Martin told graduates to be the leader and professional who will be evidence-based, learning-centered, authentic, service-oriented, trustworthy, inclusive, and collaborative. “I charge you to live by and champion these core values in all you do, so people may look to you to lead from where you are,” said Martin.
As the ceremony concluded, RMUoHP Founding President and CEO Richard P. Nielsen, PT, DHSc, ECS, told graduates, “We look forward to our future association with you as alumni and encourage you to take every opportunity to grow through being anxiously engaged in service to humanity in both small and magnificent ways.”
Quoting Mother Teresa, he added, “You don’t have to do great things; just do small and simple things in great ways. Be that instrument that influences the world, that unites others to great causes,and that inspires change.”
This commencement ceremony included graduates from each of the master and doctoral programs offered at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.
About Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
Founded in 1998 and located in Provo, Utah, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP) is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, an institutional accrediting commission recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. RMUoHP offers high-quality, evidence-based, and outcomes-oriented healthcare programs. www.rm.edu
