CPVA Celebrates 2025 Outstanding Graduates
Published: April 24, 2025 | Author: Kol Gibson and Outstanding Graduates | Read Time: 6 minutes
The SUU College of Performing & Visual Arts (CPVA) proudly announces its Outstanding Graduates for the 2024-25 school year. Each year, CPVA recognizes students for their performance as artists and scholars throughout their careers at SUU. The College Valedictorian is the graduating student who has the highest academic achievements of the class, while the Outstanding Graduates are chosen by faculty in their respective disciplines for their artistry and contributions to each department.
College Valedictorian
Megan Judy Taylor, from St. George, Utah, is receiving a Bachelor of Music in Music Education (Instrumental emphasis) with a minor in Spanish. During her time at SUU, Megan has received many recognitions, including being the recipient of the Hal K. & Joan D. Campbell Scholarship, and was featured in the Allies 2 Refugees Benefit Concert. She has enjoyed participating in ensembles within the Music Department and the community, and playing the harpsichord in the community production of The Messiah. Megan was also in the presidency for Rhapsody in Red and enjoyed being a staff accompanist for the Music Department. After graduation, Megan plans to continue to accompany and teach private lessons, leading up to one day establishing her own piano studio and teaching music in the public school system.
Outstanding Graduate · Dance
Gracie Urban-Breed has earned a Bachelor of Science in Dance Education. She started her dance training in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she trained in various styles such as hip hop, ballet, jazz, musical theater, contemporary, and modern. While at SUU, Gracie has been awarded with SUU’s Outstanding Choreographer award and was the recipient of the President’s Scholarship as well as endowed scholarships for dance. Gracie is the Director of the Southern Utah University Dance Organization (SUUDO) and has participated in residencies with Denman Dance Company and the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. She also attended the American College Dance Association Conference in Wyoming. Gracie’s goal is to inspire and connect with others through movement.
Outstanding Graduate · Filmmaking, Art, & Design
Kinley Walker, from Highland, Utah, is receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts (Photography emphasis) with a minor in Art History. Kinley has been recognized by the Society of Photographic Education for her work in film photography and presented her work at the SPE Conference and UCUR; she has also been featured in the Kolob Canyon Review. Kinley photographed a professional company, Contemporary Dance Wyoming, and collaborated with the SUU Dance program. She participated in the 2025 Senior BFA Exhibition, Sublime, where her senior project was displayed. After graduation, Kinley hopes to continue working with dancers, making art, and gaining experience working in the fine arts.
Outstanding Graduate · Music
Samantha Marian Hall is graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music (Flute and Violin Performance emphases) and a minor in Spanish. She is from Chickasha, Oklahoma, but was born in Cedar City to parents who are SUU alumni. Her husband, Jadon Hall, also studies Music at SUU. Samantha will be completing a Flute Performance certificate from SUU during the 2025-26 school year, with plans to go to graduate school and to audition for performance positions. She hopes to gain a wide variety of performance experience, ranging from orchestral-level groups to small chamber groups and everything in between.
Outstanding Graduate · Theatre
Spencer Smith is receiving a Bachelor of Science in Theatre Arts with a double minor in Shakespeare Studies and English Literature. His most recent achievements include playing Decius Brutus in SUU’s fall production of Julius Caesar and designing and building the puppets as the “Puppet Master” in SUU’s spring production of The Secret Garden. He has reigned as the Head Costume Craftsman for the last two years, had his art and poetry published in the Kolob Canyon Review twice, and is a Thunderbird Awards Finalist for Artist of the Year. Spencer plans to pursue a costume crafts career in the entertainment industry after graduation, working with Universal or Disney in their costume shops.
Outstanding Graduate · Arts Administration
Alek Nelson, from American Fork, Utah, is receiving a Master of Fine Arts in Arts Administration. While at SUU, Alek has worked as the Content Strategist at the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA). From creating photo and video content, to writing an organizational social media handbook, he has helped SUMA achieve greater online engagement and reach. He has also presented at the MuseumNext Digital Summit, the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries National Conference, and the Utah Museums Association Annual Conference. Following graduation, Alek hopes to continue connecting people with art through his work.
Outstanding Graduate · Music Education
Mitch Hall, from Eagle Mountain, Utah, is receiving a Master of Music Education. Mitch received a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of North Texas in 2016, and is currently the Director of Bands at Cedar Valley High School. Mitch has appreciated how this degree has supported his professional development as the director of one of the largest band programs in the state of Utah. Mitch was the 2024 Cedar Valley High School and Alpine School District Teacher of the Year, and was recently elected to the position of Band Vice President-Elect with the Utah Music Educators Association. He maintained a 4.0 GPA while teaching full time with over 250 students. Mitch will continue teaching at Cedar Valley High School while pursuing a second master’s degree in Education Administration and Supervision.
Outstanding Graduate · Music Technology
Christopher Badami, from Pompton Plains, New Jersey, is receiving a Master of Music Technology (Studio Technology emphasis). He is an accomplished musician, record producer, engineer, and mixer with over 25 years of professional experience in the industry. He owns and operates Portrait Recording Studios, a multi-room commercial recording facility located in Pompton Plains, NJ. His artistic contributions have earned him four RIAA-certified gold records, and his work has accumulated over 285,000,000 streams worldwide. After graduation, Chris plans to continue his work as a record producer, engineer, and mixer, as well as recently accepting a position at Lafayette College in Easton, PA, as a Visiting Assistant Professor directing their Music Technology program.
The College of Performing & Visual Arts wishes warm congratulations to each of these students for their accomplishments. To learn more about SUU’s graduation ceremonies and traditions, please visit www.suu.edu/graduation.
About the College of Performing and Visual Arts
The College of Performing and Visual Arts (CPVA) at Southern Utah University comprises 41 academic programs including liberal arts (BA/BS) and professional (BFA, BM, BMEd) degrees in art, design, dance, filmmaking, music, and theatre. It includes graduate programs in the fields of arts administration (MFA, MA), music education (MME), and music technology (MM). More than 60 full-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 900 majors in the College. CPVA presents over 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year which are complemented by the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) and Shakespeare Studies at SUU, and is affiliated with the Tony award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival (USF). Southern Utah University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) making SUU the first public university in the state of Utah to be accredited by all four associations. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.suu.edu/pva.Tags: Theatre Theatre and Dance Music Dance Filmmaking Art and Design Graduation Arts Administration College of Performing and Visual Arts Theatre Dance and Arts Administration
Contact Information:
Kol Gibson
435-865-8667
kolgibson@suu.edu