WSU Alumni Magazine | SPRING 2020 Student researchers journey to the Andes, Iceland and the Great Salt Lake Also: Scholarships Honor Legacies Inside an Alum’s 3D Workshop ‘CATapult to Student Completion WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY News for Alumni & Friends ✄ 25% off WILDCAT Vol. 25, No. 1, Spring 2020 1 WSU APPAREL ITEM editor in chief Jaime Winston Creative director Hillary Wallace BFA ’98 Contributing writers Katie England Amy Renner Hendricks Allison Barlow Hess Karin Hurst AS ’79 John Kowalewski designers Emily Caraballo Amy Hajdas Hillary Wallace BFA ’98 contributing editors Nancy B. Collinwood BS ’94 Katie England Rebecca Gibson AS ’09 John Kowalewski Betsy Mennell Amber Robson BS ’05 p hotographers Robert Casey Carie Franz Keilee Stratton Analeah Vaughn Benjamin Zack Special Thanks WSU Archives at WSU Downtown ✄ 25% off 1 WSU APPAREL ITEM at WSU Davis Comments and questions may be sent to Wildcat, Weber State University, 1265 Village Drive Dept 4025, Ogden UT 84408-4025. The editor may also be contacted by phone: 801-626-7396 or email: magazine@weber.edu. Send address changes to Advancement Services, Weber State University, 1265 Village Drive Dept 4018, Ogden UT 84408-4018, call 801-626-6138 or email giving@weber.edu to update your records. postmaster: Send address changes to Advancement Services, Weber State University, 1265 Village Drive Dept 4018, Ogden UT 84408-4018. Saddle up to Success NO CASH VALUE Clearance not included. Coupon valid ONLY at WSU Downtown until 12/31/20. NO CASH VALUE Clearance not included. Coupon valid only at WSU Davis until 12/31/20. ✄ 25% off 1 WSU APPAREL ITEM at WSU Ogden NO CASH VALUE Clearance not included. Coupon valid only at WSU Ogden until 12/31/20. Nealynn, 2013 New Mexico state champion barrel racer, once ✄ chased her dream to win the world championship. Now, she’s earning her Master of Science in Radiologic Sciences weber state university board of trustees 2019-20 (MSRS) to make sure her patients can still gallop after theirs. Nolan Karras BS ’70, Chair Kearston Cutrubus, Vice Chair Bret Alexander BA ’19 Karla K. Bergeson Marty Carpenter BA ’01 “Weber gave me the ability to step up to the table with a sense of knowledge I wouldn’t otherwise have had. Doctors Clint Costley BS ’98 Amanda K. Covington Louenda Downs BS ’78 Karen White Fairbanks Donald J. Salazar I work with come to me with questions and for my opinion.” weber.edu/radsci Nealynn Doyle, championship barrel racer and invasive cardiology (CATH lab) employee, earned her AAS in Radiology and BS in Invasive Radiology Sciences through WSU’s outreach program. She will graduate with her Master of Science in Radiologic Sciences in April of 2020. She lives, cares for horses and sheep, and studies in Bloomfield, New Mexico. FREE TUNE UP DIAGNOSTIC & CLEANING of your Apple Computer at WSU Ogden or WSU Downtown weber.edu/wsumagazine | alumni.weber.edu NO CASH VALUE Coupon valid only at WSU Ogden or WSU Downtown until 12/31/20. Three locations to serve you: Ogden, Davis and WSU Downtown. wildcatstores.com WEBER WATCH CONTENTS Stunning rock formations on a student research trip to Iceland; photo courtesy of Keilee Stratton 14 Lasting Impressions Throughout Weber State history, students have explored our earth firsthand. 22 Honoring Legacies 30 Alumna Karen P. Neff Miner recognizes lost loved ones by giving students opportunities to chase their dreams. 26 All That is Fit to Print WSU Salutes Honoring Weber State alumni and community members who make a difference, live distinguished lives and contribute to WSU’s success 35 Thrones, dragons and hearts — 3D printing with alum Jerry Ropelato New Leadership, New Opportunities The inauguration of Brad L. Mortensen as 13th president of Weber State University took place on Founders Day, Jan. 7, 2020, in the Val A. Browning Center Austad Auditorium. Class Notes Updates on the careers and achievements of Weber State alumni President Mortensen outlined his vision for the university and announced the ’CATapult Scholarship Initiative, an ambitious $10 million fundraising effort, to help students overcome financial obstacles in their final semesters. “Together, we know that each Weber State student is scaling ever upward on a unique climb to a pinnacle On the Cover accomplishment. As we learn and unleash the creative Front Back A stunning vista on a student research trip to Cordillera Blanca, part of the Andes mountain range, in Peru; photo courtesy of Analeah Vaughn A diverse landscape on a student and faculty research trip to Iceland; photo courtesy of Keilee Stratton potential of our faculty, staff, students, alumni and partners, we will catapult our students to the apex of their educational endeavors,” he said. Find out how to donate on page 21. WEBER WATCH WEBER WATCH Snowstorms & Sonnets A Series of Firsts Centenarian and alumna Barbara Lindquist the taste of victory after partnering with a female teammate Tanner wants students to fully experience WSU. to eliminate a young man from another university who Philanthropist and community leader Barbara Lindquist great orator, and when two girls, myself and my partner, won Tanner AS ’35 looks back on her experiences at Weber the debate, he was so upset,” Tanner explained. “He said he College with a smile, regardless of how she may have felt only lost because we were girls.” at the time. detested the fact he lost to women. “He considered himself a Years later, in 1938, she Bret Alexander AA ’17 BA ’19, 2019–20 student body president, turned tribulation to inspiration People ask why student body president Bret Alexander gets excited to go to the dentist. “Because I never went to a dentist appointment in my life until I was 19,” he explained. “In eighth grade, I realized other people had nice teeth and were wearing braces, and I was like, I want nice teeth. Daughter of Ada Theurer married Norman Tanner, and Charles John Aaron whom she first met when Lindquist, Tanner grew up they crossed paths in debate For many reasons, Alexander’s new habit has served him well. in Ogden, making Weber a competition. “My mantra throughout my whole life has just been to smile — In class, Tanner credits period,” he said. “I tell people all the time, if you can smile one time Road trips with the debate coach/faculty in the day, you have already made yourself happier.” debate team, in particular, member Leland H. Monson That simple mantra seems extraordinary for Alexander who had stick in her mind. While with fueling her passion for to navigate much of life on his own. As a child, his biological father the team was usually Shakespeare. Today, at 103 walked out, and his young mother turned to drugs. His family victorious, she says the years old, Tanner’s advice to bounced from place to place until, at age 16, Alexander moved out. Great Depression left current students is to take in He lived for a short time in his car, until finding a permanent home them with only enough everything, snowstorms and with his older cousin Jennifer and her three children. funding to cover gasoline sonnets alike. clear choice. on trips. Lodging was usually left to students, and, when funds were low, the team’s women slept in a cheap motel room while the men roughed it in the car outside. On one such trip, in a remote area, belonging in education, eventually graduating as a senior class you can just enjoy studying, officer from Ogden High. But with bills to pay, and no example to learning, exploring, meeting follow, he had no plans for college. new people and getting new ideas,” she said. “Take advantage of every minute, every opportunity.” Tanner and her husband were instrumental in the success of the O.C. Tanner Company. the night and asking the men to come inside to sleep on the Among her community contributions, she founded Utah Girls’ floor. “The next morning, the landlord saw us, the girls, and Village, which later became Utah Youth Village, and served these two boys walk out,” Tanner said. “I’m sure it looked as chairperson for the Gina Bachauer International Piano kind of scandalous. I was so embarrassed.” Competition. At Weber State, she has generously supported the arts and scholarships for underrepresented students. of the car during a blinding snowstorm to lead the way, since “Everybody deserves the college education,” she said. “It’s the students didn’t have money to stop anywhere. more than just learning academic material — it’s a whole While debate had its lows, it had its highs. Tanner recalls When things were rough at home, Alexander found security and “It’s a time in your life when she recalls a female teammate becoming frightened during On another trip, two teammates had to slowly walk in front So, I started brushing my teeth. It wasn’t something instilled in me.” different view, I think, of the world.” Two weeks before fall semester 2015, his friend insisted he register for classes at Weber State. Once he arrived, Alexander thrived as a Wildcat. He participated in student government and the American Democracy Project. He earned his associate’s degree in two years and his bachelor’s degree in political science in four. He was the first Weber State student to graduate with the newly created leadership minor. He is now completing a master’s degree in another new emphasis area — higher education leadership in the Jerry & Vickie Moyes College of Education. Alexander is also recognized as the university’s first openly gay student body president. Of all his firsts, though, there’s one Alexander takes the most pride in. “I’m the first in my whole family — aunts, uncles, cousins, anyone — to come to higher ed and graduate with a bachelor’s,” he said. Alexander has inspired Jennifer, who, at age 36, returned to Weber State to study social work. The oldest of Jennifer’s three children, Brookelynn, is now a freshman, and the younger two are planning Learn about Tanner’s history with Weber State, her philanthropy and how the world changed in her lifetime, along with stories of other history-making women, at the Stewart Library’s exhibit “Beyond Suffrage: A Century of Northern Utah Women Making History” at Ogden Union Station, March 14–May 2. 6 WILDCAT | Spring 2020 to enroll. “They see higher education as a possibility,” Alexander said. “That has been the biggest blessing.” Spring 2020 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 7 WEBER WATCH WEBER WATCH WSU PREP Engineers Success Entrepreneurial Spirit Adrienne Williams, 14, always knew she wanted to go into a STEM field, but graduating from WSU PREP has set her on a path to become an engineer. Weber State is set to extend its reach in Northern Utah’s entrepreneurial community, thanks to a $718,968 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration. PREP is a seven-week summer STEM boot camp for high-achieving junior high students, focusing on populations that are often underrepresented in STEM fields, including girls, minorities and first-generation college students. The program began five years ago with 72 students. By 2019, the program had grown to more than 191 students. Williams is one of the 86 students who have graduated from PREP after completing all three years of the program. Her classes covered a wide variety of topics, like problem solving, statistics and engineering, giving her a solid base for what she would be learning in her classes at Wahlquist Jr. High in Farr West, where she is currently a ninth grader. “When I went into seventh grade, they were teaching what I had learned in PREP, and it made it easier for me to get the problems,” she said. The program is offered through WSU’s College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology with the support of the College of Science, and is free to students through a collaboration with community partners and the Davis, Ogden and Weber school districts. PREP was awarded WSU’s 2019 Exemplary Collaboration award for its work with various partners. As part of its regional economic development initiatives, WSU will use the money to provide personnel and space for community entrepreneurs to apply for microgrants and mentoring to develop their business ideas. “Maybe you have a great idea, maybe you have a lousy idea, but you don’t know until you put it into action, and that’s exactly what this fund will do,” said James Taylor, WSU Office of Sponsored Projects director. “It will help people put ideas into action.” Learn more about WSU’s many entrepreneurship initiatives at weber.edu/wsumagazine. PURPLE REIGN Record Enrollment Concurrent Enrollment (CE) courses helped Cristian Gutierrez BS ’19 find the courage to continue his education beyond high school. “CE opened my eyes and let me know I was ready for Weber State and what it had to offer,” Gutierrez said. “They weren’t easy classes. We were meticulously graded. Our papers were torn apart. But coming here and knowing I had passed classes at a college level, I felt ready.” Gutierrez’s story reflects a trend. Since 2015, the number of Hispanic students at Weber State has increased 31%. The number of CE students, those taking university courses while in high school, has increased almost 46%, while the number of Hispanic CE students has jumped 56%. Weber State now has a record 29,644 students, an increase of nearly 5% from 2018. In addition, Weber State awarded a record 5,615 certificates, associate’s, bachelor’s and graduate degrees in 2019 — 22% of those to students of Hispanic or Latinx descent. Sensational Season Historic Three-peat The women’s volleyball team had a season for the ages in 2019. After finishing second in the Big Sky Conference regular season, the Wildcats reached the tournament championship game for the first time in 31 years. Their 24–8 overall record earned them an invitation to the women’s NIVC postseason tournament. Senior Megan Gneiting broke into the 1,000 kill club with 14 in the championship game, while Ashlyn Power became the school’s alltime leader in assists this season. Dani Nay earned Big Sky Freshman of the Year honors. All three were named First-Team All-Conference. Besting Idaho State 38–10 in its 2019 regular season finale, Weber State’s football team earned its third straight Big Sky championship and fourth consecutive playoff berth. This year’s seniors ended their playing careers with more victories (39–15 overall and 28–5 in the Big Sky over four seasons) and best-winning percentage of any senior class in the program’s history. The Wildcats earned the No. 3 seed in the national Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. After home wins against Kennesaw State and Montana, the Wildcats fell 30–14 to James Madison in the FCS semifinals. The team ended its season ranked third in the nation, the highest ranking to end a season in school history. Familiar Face, New Role Longtime head soccer coach Tim Crompton BS ’94, MEd ’15 has been selected as Weber State’s new Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. In his 15 seasons as coach, his teams won three Big Sky regular-season titles and three Big Sky Tournament championships. Crompton is excited to continue supporting student-athletes’ success in the classroom and in competition, and building on all that Wildcat Athletics has accomplished in recent years. Visit weber.edu/wsumagazine to read the response to the 100 Years of WSU Footall story in our fall 2019 issue from former quarterback/defensive back, Tom Musgrave AS ’55. 8 WILDCAT | Spring 2020 Spring 2020 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 9 Mary Elizabeth Dee Shaw Gallery Brings the Unexpected to Northern Utahns T he Weber State University Mary Elizabeth Dee Shaw Gallery has undergone a complete transformation during the past five years SPRING 2020 SHAW GALLERY EVENTS Passing on Decades of Theatre Experience 2020 Weber State Biennial Student Art & Design Exhibition Tracy Callahan, professor of theatre, has devoted 25 years of her under the leadership of Lydia Gravis, the gallery’s current director. JAN. 24–APRIL 3 life to motivating and inspiring students through movement. Gravis has two main areas of responsibility: planning and executing Opening Reception and Awards: than 36 productions. She is a freelance director and actor in Friday, Jan. 24, 7–9 p.m. the Salt Lake area, where she has had the opportunity to work Guest Juror Lecture by Amy Jorgensen: with Salt Lake Acting Company, Friday, Jan. 24, 6 p.m., Lindquist Lecture Hall, Dark Horse Theatre, Pygmalion room 120, Kimball Visual Arts Center Theatre, Hale Center Theater and five exhibitions a year and coordinating the visiting artist program. Gravis also engages with the Ogden community via educational outreach and workshops that are connected to exhibitions and artist residencies. In the past five years, the gallery has welcomed nearly 50,000 visitors through its doors and has conducted 20 public lectures with some of the world’s leading artists. “The job of a gallery director is not only that of research, selection and implementation in terms of exhibition programming and management, but also to act as a bridge between gallery visitors and exhibitions,” Gravis said. “My primary aim is to introduce impactful and engaging exhibitions that have both initial wonder, and lasting resonance with visitors of all ages. Wonder can be achieved through the sensory experience of the artwork and the design of the exhibition within a gallery space. Resonance emerges Wasatch Theatre, Process Theatre, Utah Repertory Theater. She is also a founding member of the The Weber State Biennial Student Art & Process Theatre Company. Design Exhibition is a juried exhibition that takes place every two years and is open to In her role as head of the acting any current Weber State University students, and directing program at Weber regardless of major. Guest juror, Amy State University, Callahan has Jorgensen, selected a variety of works for mentored hundreds of students. display in the 2020 exhibition, which highlights In addition, she has taken several the diverse creative endeavors of students. WSU productions to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in from exhibition content, historical context and supporting programs. Both elements should work in unison to intrigue visitors and leave a lasting impression.” Callahan has had an illustrious career, having directed more Spring 2020 BFA Thesis Exhibition APRIL 17–MAY 1 Opening Reception: Friday, April 17, 7–9 p.m. FEBRUARY 21-22 & 26-29 Val A. Browning Center | 7:30 p.m. Matinee February 29 at 2 p.m. Washington, D.C. During the spring 2020 semester, Callahan will direct The 39 Steps, a mix of a Hitchcock masterpiece “Tracy’s extensive knowledge, boundless creativity, and commitment to her students never fails to produce outstanding works of theatre and growing experiences for our young artists. I have laughed, cried and learned from the work I have seen her produce.” – Jenny Kokai, theatre program coordinator with a juicy spy novel and a dash of Monty Python. “I am thoroughly delighted to be directing The 39 Steps as our kick-off to the 2020 year. Having been a great fan of Hitchcock’s films all of my life, I was excited to find a script that pays homage to his talents by way of high comedic action and adventure,” Callahan said. “I am always looking for challenging projects for our acting students and this production will certainly Students pursuing a Bachelor of Fine do that. Four actors play more than 100 characters, complete Arts degree in the Weber State University with costume changes, dialects and rom-com. In this challenging, Department of Visual Art & Design exhibit their high-octane year of politics I think it will be a wonderful way to capstone work in a group thesis exhibition escape into a world of laughs and adventure.” prior to graduation. This exhibition provides a valuable opportunity for students to showcase their best art and design work. Visit weber.edu/shawgallery for more details. 10 WILDCAT | Spring 2020 Spring 2020 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 11 FEBRUARY 23 Requiem MOZART’S APRIL 2-4 N AT I O N A L UNDERGRADUATE LITERATURE Orchesis APRIL 3-4 & 8-11 DANCE THEATRE CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 21-22 & 26-29 N U e h t T C PE MARCH 25-28 r e b e W @ s t r 0A 202 D E T C E P X E (NULC) WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY THEATRE MARCH 26-28 EX APRIL 17-MAY 1 Opening Reception April 17 at 7 p.m. APRIL 11 Concerto Night SPRING 2020 BFA Thesis Exhibition APRIL 14 Symphonic Band SPRING CONCERT FOR TIMES, LOCATIONS & MORE INFO: weber.edu/artscalendar TICKETS: weberstatetickets.com or 801-626-8500 Like a tattoo, trips to study earth’s features leave an everlasting mark on students, whether they’re to volcanic terrain and icecaps across the globe, or to our own Great Salt Lake. Jaime Winston, Marketing & Communications A s a theatre arts major and actor at the Cellar Theater, a Cobb joined 20-plus classmates for two trips to study the one-time theater-in-the-round in Ogden, Doris Van De geologic formations in the parks during her first and second Graaff Cobb AS ’55 relished any opportunity to put on a show. years at Weber. Along with singing (and yodeling) partners, the Some of her most-cherished performances, though, didn’t trips gave her a greater understanding of Utah’s geology. “You take place on stage — they were conducted on bumpy bus probably heard of the cliffs falling down in Zion this year,” rides and at rugged campsites in southern Utah. Accompanied she said. “That’s caused from a lot of erosion, freezing and by a friend on ukulele, Cobb recalls passing time by belting expanding, which causes the cracks to open up and chunks to out folksy tunes like Red River Valley and She’ll Be Coming ’Round fall off the mountain.” the Mountain with her classmates. On one trip, she recalls, she Professor Walter Richard Buss, “Uncle Walt” as Cobb and other even learned to yodel. students affectionately called him, started taking students on The music helped set the stage for the field trips’ main trips to Zion and Bryce in 1936. Thirty-five people went on the attractions, Zion National Park’s vivid red canyon walls and inaugural adventure. “Out of that group of 35, there were 25 Bryce Canyon National Park’s majestic red, white and orange or more that had never been south of Provo,” Buss wrote in an rock pillars. Assistant professor Elizabeth Balgord shows Carmen Longo, a recent applied environmental geosciences graduate, a feature on a map during a hike in the Ulta Valley in Peru. Photo courtesy of Analeah Vaughn 14 WILDCAT | Spring 2020 essay published in Richard W. Balgord and other faculty in Weber State’s Department of Sadler’s 1988 book Weber State Earth and Environmental Sciences keep alive Buss’s tradition College …A Centennial History. of conducting fieldwork and studying the environment with The Zion-Bryce trips were a students. Along with the trip to Peru, Balgord recently led popular Weber tradition for students in mapping rock units at the Silver Island Mountains 35 years. In fact, they were so in Tooele County and studying geology near Moab. popular that demand called for “Going out in the field is the only way for them to put a lot a second bus during the second of the pieces together that they’re learning in their classes,” year. Once, Buss recalled Balgord said. having to take two trips on Along with Marek Matyjasik, professor of earth and successive weeks, and another environmental sciences and recent Fulbright Scholar to time needing three busses for Poland, Balgord teaches the Summer Bridge Program, an intro one trip. to earth sciences for first-year students that offers a trip to An avid outdoorsman, Buss’s and geology was contagious. ABOVE: Weber students on a geology field trip to southern Utah, May 17-21, 1961. The trip included stops at Arches National Monument, Mesa Verde National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument and Monument Valley. “His wife told me she felt like RIGHT: Walter Richard Buss passion for the environment “It has been my lifelong dream to travel the world and do research.” –Analeah Vaughn Yellowstone National Park. Students in the program learn about the volcano beneath the park, what creates geysers and how the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone got its color. Last summer, Matyjasik and Balgord took students to study a widow sometimes because another unique environment in Iceland featuring a large he spent so many hours in the Regardless of mileage or destination, icecap and volcanoes. While there, they collected rock and hills studying everything,” Cobb said. Buss trips called for preparing for water samples for analysis. “We look at what chemical In 1946, Buss conceived a new trip idea, “College on Wheels,” the unexpected. On the return trip elements and what ions are dissolving in the water and teaching geology from the windows of a bus, aided by a from Dinosaur National Monument, what this can tell us about where the water is coming from,” blackboard, screen and movie projector. The first trip, he Cobb recalled Buss adding a side trip in the Uinta Mountains, Matyjasik said. wrote, lasted 39 days and included stops at 10 national parks, where rough terrain led to a flat tire as darkness settled in. along with state parks and museums. The next year, Buss Fortunately, Buss knew a local rancher who happened to have and other faculty formed a new “College on Wheels,” covering a spare. On a trip to Goblin Valley, Cobb said she was caught 6,500 miles from Ogden to the Parícutin volcano in Mexico. “At with Buss and her classmates in the worst sandstorm she ever the volcano, we walked along the edge of the flow and could experienced. feel the heat and, after dark, could see red hot rock,” Buss Whether facing storms or car trouble, Cobb said trips helped can only leave through evaporation. “We know all of the water wrote in Sadler’s book. reduce the stress that came with student life. “College is that is coming in, and it’s staying in the basin, so it’s a more pretty tough,” she said, “You’re out there to learn, but you can complete picture,” Matyjasik said. Carie Frantz, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences and recipient of the 2019 Presidential Teaching Excellence Award, said her favorite place to bring students to study the lake is Ladyfinger Point, a short hike on Antelope While Iceland and Yellowstone both offered opportunities to Island’s northwest side known for striking sunsets. “There’s explore unusual terrain, Matyjasik said faculty don’t have to some really neat microbial rocks out there I like to show take students more than an hour away to study a truly unique students,” she said. “It’s also a great vantage point to see some environment. Along with having eight times more salt than of the ancient shorelines from Lake Bonneville and other the ocean, the Great Salt Lake is a closed basin, meaning water periods in the lake’s geologic history.” In addition to the lake, Frantz said Weber State is situated near many spots for faculty and students to explore. have a lot of fun, too.” Always Learning A Tradition Continued Like Cobb, geology major Analeah Vaughn recalls singing Earth science field trips didn’t with her travel mates on a Weber trip, but instead of folk start with Walter Buss. About 15 songs, they sang Luis Fonsi’s 2017 hit Despacito, and instead of years before his famous Zion- journeying to southern Utah, they conducted research in the Bryce trips, The Weber Herald Cordillera Blanca, part of the Andes, in Peru. recounted geology professor John Lind, who started his four-decade-long career at Weber in 1896, taking students to study sand dunes, old meanders of the Weber River and the geology of Ogden Canyon. In his book, Weber State College …A Centennial History, Richard W. Sadler wrote that Lind’s “fondest memories included his hikes in the mountains with his students.” Along with Elizabeth Balgord, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences, and graduates Daksha Patel BS ’17 and Carmen Longo BS ’18, Vaughn mapped rock units exposed by glacial retreat and researched the causes of water contamination in the area for a month in 2018. She started to tear up when Balgord asked her to join the research team. “It has been my lifelong dream to travel the world and do research,” she said. 16 WILDCAT | Spring 2020 Weber State students and faculty research a volcanic and icy terrain Salty Airboat goes induring this space. Salty Airboat on a caption trip to Iceland the summer of 2019. caption goes in this space. Salty Airboat caption goes Photo courtesy of Analeah Vaughn in this space. “We have all sorts of different ecosystems in this state,” she Prior to her return trip, Vaughn had a tattoo put on her wrist said. “Many programs don’t have the luxury of being able to just as a permanent reminder of her life-changing journey and drive two hours to see world-class outcrops and rocks.” what she accomplished The design features flowers the team saw, a mountain A Lifelong Reminder representing one of the last valleys they visited, a semi-colon signifying both her struggles with depression and that her journey will continue, and a wave, because, according to Through her trips with earth and environmental sciences Vaughn, “strong women make waves.” faculty, near and far, Vaughn has bonded with her classmates and now sees them as family. Before going to Peru, she mentally prepared for her first long trip away from home, being out of cell service and dealing with less oxygen at elevations over 10,000 feet. In the end, she believes she made a difference for local villagers who rely on the glacial runoff for water. Visit weber.edu/magazine to find more stories on environmental field work being conducted in the College of Science, along with a video of botany student Alexis Sullivan recounting her research trip to Mongolia. GETUP supports underrepresented weber.edu/getup students on their path to a degree. We sponsor: • Concurrent Enrollment courses for high school students • The Summer Bridge Program • Community Engaged Environmental Geosciences course • Early Research Experience at the Great Salt Lake Our Planet, Your Future Students will have a new avenue to explore the environment when Weber State launches its Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies in fall 2020. WEST SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOUR-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP UP TO $5,000/YEAR The major will draw on courses and experts from each department in the College of Science to teach students to find creative solutions to complex issues related to sustainability, natural resources and ecosystem conservation. “We have a generation of students who for STEM degrees want to be involved in problem solving,” said professor Rick Ford, who is coordinating the new major. “They are Preference given to students studying: going to be the students who are interested in being broadly trained in the sciences and are interested in • • • • collaborating on interdisciplinary work.” The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that environmental sciences jobs will grow by 8% between 2018 and 2028, faster than the average for all occupations in the U.S., and the median annual salary is Chemistry Computer Science Engineering Geoscience • Earth & Enviornmental Studies • Mathematics • Physics over $70,000. The new major also complements Weber State’s focus on sustainability. Marek Matyjasik, professor of earth and environmental sciences, and student Lilian Hart collect water samples for chemical analysis at the Great Salt Lake. Photo courtesy of Carie Frantz 18 WILDCAT | Spring 2020 weber.edu/westscholarship Launching Student Success First-generation US citizen/ student Yandriel’s scholarship catapulted him to achieve Yandriel Sobrino-Rodriguez’s decision to join the U.S. Marine Corps after high school seems a paradox, considering he once did everything possible to avoid military service. But that was when he lived in Cuba, where every 12-year-old, Cuban-born male is required to register with the military. Once registered, they can’t leave the country until their stint is up. Then, in his senior year, something unexpected happened. “The financial people decided that I had too many credits and too many classes dropped, so I couldn’t apply for any more financial aid,” Yandriel recalled. “I had nowhere to turn.” Luckily, a Veterans Upward Bound mentor encouraged Yandriel to apply for the Jack and Barbara Magdiel Emergency Student Endowment, a scholarship designed to aid senior students in financial crisis toward graduation. Yandriel’s life was forever changed by the donors’ generosity. “Who knows what would have happened had I not gotten that scholarship?” he asked. “Knowing that you can continue with that last semester just makes a huge difference.” That was a predicament for 11-year-old Yandriel, whose par- Yandriel graduated with his bachelor’s degree in computer ents had emigrated to Utah, but had left behind three young science in 2016. Today, he is a software engineer at my529, children in the care of relatives. “They were basically forced a nonprofit educational savings program run by the State of out of the country due to my dad’s political beliefs,” Yandriel Utah. He writes software an estimated 50,000 people use daily explained. “He was not OK with having a communist govern- to save and invest money. “I couldn’t tell you how many times ment, and actually spent about eight years in a Cuban jail.” I’m working on a problem and I’ve used skills taught to me at With his 12th birthday looming, Yandriel and his younger Weber State to find the answer,” he said. brother received word that their parents had scraped together Yandriel’s degree was an inspiration to his younger siblings enough money to send for them. Yandriel arrived in Salt Lake and a source of pride for his parents. “My brother and I are City, unable to speak English or use a computer. “I remember both college graduates, and we are both supporting ourselves,” going to middle school and not being able to open the lockers; he beamed. Yandriel is currently working on a master’s degree it was horrible,” he cringed. in data analytics at another institution, but he visits the Weber After high school graduation, Yandriel served four years as a Marine Corps infantryman, and enrolled at a community college following his honorable discharge. His initial goal was State campus regularly. “I still use Weber State’s tutoring services because they still help veterans, even though they have already graduated,” he said. to return to the military. “I wanted to go back as an officer, but His family frequently recollects on their homeland. “In Cuba, in order to be an officer, you have to have a college degree,” he education is the last thing you think of — especially in my said. So, Yandriel researched universities to continue his edu- family because they were labeled by the government,” Yandriel cation. “Weber State was the one that caught my eye because said. “We knew that no matter what efforts we made, we were they have the Veterans Upward Bound offices there,” he said. not going to get into a good career because of the way things Yandriel’s instincts proved right. Weber State University ranks among the nation’s premier institutions for student-veterans. Of the 134 four-year public colleges reviewed by Military Times are set up down there. I had no idea that I was going to end up in the United States. I had no idea that I was going to go to college and that I was actually going to like it so much.” in 2019, WSU came in at a lofty 17. WSU’s Veterans Upward Without coming to America and attending Weber State, Bound program assists veterans in achieving academic goals. Yandriel is convinced he would be working on a Cuban sugar cane plantation or in jail. “I am a first-generation college 20 WILDCAT | Spring 2020 With a goal to earn a computer science degree, Yandriel enrolled graduate and first-generation U.S. citizen,” he proudly at WSU. Since the GI Bill only covers 36 months of schooling, proclaimed. “Everywhere I go, I tell everyone that I’m a he delivered pizzas and did odd jobs to help cover expenses. veteran and that I went to Weber State!” HELP MORE STUDENTS FINISH AT WEBER Weber State’s ’CATapult Scholarship fundraising initiative seeks to increase student recruitment, retention and completion by raising $10 million by July 1, 2021. Your gift to the initiative can propel a Wildcat past financial obstacles that impede graduation. Visit weber.edu/CATapult, and let your generosity soar! Spring 2020 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 21 Walking toward the Dee Events Center to attend yet another HONORING basketball game, Karen P. Neff Miner BA ’69 seems to know every third person on campus. Between her gregarious personality and more than 50 years of history at Weber State, she has developed a love for the campus and the people on it that borders on infectious. From her head-to-toe Weber wear to her purple nails and eyeshadow, she exudes a love for all things WSU. “We’ve tried to hide that eyeshadow, it always turns back up,” her daughter Elizabeth Neff-Mikolash BS ’96 laughed. And it’s not just that it’s Karen’s alma mater, or that she’s been cheering on the Wildcats from the same seats in the Dee Events Center since it opened in 1977. Karen’s education was vital to shaping who she is today— Karen Neff Miner, an avid Wildcats fan, cheers on the men’s basketball team at the Dee Events Center in Nov. 2019. so much so that when an unthinkable tragedy left her a Turning her greatest tragedies into avenues for philanthropy, a Weber State alumna establishes scholarships in memory of both her late husbands. Katie England, Marketing & Communications Photos courtesy of the Neff and Miner family widowed mother-of-three in her early 30s, she used it as an opportunity to help others achieve their dreams. As those who know her best will tell you, turning her own trials into ways to help others is as on-brand for her as her Weber State Wildcats sweatshirt. Love and Tragedy Upon graduating Weber High School, Karen attended Weber State with the help of a debate scholarship, graduating in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in history and English. Karen started on her master’s degree at Utah State University after graduating from WSU, which oddly enough, is when she met, fell in love with, and married Weber State geology professor Thomas Rodney Neff, whom she surprisingly never met as a WSU student. Karen received a call one night — a mutual acquaintance had given Rodney her number — and the two talked for three and a half hours. They both loved Weber State sports, the symphony and traveling. He invited her to a Weber State basketball game for their first date and that was that. The two were married six months later. The day before Easter in 1981, a policeman knocked on Karen’s door, and her heart sank: Her husband had been killed in a car accident on the way home from a Weber State geology field trip. He had taken several students to Nevada on spring break to collect and analyze samples. It was raining during the trip back, and Neff had taken off his Karen Neff Miner and her first husband, WSU geology professor Rodney Neff, during a visit to the Grand Canyon in 1971. Rodney was leading students on a field trip on the Bright Angel trail. 22 WILDCAT | Spring 2020 seatbelt. When the driver lost control of the car, Rodney was thrown from the vehicle and killed. We’ve tried to hide that [purple] eyeshadow, it always turns back up. 10+ scholarships awarded thanks to Karen Karen Neff Miner and her second husband, longtime WSU chemistry professor Bryant Miner, at the Bonneville High School Jr. Prom in 2009. You leave something when someone passes... You give something that’s going to give back to people. Lemons and Lemonade Life and Legacy The two were married for 25 years before Bryant passed away Karen was suddenly a single mother to three young children Only a few months after her husband’s sudden passing, Chemistry Scholarship Endowment. ranging in age from 2 to 8. The situation would have been Karen began organizing what would be the first of several enough to overwhelm the strongest spirits — but as her scholarships founded in memory of people she loved: the Dr. children will now tell you, their mother isn’t one to wallow in Thomas Rodney Neff Geology Memorial Scholarship. self-pity. “It’s always been my belief that you leave legacies,” Karen said. “If someone hands her lemons, she’s going to make “You leave something when someone passes. A plaque on a lemonade,” said Eric Neff BS ’03 who was 2 when his father tree, or a plaque on a building, it doesn’t do it. I mean, you give was killed. He is now the director of admissions, advisement something that’s going to give back to people.” and recruitment for the Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health The fact that Karen had attended Weber State on scholarship Professions. “She’s always someone who’s going to take made establishing the fund even more appropriate, and she something seen as tragic and do her best to make it into a started working to get donations to make the scholarship positive.” sustainable. Former students, colleagues and family members After Rodney’s death, Karen knew she needed to have a means all donated money to establish it. to provide for her three children. Picking up where she left off “I just said, well, Rodney loved his students. And I just want years before, she completed her master’s degree at Utah State had two study rooms in the Tracy Hall Science Center named somebody to be able to continue to go to Weber State because University while working part time as an archivist at WSU, after each of them. of this scholarship,” she said. eventually obtaining her teaching license. She taught history at Bonneville High School for 26 years, until her retirement in 2011. Looking back, Karen says she made it through “step by step.” Education became an incredibly important part of her life, and she actively pushes for her kids, stepkids and grandchildren to attend Weber State University for their education. from leukemia in 2012 and she found herself once again in the process of establishing a scholarship: the Bryant A. Miner While the Miner scholarship has yet to be awarded, the Neff scholarship has been given to about 10 students since its inception, including this year’s recipient, Marshall Wayment. Marshall, who graduated last December, majored in geology to find a career in the outdoors. With a goal to graduate debt free, the scholarship was a major help to him financially. In fact, it reduced his tuition load enough during his last semester for him to save a little money before graduation. Being memorialized in a way that directly benefits students like Wayment is exactly how each of these men would have wanted to be remembered, said Eric, though he admitted that both Rodney and Bryant might be “weirded out” to know Karen also Teacher Twilight Elementary and secondary science and mathematics teachers are invited to attend the Teacher Twilight Series, where experts provide training on current and relevant topics for Utah educators. “Bryant would be really embarrassed to have his name on She later established the Faye Preece Memorial Scholarship a wall. That wasn’t him,” Eric said. “He was a professor who Fund when her mother, a longtime WSU nursing faculty just showed up to class and taught chemistry and loved his member, passed away. students. Same with dad. Their legacy is in the students they Karen remarried widower Bryant Miner in 1987, with a total taught. That’s what it comes down to — that’s their legacy.” of 10 children between them. Bryant, a chemistry teacher at Weber State for 43 years, also shared with Karen a love “She always told us without having her education, she would of travel and Wildcat sports. “I liked those scientists,” Karen not have been able to support us like she did,” said her joked. “They’re odd, but I like them.” daughter Elizabeth, who works as a school counselor. 24 WILDCAT | Spring 2020 weber.edu/csme/training ALL that tois fit PRINT ost people, when watching the Super Bowl, are cheering on their favorite team, cheating on diets with savory snacks, waiting for the half-time show, or just sticking around for the commercials, but, during Super Bowl 50 three years ago, Jerry Ropelato BS ’83 didn’t care if the Carolina Panthers or Denver Broncos won, was too worried to eat chips and salsa, didn’t hear the band Coldplay perform, and didn’t even laugh at the Doritos dogs advertisement (a national favorite). He just wanted — well, more like needed — the game to be over so he could breathe again. You see, 33 hours earlier, Jerry’s 3D printing company, that while the dog was under anesthesia, the vet was able WhiteClouds, shipped a custom-made brace to Panthers’ to perfect the hinge and have it ready ahead of time, by first linebacker Thomas Davis, who broke his arm during the NFC fitting it to this 3D model, which we printed from the dog’s championship game two weeks before the Super Bowl. All CT scan.” Jerry could do while watching Davis play was hold his breath and say to himself, “Please don’t break on national TV, please don’t break on national TV.” company in 2013. Many of those clients rank toward the top of the Fortune 500, including Disney, Walmart and Target. For and while the Panthers lost by 14, it was a win for almost seven years, WhiteClouds has handled projects “from WhiteClouds. “That one project “It’s been a difficult industry to got so much press. Over 800 articles were written about it,” that’s pretty much everything Amy Renner Hendricks, contributing writer diverse, impressive group of clients since Jerry founded the Fortunately for Jerry, and Davis, the brace held up perfectly, navigate, but it’s been really fun too.” And for business alumnus Jerry Ropelato, From the NFL to veterinarians, WhiteClouds has served a reports Jerry from his unassuming, but expansive, 43,000-square-foot workspace in the Business Depot Ogden industrial park, where he has a replica of Davis’ brace on display. “Can you believe how big his arm was?” Jerry asks, picking up the device, which is almost as big as a football. “It’s unreal.” Other items are arranged around the brace. He grabs what looks like an animal bone. It’s solid, has a putty-type color and unique markings, but it’s really a 3D-printed orthopedic model, another WhiteClouds project. inception and design to full-color 3D printed product.” Jerry is now in the middle of changing the business model — he’s always looking to innovate and improve. His latest plan is to use storytelling strategies to help WhiteClouds find niche clients, like companies looking for “selfie thrones” — think replicas of the Iron Throne from HBO fantasy Game of Thrones and NFL-branded thrones — to bring to tradeshows and other events. “What’s really cool about this business is that you start with nothing, and then, layer by layer, you build really cool things,” Jerry says, as a whooshing sound interrupts him. He heads in the direction of the noise. On the way, he passes a 5-foot 3D model of Homer Simpson, and as he turns a corner, he sees a 20-foot-tall bag of the popular snack Boom Chicka Pop towering in the back. “It’s been a difficult industry to navigate, but it’s been really fun, too,” he says, as he eyes “A dog had broken its leg and needed surgery,” Jerry explains. gigantic popcorn kernels spilling over the top of the bag. By He points to a metal hinge fastened to the model. “This the way, the noise he heard was an employee air-brushing hinge needed to be bent a very specific way. Instead of doing a model dragon. Spring 2020 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 27 To Fail is to Learn Beyond Business Jerry knows being an entrepreneur is risky. He has created Jerry, the entrepreneur, is the guy kicking around ideas eight businesses in his career, including the highly with employees and mulling over new business models. successful digital publishing company Purch, which had Jerry, the person, is the guy in the gym patiently coaching over 125 million unique web visitors each month. His his grandkid’s kindergarten basketball team and whose first company wasn’t as prosperous. “I quit Weber State favorite project isn’t the splashy Thomas Davis arm brace — when I was a junior to start my own business … Rope although it brought a lot of attention to the company. Manufacturing. It was a miserable failure,” Jerry admits. “I was young and naive, and I didn’t have enough funds to make it work.” The experience “We created a model of Ella’s heart from a CT scan, which doctors used to practice the surgery.” made him reflect on what he really wanted. “I asked myself, ‘What classes did you enjoy at Weber State?’ The answer was business and computers, so I went back to Weber and majored in business The project he values most is one that gave a little girl her life. “Ella was born with her heart in the wrong place,” Jerry says, choking up. “It was a rare condition, and the surgeons weren’t quite sure how to fix it. We created a model of Ella’s heart from a CT scan, which doctors used to practice the surgery. About six months later, Ella’s parents brought her to our facility.” While Jerry enjoys his work with big organizations like the NFL and Disney, he says moments like those with Ella and her parents make his work truly incredible. “That was a fantastic day.” processing. (Today that would be most like the management information systems major in the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics.) That was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. You have to learn to keep moving forward. To Jerry Ropelato explaining the fine points of his business WhiteClouds to a group of WSU management and information systems students The Future do that, you can’t be afraid of failure.” Right Here Which industries benefit from 3D-printing technology? “All of them,” answers Jerry Ropelato BS ’83, CEO of Ogden-based 3D printing company WhiteClouds. “There isn’t a single sector that doesn’t, or couldn’t, benefit from the technology.” Here are six creative ways Wildcats are using 3D printers: systems engineering 1. John Sohl and his students 5. students use the printers print hardware housing the technology to help to create custom parts, for sensors that measure students better visualize like rubber hoses. pollutant gases in the air. anatomical details. 2. 4. Manufacturing and 3. Physics professor The radiologic sciences department uses Weber State programs are John B. Goddard School of create their final 6. giving students first-hand Business & Economics projects on 3D printers Arboleya can’t find what experience with the technology. use the 3D printing lab or use the printers to she needs to teach a More than 25 printers are in use in Wattis Business to make “sketches” for concept for her course on at WSU, most of them partly create prototypes of larger, more-advanced teaching middle school funded by generous donors. products they’ve designed. sculptures. math, she custom prints With 3D printers being utilized in a broad base of industries, Students in the Visual arts students When elementary education major Cora objects. Spring 2020 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 29 Salutes WSU WSU Salutes 2019 honorees: Front row, left to right: Sean Stromberg, Jamie Lampros-Shenefelt, Dean W. Hurst, Rachel Creer, Glen L. Wade, Lori Belnap Pehrson and Keith Titus Back row, left to right: Richard Stromberg, Jacklyn Lampros-Hunt, Kristen Hurst-Hyde, Karin Hurst, Matthew Thorpe, Nancy Boyington Wade, John B. Lund, Marlin K. Jensen and Kym Buttschardt Not pictured: Jack D. Lampros, Damian Lillard L 30 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Fall 2019 A Photo by Robert Casey W eber State University honored alumni and community members who have lived distinguished lives, made a difference, or have contributed to the university’s success and reputation at the WSU Salutes Awards ceremony in October. 2019 Honorees {STUDENT HOMECOMING ROYALTY} {DISTINGUISHED SERVICE} Rachel Creer AS ’19 and Matthew “Matt” Thorpe Kym Buttschardt Rachel and Matthew exemplify the Weber State ideals of scholarship, leadership and service. Kym moved to Washington, D.C., to begin her “dream job” as an auditor with Price Waterhouse after earning her accounting degree at the University of Utah, but destiny had other plans. Kym returned to Utah after her thenboyfriend and now-husband, Pete Buttschardt, opened Union Grill restaurant. Five years later, the couple opened Rooster’s Brewing Co. The eatery’s instant popularity gave other merchants and restaurateurs the confidence to set up shop on 25th Street, which sparked the revitalization of a historically significant business district. The Buttschardts are deeply involved in the ongoing effort to revive the Ogden Union Stockyard area. They support numerous local events, like the annual Harvest Moon celebration. Rachel, who earned an associate’s degree, summa cum laude, is an honors student studying public relations, advertising, business administration and Spanish. She has held multiple leadership roles at WSU, including Honors Aletheia Student Advisory Board vice president, Suicide Awareness Walk community outreach coordinator and First Year Experience peer mentor. Rachel speaks fluent Spanish and volunteers at a Title 1 school. Matt has a 4.0 GPA and is working toward a degree in professional sales as well as outdoor and community recreation education. He is a member of the Honors Aletheia club and serves as the WSU Student Alumni Association’s vice president of traditions. For two years, Matt organized the “Destruction Zone” student spectator section at WSU athletic events. The former student admissions ambassador helps run his family’s nonprofit organization, which serves cancer patients and their families. {EMERITI HOMECOMING ROYALTY} Nancy Boyington Wade AA ’69 and Glen L. Wade BS ’72 As Weber State students, Glen and Nancy discovered a common interest in chemistry — and each other. Nancy joined Ta Theta Nu social club and was active in student government. After graduating, she completed a medical technology internship at McKay-Dee Hospital and was named Utah State Medical Technology Student of the Year. Glen joined Delta Phi fraternity and the U.S. Army Reserve. After earning a degree in chemistry and math, he attended Georgetown University School of Dentistry. Following Glen’s dental residency at UCLA and the Veterans Hospital, the couple returned to Utah, and Glen established a practice in Roy. Throughout his 40-year dental career, Glen also ran a 300-acre farm and a 130-head cattle ranch. Proud Wildcats, the couple named a room at Tracy Hall Science Center in honor of former professors E. Park Guymon and Diane Pugmire. Glen was a valued member of the university’s National Advisory Council. After many years of service to the community and university, Glen passed away in December 2019. He is survived by Nancy, their children and grandchildren, and his siblings. 32 WILDCAT | Spring 2020 Lewis W. Shurtliff Award for {CONTRIBUTIONS TO EDUCATION} Marlin K. Jensen A studious, first-generation college student, Marlin earned a bachelor’s degree in German from Brigham Young University and later attended the University of Utah College of Law, graduating first in his class. While practicing law, Marlin still helped operate his family farm in Huntsville, Utah. He served as a General Authority Seventy in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 24 years, and was the church’s official historian and recorder from 2005 to 2012. Marlin’s outstanding contributions to education include service on the Weber County Library Board of Trustees, the Weber School District Board, the Utah State Board of Education and the Utah State Board of Regents. He is especially interested in ensuring that underserved college-age students can afford to attend college and pursue any desired career. For the past three years, Marlin has chaired Weber County’s Intergenerational Poverty Advisory Committee, a volunteer organization dedicated to helping young people break the cycle of poverty through education and opportunity. {OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNUS} Damian Lillard BS ’15 Just as the four-time NBA All-Star has carved out an identity as one of the most prolific scorers in the 49-year history of the Portland Trail Blazers, so, too, has Damian carved out a permanent place in the hearts of Wildcat basketball fans. Damian, voted 2012–13 NBA Rookie of the Year, is a Weber State legend not only for his remarkable athletic ability, but also for his loyalty and dedication to pursuing a college degree. When the NBA drafted him in 2012, Damian was six credits shy of graduation, so he returned to WSU in the offseasons to complete his coursework. He graduated in 2015, fulfilling the promise he had made to his mother years earlier. When Weber State retired Lillard’s famous No. 1 jersey in 2017, Damian used the occasion to publically thank Dee Events Center staffers for unlocking the facility after hours so he could squeeze in extra practices. When he’s not on the court dazzling fans with mind-boggling three-pointers or touting his alma mater on social media, Damian may be in a recording studio. He recently released his third, full-length album under his nom de rap, “Dame D.O.L.L.A.” {DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA} Lori Belnap Pehrson BS ’87 As a director at Northrop Grumman, a leading global security company, Lori oversees a large engineering and systems integration organization, and manages a portfolio of programs that provide support to national security objectives. Lori has always felt compelled to help others personally and professionally. She is an ardent STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) advocate who frequently speaks at conferences and schools. She has taught English and computer skills to local refugee groups and has mentored veterans who are reentering the workplace. Lori chairs her division’s diversity and inclusion board, and currently serves on Weber State’s Engineering Advisory Board. She is a member of the Safe Harbor Crisis Center’s board of directors, and was recently appointed to the Governor’s Economic Council. {DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS} Keith Titus BS ’02 Growing up in Smithfield, Utah, Keith’s passion for learning was kindled by his Grandpa Peterson, who frequently extolled the virtues of education. Today, he challenges himself and others to acquire new knowledge and consider different perspectives. Keith graduated from Weber State with a degree in professional sales; he later earned an MBA at the University of Utah. His academic background and dynamic work ethic serve him well in his role as president and CEO of MarketStar, a global outsourcing company that designs and develops sales and marketing solutions for hundreds of companies. Keith joined MarketStar after spending 11 years at Motorola Solutions in a number of leadership capacities, including head of strategy for global sales and field operations. He champions community initiatives through MarketStar Cares, his company’s community outreach program. He also serves on a number of local community boards and is an avid dirt {EMERITI LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT} John B. Lund BS ’78 In 1975, John accepted a job at America First Credit Union — and never left. The former clerk is now the Riverdale, Utah-based organization’s president and CEO. America First is among the nation’s top 10 credit unions, with $11.2 billion in assets and over 1 million members. Described by professional colleagues as “a person of high-integrity” and “an excellent motivator of people,” John has received numerous honors and accolades, including Utah Business magazine’s 2018 CEO of the Year: Lifetime Achievement award. Under John’s leadership, America First has been lauded by Forbes, Consumer Reports and Money magazine. John sits on numerous boards, including the 100% For Kids Education Foundation, Utah Credit Union Association and CU Direct Corp. He’s also a loyal Weber State Wildcat, a member of the Goddard School of Business & Economics Advisory Council and a Ralph Nye Lecture Series guest speaker. John generously provides personal and corporate financial support for WSU event sponsorships, scholarships and Walker Institute internships. {WSU PRESIDENTS AWARD} Stewart Education Foundation Richard Stromberg BS ’72, chair, Kristen Hurst-Hyde BA ’74, co-vice chair, Jamie Lampros-Shenefelt BS ’86, co-vice chair, Jack D. Lampros, emeriti chair, Dean W. Hurst CC ’48, emeriti vice chair, Karin Hurst AS ’79, associate, Jacklyn LamprosHunt BS ’81, associate and Sean Stromberg BS ’93, associate Elizabeth Dee Shaw Stewart was the granddaughter of Ogden pioneer industrialist and community leader Thomas D. Dee and his wife, Annie. Honoring the Dee family’s tradition of charitable giving, Elizabeth and her husband, Donnell B. Stewart, established the Stewart Education Foundation (SEF) in 1977 to support educational, cultural and life-enhancing programs, particularly in Weber County. Since its inception, SEF has administered millions of dollars in gifts and grants to numerous programs and organizations with an emphasis on Weber State, where Elizabeth and Donnell were classmates in the 1920s. The foundation has financed or endowed campus landmarks, buildings, scholarships, professional development programs, library acquisitions and many other vital projects. In addition to its support of WSU, the foundation provides crucial funding to the Ogden, Weber and Davis school district foundations, Onstage Ogden, Elizabeth Stewart Treehouse Museum and Eccles Dinosaur Park. The foundation was a major contributor to the Ogden High School restoration project. biker, fly-fisher, amateur chef and golfer. Spring 2020 | alumni.weber.edu 33 Actual Students: “ The class w exciting. F as fun and wasn’t afr or once, I aid of mat h. Best math course and professor I’ve had to date. “ “ “ CLASS NOTES A L U M N I U P D AT E S Great teacher! He he understanding like nlped my o other. “ “ “ “ “ spent r o s s e f o r he p lI ove that t with students who e extra tim re struggling. we “ ence i r e p x e t s Be ath. m n i R VE E A ’50s Jesus Christ of Latter-day degrees from BYU, and his Colorado State University Saints and two attended doctorate at the University and later returned to WSU, Daniel “Dan” E. Layton WSU. They also have 28 of Utah in theater and where he served for 36 AS ’50 began his education grandchildren and 26 great- cinema directing. He lives years as assistant to the at Weber College after grandchildren. Dan and Ann in Orem with his wife, Gail dean of students, director years of service in the U.S. live in Layton. Wade Jacobs. They have of Admissions, director of three children and seven Admissions & Registration grandchildren. As Weber and university registrar. He students, David and his two earned a PhD in educational brothers, Dee Jacobs AS ’50 administration from the and Hugh Jacobs CC ’52, were University of Utah. Judy and student body officers. Winslow served as members Navy. At Weber, Dan won Math can be hard. We are dedicated to providing the best instruction and learning environment to support student success. David Jacobs AS ’57, a “Mr. Collegiate” and was retired filmmaker, produced a member of Excelsior, a and directed films such as social club on campus. He later earned his bachelor’s The First Vision (1976) and The Mailbox (1977). He also degree in education at Utah worked as a casting director State University, and taught for films such as Johnny Lingo three years of electrical (1969) and Man’s Search for math. He also worked as a Happiness (1964). He worked substitute teacher in Davis School District for 20 years. A farmer since his youth, Dan owns Dan Layton Farms, Email devmath@weber.edu to learn how you can have a great experience learning math. A where he harvests wheat and alfalfa, and once grew the biggest onions in Davis County. Dan also worked on the railroad for 34 years as a brakeman and conductor. He and his wife, Ann, have seven children — three served missions for The Church of at Brigham Young University of WSU’s Emeriti Alumni L for 20 years, including 17 at the BYU Motion Picture Studio and three teaching at the Church College of Hawaii, now BYU Hawaii. David also spent 14 years at Nu Skin International, producing and directing corporate videos. He traveled the world with both institutions, filming in 35 countries. He received his bachelor’s and master’s L ’60s Council for 15 combined Judy Jeppson Hurst AS ’62, president in 2018–19. Since BS ’64, MS ’86 worked at their retirement, they served Weber State for 20 years, a religious mission in New including roles as director Zealand, spent a year in of Student Activities and Qingdao, China, teaching Leadership and assistant at the Ocean University dean of students at WSU of China, and served as Davis. At WSU, she received full-time missionaries in a Presidential Outstanding the Utah Ogden Mission. Professional Staff Award and They live in Layton and a Crystal Crest Special Award. have seven children and 27 Her husband, Winslow Hurst grandchildren. years, with Judy serving as BS ’67, earned a MEd from L Lifetime Member of the Alumni Association A Annual Member of the Alumni Association Spring 2020 | alumni.weber.edu 35 L Janet Johnson AS ’65, BS ’67 currently serving on the WSU Allen Hampton BA ’72 Sharyn Kimball in 1974. They Sydnee and Bruce served a WSUSA student leadership president of the Wildcat married and moved to St. Emeriti Alumni Council. She received an MBA in have three daughters and six religious mission in New York endowment and business Club in 1996. He currently Louis, Mo., after graduation, has 11 grandchildren. corporation finance from the grandchildren. City, and were instrumental finance scholarship. After chairs the WSU Hall of Fame Bruce Shepherd BA ’77 in the Helping Hands clean- graduation, Jill taught middle Committee. In 1989, he became a founding officer up efforts during Hurricane school math and algebra. earned an MBA from Utah for Weber Valley Bank while Sandy and Irene. They live in Salt Lake City. State University. Along with where she worked for three L University of Pennsylvania ’70s Wharton School in 1974, Jay Swenson BS ’71 enjoyed to Frankfurt, Germany. She then moved to Seattle, a 20-year career with World He worked for DuPont Wash., for four years where Book Encyclopedia, Inc., Chemical, and later for she worked for GMAC Auto where he served as a division then-Mobil Oil in Rochester, Insurance before returning manager. He managed hiring, N.Y., where he was a senior to Utah, where she raised training and selling of World financial analyst. In 1982, three children. Later, she Book products and won many he returned to the family worked as a dental assistant, company awards, including business, Hampton’s an office manager, and then state champion for the State Superior Dry Cleaning, in land development for 10 of Utah. He later worked where he enjoys associating years. She has spent nearly with Encyclopedia Britannica with many friends in the 14 years on a service mission for 10 years, and was one of northern Utah community. on Temple Square, the last the top salespeople in the In 2004, Hampton Cleaners five as an event coordinator. company in total volumes received the Family Violence She also spent one year as sold for many years. He Prevention Award for the a service missionary at the retired in 2016 and lives in State of Utah for years of Polynesian Cultural Center Stansbury Park. donated laundry service to years at the St. Louis GlobeDemocrat as an assistant to the managing editor. L in Laie, Hawaii. Janet is following a religious mission the Weber YCC. Allen married L earning his degree. During his ’80s 35-year tenure at the bank, which merged with JP Morgan Chase, he became a senior L A BS ’85 attended Weber from 1965–1968 on a music Becky McGregor BS ’81 is scholarship. He received his a software engineer for vice president, and, in 2002, MD at Creighton University Northrop Grumman and he was the top commercial and completed his OB-GYN author. She previously loan officer in the nation. residency at the University worked for TRW in both Bruce is active in community of Utah. He returned to Ogden and California. She affairs and has served as a Weber State and received a and her husband, Bruce city council member, Robert bachelor’s degree in history McGregor, have one Morris Associates president in 1985. He served two years daughter, three sons and and Kiwanis Club president. as a physician in the US five grandsons. They live He currently serves on WSU’s Air Force, practiced as an in Orlando, Fla. Recently, Emeriti Alumni Council. OB-GYN in Ogden for 36 Becky published a book Bruce married Sydnee Gale entitled A Dream Called Shepherd AS ’70, and they Kristy: My Story of Loss, have six children and 17 years and retired in 2014. A A graduated from WSU. Jim BS ’87 is a CFP and private currently serves as the wealth advisor for Sagemark president of WSU’s Emeriti Consulting, a division of Alumni Council. and has been with the firm for over 33 years. He has been a manager and an executive at the local, regional and national levels, oversaw all operations west of Kansas City and helped Small, recurring gifts make a BIG impact over time, and are easy on your budget and schedule. execute a major corporate reorganization for Lincoln Financial. J. Todd currently serves on WSU’s Outdoor Visit weber.edu/give to arrange a monthly gift of $18.89, in honor of the year Weber State University was founded. Program Advancement Committee and has been instrumental in helping expand the Outdoor Program with the upcoming Outdoor Adventure & Welcome Center. J. Todd and his wife, A four children, all of whom J. Todd Anderson AS ’84, Lincoln Financial Advisors, Supporting WSU is convenient and affordable. He married Lynne Squires Starley AA ’67. They have Healing, and Dreams Fulfilled. grandchildren. After retiring, James “Jim” Starley Jill Anderson BA ’87, also support WSU through a L 36 ticket holder since 1985, he’s been to every Major League baseball park in the U.S. He is married to Caron ’90s Shelly Burnett BS ’91 worked for Ogden School District for 22 years as a special education teacher, instructional coach, teacher specialist at the district office and in federal programs. She is currently employed at Get Away Today Vacations part-time and in home sales tracking for The Hynes Group. She and her husband, Blaine have a passion for softball and have been generous supporters of local softball BA ’85 recently retired programs, including WSU from Breitweiser Insurance Women’s Softball. They have Services. He holds a Certified helped fund new fields for Insurance Counselor Ogden, Weber, Northridge designation and was a and Ben Lomond high member of the board of schools. Their commitment directors of Bear River Mutual has resulted in spaces Insurance Co. for 16 years. that are highly functional He served nine years as state for players and enjoyable director for the Independent for fans. Together, Shelly Insurance Agents & Brokers and Blaine spent 15 years of America, and as president managing the Viking Villa of the Ogden Independent mobile home park in Ogden. Insurance Agents and They have two daughters, the Utah Association of one of whom attended WSU, Independent Insurance and two granddaughters, Agents. He also served as both of whom play softball in president of WSU’s Young the area. Alumni Council, and A Annual Member of the Alumni Association LIMITED TIME OFFER Breitweiser IC ’85. J. Curtis Breitweiser L Lifetime Member of the Alumni Association WILDCAT | Spring 2020 being a WSU football season Buy 1 ERIC DOWDLE Weber State Traditions Puzzle — Get 1 FREE. VISIT alumni.weber.edu/puzzled and enter promo code: PUZZLED L 0 2 0 2 ! r a e Y d a r G r Give You Celebrate your success and help other Wildcats achieve their dreams. Visit weber.edu/cat2cat and make a minimum donation that matches your graduation year ($20.20 for the Class of 2020, for example). A Andrea Fletcher BS ’94 is a along with a diploma in Nicole served as co-chairs Sandra Ladd Grogan BS ’02, physician and medical sports medicine fellowship at school counselor for the US tropical medicine from the of the activities committee MS ’04 supervises a crime director at Northern Light the Ochsner Sports Medicine Department of Defense. She London School of Hygiene in their church’s ward for scene unit in Weber County Eastern Maine Medical Center Institute in New Orleans, La. received two Master of Arts and Tropical Medicine. Brett four years. They have four made up of WSU alumni. in Bangor, Maine. His wife, Daniel and his wife, Holly degrees from City University is an associate professor at daughters and live in Layton. Before Weber, she received Sarah Rudd Mikesell BIS ’11, Vaughn Tensmeyer AS ’05, in Bellevue, Wash., in 1996 Harvard Medical School and her associate’s degree from cares for their three children have three children and live and 1997. She works in physician with Massachusetts Utah Valley State College, and manages church and in Layton. Sembach, Germany, and lives General Hospital. As medical now UVU, in 1999. She community responsibilities. in Kaiserslautern, Germany. director for National currently serves as a mentor They are particularly grateful in WSU’s Leadership to to Weber State for helping Legacy Mentorship program. Sarah complete her degree, Her husband, Kevin Shawn even while moving across the Grogan is a 1996 graduate country. Lark Woodbury BS ’95, MEd ’99 taught in Davis School District for 22 years, including 20 years at Layton High School where she served as social studies department chair for 10 he has worked on all seven continents. Recently, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Johns Hopkins University. He lives in Charlestown, Mass. Ken Richey BS ’02 is a CFP with New York Life (NYL). In 2019, he served on the NYL Agents Advisory Council (AAC), a prominent group of 24 agents elected by their peers. During the council’s annual meeting, L of WSU’s Law Enforcement he was elected to the AAC’s Academy, and serves as an Executive Committee. In officer in Ogden City. They this role, he works with have five children and live in L Joshua Pulido BS ’05, MHA ’18 is a business development manager for Microbiologics, Inc. He previously worked for Hologic, Inc. as a senior Daniel Tensmeyer BA ’04 is manager of strategic an orthopedic surgeon for marketing in San Diego, Intermountain Healthcare Calif., and for eight years in Layton. He received his at Bio-Rad Laboratories in MD from the Medical College diagnostic sales covering the years and taught history, Diane Graybeal BS ’99, senior executives of NYL to government, psychology MBA ’09 is the director of develop and implement ideas and a WSU Concurrent performance and analytics that benefit families and Kael Mikesell BS ’04 received of Wisconsin in Milwaukee west coast and marketing in Enrollment course. Lark was at MarketStar, where she has businesses in local areas. Ken his Doctor of Osteopathic in 2009, and completed his the quality control division. recognized by the school worked for over 12 years. is currently serving on the Medicine from Midwestern orthopedic residency at He has also worked as a district board for her work She previously worked as WSUAA Board of Directors. University in 2009 and is Western Michigan University medical technologist and with youth in custody. the company’s business now a transfusion medicine in 2014. He then completed a laboratory supervisor for Before retiring in 2018, Lark intelligence manager, leading was also listed in Who’s a team of report developers Who in America and Who’s and advanced analysts. Who in American Teachers. She received a certificate of Her husband, Douglas organizational leadership “Doug” Woodbury BS ’76, from Dale Carnegie in 2017. spent nearly 40 years as an Diane and her husband, Jerry engineer for UTA, where Graybeal, live in Ogden. Plain City. L How Do You Spell Opportunity? he was in charge of bus procurement. He also served as a vice chairman and chairman of the Society of Since 2016, WSU grads have donated $32,000+ to provide Cat2Cat student scholarships. Geographic Expeditions, A A ’00s Dan Harward AS ’00, Automotive Engineers, on the BA ’02, MEd ’10 owns advisory board for the SLCC Harward Yard Care, Inc., diesel mechanic program which has provided and on the Transportation landscaping and lawn care Research Board, a division to homes and businesses in of the National Academy northern Utah for over 20 of Sciences. He retired in years. His wife, Nicole Guffey 2014. Lark and Doug raised Harward BS ’01, studied WSU Alumni Association Scholarships Alumni Legacy Nonresident Scholarship five children and have 19 broadcast journalism at Benefits deserving students through multiple Brigham Young University Allows out-of-state children and grandchildren of grandchildren. avenues, including the WSUAA Scholarship and the Weber State alumni to pay in-state tuition (a savings Cat2Cat Scholarship of $4,000 per semester!) Brett Nelson AA ’96 BA ’99 holds a MPH and MD from Johns Hopkins University, and now serves as a Young Women’s leader for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dan and To request email notification of when to apply, visit alumni.weber.edu/scholarships L Lifetime Member of the Alumni Association 38 WILDCAT | Spring 2020 A Annual Member of the Alumni Association Spring 2020 | alumni.weber.edu 39 Leslie Johnstun AS ’09, BS ’12 Advisors, Inc. They have one and designs experiences in company’s Asset Management Defense certified Continuous Joshua lives with his wife is a co-owner of Integrated child and live in Ogden. digital spaces on the Amazon group. She holds a master’s Process Improvement (CPI and dogs in the Greater Tax in South Ogden, where interface. Landon is also degree from the University Office) Green Belt. He is a Minneapolis-St. Paul Area. she does tax preparation, a nationally certified ASL of Utah. Ethan and April 2018 graduate of the USAF interpreter and periodically both serve on WSU’s Young Squadron Officer College, and a works as a certified video Alumni Council. They were the 2019 graduate of the USAF Air relay interpreter. Previously, first WSU/Shanghai Normal Command and Staff College. he worked at Weber State as University 2+2 exchange He received a bachelor’s a sign language interpreter program students. They live in degree from Brigham Young for students in their courses. Salt Lake City. University in 2008, is a Life Intermountain Healthcare. Amada Materre BA ’07 is a five-time Emmy Awardwinning producer for FOX Sports. She began her sports television career at KJZZ14 in Salt Lake City as a producer and later a reporter for the shows, Powerhouse and A-Game. Amada has directed and produced features for FOX Sports’ MLB and college sports pregame shows and worked on the production of multiple sporting events, including the MLB World Series, men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup, and the Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12 Conference Football Championships. Amada and her husband, Etienne Materre, have one daughter and live in Los A marketing, and accounts receivable and payable. She previously worked as a mortgage loan officer for Academy Mortgage. Since 2018, Leslie has served on the WSUAA Board of Directors and is currently the board’s communications co-chair. She is an active member of the Junior League of Ogden. Her husband, Jake Johnstun BS ’02, has worked in accounting and tax preparation since 1994. He is the owner and president of Integrated Tax, Zach Parry AS ’09, BS ’11, MHA ’13 is a clinical analyst for EPIC Services at CereCore. Zach previously served as the patient access director for Lakeview Hospital in Bountiful. He has worked in various roles within MountainStar Healthcare, He lives in Seattle, Wash. Member of American Mensa Tyson Plastow MBA ’14 works and is pursuing his DBA including as the assistant Ethan Zhou BA ’11 is a vice as a special projects audit patient access director and president in Goldman Sachs’ supervisor at the Office of manager of the Central Treasury Division, where he the Utah State Auditor. He Insurance Verification Unit manages capital resources. received a bachelor’s degree MPC ’16 is an assistant for the HCA Mountain Previously, he worked in the in broadcast journalism from director for the Utah Division. Zach and his wife, company’s London office, Brigham Young University, and High School Activities Vanessa, have one child and following the completion has been a news producer for Association. He also works live in West Jordan. of his master’s degree KELO-Land TV, KTVX and KSL. as a sports broadcaster, at Boston College. He is His wife, Carrie Hillier Plastow providing play-by-play AS ’99 owns Carrie Plastow coverage of the Big Sky at Trident University. A Jonathan C. Oglesby director of the board for ’10s married to April Mao BA ’11, the National Association of who is a vice president Photography and is the CEO for Conference for television Landon Burch BIS ’10 is Enrolled Agents, treasurer in the Goldman Sachs Lyddie Lou Boutique. They have and radio. He received his a junior UX designer for of the GOAL Foundation and Consumer and Investment one son and two daughters, bachelor’s degree from Dixie Amazon, where he has also a registered representative Management Division. and live in Layton. State University in 2012. He worked as a content designer for Transamerica Financial Currently, she manages the specializing in localization. Trade Management Swaps In his role, he analyzes confirmation team within the Angeles, Calif. A his associate’s degree in CALLING ALL Callers! Know a student who needs a part-time job on campus? WSU is hiring callers for the annual phonathon, an important, student-led fundraising effort. And alumni, remember, when a student calls, they are excited to talk to you and tell you about the important things happening at Weber State. Please pick up. Glenn Barnes BS ’15 obtained L and his wife, Tara, live in Layton. criminal justice from Ricks Iosua Opeta AS ’17, BS ’18 College, now BYU Idaho, in is an offensive lineman 1983 and worked for campus for the Philadelphia Eagles police at the college for two with a signing contract that years. He later worked for was among the highest of The Church of Jesus Christ undrafted free agents. At WSU, of Latter-day Saints Security Iosua earned All-America Department for nearly 29 years, honors, playing 50 games in retiring three months after four seasons and starting receiving his degree from WSU. every game of his final three He enjoys attending football seasons on the offensive line. and basketball games at WSU He twice earned first-team with his family. All-Big Sky honors. He lives in Ian Morris MHA ’15, MBA ’17 is a contract negotiator for the US Air Force in F-16 foreign military sales. He is the USAF Materiel Command 2016 winner and a Department of L Lifetime Member of the Alumni Association 40 WILDCAT | Spring 2020 PLATE! Support WSU students and show Wildcat pride wherever you drive Philadelphia, Pa. Innovation Challenge Award alumni.weber.edu/phonathon Great, Great A Annual Member of the Alumni Association To learn more, call 801-626-7535 or visit alumni.weber.edu/lp PRESENTS MARY MAPES “I have certainly learned a great deal from the program. It has helped to round out areas that I didn’t even understand I had a gap in.” — Darcy Siebenaller, eMHA Student EXECUTIVE MASTER OF HEALTH ADMINISTRATION THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT The need for qualified healthcare management professionals has never been greater. Weber State University’s Executive Master of Health Administration degree is designed for students whose personal and professional demands keep them from attending a traditional campus. NO GRE/GMAT REQUIRED With five years experience ACCELERATED PROGRAM Complete in just 4 semesters FLAT-RATE TUITION No out-of-state increase ON-SITE ORIENTATION Attend one orientation ONLINE COURSEWORK Online degree NATIONALLY RANKED* Mary Mapes, author of Truth and Duty: The Press, The President, and the Privilege of Power and awardwinning former producer of 60 Minutes DATE: MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2020 | 7 PM Tickets: $5 Students | $12.50-$25 General Public weberstatetickets.com Top 10 in the nation *Recognized among the Top 20 Master’s in Healthcare Management Online by the Healthcare Management Degree Guide APPLY NOW ALUMNI DISCOUNT Weber State alumni who are accepted into the 2020 eMHA cohort will be eligible for an additional one-time 5 percent loyalty discount on the first semester’s tuition. weber.edu/emha Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities Women’s Center Center of Community Engaged Learning College of Social Behavior Women’s & Gender Studies Program Tradition Keeper Non-profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 151 Salt Lake City, UT 1265 Village Dr. Dept. 4025 Ogden, UT 84408-4025 ! e r o m s ’ e r e h t , t i a , But w e stories Stat r e b e W re at Find mo nnect with us and co ine z a g a m /wsu u d e . r e web Spring 2020 ues Past Iss Conta