The University of Utah College of Engineering held its 2016 convocation Friday, May 6, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, sending off more than 1,000 graduating students to the next chapter in their lives.

It was the largest graduating class in the history of the College, said Dean Richard B. Brown. The class also included 143 Ph.D. graduates, also the largest in the College’s history.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, whose son graduated with a master’s in civil and environmental engineering, was a guest speaker.

Annual awards for excellence and service also were presented during the event. They included:

Anthony Butterfield, assistant professor (lecturer) in chemical engineering — University of Utah Beacons of Excellence Award.

John D. LaLonde, chief technology officer for Abstrax Inc. — College of Engineering Outstanding Service Award.

Daniel E. Khoury, computer engineering — College of Engineering Graduating Student Leadership Award.