WINTER 2012 Weber State University News for Alumni & Friends Weber State University Magazine Vol. 16, No.2, Winter 2012 editor in chief Amy Hendricks art director Hillary Wallace ’98 Contributing writers Amy Hendricks Karin Hurst John Kowalewski Jonathan McBride ’08 Rebecca Ory Hernandez Peta Owens-Liston designer Emily Caraballo Contents 8 Visiting Walter Reed A WSU staff member recounts her visit with a soldier recovering at the now-closed Army medical center. photographers Robert Casey Jonathan McBride ’08 Zac Williams ’01 contributing editors Margie Esquibel Lynell Gardner Comments and questions about Weber State University Magazine may be sent to the editor at the address below or forwarded by phone: 801-626-7359, fax: 801-626-7069 or email: magazine@weber.edu postmaster: Send address changes to Weber State University Magazine, Weber State University, 4025 University Circle, Ogden UT 84408-4025. 12 In Pursuit of Justice Criminal justice alumni help make the world a safer place. weber state university web weber.edu Only Online wsu alumni association web alumni.weber.edu weber state university board of trustees 2011-2012 Alan Hall ’69, Chair Jim C. Beardall, Vice-Chair W. Bryan Bowles Kyle Braithwaite Camille Cain Mary Hall ’85 Kathryn Lindquist Scott Parson Steven E. Starks ’03 Gen. Kevin Sullivan (ret.) We hope you enjoy the extra content, including videos and slideshows, only available in this digital fomat. Watch for the highlighted links. Did you know that evidence once analyzed in Weber State’s crime lab helped convict a logging company that was illegally measuring truckloads? Or that a rivet from a pair of jeans is evidence that still weighs on the mind of a Layton City crime scene investigator? Or that a Colorado police sergeant’s service to the Special Olympics led him all the way to Greece for the World Summer Games? 18 Giving From the Heart Son creates scholarship in memory of his mother who died from breast cancer. Plus, read how a piano student chose to express her gratitude to WSU. 22 Cinderella Story The tale of an alumnus’ rags-to-riches rise to NFL and opera fame 26 WSU Salutes The university honors outstanding alumni and friends. 28 Class Notes Classmates check in. On the cover: Criminal justice alumni Lance Davenport '03, Marc Miller '06, '10, and Nalleli Sermeno '09 Weber Now WILDCAT TRAVEL the year ahead is filled with things to do. Look what we’re offering at WSU! ALUMNI GOLF CLASSIC June 8, 2012 11th Annual Drive for Scholarships September 15 – 23, 2012 Experience village life in England’s Cotswolds charming countryside. Rich cultural traditions. Historic landmarks. Starting at $2,995 plus air For more information, visit alumni.weber.edu/Cotswold Improve your swing and help raise funds for student scholarships. alumni.weber.edu WEBER WATCH wsu news & events john kowalewski, university communications Breaking New Ground Under a crisp early November sky, more than 500 WSU friends and dignitaries gathered to see the first shovels-full of dirt turned on the construction of the second Weber State University Davis building. The $40-million facility, approved by the state Legislature, is expected to open in fall 2013. City Birds Zoology professor John Cavitt spearheaded efforts to have Ogden recognized as one of 10 Urban Bird Treaty cities nationwide. Ogden received a $70,000 federal grant that will be used to safeguard migratory bird populations through education and habitat improvement efforts, such as the Ogden River restoration project. wsu magazine | winter 2012 Still Growing 4 Weber State’s enrollment topped 25,000 students for the first time this fall. At 25,483 WSU has achieved a new enrollment record four years in a row. Soaking Up the Sun WSU installed solar panels on four buildings this summer in an ongoing effort to be carbon neutral by 2050. Solar energy now heats the Swenson Building pool and domestic water in the first residence hall in the Wildcat Village housing complex. Racks of panels installed on the Shepherd Union Building and Weber State University Davis roofs will save thousands of dollars in electricity annually. David Matty, Francis Harrold, Jeff Steagall and David Ferro (from left to right) are WSU’s four new deans who arrived on campus this summer. They have been selected to lead the College of Science, College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics and College of Applied Science & Technology, respectively. Together, they bring more than 100 years of business and academic experience to campus. Does this picture look familiar? Need some hints? London. Rock 'n' roll. The "Fab Four." WSU's four new deans are re-enacting the Beatles' famous Abbey Road album cover, one of the most imitated images in recording history. weber.edu/wsumagazine 5 WEBER WATCH Back Talk VIDEO wsu news & events Click the icon for extra online only content. Imagine approaching a stranger in a foreign country and asking them to write a response on your T-shirt to the question, “What would people call me behind my back?” That’s exactly what 40 students from six universities did in Berlin, under the direction of WSU visual arts professor Mark Biddle. The Sticks + Stones Berlin 2010 project, which won the Core 77 Design Education Initiatives Award, used collaborative design to explore stereotyping and raise cultural awareness. The marked-up students’ shirts were eventually displayed in a Berlin gallery. International Opportunity Research about a tiny fly carried a WSU zoology student to one of the most prestigious molecular genetics conferences in the world. In July, Amanda Truong traveled to Kyoto, Japan, where she presented her findings on the role DNA plays in helping brine flies survive in harsh wsu magazine | winter 2012 conditions. Truong was one of only 10 6 undergraduate presenters selected from universities around the world. Coach Mac Retires After seven seasons along the sidelines, legendary head football coach Ron McBride announced his retirement. In 2008, Coach Mac led the Wildcats to their first Big Sky football title in 21 years, and his Wildcats reached the FCS playoffs following the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Students iLearn This fall, WSU’s vice president for Information Technology, Bret Ellis, teamed up with 14 students to explore how tablet computing devices may transform classrooms. Students in Ellis’ Honors course used iPads for daily in-class assignments. The goal was to compare mobile technology learning outcomes with traditional educational methods, and evaluate resources needed to support these potential teaching tools. All in the Family Research conducted by family studies students Michelle Burton and Andrew Chris ’11 provides new insights into how religion affects stepfamily dynamics. Their research, which concluded that extrinsic forms of religiosity may strain relations in stepfamilies more than intrinsic religiosity, was awarded the 2010-11 Outstanding Undergraduate Research Project by the National Council on Family Relations. H ome Sweet Home PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION. MASTER IT. Apply by Feb. 1 weber.edu/mpc Master of Professional Communication weber.edu/wsumagazine A new book by history professor Susan Matt challenges the romanticized notion of American ruggedness and individualism. In Homesickness: An American History, Matt reveals that many of our pioneering ancestors struggled with bouts of homesickness, a malady that sometimes proved fatal. Matt concludes that society has taught modern Americans to repress “childish” emotions like homesickness. 7 a day at ward 57 Walter Reed army medical center O n July 2, 2011, Weber State University English instructor Sylvia Newman received a phone call at 7 a.m. The caller ID read, “Fort Drum Army.” “This can’t be good,” she thought. And, it wasn’t. Her son, Seth Pack, a soldier in the U.S. Army, had been badly wounded by an improvised explosive device (IED) while on foot patrol in Afghanistan. The IED took his lower left leg, shattered his right and injured his pelvis and right hand. Seth was flown to Germany and eventually to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., three months before the facility closed. While he was there, he and his family received a visit from Rebecca Ory Hernandez, Sylvia’s friend and colleague at WSU. Ory Hernandez was moved to tears and words by seeing Seth and the many other soldiers who have been injured in the post-9/11 war zones. In this essay, she shares observations from her July 25, 2011, visit to Walter Reed. The elevator doors open on the fifth floor. I am face to face with a young man in his 20s. He is holding an IV cart with the one hand that he has. A quick glance shows that he has no legs, and one arm is missing. I look him straight in the eyes, say “hi,” and smile. He grins and says, “I’ve got to get a coffee. That time of day.” I say, “Sounds good to me. I’m getting off here.” He asks who I’m visiting, and I say, “Seth.” He replies, “Oh, they’re talking with his mom right now, but they won’t be too long. He’s doing really well. Pretty beat up, though.” I say thanks and head toward Ward 57, Orthopedics. The staff is bustling around smiling. Instead of traditional scrubs, everyone is in fatigues. I really like that. Uniform uniforms. The only people not wearing camouflage are the cleaning and service staff and visitors. We are the only splash of color in a sea of white and beige. Walking around the corner, I see Sylvia talking to medical staff in the hallway. I motion that I will be around the corner. While I’m waiting, her sister comes out. We meet, say hello, and I ask how they are doing. She is obviously tired but OK, considering. I’ve come armed with goodies (tempting food, lavender lotion, and some things my little boy ordered for Seth: Elmo smoothie and Pirates’ booty snacks). Sylvia comes back, and we hug. She looks tired … really, really tired. I go into Seth’s room. The sheer smallness of it surprises me. There is less than 2 feet between the bed and the lavatory. (The reason Seth is in a small room is because there are no other beds available right now.) There is one window, but Seth can’t look out of it because he is facing the opposite direction due to the bed’s orientation. Seth gives me a faint smile. We are introduced, and I say, “I hear the Prince Harry look-alike is in this room. You know, if you want to keep that status in Hollywood, you’ll have to eat a bit more.” I get serious and tell him how much it means to me and my family that he was so brave. I tell him this without crying. He thanks me. His mom gets teary. What makes me feel a little better is that Seth looks remarkably good for the trauma he has been through — mentally and physically. His cheeks have some color, his circulation looks good, and his eyes are clear. His mom tells me that his ears are really bothering him, and he likes us to talk softly. The explosion has affected his hearing. I’m shown his right lower leg that’s being held together with giant cross pins in two places. It’s amazing how he is being put back together again. What is also amazing is how good his foot looks … good circulation, good color. It will heal, in due time. While staff come in and out doing their regular checks, I visit with Seth, his aunt and mom, and give Seth’s mom a hand massage with the lavender lotion. Her hands have no energy at all. Limp rag doll. She’s exhausted. nce the staff is gone, Seth’s aunt checks out his teeth with her dental equipment and gives him a nice cleaning (she’s a dental hygienist). She observes that he’s getting a black, hairy tongue (not literally, but his tongue is grey from all the meds). He gets a O lecture on brushing his tongue, and we all hear, “that’s gross,” from Seth and chuckle. Seth then drinks a Boost drink and talks about supper. I know from the looks of him that he’s not eating. He looks like he might weigh 120 pounds or so … too thin. His intestinal tract is unhappy with the combination of anesthesia, pain medication, antibiotics and other meds. Seth’s mom shows me the beautiful blanket that was made for him. Seth is concerned about thanking everyone, and I think how well his mom raised him for him to even be considering others while in this condition. It appears that everyone is getting weary, so I ask if there’s anything else I can get for them. Seth’s aunt asks for a ride to the airport. It’s the least I can do. I’m feeling helpless because there is so, so much that needs to be done for my friend’s son, and all I can do is bring gifts and give his aunt a ride to the airport. Heavy sigh. In the parking lot, two cars follow me, waiting for my parking space. It’s like Christmas Eve at the mall … every day. There are that many people in the hospital. There are so many soldiers coming back hurt. I think about how they’ve sacrificed so the rest of us can enjoy our lives. And I cry. Seth has six pins in his right leg and is learning to walk with a prosthetic left leg. He has gained weight, and after being transferred to the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., for a while, he is now an outpatient. Sylvia is at his side. You can keep track of Seth’s recovery at sethnewmanpack.blogspot.com. Rebecca Ory Hernandez is a development director at Weber State University. wsu magazine | winter 2012 For more stories about Seth's recovery, click here and here. 10 s u p am : s e r Sto or f p o t! s sh i l p W h o s t wi -s r e u n o o Your hing on y t y r e v e SU C Get your parking validated with a purchase of $5 or more. ore st ok ebo at rst be e we phon / t om ar k.c sm o ur ebo ith yo c a f nw a Sc Davis Campus Store Monday - Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 801-626-6352 801-395-3574 Check out bookstore.weber.edu for Spring Semester Extended Hours. weber.edu/wsumagazine Ogden Campus Store 11 Forty years ago, the first group of 16 criminal justice majors graduated from Weber State College. Back then their major was “police science.” The program has evolved over the years to include law enforcement, law and justice, forensic science, and corrections. Today, thousands of criminal justice graduates serve as chiefs of police, corrections officers, lawyers, crime scene investigators, heads of public safety, crime lab directors, DNA analysts, and in countless other positions. They work in Utah, almost every state in the country, and even as far away as Albania and Saudi Arabia. The following stories offer a glimpse into what criminal justice alumni are doing now and a look at some unique training they received at Weber State – training that helps them make our world a little safer. to protect & serve Photo by Zac Williams Alumni control crime in Utah, the country, the world amy hendricks, university communications CSI: Weber-Metro wsu magazine | winter 2012 Team of eight Weber State alumni help solve crimes in Weber County and beyond 12 It was late. A father and mother were sound asleep, their children snug in bed, when a man busted in their front door, wrapped a sheet of plastic around the father’s head and searched the home. He left without harming anyone, at least physically. Emotionally, the family was traumatized. The Weber-Metro Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Unit was called to the scene to collect evidence. Paul Rimmasch ’97, aka Paulie, was assigned the case. “Here was a family who had moved into a home previously occupied by drug dealers. This man had come back looking for drugs,” recounts Rimmasch, who was able to collect fingerprints from the plastic that was wrapped around the father’s head. Sandra Ladd ’02, ’04, aka Sandy, is head of Weber-Metro CSI. She accompanied Rimmasch to the scene. While he photographed evidence, she rushed to run the fingerprints through the national Automated Fingerprint Identification System. She got a hit. Within an hour of Rimmasch returning to verify that it was a match, they had the name of a suspect. In this instance, it was a fingerprint. In others, it’s been a shard of glass, a rivet from a pair of jeans, a shoe impression, a bullet, The Weber-Metro CSI team, from left to right: Nalleli Sermeno '09; Marc Swain '10; Angie Petersen '08; Paul Rimmasch '97; Sandra Ladd '02, '04; Sara Gilchrist '07; Jason Romney '97; and Sarah Brobeck '08 bodily fluids. Some evidence is too heinous to mention, having caused even an investigator to gag and a rookie cop to quit. “Sometimes I feel like there aren’t enough gloves in the world to touch what I have to touch,” says Rimmasch, stone-faced. A sly grin soon breaks across his face, and his coworkers chuckle. Surprisingly, laughter is commonplace in the CSI office. “It’s a coping mechanism," says Ladd. “We care about what we do. But, we see a lot of disturbing things. If we didn’t turn off our emotional response, we would bleed to death emotionally.” But how exactly do they do that? “It takes a different kind of person,” says Ladd, just as Jason Romney ’97 says, “We’re weird but normal.” As they laugh, Ladd explains: “We have to look at crime scenes scientifically, not emotionally.” Romney says some things will always bother them. “It’s hard not to get emotional when a child is involved. But it helps that this team is very tight. We’re a family.” It doesn’t take long to realize that. They do things together. They know each other’s idiosyncrasies — Ladd hates evidence that involves hair, Nalleli Sermeno ’09 hates dolls and mannequins, Angie Petersen '08 hates fingernails. And getting them to stand still for a photo is impossible, what with them tackling each other like brothers and sisters. “I get up every day ready to go to work. We work holidays, nights, in the heat and freezing cold. We love it, even if it’s not glamorous,” says Rimmasch, although Petersen points out that many people think it is. “We once caught a family taking a photo with our car,” she laughs. All it takes is one look at the blown-up photos of fingerprints that line an entire wall of the CSI office to get back to serious business. “Our impact is minimal at times,” says Rimmasch. “The police know who did it, and we go out and take photographs. But, there are times when we provide that piece of evidence that helps convict a criminal. That makes it worthwhile.” Little-Known Fact: Weber State was site of state’s first crime lab early 1990s, Weber County decided to form a crime scene investigation (CSI) team. Weber State helped the county get it off the ground and completely turned it over to the sheriff’s office in 1995. Although students today no longer help analyze items from real crime scenes, a quick glance around the room reveals all manner of “evidence” — bullets, a shattered window shield, fingerprints, a black T-shirt with a bullet hole in it. Associate criminal justice professor Brent Horn points a digital camera at the shirt. “See how it turns the shirt white and the hole black? It uses infrared light to make the bullet residue clearer and help us determine how close the gun was when it was fired.” “That kind of practical experience is critical,” continues Horn, a Ph.D. chemist, who is also a forensic scientist for the Utah Bureau of Forensic Services. The entire Weber-Metro CSI team agrees. Each of the eight members learned in that lab from professors like Gaskill, Russell Dean (who also served as the Weber-Metro CSI director for many years), Horn and others. “First and foremost, we are scientists, and we must learn the science behind the evidence,” says Sandra Ladd ’02 ’04, head of Weber-Metro CSI. “It’s important to get theoretical knowledge, but the hands-on training that comes through labs and internships is incredibly important.” A student tests gunpowder in the crime lab. Photo by Jon McBride That training is also why Ladd likes to hire WSU students. “They come to us with a good, solid foundation in forensic science. And because of our history with Weber State, we know what we’re getting — we’re getting the cream of the crop.” weber.edu/wsumagazine On the second floor of WSU's Social Science building is a laboratory. There are tables and microscopes, nothing out of the ordinary, unless you take the hallway to the back of the lab. That’s where you’ll find a strange metal cylinder that plunges 12 feet beneath the floor — a bullet recovery tank. It was here that evidence from real Utah crime scenes was analyzed from the early 1970s to the early 1990s under the direction of Weber State’s first forensic science professor, James Gaskill. In the early 1970s, Gaskill applied for a federal grant to get a crime lab at thenWeber State College. “We thought it would just be used by Weber County and by us, to teach our students how to analyze evidence. But then the people responsible for issuing the grant came back and said, ‘We’ll fund it, if it can be used by the entire state. We said, ‘Sure, why not,’” he recalls. At the time, the Social Science building was under construction, so the crime lab was incorporated into the plans. Upon completion, anyone could bring in evidence. “Patrol officers, chiefs of police, the FBI, the state forestry service — you name it,” says Gaskill, who has testified in more than 2,500 court cases in 28 of Utah’s 29 counties. In the early 1980s, Utah opened its own crime lab under the Department of Public Safety and agreed to split the casework with Weber State. Then, in the VIDEO Click the icon for extra online only content. 13 Prison Time Criminal justice students train under most realistic conditions possible wsu magazine | winter 2012 VIDEO 14 “Could two of your students help us out?” asked two organizers of the Mock Prison Riot, a four-day training exercise held at a decommissioned state penitentiary in Moundsville, W.Va. “Did they even have to ask?” laughs associate criminal justice professor Bruce Bayley. Two WSU students were chosen, and for a few hours they used SEEK II Biometric Recorders to take iris scans, fingerprints and facial scans of other prison riot volunteers. Two days later, Bayley and his students learned that Osama bin Laden had been killed and that the device they had been using helped Navy SEALS identify the al-Qaida leader. The annual event attracts corrections officers, law enforcement and military personnel from around the world. WSU students have attended the Mock Prison Riot for four years. “We’ve been there enough now that they know who we are, and they ask for our stu- dents,” says Bayley. Weber State is the only university to attend all four days. As part of the exercise, teams of corrections personnel participate in mock cell extractions and all-out yard riots. While students aren’t allowed to be part of the teams, they can play the roles of inmates or hostages. “I tell students to participate as much or as little as they want. They can also be as aggressive or as subdued as they want,” says Bayley, pulling out his iPhone to show a photo of a student with quarter-sized welts all over her legs. "She had asked to be shot with pepper balls. She wants to be a member of a SWAT team when she graduates and wanted to know what that felt like.” (Safety officers stop exercises if they get too dangerous.) Marc Miller ’06, ’10 is a corrections officer with the Weber County Sheriff’s Office. He believes the Mock Prison Riot was the best hands-on training he has ever participated in. While he said riots are not common locally, you have to be prepared for anything (case in point: he once had his nose broken by an inmate). Miller went to one workshop where he used a new extraction shield to help put an aggressive “prisoner” in restraints. Teams of students and law enforcement personnel get hands-on training at the Mock Prison Riot. Photo by Don Feenerty for the Mock Prison Riot PICTURES Click the icons for extra online only content. The shield’s edges were beveled so officers could interlock them and make one big shield. “We could move in on the combative individual and push him into a corner. Then, he could punch at the shield until he wore himself out. That’s much safer for him and the officers.” Miller hopes to use what he learned to help train his fellow corrections officers. “When I first heard ‘Mock Prison Riot,’ I thought that’s what it would be — a single, big riot, but it’s so much more than that. It’s exactly the kind of training every good officer looks for.” An Unexpected Appointment Alumnus recalls being named public safety commissioner It’s 2:35 p.m., and a meeting is being conducted on the first floor of Salt Lake City's Calvin Rampton Building. It’s running a little late, so Lindy Brown, assistant to Utah Commissioner of Public Safety Lance Davenport ’03, pops out, gives a friendly wink and says, “He shouldn’t be too much longer.” She’s used to managing his busy calendar. Head of a department that oversees highway patrol and safety, communications, criminal identification, drivers’ license administration, criminal and arson investigation, forensic analysis, training, and emergency management, his schedule is always booked. Davenport soon emerges and heads to another room, where an autographed photo of Steve Young (former BYU quarterback and Pro Football Hall-of-Famer) sits on a shelf. He smiles, “My son is a big Steve Young fan. Me? My allegiance lies to Weber State.” Davenport was appointed public safety commissioner by Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr. in 2009. It is a job he never expected to have. Having worked his way to the top of the Utah Highway Patrol (UHP), he was happy where he was. But when the governor approached him about the Utah Commissioner of Public Safety Lance Davenport meets with a member of the Utah Highway Patrol. Photo by Zac Williams public safety position, he at least had to think about it. “It started out with pleasant conversation, and before I knew it he was asking me to take the job. I said, ‘I’m going to have to run this past my wife.’ He chuckled and said, ‘Certainly.’” The transition from highway patrol superintendent to commissioner wasn’t easy. “I was very familiar with UHP, but there were nine other divisions that I knew very little about. I also had to be involved with the legislative process at a much higher level than I had been used to, with only one day to prepare. The governor appointed me on Thursday, made the announcement Friday, and Monday the legislative session began.” Today, there are still challenges, but Davenport is much more at ease in his role. He recalls the 2010 changes to Utah’s drivers’ license laws as being one of the most stressful situations he’s faced. At the same time Utah began requiring additional documentation to renew drivers’ licenses, a new software system was coming online. The result: long lines at licensing offices and negative publicity. “So we acted. We extended hours. We allowed people to make renewal appointments online – that really helped. We had a big hill to get over, but we did it." The Department of Public Safety, specifically the Division of Emergency Management, also stayed busy this spring with widespread flooding in Utah, coordinating efforts between federal, state and local governments. “There really is not a typical day on the job. It’s very unpredictable.” Davenport enrolled at Weber State in 1984 while working full time as a state trooper and taking security jobs to provide for his growing family. He took two classes a quarter until 1990, when he took a break. “I wanted to get my degree but thought I was too busy. Looking back, that was a tactical error. I wasn’t any less busy 10 years later. “I remember sitting with Kay Gillespie [longtime professor and criminal justice chair] and getting direction from him. He was a great mentor,” says Davenport, who enrolled at WSU again in 2000 and graduated in 2003. Today, Davenport says with certainty, that he would not be where he is without his education. “It opens doors. It is one of my greatest accomplishments.” FORENSIC SCIENCE MYTHS Members of Weber-Metro CSI clear up common misperceptions about crime scene investigation. EVERY CALL IS A HOMICIDE. Weber-Metro CSI handled around 4,000 cases in 2010. Of those, only eight were homicides. The majority were domestic violence/assault cases and burglaries. FINGERPRINTS CAN BE LIFTED FROM ANY SURFACE. “To get a good latent print, we need a smooth, clean, dry, nonporous surface. Glass, smooth plastic, metal are all good surfaces to work with. Rocks, rough wood, rough plastics, those are more difficult,” Jason Romney '97 explains. Latent versus patent: Latent prints are not visible to the naked eye. Special powders must be used to illuminate them. Patent prints are visible without powders. The computer, specifically the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, generates “candidates” whose known fingerprints are similar to the print being searched. A human must evaluate the “candidates” and the prints from the crime scene to determine if they match. In the past, the responsibility of crime scene investigation fell to law enforcement officers, and in some counties and cities it still does. However, each member of Weber-Metro CSI is a civilian. CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATORS DON’T DO PAPERWORK. Nalleli Sermeno '09 recently was assigned a homicide scene. The report took four days. “I spent my whole shift each day on the paperwork,” she explains. “Properly documenting the crime scene is extremely important. If evidence is submitted in court, every i has to be dotted, every t crossed,” says Sandra Ladd '02, '04. weber.edu/wsumagazine COMPUTERS MATCH FINGERPRINTS. CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATORS CARRY GUNS AND INTERROGATE WITNESSES. 15 The Serving Sergeant He barely spoke any Greek, she any English. But on a narrow street in a small, Greek city, he reached for her hand, and she took it. They had never met before, this police sergeant and Special Olympics athlete, but she trusted him; he could see it in her eyes. Together, they ran side by side, hands clasped, behind the Flame of Hope as it made its way to Athens, Greece, the site of the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, a celebration of the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities. It is a moment Ralph Maher ’88 will never forget. And while he couldn’t exactly talk to Mary, the way she squeezed his hand told him she would always remember it, too. A member of Colorado’s Fountain City Police Department, Maher was chosen by his peers to represent the state during the Final Leg of the 2011 Law Enforcement Torch Run. Being selected for the World Games’ Final Leg Team is an honor — 101 officers are chosen from across the globe — and it took Maher completely by surprise. A Volunteer’s Enthusiasm The Torch Run is an event where law enforcement officers and Special Olympics athletes escort the Flame of Hope to the opening ceremonies of local, state, national and world Special Olympics competitions. The initiative encompasses a variety of fundraising vehicles, including pledges for runners, merchandise sales, and other special events. You name it, Maher has done it on behalf of the Special Olympics, from participating in Torch Runs, to plunging into frigid waters, to camping atop a Colorado Krispy Kreme. He does it for the athletes and also because the Special Olympics represents a positive in his life. As a police sergeant, it helps make up for the negative he sees on the job. “Through the Special Olympics, we’ve given people who, historically, have been told they’d never amount to anything, opportunities to develop courage and skills, experience joy, and develop friendships. That’s why many of us got into law enforcement in the first place — to help people, to champion those who have been bullied, mistreated. ” Maher spent three weeks escorting the Flame of Hope throughout Greece, bringing the message of the Special Olympics to communities along the way. The excitement was amazing, he said. “I would liken it to a presidential campaign where the president walks a rope line, and he’s reaching out to people with both hands. It was exactly like that in many towns. That only intensified with the parade of athletes at the opening ceremony. There were around 7,500 athletes, and I probably hugged, high-fived or knuckle-bumped at least 700 of them. I know how excited I was to be there. It was even bigger for the athletes.” “I WAS SITTING IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PARKING LOT WHEN I GOT THE NEWS. I’M GLAD I WAS PARKED, OTHERWISE I MIGHT HAVE WRECKED,” MAHER SAID, LAUGHING. Ralph Maher '88 and Mary, a Special Olympics athlete, walk through a Greek city during the Final Leg of the 2011 Law Enforcement Torch Run. Photo courtesy of Ralph Maher VIDEO Click the icon for extra online only content. Evidence Remembered Although James Gaskill is now retired, he still teaches as an adjunct professor, still wears his Sherlock Holmes, ear-flapped detective cap, and still remembers the evidence he investigated as director of the crime lab at Weber State — and there was plenty. On a recent Tuesday afternoon, he happened to be on campus, where he shared how he once helped convict a timber company that was illegally underreporting the number of logs it had cut and processed. How did he do it? It all came down to little Manila envelopes … “IT’S A LITTLE COMPLICATED BUT VERY INTERESTING WHAT THEY WERE DOING,” GASKILL SAYS. “There was a little shack in the sawmill, where there was a wire ring, and on this wire ring were a bunch of small, Manila envelopes, like coin envelopes. They were supposed to pull one off after loading each truck, and it would tell them, ‘This load is a measured load,’ or ‘This load is an unmeasured load.’ But, instead of pulling one, they’d pull two at a time. Then, they’d know what the next load was going to be. If it was unmeasured, they would make it a big load. If it was measured, they’d make it a small load. “The Forest Service thought if they could show that the envelopes were being torn open at the same time, that would be incriminating evidence. And, that’s exactly what we found after weeks of studying them. You see, the envelopes that were torn at the same time had the same edges.” The case went to federal court in Salt Lake City. Judge Willis Ritter presided. “He was a quite famous judge … known for his unpredictability,” says Gaskill with a laugh, noting that the company did get convicted. “I’ll never forget it.” Some cases and pieces of evidence are just that — unforgettable. For crime scene investigator Mitch Pilkington, one piece of evidence he’ll always remember was a rivet from a pair of Calvin Klein jeans. He was with several other members of the Weber-Metro CSI team when the evidence was collected from a Northern Utah field. At the time, it was a missing persons case. It would later become a homicide. “No one really knew what we were looking for,” said Pilkington, who spent years with Weber-Metro before becoming the supervising crime scene investigator for the Layton Police Department. “It just so happened that one member of the team spotted something in the grass and asked, ‘What was the girl wearing when she was reported missing?’ I remember someone saying, ‘A pair of Calvin Klein jeans.’ In his hand was a rivet with the Calvin Klein mark on it.’” The girl’s body was found shortly thereafter. “You know, we never go into a case looking for appreciation or thank-yous from victims’ families, but in this case, the family was sincerely appreciative,” Pilkington said. “For those of us involved, bringing closure to this family was the only thing that mattered.” Photos by Jon McBride L Lessons Learned Through oss Peta Owens-Liston, Contributing Writer Photos by Zac Williams Giving Back in Memory of His Mother “She taught me more in her death than I was able to learn during her life,” says Weber State University freshman Douglas Mullikin, a young man reflecting on the loss of his mother. “I’ve realized life is too short to be angry at anyone. Spend it on loving and understanding those around you,” she told him a month before succumbing to breast cancer. “I do my best to live by that and honor her — I don’t want to disappoint her,” says Mullikin, who reproaches himself for not being a better son while she was alive. His mother would be proud; Mullikin has created a scholarship in her memory, making him one of only a few students at WSU to establish a scholarship for another student. The Waynette M. Kittrelle Scholarship is a gesture rooted in Mullikin’s desire to cope with the loss of his mother while still keeping her passionate, giving spirit alive, as well as his desire to help other students who are walking the same courageous and difficult path. Established January of 2011, the scholarship is for WSU students who have an immediate family member in their household struggling with breast cancer or have a family member who has recently passed away from the disease. It is also for students who may themselves be battling breast cancer. Already, students whose lives have been interrupted by breast cancer are stopping by WSU’s Women’s Center to request an application. Mullikin knows he is not alone; he hopes one day to meet the recipients of this scholarship and hear their respective stories. Seed Money Takes Root Mullikin, who has his mother’s same chestnut brown eyes and sense of humor, was able to save $300 of his own money (by living with a family temporarily to save on rent) with the intention of finding a way to honor his mom. Last fall, he approached Carol Merrill, director of the Women’s Center, about how he could do this. “He was considering donating to breast cancer research when he shared with me his dream of offering a scholarship in his mother’s name,” recalls Merrill. Working with WSU’s Development Office, she walked him through the steps and showed him how. With an additional $200 contributed from his grandparents, the dream became a reality. Now Mullikin is focused on fundraising efforts aiming to grow the seed money and establish an endowment of $25,000 in order to sustain an annual scholarship. “This is a young man who really wants his mom to know that he is doing his best to go above and beyond for her so she would be proud of him,” “They [WSU] gave me a way to help keep my mom’s memory alive and do what she would want me to be doing — helping others. She left me with her ability to love all people.” – WSU freshman Douglas Mullikin weber.edu/wsumagazine s “It can be hard making ends meet when there are medical bills and chemo expenses,” acknowledges Mullikin, recalling the financial stress on his own family, likely influencing his mother’s decision to work up until three days before she passed away. She was a medical coder at Hill Air Force Base. 19 Gratitude of ‘Grand’ Proportions W hen WSU senior Fan-Ya Lin completed her performance of Ginastera’s Danzas Argentinas in the Music Teachers National Association Steinway Young Artist Piano Competition in March 2010, she didn’t expect to win. The judges felt differently; her first-place finish distinguished her as the youngest to win the national title in the competition’s 43-year history. VIDEO Click the icon for extra online only content. The prize? An upright Steinway piano worth $23,000. Through several benefit concerts, Lin upgraded this prize to a 7-foot concert Steinway grand piano worth $83,000 and donated it to the university. An instrument that had been a conduit for her self-expression since she was 4, was now also an expression of gratitude for the support she had found at WSU since arriving from Taiwan in 2008. “My professor, Yu-Jane Yang, was always there for me, caring about my growth not just as a musician but as a person,” says Lin, recalling how touched she was when WSU President Ann Millner and Provost Michael Merrill says, noting we all want our mother’s approval. wsu magazine | winter 2012 Mullikin, who was 18 (his brother 16) when his mother passed away in 2007, has lived on his own since, commuting to and from school by bus. He spends most of his time at WSU, where he is earning a degree in business economics and working two jobs in the Shepherd Union Building — at Wildcat Lanes and doing custodial work. 20 “I have a lot of roots in this building, and very little extra time,” says Mullikin, laughing as he looks around, the rumble of bowling balls and a steady buzz of student traffic in the background. At a distance, a photograph of his smiling Vaughan attended her out-of-state competitions. “I don’t think this is typical at most schools,” adds Lin, who passed up offers from The Juilliard School and Oberlin College & Conservatory to attend WSU. This gift will resonate throughout the university’s Department of Performing Arts for many years to come. Her gift spurred many others to donate, allowing WSU to earn the coveted designation of an All-Steinway School — joining 135 prestigious institutions of higher education around the world. “On a Steinway, you can do so many different things to make your music more beautiful, sensitive, and full of detail and color,” explains Lin, who is earning her bachelor’s degree in piano performance. “It is like each one has its own character.” As students play the grand Steinway she donated, Lin wants them to bring it to life through their talents but also to know that they, too, can accomplish great things as students at WSU. mother is perched on a table dedicated to breast cancer awareness. He recalls her words as he was wrapping up high school: “Go to school, just keep going to school Douglas; the more education you get, the better off you’ll be.” One day Mullikin hopes his education will result in a successful business career involving international travel. Students Want to Give Time- and financially strapped students typically are not who come to mind when thinking of donors. Yet, Jan Winniford, WSU’s vice president for Student Affairs, is not all that surprised. “The fact that someone would selflessly give back in a significant way says a lot about that person’s giving spirit, yet it is also a reflection of countless students we have here. We’re finding, especially in this generation, students who have a high level of commitment and service to others,” she says. Winniford adds that these students make WSU faculty and staff proud as they continue to actively contribute to a better world after graduating. “These are the kinds of lives we want our students living.” Giving back often has a ripple effect and doesn’t necessarily have to come in the form of dollars. Daily, WSU students are giving back in time, service and research, through their own efforts and in service learning-based classes. A donation as simple as contributing canned goods to the school’s student food bank provides meaning for all involved. “Our students know that charitable giving, even in the form of a small donation, is a great way to go beyond oneself and make a difference,” says Winniford. WSU Student Association President Kyle Braithwaite understands why WSU students want to give back. “When you feel the university cares about you, you start to care about the university and find different ways to show you care.” He adds that a lot of students realize what a “jewel” higher education is and see giving back as a privilege, not an obligation. For Mullikin, WSU is a place that encourages diversity and acceptance, a place open to students who come forward with new ideas. “They gave me a way to help keep my mom’s memory alive and do what she would want me to be doing — helping others,” he says. “She left me with her ability to love all people.” To give to the Waynette M. Kittrelle Scholarship, visit weber.edu/give, click “Give Online,” choose “Other” and enter “Waynette M. Kittrelle Scholarship” in the comment box. WSU Graduate Programs MASTER’S PROGRAMS Accounting Athletic Training Business Administration (MBA) Criminal Justice Education English Health Administration Nursing Professional Communication Radiologic Science Taxation weber.edu/wsumagazine For more information, visit weber.edu/graduateprograms 21 T a’u Pupu’a’s rags-to-riches rise to NFL and opera fame reads like a familiar Grimm’s Fairy Tale — a bona fide Cinderella story IF you swap a 6’5” defensive tackle for Cinderella, a legendary New Zealand soprano for the fairy godmother and Juilliard’s Peter Jay Sharp Theater for the palace ballroom. tonga to tackle to tenor from karin hurst, university communications nce upon a time in the faraway Kingdom of Tonga, Sione Vei Pupu’a and his wife, Manu Siu’ifanga, made a momentous decision to pack their meager material possessions, bid farewell to their homeland and move their nine young children to America. Settling first in Hawaii, the Pupu’a clan ultimately migrated to Salt Lake City in the early 1970s to be near Manu Siu’ifanga’s relatives. “My family didn’t speak any English, so we moved like a flock of birds,” recalls Ta’u, the youngest child. “That way we could live by each other and not feel so isolated.” Nevertheless, there were many moments of childhood isolation for Ta’u and his siblings as they struggled to acclimate to a foreign environment. There were new words to learn, new social expectations to meet, even new forms of recreation to master. One day, a little league football coach visited Ta’u’s elementary school, asking children to name the toughest kids in class. “Everyone pointed to me and my cousin because we were big,” laughs Ta’u, “but we didn’t even know what football was. Coaches would come to our houses and try to explain the game to our families. Finally, our parents agreed to let us go to practice.” Once the idea caught on, other Polynesian parents sought football programs for their sons. “That’s how my people are,” Ta’u explains. “As soon as someone tests the waters and finds success, everyone else will embrace it. And they consider sports to be a manly thing.” While Ta’u excelled at the “manly” sport of football, he secretly envied the attention his parents lavished on his older brother, Tipi, who sang in his church and school choirs. Ta’u watched his parents follow Tipi to concerts, praise his talent and buy him new clothing for special performances. “Coming from a very humble beginning, anything new was very desirable, and so in junior high, I joined the choir thinking I’d get new stuff.” (Instead, he got Tipi’s hand-me-downs.) T'a'u Pupu'a performs at a concert at WSU's Val A. Browning Center, Oct. 14, 2011. 22 As a football star at Highland High School, Ta’u kept his passion for music in check. “I started thinking that singing was not very manly, so I would go to practice, go to my classes and quietly do my choir stuff.” Attending Weber State University on a football scholarship, Ta’u chose to pursue a music degree, although his motivation was hardly noble. “The real reason I majored in music was because I thought it would be easy,” Ta’u confesses. “That was until I actually had to take music theory, ear training and sight singing classes. Whoa! I found out there was way more to music than just singing.” Evelyn Harris, Ta’u’s voice teacher at WSU, admits his lack of musicianship was problematic. “Reading music was extremely challenging for Ta’u,” says Harris. “I would count the notes with him over and over again. I would have him listen to recordings of the piece he was working on.” Harris was also concerned that Ta’u might damage his vocal cords on the football field. “I guess football players make gruff noises at each other in an effort to intimidate their opponent,” Harris explains. “I really cautioned Ta’u to protect his beautiful voice.” It was a voice that Ta’u’s macho Wildcat comrades came to respect. According to former head football coach Dave Arslanian, Ta’u would frequently mesmerize teammates at pre-game meetings. “We’d try to get the players to relax and build team camaraderie,” Arslanian recounts. “On a regular basis we’d ask Ta’u to close the meeting for us by singing. One song our team requested over and over again was He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother. Despite his voice teacher’s admonition to conserve his vocal cords, Ta’u’s number one priority at WSU was football. And in 1995, his enviable combination of size and speed captured the attention of head coach Bill Belichick of the Cleveland Browns, who selected Pupu’a in the fifth round of the NFL draft. Shortly afterward, the big-boned, big-hearted boy from Tonga received an intoxicating dose of financial security. “When I signed my contract, I bought my parents a car because they didn’t have one. I bought my brother and his six children a five-bedroom house with a huge yard.” ogically, Ta’u’s Cinderella story could end here on a high-note — no pun intended. But his “happily ever after” in the NFL was not to be, and so, the next chapter of Ta’u’s amazing adventure begins … nter, Ta’u’s self-appointed fairy godmother. One miraculous evening in March 2007, Ta’u and some friends attended an opera production at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House. At intermission, Ta’u spied a poster announcing that Dame Kiri Te Kanawa was signing autographs at a nearby bookstore. The thought of meeting her was particularly appealing to Ta’u as he and Te Kanawa share a Polynesian heritage. Ta’u stood in line for more than an hour before coming face to face with the celebrated soprano, who in 1981 was handpicked to sing at the royal wedding of Britain’s Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. Who can say what it was about Ta’u that piqued the crowdweary prima donna’s curiosity? Whatever the reason, Te Kanawa paused, then peered intently into Pupu’a’s eyes. She asked what he was doing in New York. “I’m a tenor,” Ta’u responded in his grandest voice. Somewhat taken aback, Te Kanawa quizzed Pupu’a further about his vocal training, schooling and career objective. Suddenly Te Kanawa put down her pen and said, “I would like to help you. Here is my phone number. Call me.” Seven months later and without ever having heard Ta’u sing a note, Te Kanawa invited him to perform for Brian Zeger, artistic director of Juilliard’s vocal arts department. Ta’u says that afterward, Te Kanawa turned to Zeger and said, “Okay, he’s a diamond in the rough, but he needs help. What can we do for him?” She promised Zeger that if Ta’u were accepted at Juilliard, she would personally make sure he would meet his financial obligations. Reluctantly, Zeger agreed to let Ta’u bypass weber.edu/wsumagazine During his second NFL season, Ta’u shattered the arch of his foot, an injury that left him broken in body and spirit. Ta’u limped back to Salt Lake City, a self-perceived failure. “It was horrible. I felt like I had let down everyone who had ever cheered for me.” Hoping a reconciliation with music would heal his wounded psyche, the distraught Pupu’a joined the chorus of Utah Opera, a Salt Lake City-based professional opera company. “And that’s when the opera bug bit me,” claims Ta’u. The venom from that bite was so potent Ta’u ignored an opportunity to resuscitate his NFL career. “My agent told me the NFL was still interested in me, but they wanted me to play indoor arena ball for one year to build up my strength.” At a football camp in upstate New York, Ta’u’s new coach complimented his on-field performance. But the next morning, Ta’u awoke with a nagging feeling that he needed to pursue a different destiny. When his teammates arrived to pick him up for practice, Pupu’a asked to be driven to the train station instead. On a train bound for New York City, Ta’u calmly reached for his cell phone and broke the news to his father. The year was 2003, and Ta’u Pupu’a was uncharacteristically caught without a game plan. “I had no idea what I was doing in New York City,” says Ta’u. “I just knew I wanted to be an opera singer, and New York City was America’s holy land of music.” For months, Ta’u pounded the pavement in search of a voice teacher and finally found an 86-year-old contralto willing to work with him. Evelyn Reynolds spent the next three years fine tuning Ta’u’s vocal technique and teaching him the distinctive bel-canto style that would eventually earn him the chance of a lifetime — an allexpense-paid opportunity to attend The Juilliard School, an exclusive performing arts conservatory. 23 Juilliard’s rigorous general Yet, she is quick to downplay application process and dive Te Kanawa's role in Pupu’a’s right into the equally dauntcurrent success. Ta’u recounts ing audition process. Ta’u was her recent conversation with told to return in five weeks his father: “All I did was open prepared to perform five arias the door,” she said. “Ta’u and a dramatic monologue. was the one who had to walk Ta’u attacked the task with through.” the ferocious tenacity of the Ta’u graduated from defensive tackle he once was. Juilliard in May of 2011. By the date of his December Already his agent has booked audition, Ta’u was geared up an impressive array of and ready to go. “I was nervous,” international engagements Ta'u Pupu'a signs autographs during a posthe recalls, “but it was like a through 2013. The former concert mingle at the Val A. Browning Center. Weber State Wildcat has game day; the first hit and all the butterflies go away.” Ta’u morphed into a suave and survived the first cut and advanced to the next round sophisticated Polynesian pioneer of opera. He is a of auditions, where only nine singers were selected for consummate leading man — a towering tenor with further consideration. Two weeks later, Ta’u received a movie-star good looks and a voice that rocks the phone call from a Juilliard representative congratulating rafters. Yet he is also gracious and refreshingly philohim for being accepted into the school’s most elite vocal sophical about the twists and turns of his storybook program, The Juilliard Opera Center’s Artist Diploma in life. “I believe that if you are born to sing or born Opera Studies. to play football, that will happen,” says the spiritual True to her word, Te Kanawa arranged a full-ride Pupu’a. “Some unseen, powerful force will align all scholarship for Ta’u through her charitable foundation, the stars and planets to get you there, but you still plus a monthly stipend. She also introduced Ta’u to have to do the work. We all have a specific calling. We one of two sponsors who throughout his schooling projust have to find out what it is.” vided the singer with additional funds when needed. decisions, decisions… a ing easy with Make gift-giv wsu magazine | winter 2012 | class notes rom GIFT CARD f Stores. WSU Campus 24 art phone Scan with your sm : perfect for • • • • New students family, neighbors ds, Alumni, frien coworkers d n a f f ta s , y Facult ll ages Wildcats of a Check out du bookstore.weber.e r te for Spring Semes Extended Hours re eberstatebooksto facebook.com/w ore Ogden Campus St 801-626-6352 e Davis Campus Stor 801-395-3574 Get your parking validated with a purchase of $5 or more. ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 2011-2012 LEADERS Mary Carver Hall ’85 Paul K. Bachman ’02 President, WSU Alumni Association President, WSU Young Alumni Council Mary Carver Hall graduated with a bachelor’s degree in botany. She has served as vice president of Bonneville Travel, LLC, executive director of the Ogden Nature Center, and as an Ogden City Council member. Hall’s goal is to strengthen ties between the WSU Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Emeriti Alumni Council, Young Alumni Council and Student Alumni Association. She hopes a coordinated effort will result in greater participation from all age groups. She serves on WSU’s National Advisory Council and Capital Campaign Steering Committee. An avid political volunteer, she also enjoys attending Wildcat sporting and performing arts events with her husband, George Hall. Paul Bachman graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. After attending law schools in Wyoming and Florida, Bachman practiced law for three years in Sarasota, Fla. He returned to Ogden to accept a position with the law firm of Van Cott, Bagley, Cornwall & McCarthy. Bachman joined WSU’s Young Alumni Council in August 2010 and was elected president the following year. He hopes to develop a model of leadership that will encourage graduates within the last decade to provide service to the community, support the university and develop resources for Young Alumni success. Paul and his wife, Christina Mitchell Bachman ’04, are raising three future Wildcats. Ed Freestone ’67 Lee Naylor ’12 President, WSU Emeriti Alumni Council President, WSU Student Alumni Association alumni.weber.edu XX SEAT 28 Lee Naylor will graduate in the spring of 2012 with a degree in accounting. Naylor’s passion for all things purple began during his tenure as activities director at Weber State University Davis. In his sophomore year, Naylor served as a mentor for the university’s Emerging Leader program. His dedication earned him the distinguished Lisa Ellis Award for Excellence. Open to all students, the Student Alumni Association (SAA) is the university’s largest student organization. Before becoming the group’s president, Naylor was the SAA’s membership/ marketing director. He hopes to connect the graduating class of 2012 with the various programs, services and activities available through the Alumni Association. Naylor’s goal is to help students create an experience at WSU that they will remember as “the best ever.” ROW As a music education major, Ed Freestone was lead tenor in the college’s first large-scale opera production of Carmen. He was twice elected class president. After graduation, Freestone directed choirs at Ben Lomond and Ogden high schools. In 1991, he traded his baton for a computer and became a technology specialist for the Ogden School District. Freestone now leads the Emeriti Alumni Council, whose members attended Weber at least 40 years ago, as well as retired faculty and staff. His goal is to increase member involvement in supporting WSU's activities and objectives, with an emphasis on working with the Utah Legislature on higher education issues. Ed is married to Carol Cope Freestone ’65. Their three children are all WSU graduates. 25 wsu magazine | winter 2012 Left to right: Barney Chapman ’72, W. Rolfe Kerr, Jeanne Nowak Hall ’69, Kevin Kempin ’90, James C. Hurst ’59, and Alan Martin ’05. Not pictured: Ufo Eric-Atuanya ’92 and Joan Rees Hurst. Photos by Robert Casey. 26 On October 13, 2011, the Weber State University Alumni Association celebrated Homecoming by honoring these outstanding WSU alumni and friends. Some teach, some volunteer, some lead, but each honoree gives heart and soul to his or her endeavors and to our community. We salute their accomplishments and are proud of their affiliation with Weber State University. WSU Salutes is held each year during Homecoming Week. The public is invited to attend this free event. DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE Born in Nigeria, Ufo Eric-Atuanya ’92 parlayed his WSU bachelor’s degree in political science and economics into international renown. Eric-Atuanya is the founder and managing partner of Rimsom Associates, a strategic consulting firm. For nearly two decades, he has used his considerable skills and diplomacy to enhance trade and investment, alleviate poverty and create sustainable wealth in his homeland as well as other countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. W. Rolfe Kerr is a valued member of the Weber State family, serving as Dean of Men from 1966 to 1968. After becoming Utah Commissioner of Higher Education in 1985, Kerr worked tirelessly to obtain necessary funding for additional faculty, facilities and technology to support Weber’s burgeoning student enrollment. He enthusiastically encouraged Weber State’s efforts to establish new degree programs and gain university status in 1991. EMERITI ALUMNI LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS Kevin Kempin ’90 graduated cum laude from the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics at Weber State where he also played men’s varsity tennis. Inducted into WSU’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997, Kempin is the president of Head USA, a leading global manufacturer and marketer of sports equipment. OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNUS EMERITI ALUMNI HOMECOMING ROYALTY Alan Martin ’05 used the technical sales training he received at WSU to launch a textbook rental operation out of an Ogden warehouse in 2007. Campusbookrentals.com has since mushroomed into a multi-milliondollar enterprise providing services to students on nearly 6,000 U.S. college campuses. Martin donates a portion of his company’s proceeds to Operation Smile. Married 53 years, James C. Hurst '59 and Joan Rees Hurst were Ogden High School sweethearts who became engaged while attending Weber College. As members of WSU’s Emeriti Alumni Council, they provided leadership for 2003’s Greatest Generation — an unforgettable series of lectures, exhibits, films and panel discussions honoring WSU’s World War II veterans. The couple has four Wildcat-friendly children, including current Dean of Students Jeff Hurst. LEWIS W. SHURTLIFF AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO EDUCATION View biographical videos online at alumni.weber.edu WSU PRESIDENT’S AWARD As a past chair of WSU’s Board of Trustees, Barney Chapman ’72 was instrumental in establishing a greater vision for community and legislative support for the university. In 1968, Chapman began work at America First Federal Credit Union as a parttime teller. He retired 37 years later as senior vice president and chief lobbyist. Chapman is a retired U.S. Air Force Reserve colonel and has worked on the Utah League’s legislative committee. weber.edu/wsumagazine Jeanne Nowak Hall ’69 exemplifies a lifelong commitment to advancing education and opportunity. The former Peace Corps volunteer is a certified school counselor who worked with at-risk students in the Ogden School District for nearly 20 years. Hall is a past board president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Weber-Davis. She spends much of her time securing funds to provide college scholarships and critical services for disadvantaged residents in Weber County and elsewhere. VIDEO Elected Weber College student body president in 1958, James C. Hurst ’59 rallied student support for Weber’s push to achieve four-year status. He began his distinguished professional career as a counselor at Oregon State University and retired as University of Wyoming’s Vice President for Student Affairs in 2000. A true Wildcat at heart, Hurst currently chairs WSU’s Student Affairs Advancement Council. 27 CLASS NOTES James A. Carley ’56 retired after 38 years of service with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, having worked in Utah, Oregon and Washington. He and his wife, LaReen, have been married more than 50 years. They have three children and 12 grandchildren and live in Ogden. 40s James J. Whetton ’41 was the owner of Jim Whetton Buick from 1960 to 1990 and was instrumental in bringing the General Motors training center to Weber State. He served as chief of staff for American business magnate Howard R. Hughes off and on for many years. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, James served in World War II and the Korean War. He played a role in founding the McKay-Dee Hospital and Weber County Schools foundations. A member of the Rotary Club, he was honored as a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow. wsu magazine | winter 2012 | class notes Don Jardine ’48, ’49 earned five degrees from three schools, including an Associate of Science degree from Weber College. His education culminated with a doctorate in philosophy. Don taught art at Utah high schools before moving to Minnesota to become director of Art Instruction Schools, a position he held for 35 years. Known for his art instruction books, Creating Cartoon Characters and Creating Cartoon Animals, Don was also editor of an international art magazine. A member of the U.S. Marine Corps, he served during World War II. Now retired, Don is penning his autobiography. 28 50s LM Spencer L. Seager ’55 has been employed at Weber State for more than 50 years. He continues to teach chemistry, not only to children of former students but grandchildren of former students. He and his wife, Ann, have two children and live in South Ogden, Utah. A L U M N I U P D AT E S James L. Craner ’56 served in Korea and Japan with the U.S. Air Force. He worked at Thiokol Chemical Corporation as a concept illustrator starting in 1959. He became a financial consultant and life and health underwriter in 1967. James served as president of the Ogden Underwriters and on the Utah State Board of Underwriters. He lives in Ogden and recently celebrated his 80th birthday. James and his wife, Barbara Bouck ’83, have four children, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Richard M. Webber ’57 and LM his wife, Judy, are the owners of Webco Inc., a residential contractor business in Ogden. After attending business school at the University of Denver, Richard attended law school at the University of Utah. An avid skier, he works with the Ogden Valley junior races and also participates in the master’s ski program. Judy continues to be recognized nationally as a real estate professional and has received many awards for her accomplishments. The couple has four sons and 14 grandchildren. LM Kenneth T. Tams ’58 worked at Hill Air Force Base for 32 years, retiring in 2004. His LM wife, Myra Fleming ’62, taught school for 34 years in the Weber School District. They have two sons and four grandchildren and reside in Ogden. WHAT WENT UP—MUST COME DOWN Did you ever live on campus? Join us Friday, April 6, 2012 as former residents reunite to say “good-bye” to the old dorms and celebrate a new era of WSU student housing. LM For more information, visit LM Lois Mead Poole ’59 retired after 22 years of service at Hill Air Force Base, where she worked as a budget analyst. She has served on the Emeriti Alumni Council and as secretary of the Riverdale Senior Center Board of Directors. Lois has four children and resides in Riverdale, Utah. 60s LM Kenneth S. Clark ’65 began his career at a certified public accounting firm. He then went to work for the Internal Revenue Service, where he worked as a revenue agent, appeals officer, large case team coordinator and senior program analyst. He retired in 2004 after almost 40 years of government service. Ken also completed a fourmonth tour of active duty with the U.S. Army Reserve. He has been married for 47 years to his wife, Carol. They have three sons; the youngest is currently a WSU student. LM Lifetime WSUAA member AM LM Annual WSUAA member 70s Timothy W. Blackburn ’70 is a member of Van Cott’s litigation section and manager of the firm’s Ogden office. He focuses on representation of credit unions, family law and personal injury. Utah Business Magazine named Timothy one of the 2011 Utah Legal Elite in the area of business litigation. He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence at the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law. He is married to Janette (Jan) Woodhouse ’96. They have three children and seven grandchildren. Richard-Merlin Atwater ’73 retired from the U.S. Air Force Intelligence as a major in 1992. The Florida Writer’s Association nominated him for the Nobel Prize in Literature for his 25 published books. He has a new pop-rock music album that was released in 2011 and is being considered for a Grammy nomination. He currently resides in Palm Harbor, Fla. LM Fredrick C. Mueller ’74 retired after 31 years from Centralia College in Washington, where he served six years as an instructor of informational science and the remaining years as an administrator. He currently resides in Shelton, Wash., with his wife, Sharon. LM Brenda Crittenden Freeman ’75 is the owner of Brenda J. Freeman Insurance Agency Inc. and an agent of State Farm Insurance in Layton, Utah. She is a Chartered Life Underwriter and a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, Davis Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, Junior League of Ogden and the Utah Wildlife Board. alumni.weber.edu John L. Higgins ’68 worked as treasurer for the Del Monte Corporation. He also set up business travel agencies in the late 1990s before retiring from the human resources department of Chevron in 2004. After earning his bachelor’s degree LM Frank L. Salimeno ’65 pracat Weber State, John continued his education at Case Western ticed optometry in the Ogden Reserve University and Arizoarea for many years and still continues to see some patients. na State University. He and his He is a former president of the LM wife, Linda, divide their time State Association of Optombetween residences in Clayton, Calif., and Ogden. etrists and was a recipient of the Optometrist of the Year award. He and his wife, Linda, LM Kenneth L. Nichols ’68 is a professor of public administramake their home in Ogden and tion and a cooperating profeslive part of the year in Green sor of public and international Valley, Ariz. affairs at the University of AM Dennis V. Chamberlain ’67 Maine, where he has taught retired from the Utah State since 1996. He previously Office of Education in 1997 worked for the Internal Revenue Service. Ken is president after 30 years of working in rehabilitation and disability of Pi Alpha Alpha National evaluation. He ran his own Honor Society and coauthor of business as a Social Security Organization Theory: A Public disability advocate for five and Nonprofit Perspective. He years. Dennis has volunteered and his wife, Barbara, live in at Ogden Regional Medical Orono, Maine, and have two Center and Union Station. He sons, three grandchildren and AM and his wife, Jean Andersen two great-grandchildren. ’65, live in Roy, Utah. We’re creating a new ALUMNI DIRECTORY. Watch for a postcard requesting your information so you can share your accomplishments and reconnect with WSU friends. 29 CLASS NOTES LM LM A certified insurance counselor, Michael H. Gale ’75 joined The Buckner Company in Ogden as senior vice president in 2006. He has served as the Weber State Wildcat Club president, chairman of Downtown Ogden Inc., board member of the Ogden Junction Association and convention chairman of the Association of General Contractors of Utah. He is currently serving as a director of the WSU Alumni Association. He and his wife, Jeri, have four children and three grandchildren. Margo B. Smith ’77 and her husband, Jackson, met while students at Weber State. They both worked at the Millstream Motel in Ogden, which they eventually bought from Jackson’s parents. Together they started the Ogden Yellow Cab Co. They also had an antique car collection known as the Millstream Classic A L U M N I U P D AT E S pendent Insurance Agents’ Burgener Award. He and his wife, Nancy, live in Layton, Utah, and have four children and 10 grandchildren. Car Museum. Margo is now a substitute teacher in Box Elder County. The couple lives in Willard, Utah. LM LM Richard L. Mills ’79 had an adventurous 23-year career in the U.S. Army, where he was a helicopter pilot. He completed graduate studies at the College of William & Mary. Richard then returned to Utah as a military science professor. He also served as a financial aid administrator before retiring from Weber State in 1989. C. Brett Nilsson ’79 works for The Buckner Company as senior vice president. He began his insurance career in 1979 and has served on several agent advisory councils. He is the past vice president of the Ogden Jaycees and past president of the Ogden Golf and Country Club. Brett has won many awards including the Utah Association of Inde- 80s LM James A. Supino ’81 lives with his wife, Carol, in Boise, Idaho, where he works as a software consultant. They have three children and two grandchildren. LM Neil K. Garner ’82, ’02 is manager of Children’s Services at McKay-Dee Hospital Center in Ogden. He currently represents Municipal Ward 1 on the Ogden City Council, where he serves as vice chair. Neil’s son, Andrew C. Garner ’06, ’07, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice/corrections and a master’s degree in accounting. Neil’s daughter, Stacie B. Garner ’09, is a past president of the WSU Student Alumni Association. She is completing a doctoral degree in physical therapy at Idaho State University. His son, Blake, attended Weber State, and his daughter, Krystal, is a current WSU student. R. Bryce Barker ’85 is the executive director of Internal Audit at WSU. He has been with the department for 25 years, including 10 years as assistant director. Bryce began working in the accounting office at Weber State immediately following graduation, where after two years he received a promotion to Internal Audit. Bryce and his wife, Staci Larsen ’89, live in North Ogden, Utah. Steven D. Adams ’88 is the founding and managing partner of Adams & Petersen, CPAs LLC in the Layton and Clearfield, Utah areas. He is involved in the Davis Chamber of Commerce and is the Thanks to YOU, our WSU license plate is no longer at risk of extinction. To keep it safe, encourage everyone you know to get a WSU wsu magazine | winter 2012 | class notes license plate with a contribution of 30 $25 or more to a WSU scholarship. Show your Wildcat pride wherever you go and help deserving WSU students. Visit alumni.weber.edu/lp for details, or call 801-626-7535 (Thanks to those who already have WSU plates. Please renew!) Shock Your Doc! Prove you still bleed purple. Join the WSU Alumni Association today. alumni.weber.edu/membership founding member of ProNet of Layton, a nonprofit professional network marketing entity. He and his wife, Christie Welch ’87, live in Kaysville, Utah, and have four children. She was second runner-up in a Miss Utah Pageant while at Weber State and won the individual talent award. A teacher in Davis County, she has also taught piano for many years. Larry R. Heagren ’88 is a support cell manager for Boeing. He is currently working in San Antonio supporting the refurbishment of the 747-8 Flight Test Freighter. Larry has lived on both coasts of America and in Europe with his job. Larry just finished modifying Chinook helicopters with night vision equipment for the Ministry of Defence in the United Kingdom. He and his wife, Diane, have three children. LM Lifetime WSUAA member AM The Georgia Council for Social Studies named Janet Thurman Norman ’89 the 2010-11 Outstanding Educator of the Year. She taught U.S. history and English in Bountiful, Utah, for eight years. She has taught U.S. history and government for the past 14 years in Atlanta. LM John E. Ulibarri II ’89 was elected Weber County assessor and started working for the county at the beginning of 2011. For two-and-a-half years, he was chief deputy in the assessor’s office. John and his wife, Randi, have two daughters and make their home in South Ogden, Utah. 90s Gary L. Petersen ’90 is a founding partner at Adams & Petersen, CPAs LLC in the Layton and Clearfield, Utah areas. He has been in public accounting for 22 years with prior employment at a large Salt Lake City firm and a small Ogden firm. Gary is involved in the community, serving as past chair of the board of direc- Annual WSUAA member tors of the Davis Chamber of Commerce and currently serving as the transportation committee chairman. For the past nine years, he also has served on the West Point City Council. Gary and his wife, Carolyn, live in Clearfield and have four children, three of whom are currently attending WSU. AM Joseph A. Davis ’00 is a financial consultant for Davis Financial LLC in Clinton, Utah. He was named Developing Sales Force, Salt Lake Branch, 2006-07 Associate of the Year. A member of the National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors, he received the organization’s National Sales Achievement Award. He is also licensed with the Utah State Insurance Commission for life, health and disability insurance. Joseph and his wife, Cindy Newman ’06, live in Clinton with their son and daughter. Michael E. Freestone ’00 is a nurse at McKay-Dee Hospital Center in Ogden. He and his wife, Joan, have two sons. Aaron R. Allred ’94 joined the Texas-based firm Jackson Walker LLP in 2011 as a partner in the corporate and securities group. Prior to that, he was a corporate transactions partner at K&L Gates LLP. Aaron is a member of the American Bar Association, Dallas Bar Association and J. Reuben Clark Law Society. He was named a “rising star” by Thomson Reuters from 2005 to 2008 and in 2011. Aaron received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. Debbie Van Noy Cragun ’01 has worked at Weber State since 1991. Prior to becoming the coordinator for the Nontraditional Student Center, she worked in the Women’s Center, for the First Year Experience program, and in the Student Success Center. Her husband, Ronald W. ’95, works in the respiratory therapy department at the University of Utah Hospital. In 2010, Debbie received the Patriot Award, a national award given by the military to employers who provide support above and beyond to military employees. Scott D. Cheshire ’98 is part owner of and a financial consultant for Jim Barlow Advisors in Layton, Utah. He earned his Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation from the College for Financial Planning and enjoys helping families and business owners plan and financially prepare for retirement. He and his wife, Casey Barlow ’98, live in Layton with their four children. Megan Wolthuis Grunander ’01 completed her Doctor of Medicine at the University of Utah, her general surgery internship at the University of California San Francisco, her general surgery residency at HarborUCLA Medical Center and her fellowship training in trauma/ surgical critical care at CedarsSinai Medical Center. She is employed at the Ogden Clinic and is married to Todd ’02, who alumni.weber.edu A member of Colorado's Fountain City Police Department, Ralph C. Maher ’88 has been a volunteer with the Special Olympics for many years. He was chosen by his peers to represent Colorado during the Final Leg of the 2011 Law Enforcement Torch Run, an event where law enforcement officers escort the Flame of Hope to the opening ceremonies of Special Olympics competitions. He spent three weeks bringing the organization's message to com- munities throughout Greece, where the 2011 World Games were held. Read more at weber.edu/wsumagazine 00s 31 is currently finishing his fellowship training in orthopedic surgery at the University of Utah. Upon completion, he will work at McKay-Dee Hospital Center in Ogden. Following in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps, AM Kenneth R. Richey ’02 is a licensed agent for New York Life Insurance Company in Ogden. He earned his Chartered Financial Consultant designation through The American College. Ken and his wife, Shanda, have five children. LM he was hired as controller. Brian serves on the American Red Cross Northern Utah Chapter Board of Directors and officiates football for high schools and the Wasatch Front Football league. He currently resides in Clinton, Utah, with his wife, Heather, and their two sons and daughter. After several years of successfully practicing law, Dennis A. Gladwell ’03 went back to school to study nursing. He has worked with the Hope Alliance, providing service in the Amazon region, Peru and Guatemala. He also has taught law and is working with the University of Utah to set up a law practice serving a lower-income segment of the community. He and his wife, Katherine, live in Ogden. Jennika Scadden McPeck ’07 is a licensed physician assistant (PA) for Planned Parenthood in Ogden. She was honored with an outstanding service award by the physician assistant program at Midwestern University, where she completed her PA training. She and her husband, Victor ’09, live in Clinton, Utah. Victor works for Trace Minerals Research as an assistant purchaser/quality assurance assistant. Jacy Morgan Barnum ’04 works in special education for the Box Elder School District and is pursuing a master’s degree in special education online at Kansas' Fort Hays State University. Her husband, Tyler, is pursuing a master’s degree at WSU. They live in Ogden. 32 Chett J. Campbell ’08, ’09 has been a staff accountant for Ogden’s Schmitt, Griffiths, Smith & Co. since 2009. He is a member of the Utah Association of Certified Public Accountants (UACPA) and American Institute of CPAs. Upon receiving his master’s degree, Chett received the UACPA Outstanding Accounting Student Award. He and his wife, Rachel, live in Clinton, Utah, with their two children. Jason R. Poulsen ’05 is fire chief for Clinton, Utah. He worked at the fire department in Roy, Utah, for 13 years, with four years as captain, the Ogden Fire Department for two years, and has served as an adjunct professor in WSU’s paramedic program since 2005. He and his wife, Sarah, live in West Point, Utah, with their seven children. Photo by Robert Casey wsu magazine | winter 2012 | class notes Joshua D. Caldwell ’04 is a business development director for Engineered Structures Inc., a general contracting and construction management firm located in Meridian, Idaho. After graduation, he earned his Master of Business Administration degree at Willamette University in Salem, Ore. Josh and his wife, Brooke, have five children with another one on the way. 10s Blake Nilsson ’10 has been a casualty agent for The Buckner Company in Ogden since 2008. He is a member of the Ogden Noon Exchange and various other community organizations. He resides in North Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife, Holly. Brian M. Dyer ’06, ’07 is the chief financial officer of Futura Industries, an aluminum extrusion business in Clearfield, Utah. A licensed certified public accountant, he began his career at Futura in 2007 when LM Lifetime WSUAA member AM Annual WSUAA member You don't have to make a large donation to have a big impact. Whether you give $25 or $5,000, your gift to the WSU Annual Fund directly supports students. Make your gift online today. annual fund WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY weber.edu/give Please! We want you to help make Weber State University Magazine even better. Respond by Jan. 31, 2012, to be entered in the iPad drawing. alumni.weber.edu Take 15 minutes and visit weber.edu/magazinesurvey to tell us what you like and what you don't like about your alumni magazine. Be sure to enter your current, working email address in the comment box of Question 18 because we have iPads to give away to two survey participants! 33 Non-profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 151 Liberty, MO Department of University Communications 4025 University Circle Ogden, UT 84408-4025 What’s New? Housing at Weber State University. In the past two years, LaSal, Wasatch and Stansbury halls have been demolished. Promontory Tower will come down in the near future. Wildcat Village, featuring three new buildings, will stand in their place. Phase one of the new residential community is now complete. Phases two and three will be up and running in the near future. When finished, Wildcat Village will have 172,150 square feet of space and will house more than 500 students. Designed to encourage a sense of community, Wildcat Village will feature activity lounges, common kitchens and eating areas, and other amenities. Even the semicircle positioning of the buildings fosters a community feel by opening onto a courtyard with playing fields, a volleyball court, fire pit and other amenities. “Wildcat Village represents a new era in residential living for students,” said Brett Perozzi, WSU associate vice president of Student Affairs. “The new halls will allow WSU to capitalize on new technologies. Design elements have been carefully considered to maximize the longevity and useful life span of Wildcat Village. These facilities will serve students for the next 50 years.” Share your memories of WSU residence halls at weber.edu/wsumagazine and look for a full feature in the spring 2012 edition of Weber State University Magazine.