By Marcus Jensen | Utah State University

PRICE, Utah — Brock Johansen, general manager and CEO of Emery Telcom, will be the commencement speaker at Utah State University Eastern’s 2025 commencement ceremony. The ceremony will be conducted inside the Bunnell-Dmitrich Athletic Center on April 26, honoring the 2025 graduating class.

Commencement will be conducted by Chief Campus Administrator Doug Miller. Class Valedictorian Taya Cowley and USUSA Eastern Regional Vice President B. Shaun Bryner will each be student speakers. Miller will then introduce Johansen, who will deliver the commencement address.

Following the remarks of Johansen, Miller will introduce the Val J. Halamandaris Caring Award recipient, Mabel Suarez. This will be followed by the conferring of degrees by USU Interim President Al Smith.

The commencement ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. For more information, visit eastern.usu.edu/graduation.

Brock Johansen

General Manager and CEO of Emery Telcom

Brock Johansen is the general manager and CEO of Emery Telcom in Orangeville, Utah. He is charged with planning, coordinating and controlling the company’s day-to-day business activities, developing and sustaining organization structure, and management of the company’s subsidiaries.

Johansen represents the company’s interest in political and regulatory issues on both the state and federal levels. Emery Telcom provides landlines, fiber back haul, cable television, internet, computers and electronics. Emery Telcom has networks in Utah and Colorado.

Johansen is a graduate of the J. Rueben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University and has a business degree from the Marriott School of Management at BYU.

Taya Cowley

Valedictorian

Growing up in Cleveland, Utah, Cowley spent her childhood alongside her three siblings, guided by her supportive parents, Keaton and MacKell. From a young age, she developed a passion for academics, which propelled her to excel throughout her education.

Ranked at the top of her class at Emery High School, Cowley served as senior class president, general Sterling Scholar, and Honor Society reporter. Her leadership and academic achievements earned her the title of region runner-up in the general Sterling Scholar competition.

After high school, Cowley continued her dedication to leadership and service as a USU Eastern ambassador and an Aggies Elevated mentor. She finds joy in lifting others and fostering a sense of community wherever she goes. Her journey has been shaped by hard work, compassion and a strong sense of duty — values that have guided her through challenges, strengthened friendships and allowed her to make a meaningful difference.

This June, Cowley will embark on her next adventure, serving a mission in Australia for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Ambria Migliori

Salutatorian

A graduate from Emery High School and a member of the National Honor Society, Ambria Migliori has demonstrated exceptional academic dedication, achieving top-tier grades while balancing a variety of extracurricular activities.

Additionally, Migliori was honored as an Academic All-State student-athlete in girls tennis, reflecting her dedication both in the classroom and on the court. Migliori enjoys the outdoors where she actively hikes, canyoneers and looks for fossils. She is graduating with an Associate of Science degree.

After graduation, Migliori plans to continue her education at Utah State University in Logan to study engineering, drafting and design.

B. Shaun Bryner

USUSA Eastern Regional Vice President

1. Shaun Bryner was born in American Fork, Utah, to Ross Bryner and Shauna Hall, and spent his childhood in both Price, Utah, and Las Vegas, Nevada.

He is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in health education and promotion with an emphasis in health science), along with minors in chemistry and biology. Beginning his college journey in 2020 during the height of COVID-19, Bryner initially aspired to become a nurse. Things changed for him as he became more involved with campus and campus life, where he formed meaningful connections with professors, peers, and mentors who would help him understand his path and potential.

Over his five years at USU Eastern, he served as a tutor for chemistry, organic chemistry and biology, became student coordinator of Utah Health Scholars, and joined Utah State University Student Association as student advocate, later stepping into the role of vice president.

His curiosity for science also led him to collaborate with Joshua Lively, curator of paleontology at the Prehistoric Museum, on a research project that identified a novel disease in Columbian Mammoths. Moving forward, Bryner plans to attend medical school, uniting his dedication to medicine with his passion for scientific discovery.

Mabel Suarez

Val J. Halamandaris Award

Mabel Suarez is a first-generation student at USU Eastern pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work. She will graduate with an Associate of Science. Through challenges and opportunities of being the first in her family to attend college, she has been able to make a powerful impact on campus. Suarez has committed to creating a more inclusive and engaging environment for all students.

So far, Suarez has been a part of the A-team Peer Mentors, as well as the Utah State University Student Association, serving as the clubs and organizations representative as well as the director of cultural engagement. Her work in these roles has helped to nurture a more engaged and unified student body, advocating for the needs of underrepresented groups.

Beyond her academic and leadership achievements, Suarez is very passionate about giving back to the community. She has dedicated significant time to service hours with organizations such as Carbon Care for Kids and the Boys and Girls Club, as well as participating in service activities to help those in need. Her volunteer efforts have allowed her to deepen her appreciation for the value of working together to create a positive change.

Through her journey as a first-generation Hispanic student, Suarez hopes to continue to inspire others and lead with purpose to create a lasting impact on campus and in the community. She strives to be a role model for future generations from similar backgrounds, showing that through hard work and commitment to purpose, anything is possible.

For more information on USU’s 138th commencement, visit the commencement website.