Kevin and Peggy Worthen with Phil and Gloria Smartt, BYU graduates
Local, state and federal officials honored Brigham Young University (BYU) President Kevin J. Worthen during his recent visit to Chattanooga.
At a public event hosted by the Chattanooga BYU Alumni Association, the city of Chattanooga declared June 22 as “Kevin Worthen Day.” President Worthen was made an honorary “Tennesseean” by Rep. Mike Carter on behalf of Governor Bill Haslam. Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger presented President Worthen with a prestigious service award. And Congressman Chuck Fleischmann gave the BYU president a pair of cufflinks from the U.S.
House of Representatives. President Worthen joked that he is more popular in Chattanooga than Provo.
He spoke about BYU, also known as the “Y,” being a faith-based university with high academic standards. The average ACT score for incoming freshman is 29, and the average high school GPA is almost 3.9. All students who meet these standards and voluntarily commit to living the principles of BYU’s Honor Code may apply for admissions. BYU does not discriminate.
BYU is a private university completely owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All who represent the University, including students and faculty, are “to maintain the highest standards of honor, integrity, morality, and consideration of others in personal behavior” consistent with the principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – in daily living on and off campus. As a matter of personal commitment, they will “be honest, live a chaste and virtuous life; obey the law and all campus policies; use clean language; respect others; abstain from alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee, and substance abuse; participate regularly in church services; observe dress and grooming standards; and encourage others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code.”
Students and faculty of other faiths abide by the same standards, and attend places of worship of their choice. BYU does not have co-ed dorms. And, for the 20th straight year, BYU was named the No. 1 stone cold sober school by the Princeton Review.
Students from Chattanooga who are applying to BYU, their parents and many BYU alumni attended the event. President Worthen was accompanied by his wife, Peggy. A reception was held prior to his speech, where the Worthens met many local Chattanoogans. They also toured beautiful Chattanooga.
President Worthen also serves as an ecclesiastical leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is the former dean of the BYU Law School. He was a clerk for Associate Supreme Court Justice Byron R. White. Of Brigham Young University, President Worthen referred to the school’s mission statement which states that BYU is to provide “a period of intense learning that includes not just the art, letters and sciences,” but also “the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
"That’s what makes President Worthen’s visit to Chattanooga so special. Like so many faith-based organizations and churches in Tennessee, BYU shares a similar mission to 'encourage and prepare young men and women to rise to their full spiritual potential as sons and daughters of God.' That’s the why of the Y, and at the heart of Tennessee," officials said.