More than 250 graduates from over 30 different countries walked during BYU-Hawaii'sDecember 2005 Commencement on Saturday—but there was only one from Russia. Valedictorian Olga Bogach Moulton, an international business management major from Far Eastern Russia, addressed her fellow graduates and thanked the faculty who provided the many teaching moments she experienced at the university.
"Teaching is truly a higher calling," Moulton said, as she drew a comparison between the teaching efforts of her professors with the master teaching of theSavior. "Indeed, the Savior of the world used His whole life as a teaching purpose that He might show the world how to obtain happiness in this life and in the life to come."
Happiness for Moulton came when she was introduced to the gospel and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Khabarovsk, Russia. She was just 15 years old and the only member of her family who joined at that time. Her mother would join the Church two years later.
Only four days after her baptism, Moulton left Russia—young in years and fragile in the gospel.
"I left to go on a high school exchange program to Virginia," she said,"and I didn't know much about the family I was to stay with for the whole school year."
These types of exchange programs match a foreign student with a family in a certain geographical area. There are many horror stories about the relationship between a student and his or her host family, but "luckily" Moulton'sexperience could not have turned out better.
"They turned out to be members of the Church!" she said, "and I was so blessed to live with them during that year. I feel like the Lord truly had His hand in nurturing my faith."
After returning home and attending a university in her hometown for a semester, Moulton discovered BYU-Hawaii. Determined to attend a university anchored in both spiritual and intellectual education she arrived on campus in April of 2003.
Fast-forward two and a half years to the Cannon Activities Center on Saturday, December 17, 2005 where Moulton has now graduated at the very top of her class.
"I am who I am today because I knew you," she said, directing her comments to the BYU-Hawaii faculty.
Quoting from Stephen Schwartz' Broadway musical, she added: It well maybe that we may never meet again in this lifetime, so let me say before we part,so much of me is made of what I learned from you, you'll be with me like a handprint on my heart.
Then, citing President David O. McKay's description of BYU-Hawaii students as "genuine gold," she encouraged her fellow graduates to:
- Continue to "live the Code of Honor and seek ways to improve personal perfection where we need it."
- Use their intercultural experiences. For example, Moulton noted how proud she felt while watching the parade of 76 BYU-Hawaii international students carrying their respective national flags during the university's recent Golden Jubilee celebration, "when I realized that I could name almost every one of those students. What a great blessing it has been to be a part of this magnificent institution."
- "Be defined by every outpouring of the spirit" they experienced on campus. "We have been given the temple, which has allowed us to strengthen our relationship with God; and moreover, apostles and prophets have also been able to visit us."
As an example of the last point, Moulton quoted President Hinckley who recently told another BYU-Hawaii graduating class to "be not afraid, only believe. Believe in yourself. Believe in your capacity to do good and great things."
"We can only see so far ahead," she concluded. "Our vision beyond this point must be a vision of faith."
Moulton finished her address and sat down. Her fellow graduates applauded. Finally, this important chapter had come to a close and she was on to thinking about life after graduation.
What exactly does a girl from Russia, married to a Texan, graduating valedictorian from BYU-Hawaii do next?
"Go back home and open up a Mexican restaurant," said logically concluded.
Moulton and her husband, Heber K. Moulton, have frequently expressed a desire to return to her homeland in a couple of years to open a Mexican restaurant in Khabarovsk, a city of approximately 700,000. In fact, they have already begun doing the necessary entrepreneurial groundwork.
The idea came as they both completed internships this past summer in Russia.
"There are a few things that need to happen before we're able to open any type of business," she said. "We have a strong desire to return to Russia and serve the people and the Church there, but we'll need more connections. Hopefully it is something we can still do sometime down the road."
In the meantime, Moulton has her eye set on other projects; projects that will require her economics background.
"I have plans to work with a program developed by the U.S.Air Force; a program that assists developing countries and improving economies. There's a lot to do in this world and that sounds like a good place to start."