Campus Events

6/2 Westminster Hosts 2012 Commencement Ceremony

Who: Westminster’s Class of 2012

SALT LAKE CITY – Westminster is pleased to announce that Bruce Bastian, co-founder of WordPerfect and head of the B.W. Bastian Foundation, will deliver the commencement address at the college’s commencement ceremony on June 2, 2012.

“We are very pleased that Bruce Bastian will present this year’s commencement address to the class of 2012,” said Westminster President Michael S. Bassis. “His success as an entrepreneur and business leader, generous philanthropy to the arts and courageous support for human rights is extraordinary. Our graduates will be entering a world of increasing diversity and rapid social change. I have no doubt they will benefit from the wisdom he has to share.”

At the commencement, Bastian will also be presented an honorary degree, as well as Noreen Roullard, Westminster Board of Trustees member.

About Bruce Bastian – 2012 Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient:

Born in Twin Falls, Idaho, Bruce Wayne Bastian is a computer programmer, businessman, philanthropist and social activist. Bastian received a BA in Music Education and an MA in Computer Science at BYU.

In 1978, Bastian co-founded the WordPerfect Corporation with Dr. Alan Ashton. Until the merger of WordPerfect and NOVELL in 1994, Bastian served as Chairman of WordPerfect Corporation. He also led all international operations of the company as WordPerfect became the best-selling program of its kind in the U.S. and other countries around the globe.

Bastian holds a strong belief that people are inspired by the arts. Because of this, he is a long-time supporter of many performing arts organizations including Ballet West and the Utah Symphony and Opera.

As a social activist, Bastian is involved in local and national service projects and has established his own charitable foundation, the B. W. Bastian Foundation, which supports organizations that embrace the principle of equality. The Bastian Foundation is committed to supporting programs and organizations that benefit, encourage and preserve the rights of individuals, and promote equality for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) community.

Bastian will receive a Doctor of Humanities degree at the commencement ceremony.

About Noreen Rouillard – 2012 Honorary Degree Recipient:
Noreen Rouillard has served on the Westminster College Board of Trustees since 1991. Rouillard was born in Shannon, Illinois and was raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. She attended Westminster and met her husband, a Westminster alumnus, when they were both undergraduate students. Rouillard is active in the Utah Girl Scouts Council, WAAIME, a women's mining auxiliary and Wasatch Presbyterian Church. She is a past member of the Salt Lake Newcomers Club. She has continued a family legacy of serving on the Westminster Woman's Board and is past president of the organization. She and her husband, Donald, reside in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Rouillard will receive a Doctor of Humanities degree at the commencement ceremony.

For more information on Westminster’s commencement events, visit http://www.westminstercollege.edu/commencement/.

About Westminster:

Westminster is a nationally recognized, comprehensive liberal arts college. With a broad array of graduate and undergraduate programs, Westminster is distinguished by its unique environment for learning. Westminster prepares students for success through active and engaged learning, real world experiences and its vibrant campus community. Westminster’s unique location, adjacent to the Rocky Mountains and to the dynamic city of Salt Lake, further enriches the college experience. For more information visit www.westminstercollege.edu or follow @WestminsterSLC on Twitter.