By the numbers: More than 11,100 degrees awarded at 4 Church school graduations during spring 2023 commencements
April 2023 marked commencements at BYU, BYU–Idaho, BYU–Hawaii and Ensign College
![merlin_2976205.jpg](https://deseret.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1a51f04/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1980+0+10/resize/706x466!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FED22brZTANgBsnxq6bvmwlS96ho%3D%2F0x0%3A3000x2000%2F3000x2000%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281500x1000%3A1501x1001%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F24619023%2Fmerlin_2976205.jpg)
Brigham Young University students stand during the conferring of degrees during the university’s commencement in the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on Thursday, April 27, 2023.
Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
By the numbers: More than 11,100 degrees awarded at 4 Church school graduations during spring 2023 commencements
April 2023 marked commencements at BYU, BYU–Idaho, BYU–Hawaii and Ensign College
![merlin_2976205.jpg](https://deseret.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1a51f04/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1980+0+10/resize/706x466!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FED22brZTANgBsnxq6bvmwlS96ho%3D%2F0x0%3A3000x2000%2F3000x2000%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281500x1000%3A1501x1001%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F24619023%2Fmerlin_2976205.jpg)
Brigham Young University students stand during the conferring of degrees during the university’s commencement in the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on Thursday, April 27, 2023.
Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
In April 2023, students walked away with more than 11,100 degrees at Brigham Young University, BYU–Idaho, BYU–Hawaii and Ensign College. Their degrees — associates, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorates — along with more than 1,300 certificates, were celebrated at commencement exercises for each institution of higher learning.
See below for the degrees awarded at each school, with a quote from each commencement speaker.
Brigham Young University
![Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks to BYU graduates gathered in the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, during commencement exercises on Thursday, April 27, 2023.](https://deseret.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d06bbd6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2400x1600+0+0/resize/730x487!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FBUHjow42xLT-88x1NhC-x7x0lbg%3D%2F0x0%3A2400x1600%2F2400x1600%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281200x800%3A1201x801%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F24615919%2F2304_44_Commencement_0854.jpg)
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks to BYU graduates gathered in the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, during commencement exercises on Thursday, April 27, 2023.
Nate Edwards, BYU
![A graphic show BYU graduating class had: 6,812 graduates (2022-2023 academic year); 5,332 bachelor’s degrees; 1,222 master’s degrees; 258 doctoral degrees; oldest graduate was 78 years old; plus a quote and photo of Elder Christofferson.](https://deseret.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c2e4957/2147483647/strip/true/crop/446x681+0+0/resize/300x458!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FCp6lYkLbwH-dG9VjYeBEysUabZc%3D%2F0x0%3A446x681%2F446x681%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28223x341%3A224x342%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F24636108%2FBYUGraduation.jpg)
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke at Brigham Young University’s spring commencement on April 27, 2023.
Church News graphic
- 6,812 graduates (2022-2023 academic year)
- 5,332 bachelor’s degrees
- 1,222 master’s degrees
- 258 doctoral degrees
- Oldest graduate was 78 years old
“In the years ahead, work hard to preserve and wisely exercise your own moral agency, and work equally hard to preserve and provide that same blessing of moral agency to others. Let us all be agents rather than objects.”
— Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, to BYU graduates on April 27, 2023
Brigham Young University–Hawaii
![BYU–Hawaii graduates, family and friends fill the Cannon Activities Center.](https://deseret.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/74dce9b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6720x4480+0+0/resize/730x487!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhXOv6vU7wWIIRElwcE_rb6sULYQ%3D%2F0x0%3A6720x4480%2F6720x4480%2Ffilters%3Afocal%283360x2240%3A3361x2241%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F24587753%2F0V6A6279.jpg)
BYU–Hawaii graduates and family and friends fill the Cannon Activities Center on the Laie, Hawaii, campus for commencement exercises on April 14, 2023.
Zane Saenz, BYU–Hawaii
![Graphic shows BYU–Hawaii had 418 degrees awarded; 389 bachelor’s degrees; 26 associate degrees; 3 teaching certificates; graduates represent 34 countries; with a photo of Elder Cordón, and a quote from graduation.](https://deseret.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a07e95f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/447x680+0+0/resize/300x456!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FUgduQsZObd6XLAajD7kY_Yl1N7I%3D%2F0x0%3A447x680%2F447x680%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28224x340%3A225x341%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F24636140%2FBYUHawaii_Graduation.jpg)
Elder Valeri V. Cordón, General Authority Seventy, spoke at BYU–Hawaii’s commencement on April 14, 2023.
Church News graphic
- 418 degrees awarded
- 389 bachelor’s degrees
- 26 associate degrees
- 3 teaching certificates
- Graduates represent 34 countries
“If we want to reach a celestial port, we need to build our ship after the manner of God. In our journey we need to balance our profession, family, church, studies, etc. There are many things that can distract us from serving God and being leaders in our families and communities.”
— Elder Valeri V. Cordón, General Authority Seventy, to BYU–Hawaii graduates on April 14, 2023
Ensign College
![Ensign College graduates, including one holding a flag, line up for processional outside the Assembly Hall.](https://deseret.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e6d8477/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4806x3204+0+0/resize/730x487!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FA3_P1QjflD0jR76Mss1kiTfqSRs%3D%2F0x0%3A4806x3204%2F4806x3204%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282403x1602%3A2404x1603%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F24570317%2FIMG_2129.jpg)
Ensign College graduates line up for processional during commencement exercises held in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square on April 7, 2023.
Laryssa Gasparini, Ensign College
![Graphic showing Ensign College had: 1,489 graduates; awarded 26 bachelor’s degrees; 332 associate degrees; 1,310 certificates; plus a photo of Elder McConkie and a quote from graduation.](https://deseret.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7a744c0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/485x733+0+0/resize/300x453!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FrUHyo4vjvlgb--t3QQbOsQ9GUvw%3D%2F0x0%3A485x733%2F485x733%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28243x367%3A244x368%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F24636162%2FEnsignCollegeGraduation.jpg)
Elder James W. McConkie III, General Authority Seventy, spoke at Ensign College’s commencement on April 7, 2023.
Church News graphic
- 1,489 graduates
- 26 bachelor’s degrees
- 332 associate degrees
- 1,310 certificates
“We hope that you will always be resilient and grounded, ready to venture into the unknown and to learn, through opposition, to be righteous and happy and to embrace the lifelong curriculum of discipleship.”
— Elder James W. McConkie III, General Authority Seventy, to Ensign College graduates on April 7, 2023
Brigham Young University–Idaho
![230406_Commencement_062.jpg](https://deseret.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a421903/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x3411+0+0/resize/730x415!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FcroSXS_ly8M1l7qw6t6A-MKRG8E%3D%2F0x0%3A6000x3411%2F6000x3411%2Ffilters%3Afocal%283000x1706%3A3001x1707%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F24569177%2F230406_Commencement_062.jpg)
BYU-Idaho graduates gather in the BYUI-Center for commencement in Rexburg, Idaho, on Thursday, April 6, 2023.
Mike Lewis, BYU–Idaho
![Graphic showing that BYU–Idaho had: 3,116 graduates; 2,439 bachelor’s degrees; 1,133 associate degrees. Of the 3,116 graduates ... 1,203 were online students and 1,265 began their studies as BYU–Pathway Worldwide students. Also, a photo and quote from Brother Wilcox.](https://deseret.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f21de0e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/488x725+0+0/resize/300x446!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FrX2b8eUiiw7JowCLwn7Wc9fIp_4%3D%2F0x0%3A488x725%2F488x725%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28244x363%3A245x364%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F24636170%2FBYUIdaho_Graduation.jpg)
Brother Bradley R. Wilcox of the Young Men general presidency spoke to BYU–Idaho graduates at commencement on April 6, 2023
Church News graphic
- 3,116 graduates
- 2,439 bachelor’s degrees
- 1,133 associate degrees
Of the 3,116 graduates ...
- 1,203 were online students
- 1,265 began their studies as BYU–Pathway Worldwide students
“When you think back on your graduation, I hope it will remind you that you are a child of God — not merely His creation. You are a child of the covenant ... . You are a disciple of Jesus Christ — not merely one who follows but one who leads.”
— Brother Bradley R. Wilcox, of the Young Men general presidency, to BYU–Idaho graduates, on April 6, 2023