REXBURG, Idaho –
Writer: Alicia Morrell

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will speak at the Brigham Young University–Idaho graduation commencement ceremony on Saturday, April 29 at 9 a.m. in the Hart Auditorium.

Tickets will be required for all graduates and guests attending the commencement ceremony. Graduating students may pick up two complimentary commencement tickets beginning April 24 at the BYU–Idaho Ticket Office. All remaining tickets will be available for purchase April 28 at 12 p.m. Commencement seating will begin at 8 a.m. in the Hart Auditorium. The processional will begin at 8:40 a.m. and commencement will begin at 9 a.m.

A total of 1614 students will receive diplomas at April graduation. Of those, 1201 will be receiving bachelor’s degrees and 431 will be presented associate degrees. There will be 968 females graduating, and 646 males. Nearly half of the graduates, 793, are married students, and 34 are international students. The group of graduates also includes 711 returned missionaries.

In addition to commencement, separate college convocations will be held in which the students’ names will be read and they will receive their diploma covers. No tickets will be required for the convocation ceremonies. Times and location are posted on the BYU–Idaho graduation Web site.

Elder Nelson, an internationally renowned surgeon and medical researcher, received his B.A. and M.D. degrees from the University of Utah and his Ph.D. degree from the University of Minnesota. He has also served on a number of prestigious medical boards and associations. Elder Nelson was called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in April 1984.