The College of Fine Arts and Communications held three convocation ceremonies on April 22 in recognition of the 512 CFAC undergraduate and 28 graduate students receiving degrees during BYU's commencement on April 21, 2016. Download printed program. After a welcome from Dean Ed Adams, the ceremonies were keynoted by student speeches and performances that showcased student work in the de Jong Concert Hall of the Harris Fine Arts Center. Students reflected on what they learned during their time at BYU and expressed their excitement to take the tools they had gathered into their futures. 8 a.m. The School of Communications started their program at 8 a.m. with the largest number of graduates in the College of Fine Arts and Communications. Public relations student Michelle Wood Keddington spoke first about “What to See in Your Selfie.” She challenged new graduates to see the results of earning of degree in communications from BYU including learning how to learn, learning how to do hard things and gaining values that change the world. “When you step back and think about your overall experiences here at BYU, what really matters is who you have become,” said Keddington. “BYU has given you a plethora of values that will make you a better worker and person. Beyond that shameless self-portrait is a person who is unique and has developed many good qualities that will be beneficial for people worldwide.“ Journalism student Brooke Porter spoke next and recounted her experiences telling the stories of those living with a terminal diagnosis. “I was taught the significance of a life and the far-reaching impact that the story of a life can have. I was reminded of why I wanted to study journalism in the first place–to tell peoples stories,” Porter said. “There is so much of life to be enjoyed. So, my question is what will you do with yours and how will you enjoy it?” Following the student speeches, musical performance student Michelle Yumi Papenfuss preformed Ludwig van Beethoven’s Sonata in A major op. 101 on the piano. 11 a.m. The Department of Art and Department of Design combined exercises at 11 a.m. The ceremony opened with music performance students Michael Drew Powell on flute and Joon-Ho Howell on piano preforming “Nocturne” by Lili Boulange. Following the duet, animation student Joshua Koji Tsukamoto presented his speech entitled, “Discovering Our Potential,” focused on the experiences as student that taught him that his study at BYU would allow him and his peers to have a positive impact on the world. “Everyone is growing and learning. Everyone is aiming to one day be an influence on someone and our dream of illuminating and confirming truth of the infinite potential of the human soul,” said Tsukamoto, quoting from the BYU Media Arts program mission statement. To conclude, studio arts student Kanasa Kinjo Johnson spoke on “Creating Something Big.” She explained the concept behind her final BFA show entitled, Kiseki, a Japanese word with several distinct meanings, which explored how multiple ideas can exist at one time. “We’ve all experienced it. Peace during a difficult trial, fear in a place of safety, assurance about the unknown ahead,” Johnson said. “Whatever is far from you, the future or the past that you have already experienced is more clear. But the closer you get to the present, the more blurry things get.” Johnson challenged the audience saying that embracing the unknown while still being present in the moment is how we can create something big with our lives. 2 PM The graduates from the Department of Dance, the School of Music, the Music Dance Theatre Program and the Department of Theatre and Media Arts combined for the last convocation ceremony. Following a welcome from Dean Ed Adams, music performance students, Lyman Keil McBride on trombone and Alissa Marie Freeman on piano, performed “Á€ la Manière de Schumann” by Jean-Michel Defaye. Following this duet, theatre arts and education student Elizabeth Lloyd Lowe’s speech entitled, “The Power of Communication” explained how the arts dare us to connect with one another. “The arts are more than just mere entertainment they are communication of the deepest aspects of humanity–the things we all share yet rarely speak of, “ Lowe said. “The arts create a real human connection in the moment and encourage us to work together to create something bigger than anyone of us are and allows us to express the inexpressible.” Following the speech, Music Dance Theatre students musical performed “The New World” from Jason Robert Brown’s Songs for a New World, reflecting on “the moment of decision” that can forever change the outcome of life. Concluding the ceremony dance students performed “Seed” with choreography by Aubry Dalley and music by Max Richter. __ After the speakers and performances, with themes of reflection for past and hope for the future, the graduates and families celebrated their final moments on the BYU campus.