For Benjamin Payne, the achievement of receiving a master’s degree in cybersecurity as part of UVU’s Class of 2026 is no small feat.
Utah Valley University is marking commencement season by recognizing the incredible accomplishments of graduating students.
Benjamin Payne was born with a condition called hydrocephalus, a medical condition involving a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid that causes pressure in the skull. Because of this, he said, he struggled with decoding words during his education.
So the achievement of receiving a master’s degree in cybersecurity as part of UVU’s Class of 2026 is no small feat.
“This has been a very big deal for me,” Payne said. “Through these struggles, I have learned to work hard and create opportunities to make solutions.”
Payne isn’t graduating alone, either — his wife, Sara, is pursuing a master’s degree in education at UVU, and two of their three children are also UVU students.
“I have learned new skills and become more adept at identifying important things in life on which to focus my time and energy,” Payne said. “UVU helped me see the forest for the trees, and I'm very grateful for that.”
Payne already earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from UVU in 2009, but during his master’s capstone project this year, he worked on creating instructional material for improving security for a nonprofit organization. Following this year’s commencement, he plans to pursue further work in cybersecurity for nonprofits.
“I feel it is a way that I can give back for all of the talents and opportunities I have been given,” he said.
