Southern Utah University has chosen three students to speak at its commencement ceremony later this month, replacing Latter-day Saint apostle Jeffrey R. Holland — who was “excused” from all church assignments over the next two months due to illness.
Holland was initially chosen in mid-March to speak at SUU’s April 28 ceremony, which sparked anger from the LGBTQ+ community, because of an August 2021 speech he gave at Brigham Young University that criticized students and faculty members who spoke out against the faith’s teachings against same-sex marriage.
Despite the outcry, SUU President Mindy Benson confirmed on March 30 that the invitation to Holland would not be withdrawn, saying in an email to students that his “deep roots in southern Utah will help us honor our 125th anniversary.”
Now, with the 82-year-old Holland withdrawing because of the effects of COVID-19, and recent kidney dialysis, the Cedar City school has chosen three student speakers to replace him.
The speakers are: Aspen English, a communication and English double major, and Humanities and Social Sciences valedictorian; Kalli Ostermiller, a political science major; and Sarah J. Penner, a psychology major with a double minor in German and theatre arts.
Every year, one graduating senior speaks at SUU’s commencement ceremony. Penner, who is originally from Layton, was the event’s original student speaker, but English and Ostermiller were the other top finalists selected by the school’s student speaker selection committee.
“I feel super honored; I don’t think the bigness of it has hit me yet,” Penner said. “I have a story to tell, and I feel lucky that I get to connect with my fellow graduating class that way.”
Penner also said she hopes Holland recovers quickly, but she looks forward to sharing the stage with her classmates.
“It was a really difficult situation for a lot of different people. And I think the fact that we’ve chosen other students to take his place is an incredibly diplomatic solution to a difficult situation,” Penner said. “I feel really honored... to be able to represent the entire student body as people who have lived the experience, and been at SUU getting their degree together.”
After graduation, Penner said she hopes to go into crisis management to work with refugees and asylum-seekers, while also advocating for the importance of mental health.
“I’ve been through a lot — and so I think you can either let those things make you bitter, and it can be a bad story to tell or a negative story to tell, or you can turn it into something great and end up speaking at your commencement ceremony,” Penner said. “Just knowing that life is going to be hard no matter what situation you’re in, and [you] try and make the most of it. So that’s what I did with my speech, and I’m excited for people to hear about it.”
Tribune reporter Scott D. Pierce contributed to this story.
