EAST MEETS WEST, AND VICE VERSA PRESERVING A WETLAND, ~ EXPLORING A CULTURE VENTURING FORTH WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY News for Alumni & Friends WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Vol 14, No.2, Winter 20090 EDITOR IN CHIEF Kathryn Edwards MANAGING EDITOR Amy Hendricks CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Natalie Clemens ’05 Travis Clemens ’05 Amy Hendricks John Kowalewski Jonathan McBride ’08 Gentry Reinhart ’09 ART DIRECTOR Hillary Wallace ’98 DESIGNER Nicole Erickson ’08 CONTENTS 6 PHOTOGRAPHERS Robert Casey Odd Jobs Alumna of WSU paramedic program is on track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Travis Clemens 0O5 Sara Lleverino 01 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: 801-626-6348, fax: 801-626-7069 or e-mail: magazine@weber.edu POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Weber State Uni- versity Magazine, Weber State University, 4025 University Circle, Ogden UT 84408- 4025. WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY WEB weber.edu WSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WEB . cann wetland and creation alumni.weber.edu WEBER STATE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2009-2010 Jerry Stevenson, Chair Alan Hall 69, Vice Chair Jim C. Beardall W. Bryan Bowles Camille Cain Barney Chapman ’72 Christopher G. Davis 79 Tyler Lathem Kathryn Lindquist Steve Starks 02 " UNIVERSITY Adventure in Education | Yearlong humanities course introduces students to higher education, new opportunities. 12 Trading Places WSU’s Chinese exchange programs foster learning. 14 WSU Salutes 16 Class Notes 22 Only at Weber The university honors outstanding alumni and friends. Classmates check in. From A-frame bulletin board to award-winning student newspaper, The Signpost celebrates 75 years. | - SAVE THESE 3 DATES! WRITE YOUR PEN! HAVE THEM FUN AT WSU DOWN WITH IN 2010! CULTURAL AFFAIRS SERIES January 23, 2010 Tae) March 17, 2010 An Evening With Bill Shannon TE AUR eN Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana: a JUNE 11, 2010 April 9, 2010 Mark your calendars now for the Habib Koité and Bamada 9th Annual Drive for Scholarships! ATHLETICS 3) 0) atla eAO(e, We ae) Orchesis Dance Th To Tar Lavm ay 40 (Oe PTT MAT yey aie Women's Bask Montana State i , : : Bonneville Chamber Music Festival April 9-10 and 13-17 Our Town February 12, rae ; a ie tara er “SLOW Va? Hone. Tata CMe (O i 06060 Awe i Men's Basketball vs. . ie ae a — al The Light in the Piazza Women’s Basketball vs, Meas =< a ae sisi ee i i: | | e ie Bee N A\\\ | me ! AD | Northern Colorado STORYTELLING FESTIVAL «February 22-24, 2010 This popular annual event will feature four nationally recognized storytellers. In addition, local, regional and student storytellers will lend their voices for the celebration. o | Visit weber.edu/storytelling for schedules and information. WSU Alumni Association 801-626-7535 alumni.weber.edu - Tickets for Cultural Affairs, Performing Arts and Wildcat Athletics events: 801-626-8500 or 1-800-WSU-TIKS weberstatesports.com On the Web: wsuculturalaffairs.org weber.edu/performingarts weberstatesports.com WEBER JOHN KOWALEWSKI, WATCH UNIVERSITY WSU NEWS & EVENTS COMMUNICATIONS NEW TRUSTEES After a seven-year absence, Steve Starks ’03 returned to the WSU Board of Trustees this sum- mer. Starks, who served as a trustee during his term as student body president (2001-02), was appointed to a four-year term by then Gov. Jon M. Huntsman explores how the novel has evolved and reacted to the advent of new media such as photography, the phonograph and film. aN Ela Jr. Starks serves as executive vice a president for operations of The Larry H. Miller Group. seat PEER REVIEW FOR HE'S A BOEING GOOD FELLOW George Comber, associate professor of manufacturing engineering technology at WSU, spent eight weeks this summer with the Boeing Corporation after being named one of its 2009 Welliver Faculty Fellows. One of only nine engineering professors worldwide to be invited to the prestigious fellowship, Comber visited Boeing plants, shadowed personnel and met company executives. Drawing on his experiences at Boeing, Comber implemented a new academic emphasis on plastics and composites in WSU’s College of Applied Science & Technology this fall. WSU Alumni Association president Christopher Davis ’79 and 2009-10 student body president Tyler Lathem will fill one-year terms on the board. Jerry Stevenson and Alan Hall were elected as chair and vice-chair for the board, respectively. Re pete Nh 4 \ Pray | oa nH REVISION -\ : eS | WNSPIRAT us ee R Ort Planetarium PROMOTING SCIENCE Recent graduate Ron Proctor ’09 NOVEL CONCEPT How is it that in this increasingly digital age the novel continues to be a relevant form of entertainment? That’s the question English professor Michael Wutz explores in his new book, Enduring Words—Literary Narrative ina Changing Media Ecology. In the book, published this fall, Wutz thinks science sometimes gets a bad rap. So he developed a senior project aimed at educating people about how science benefits all facets of our lives. In addition to creating the online community thenatureofscience.org, Proctor created a 20-minute video “The Nature of Science.” The site and video are designed to communicate p 4 WSU MAGAZINE | WINTER 2009 23,000 AND COUNTING eyes a One year after enrollment topped 20,000 students for the first time, fall 2009 saw the university’s enrollment achieve a new milestone: 23,000 students. During the last two academic years, WSU’s enrollment has jumped from 18,081 students to 23,331, a 27 percent increase. For Earth Day 2009, members of WSU's Environmental Club planted 135 trees in four locations in the span of an hour, setting a new Guinness World Record in the process. what science is, how scientists work ADVOCATING Proctor wrote, produced, directed and narrated the film, which has attracted ing interviews with state legislators, a ETHICS REFORM Following extensive research, includ- interest from as far away as Turkey, Argentina and New Zealand, in addition to local school districts. group of WSU students is encouraging Utah lawmakers to adopt more comprehensive ethics reforms. Under the umbrella of the Richard Richards Institute for Politics, Decency and Eth- NATIONAL ical Conduct, the WSU CONFERENCE TO WSU WSU has been selected to host the 26" annual National Conference on Undergraduate Research in 2012. The three-day conference, which is expected to attract nearly 3,000 students and faculty, is the foremost undergraduate research conference in the United States. John Cavitt, director of WSU’s Office of Undergraduate Research, said the selection is “a terrific opportunity to highlight undergraduate research on our campus,” and provides acknowledgment that WSU has taken a leadership role in supporting these kinds of educational opportunities. PROJECT PRIME Student Ethics Committee spent three months identifying which ethics concerns were the most important to state lawmakers. Based on their research, the eightstudent committee recommended the formation of an independent ethics commission, adoption of campaign fnance limits, implementation of more stringent lobbying guidelines, and adoption of an independent redistricting commission. The bipartisan group shared its findings with Gov. Gary R. Herbert. BRANCHING OUT How many trees can be planted in one hour? For Earth Day 2009, members of WSU’s Environmental Club planted 135 trees in four locations in the span of an hour, setting a new Guinness World Record in the process. In addition to trees planted on the Ogden and Davis campuses, students beautified Ogden’s 25th Street and a Clearfield city park. Twenty-five fruit trees were placed on the Ogden campus, capable of producing 100 bushels of fruit a year. Harvested fruit will be donated to a local charity. $ A pioneering WSU program designed to increase the number of teachers trained to work with students with disabilities has received funding for a new cohort. WSU’s Project PRIME (Preparing Research-based Inclusive Multidisciplinary Educators) was created by teacher education professor Fran Butler in 2007 to help the state of Utah develop and train more special education teachers. A grant offered through the Utah State Office of Education funds the program, which is available to individuals who have a bachelor’s degree and already are working in local charter and public schools assisting students with mild to moderate disabilities. Utah Gov. Gary R. Herbert meets with members of the WSU Student Ethics Committee. INIZVOVWOASM/NGF addi M COMING RESEARCH UO and how individuals can get involved. ) Jensen joined the speedway’s Emergency Medical Services/Fire/Safety Team in 2005, after working for an ambulance service in Utah, then in Las Vegas. Treating injuries is her main responsibility, but she’s also had to learn a variety of other skills while working at the racetrack, like hrefighting, truck towing, cleaning up oil spills and even removing drivers from vehicles using the Jaws of Life. “Every day is different. I love that some days I get to play paramedic, some days I get to play firefighter, aaah some days I get to help tow cars. It definitely makes for an interesting workday,” laughed Jensen. And, of course, there are the cars and celebrities. “I’ve met and treated Bush, but if have to pick really down NASCAR drivers like Tony Stewart and Kurt I had to pick a style of racing I like best, I’d drag-racing,” Jensen said. “The racers are to earth.” Being a paramedic wasn’t Jensen’s first career choice—she FAST LANE AMY HENDRICKS, WHEN UNIVERSITY NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS HOT ROD ASSOCIATION (NHRA) driver Hillary Will crashed her top-fuel dragster at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2007, Jill Jensen, the racetrack’s medical supervisor, expected the worst. Who wouldn’t? The nitromethane-powered racer, which was going about 300 mph at the time, broke into pieces about three-quarters of the way into the run. “You really had to see it to believe it,” said Jensen, an alumna of Weber State University’s paramedic program. “Try to imagine a vehicle that produces 8,000 horsepower and goes from 0-330 mph in just over four seconds sud- O\’ WSU MAGAZINE | WINTER 2009 denly disintegrating.” Amazingly, Will came out of the accident with just a bruise on her arm. In fact, Jensen says a lot of drivers walk away from accidents that look fatal to spectators. “The cars are incredible,” Jensen said. “They’re built to take most of the impact of a crash away from the driver. Hillary’s wreck was one of the worst accidents I’ve seen at the speedway, but her car did what it was supposed to do—break apart. It saved her life.” actually wanted to be a physician’s assistant up until the first time she drove an ambulance—but Weber was always her first choice for college. “Although I grew up in Vancouver, Wash., I knew about Weber State because my parents grew up in Ogden,” Jensen explained. “I wanted to go to a college that had more of a homey feeling to it, one with small classes, one where the professors were more personable. Weber was just what I was looking for.” Jensen earned her bachelor’s degree in zoology with a minor in chemistry in 2000. She received her associate of applied science degree from the paramedic program in 2004. “The professors were great. They not only taught me how to be a good paramedic, they taught me about the importance of professionalism and how to interact with patients,” Jensen said. In October, Jensen was a featured speaker at the paramedic program’s 35" anniversary celebration. “It was really fun to come back and share my experiences with others,” she said. “I feel it’s important to give back to Weber because it’s given me everything I have.” While in Nevada, Jensen also earned her associate’s degree in nursing. “Who knows, I may come back to Weber State one day for my bachelor’s degree in nursing. I just can’t seem to get enough of this education stuff,” she laughed. ®@ Visit youtube.com/watch?v=YLqF1QALfk to watch Hillary Will’s crash at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. WSU ATHLETICS Softball Jeam prepares for INAUGURAL TRAVIS CLEMENS, UNIVERSITY ON A MID-SEPTEMBER SEASON COMMUNICATIONS AFTERNOON, Weber State University’s new softball team is practicing indoors, at the Stromberg Complex, thanks to a fall thunderstorm. Phoenix, is adjusting to a new climate, as well as a new team. “This is different, but it works,” she said. COMING TOGETHER Chiquete is not the only newcomer to WSU’s softball team, which will play its first game since 1983 this spring. Everything about the team is new: the players, the field, the coaching staff and the conference. road before. She spent her first two years of eligibility at Yavapai College, where they also had started a new softball team. “I like to be able to make history and start something new,” she said. “Everyone comes in open-minded, ready to learn and work hard.” Wildcat softball. Tina Johnson, who previously led Colorado College’s softball program, was hired in July 2008 to coach the newly formed squad; an invitation to play in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference came in October 2008; and a field was constructed this year north of the Dee Events Center. GETTING STARTED Since her hire last year, Johnson has identified and recruited players with whom to build her program. “We look for players who are intelligent, who are good students first, have a competitive nature and are athletic,” she said. “They need to have the desire to work hard and be OK with a little adversity.” Photo by Tavis Clemens Johnson admits there are challenges with starting a program, but she believes there are also positives. “You don’t have any baggage,” she said. “We can set our own traditions and expectations. We have a blank slate.” Johnson has filled her roster’s blank slate with a mix of junior college transfers and freshman. “We were very particular about all of the players we brought in,” she said. “Our transfers are good leaders, and I think our freshmen are pretty mature, too.” Genasee Aman, a freshman outhelder from Spokane, Wash., thinks the players are blending well. “We get along really well as a team,” she said. “I think that will help us a lot.” Chiquete is optimistic about the team’s chances. “We'll compete,” she said. “I know a lot of people are skeptical about first-year programs, but at Yavapai, we went to nationals and nobody expected that.” STRIVING FOR SUCCESS If the Wildcats are going to have success in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference, Johnson thinks the team will need to be fundamentally solid in all aspects of the game. But that’s not all that goes into running a successful program according to the first-year Wildcat coach. “I believe it’s more than just winning ballgames that makes a program successtul,” she said. “We want the kids to really be invested and understand their roles.” Another of Johnson’s goals is to involve WSU’s former players. “We’re excited to be here,” she said. “It’s a fresh start, but we want to connect with our alumni. We want that history to tie in as we start this new generation of Weber State softball.” @ SNIZVOVYWOSM/NdGaasdIM In December 2007, WSU announced the restoration of Chiquete, one of Johnson’s recruits, has been down this NI Junior transfer Aubri Chiquete, who comes to Ogden from ‘uol}eONpa 98a|/09 e ansund 0} UO!I}dO BU} pey JaAoU ‘SUOSeaL JUSJALJID JO} ‘OUM ‘S19U}O PUL S}UAPISAJ BWWODUTI -MO] 10} S9l}iUN}JOddo apiAojd 0} padoy siuo0ys ‘ueyeyUe\W\ Ul JaJUaZD BDUePINY Ajilue4 9}UsWA]7) OLIIGOY 9} Je G66 U! BS4NOD JeUISIUO BY} Paj}ojld OUM ‘SIL0US |4e9 JOU Ne Ag pepuno} Wessoid e Ja}Je PIJBPOLW SEM VSINOZD suNjUSs/ UIPBO 9yI] ALINNWWOO JHL OL NOILYOINdA ONIN WL "JSOD JO JaJJ |]e ‘UOI}EJIOdSUeI} PU BSULIO}N} ‘Sd14} pjaly ‘SyOOg ‘a1ed pyjlyd 0} ssad0e aAeY Adu} ‘UO!}IPpe U| “UO!}a|dWOD |NJssedons UOdN SinoOY paid O| Ueda SJUaPN}s Wa}U9D diyssauped APIUNWLWOZ Jagea/\\-UIpsCO JU} Je YOM Jad S}UsIU OM} AjNdDe} ASMA Ag }YUsNe} Sse|d SaljiueWNyY |le,/ssed ‘Suo} -Jea{ e SI ‘8SINOZ BINJUa/A UIP8O au} payjed ‘Wiessoid ay} Yeah PUODAS S$}! Ul MON |, BUIZELUL JIIM SJBYICD} JY} PUe ‘3UI}S9J9}U! AIDA SEM }I,, ples ays ,‘AJJUNOD MaU eC UI SJEALE MAU 919M OUM SOU} JO} Ajjeinadsa ‘|nJ -J9PUOM Ajaynjosge seM }j,, ‘UOISIDAP Jay Y}IM Jalddey ag } Upjnod UsyUYag ‘Aepo| u Ad} OF PBBU | JOU AY, ‘JUSNOU} | }NG ‘SaSSe|D JU} aye} O} Pajeds SEM | }SII} }V/,, les UayUYog ,’dN pousis |, ‘JIDUNOZ Sal}IUeLUNH Ye} 94} pue SalyiueWNH Y SHY JO a8a]]OD JsINbpuly “FZ eYIal SAjSIAAIUL 9327S JOGa/\A YSNOIY) pasaj}jo Wejsojd Saljiueluny As0JONPOJU! ‘Mau e U! ||OJUS O} JOY PasesNOIUS OYM ‘SUIS -ILULU! UBISSNY MO}/a} WOJ} BDIAPe JUSNOS UdYUYaY ‘paj}eplwWij}U! 9]}}1] Ce SUljae4 “ASENBUL| BU} SUILILD| |JI}S SEM OYS B9YM ‘AJJUNOD MAU & U! ‘JOOUDS O} HDEG OB O} JOU JO JBYJOYM BSOOYD 0} Pey IUS ‘SUO!}N}}SU! SUILIED| ‘SQ Ag paziusoses Ajjeizied AjUO SeM AJ}UNOD BAI}EU JBY Ul PAAIBDe4 PeY BUS 9d189p S JOJBYDEG JU} BULIDAODSID Ja “UOISIOap SuljUNep e ayeW O} pey UayUYag CUe|}OAS ‘RISSNY WO $9}2}S PS}HUP] OU} O} SU!}eAS!LULU! Ja}e AlJOUS ‘ODW SUWAA JINHL SNOILVIINAWWOD ALISYSAINNA ‘LUWHNIZY AULNID DUWII}AJI] C JO DDUCYD SABJJO 9SANOD NSM HUYOd ONTHINAA - 840] 0} 8/GD J9AQU SOM Syalgns JUaaffIp ISU] |/O 0} PUILU AW dn pauado }J ‘JaAe aba/JOD ay} JO Apnys 0} AW JOf{ Ajlunjoddo UD SDM SIY | “dn UIMOJD UO!}OINpa aDa//09 D 196 0} 9/GD JaAQU SOM ff WSU associate professor of English Debi Sheridan chose to highlight a multicultural theme in her literature class. “This semester the class is almost predominantly immigrants,” she said. “Being an immigrant myself, | strive to introduce things from outside the United States, so almost Py taeVe all the stories | use are from foreign sources.” Students develop essential reading, writing and thinking skills through research papers, reading assignments and group discussions. eats 1 ne en Weiciey Photo courtesy ofSvetlana Behnken ee Students who are part of the Ogden Venture Course are as diverse as the subjects they study. They transcend socioeconomic, age, gender and nationality barriers. Busy single moms with no higher education experience, students who already possess degrees from foreign institutions, elderly and teenagers alike meet twice a week to learn. But with all the differences the students have outside the classroom, they have one thing in common: a passion for knowledge and the will to improve themselves. On a fixed income at 80 years old, North Ogden resi- dent June Chekel had all but given up hope on higher education. Thanks to the unique course, she got her chance, and she embraced it. “| was never able to get a college education growing up,” she said. “This was an opportunity for me to study at the college level. It opened up my mind to all these different subjects | was never able to take.” Shannon Butler, director of the Ogden Venture Course and WSU English professor, has dedicated herself to the program over the last two years, even counseling and giving rides to students. She has seen the benefits that such a unique opportunity provides not only to participants, but faculty as well. . BP saat sg a “| was about to retire,” Butler said. “But working with the students in this ,. course has rejuvenated me, and the university community has been really supportive. People on campus that | hardly know have asked how they can help.” Curriculum for the course is designed to introduce students to college-level subjects such as literature, American history, art history, philosophy, writing and critical thinking. WSU professors who teach the classes find the experi- ence rewarding. “| think the students’ thirst for knowledge is what impressed me most,” Sheridan said. “| sometimes feel underprepared because they are so thirsty for knowledge and so willing to share their perspectives.” PURSUING A DREAM Of the 19 students who graduated from the 2008 inaugural class, five decided to continue their education at Weber State. Others, like Chekel, didn't plan on pursuing a degree, but still felt the course was well worth the time and effort. “It was certainly beneficial to everyone who attended, and | really enjoyed it,” she said. The Ogden Venture Course has given area residents a chance most of them would never have known otherwise. According to Butler, this provides a sense of accomplishment that is sometimes hard for these students to find. “These people want to have a different life,” Butler said. “They have a desire to learn. It's not just because the op- portunity is there; they've been waiting and waiting for the opportunity and when it finally comes, they seize it.” For some, the Ogden Venture Course is a jumpstart to a college career. For others, it’s a chance to meet new people and have access to higher education at little or no cost. For Behnken, who finished the course this fall and is currently working her way through WSU accounting classes, it was a springboard to further education and eventually a new career in the United States. Behnken also credits one aspect of the Ogden Venture Course «_ for helping her prepare for a | very important test: her ES citizenship exam. “It was helpful to know American history,” she said. \ Last fall Behnken passed her naturaliza- tion exam with flying colors. On Oct. 21, 2009, ina room full of people that had also come to this country to pursue their dreams, Behnken raised her hand, took the oath, and became a U.S. citizen. @ “With a growing obal economy and highly interconnected countries and cultures, we think Maks very important oo eXeleo) gale connected. -John Cavitt, Director of the WSU Office of Undergraduate Research z, research experienc : rs and student they had hig hopes. They wanted to get the They wanted to connect with a different all, they wanted to make a difference. The results of their research could influence the preservation of a Mexican wetland : " yar of their They got what they wanted—and more. ols CTS Mleges Ke miles and possibly lead to the creation of a national park. The WSU group that went to Mexico included zoology professor John Cavitt, associate professor of economics Therese Grijalva and history professor Susan Matt. They began their research last spring with some of their undergraduate students. The group traveled to Nayarit together, specifically focusing on a wetland complex called the Marismas. Their research initiated a survey that would assess the value of the wetland area for migratory shorebirds. The data the group collected is now being used to develop a long-term monitoring project for the Marismas funded by Kennecott Utah Copper. The research is part of WSU's Global Scholars Initiative. The GSI, which was created in 2008, allows WSU faculty-student teams to conduct research in collaboration with faculty-student teams from other universities throughout the world. The group’s trip to Mexico was the maiden voyage for the GSI, but more faculty and students are expected to get involved and go to different parts of the world in the near future. ch, the WSU group has been dad Autonoma de Nayarit. experience is unique for — os ides an asset in today's economy. onomy and highly cultures, we think it’s ts to become connected,” Office of Undergraduate ce Kendall said the 2 could make a difference. o influence policy-making lefine the concept of explained. “Never before elt like | was actually g something to both promote ‘learning and serve a greater mmunity purpose.” TTING INFORMED The Marismas in Nayarit is the winter habitat for millions of shorebirds from the Great Salt Lake. All of the WSU facultystudent teams tied their research back to the shorebirds and their migration. Cavitt’s research focused on the habitat usage of the shorebirds. Before any conservation efforts could start, Cavitt, along with his research team, needed to understand how the shorebirds utilized the wetland sites. They studied 17 different sites over the course of a week, counting 30,000 birds and finding a significant population decline over the past GETTING INSPIRED For the students involved in the research, the experience in Nayarit was beneficial and memorable. “The GSI experience has, first, helped me link my two passions: Spanish and zoology,” said Lucas Hall who accompanied Cavitt on the trip. “Second, it has helped solidify my desire to continue with research. Furthermore, it has instilled in me the interest to become involved in international affairs, either for a university or the federal government.” | The experience is also having an impact on the way these three faculty members teach concepts in the classroom. The results of Grijalva’s research show that there are statistical differences between the students in Mexico and students at WSU. The students she worked with at WSU were more likely to choose to preserve, rather than develop, environmental resources. Also, students in Mexico were not. as comfortable with experimental methods and what they were expected to do. “When | teach about the ‘safety standard’ in my environmental economics class, | can explain that sometimes markets fail to provide the goods that individuals want,” Grijalva said. “If we left decisions to the market, our findings suggest we would overdevelop environmental resources, when, in fact, society may prefer to preserve environmental assets rather than develop them.” : The group plans to make another trip to Nayarit this spring to continue its research with another crop of students. There are also hopes to secure more funding, include more professors and make connections in more areas of the world. - “One of the real of experience is — that students get a two-for-one learning issues regarding the conservation only gaining research or development of the shorebirds’ surrounding area. Her group conducted a series of Surveys to determine how local residents weighed the risks and benefits associated with preserving or developing ecological resources. Matt's research focused on the human migration of Mexicans into the United States — such individuals have historically been referred to as “birds of passage.” Through extended personal interviews, Matt compiled stories from returned migrants who reported a longing for home while , benefits of this kind 12 years. Grijalva’s research focused on the local economic and ecological Photos courtesy of Dean Hurst working in America. While economic factors compel many people in Nayarit to work and live in the United States, the migration has emotional sacrifices. opportunity,” Cavitt said. “They are not | experience, but — | . ~ ~ © they're also gaining ~ international and cultural experiences.” Cavitt, Grijalva and Matt will make , a presentation about the Global Scholars Initiative and their experiences in Nayarit at the upcoming Councilon _ Undergraduate Research National Conference, which will be held at WSU in June. © oe - our teacning more fresh, more challenging. can Per cat SEL s i ‘t rely You onan THEY CAME ola we notes ee wher notes iol oe ee wnen “I Sa anf YU] el NATALIE CLEMENS, CONTRIBUTING WRITER youl WhOlre CIASS IS meee Py Sys = ae Suddenly dif Crert, economics projessor TO Weber State University from Shanghai Normal University in China | with some specific goals in mind: one, complete their bachelor's degrees, two, prac- tice English, and three, experience American culture. They were met with some challenges: one, learning a new language, two, adjusting to a different learning environment, and three, adopting American cuisine. After having been in Utah for a few months now, the 19 Chinese students enrolled in WSU's two-plus-two international economics program have begun to realize those challenges have made their education—and life in the western United States—even more enjoyable. Mao Yue is one of the Chinese students studying full time on the Ogden campus. She, along with the other students, takes most of her courses in economics, but also | branches out into everything from English 1010 to botany. “It's exciting ... the classes, the activities, everything,” she said. | Xian Zhang agreed, but joked about her eating habits: “We just can’t get used to American food. | cook every day.” YEARS THERE, TWO YEARS HERE AGAZINE | WINTER 2009 Offered through WSU's John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics, the twoplus-two international economics program inspires learning and fosters cultural understanding by having students study two years in Shanghai and two years in Utah. The 19 Chinese students at WSU fall semester are part of the first group to attend full time. They are learning to adapt to an American style of learning. “There is much more interaction here,” Yue said. “In China you can't comment. It is just lecture.” Teaching to a different audience also requires professors to adapt. “You really have to rethink what you do in the classroom,” said Cliff Nowell, founder of the two-plustwo program and associate dean for faculty development in the Goddard School. “| Photos courtesy of Yasmen Simonian TWO | | More than think this program is going to make all of our teaching more fresh, more challenging. You can’t rely on an old set of notes when your whole class is suddenly different.” As part of the Goddard School's partnership with Shanghai Normal University, professors from the business school 60 st dental hygiene. “They believe if you have harmony wit also go there to teach. They go voluntarily and spend a month at the university. of those, you have balance | in your lives and then you s healthy.” 3 “Teaching in China is a fantastic experience,” Nowell said. “It has made me a better teacher here.” More students are expected to enroll in the program over Adkins wentto Jiamusi last May. “It the next few years, and Lewis Gale, dean of the Goddard School, hopes it will expand to include students from other countries. “| expect we will sign additional agreements with other universities from at least four countries in coming years,” helped me appreciate | what we have here in the United States, enhanced through multicultural engagement with international students in their classes.” she said. —$ and it broadened my horizons as to other Gale said. “The professional development of our students is Nowell hopes the partnership eventually will lead to WSU students studying at the Shanghai university. “We would love to have students spend a semester there,” he said. | fessions have participated in the program, amine aaet medicine techniques and philosophies. “In China, they focus a lot on harmony of the body, mind and spirit,” said Casey Adkins, a WSU senior studyin medical treatments,” From acupuncture | to baby massage, the WSU students watch demonstrations and take part in hands-on workshops throughout China during their stay. MORE CONNECTIONS WITH CHINA The Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions also has created an exchange program with the Heilongjiang Forestry Health College in Jiamusi, China. The two universities offer student and faculty exchanges and faculty scholar programs to study abroad. “The students are learning about eastern medicine, where they use a combination of herbs and tea for health promotion,” said Stephanie Bossenberger, chair of WSU's dental hygiene program. “They also study acupuncture and the meridian flow of medicine through the body.” Adkins said seeing eastern medicine techniques firsthand | showed her there are other ways to prevent diseases. “| think we need to keep our minds open to other advances and other medicines, so we can treat patients with what would benefit them most,” she said. his fall, Weber State University offered Mandarin Chin: orY the first time in more than 20 ) years, end the class ros Department ae Ears : Languages & Literatures « opene sction of first-year Mandarin for the fall 2009 semeste ue to high demand, quickly added another. WSU also | la course in Chinese calligraphy for fall 2009. | bbi ie Stauffer, wsu sophomore, leaves in January to teach nglish in China. She was eager to take the course. “I wante have a basic knowledge of Chinese before I went,” she | 54 ge hard to learn on my own, so it’svexehing to . nthe, oe os WSU's , Department of oe lages & Literatures, said the courses serve a growing r Chinese speakers in Utah and in the United States oF mo | eeibeals people who have some . WSU students also participate in public health activities during their trips, taking blood pressures and providing health counseling. : “The experiences the students have gained (during study abroad trips) have been beyond what we can teach in our classrooms and hospitals,” said Yasmen Simonian, dean of the Dumke College. * As part of the partnership, members from Heilongjiangvisit WSU each year, where they participate in programs the College of Health Professions and observe undergradu ate research projects. They even help future study abroad . students prepare for travel in China by teaching them basic phrases and how to use chopsticks. “They had the students practice picking up peanuts an M&Ms with chopsticks,” laughed Bossenberger. “It was | really fun.” es The College of Health Professions is currently exploring additional study abroad opportunities. “These kinds of | programs allow our students to experience diversity | in culture and health care worldwide,” Simonian said. a wonderful way tolearn.” @ “Wr : > ®o Yn © O + oO Oo oO oO > a Yn Oo ~ oO co ae “It had long since come to my attention that people otf accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.” —Leonardo da Vinci |. DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS _ Thomas R. Kunz is president and CEO of Century 21 Real Estate Corporation, one of the world’s largest residential real estate sales organizations. Prior to starting with Century 21 in 1982, he owned an employment agency and served as president of a software company. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE Rodney H. and Carolyn “Mitzi" | Brady served as president and first lady of Weber State College from 1978-1985. Education has always been important to the Bradys, and their service has benefitted a multitude of local and national organizations. President Brady recently retired as CEO of Deseret Management Corporation. ALUMNUS Calvin L. Murri wanted to be a basketball coach when he was at Weber, but his parttime job as a driver for Wells Fargo led him to become president and chief operating officer of Loomis, the nation’s largest cash-intransit organization with more than 20,000 employees worldwide. Il and, as vice president of CitiBank, he later lived in many of them. His 30-year career in international banking provided him the opportunity to work closely with government officials and dignitaries around the world. ALUMNUS Steve Starks ‘03 is the executive vice president for operations for the Larry H. Miller Group and is the managing director of the Utah Policy Partnership. He served on the WSU Board of Trustees as student body president and recently was appointed by the governor to serve on the board again, just six years after graduating. LEWIS W. SHURTLIFF AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO EDUCATION LaWanna (Lou) Shurtliff taught school for 30 years and worked tirelessly to guarantee a strong, effective and quality educational system for children. She served 10 years in the Utah House of Representatives and was director of both the Utah Education Association and the National Education Association. countries as a bombardier pilot in World War EMERITI HOMECOMING ROYALTY Vance C. Pace '59 married the girl elected “Friendliest Girl at Weber College,” Nancy Hollist '59. Together they made friends around the globe during Vance's 30-year career as a foreign service diplomat. They attribute much of their success to their experiences at Weber. Now retired, the Paces continue to “pay it forward” as active volunteers for the alumni association and their community. View biographical videos online at alumni.weber.edu/sv WSU Salutes is held each year at Homecoming. The public is invited to attend this free event. INIZVOVWNSM/NGT adam YOUNG LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT Edward (Ted) Boyle '42 flew over many Ul OUTSTANDING EMERITI — DISTINGUISHED CLASS NOTES Vera P. Carter ’33 fondly remembers her time at Weber College, from the devotionals to her dormitory to the tuna sandwiches at a local confectionary. There were 262 students in her graduating class, and she scans WSU Magazine for familiar names. Vera, who turned 95 in August, has five children, 17 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. She lives in Morgan, Utah. Marie Widdson Beecher ’39 was a schoolteacher in Eden of the 323 U.S. Army Band and Skyliners Orchestra. In 1954 he joined General Motors, and alter 31 years of service retired as regional business manager. He and his wife, Nada, recently celebrated 58 years together. Jack Porter ’48 received a law degree alter attending Weber. He worked as a deputy to the California Office of the Attorney General for 42 years and was also a member of most of the federal courts located in California. and Taylor, Utah, and also community history, “Hooper, celebrated her 90" birthday. She has been involved in the Hooper Women’s Club and Daughters of Utah Pioneers. D. Boyd Crawford ’50 worked for the Ogden City School District for 30 years and received a state outstanding business teacher award. An avid skier, Boyd served on the Snowbasin Ski Patrol and recently received a 50-year award from the National Ski Patrol. He and his James J. Whetton ’41, a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, owned Jim Whetton Buick and currently col oO) WSU MAGAZINE | WINTER 2009 | CLASS NOTES owns Good Health, LLC, in Harrisville, Utah. He served as chairman of the Buick National Dealer Council and president of the Ogden/Weber Chamber of Commerce, the Weber County Industrial Bureau and the Ogden Golf and Country Club. Jim also has been on the McKay-Dee Hospital Center governing board for 25 years. IMPACT You don't have to make a large donation to have a big impact. Whether you give $25 or $25,000, your gift to the WSU Annual Fund goes directly to taught at Roy Municipal School. She wrote and published a Our Hometown.” Marie recently SMALL CHANGE, wite, Claudia Malan Crawford ’59, recently celebrated 50 years of marriage. Claudia has operated her own beauty salon for more than 30 years. She is amember of Soroptimist, an international organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women. D. Kent Ellis ’57 worked as recreation division administrator for the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation until 1977. He and his wife of 50 years, Diann Furniss Ellis ’58, formed Carl A. Lechtenberg ’46, who was stationed at Fort Sam Houston during World War II, the Kean Recreation Co., selling parks and recreation equipment entertained troops as a member in Utah, Idaho and Montana. student support in the areas of ed date RcISHMN AL clcIeh aa ea areas)ace Make yours today. weber.edu/annualfund get into weber WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 2009-10 LEADERS CHRISTOPHER G. Davis '79 LARRY LEATHAM ‘59 PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT, WSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Christopher Davis grew up in Ogden and attended Weber State College, majoring in political science and history. After graduating from law school, he returned to Utah and worked at the Weber County Attorney's Office. Davis previously served as president of the alumni association in 1988-89. He is now the city manager for Roy, Utah. As WSUAA president, Davis’ goal is to develop stronger connections between alumni and current students through programs like Take a Wildcat to Lunch. He also hopes to increase the number of scholarships offered through the alumni association by increasing WWSUAA membership. WSU EMERITI Leatham, who retired from the Weber School District, was presented the 2008 Carl Perkins Humanitarian Award by the Utah Association for Career and Technical Education. He received the national award in November 2009. He was recognized for outstanding meritorious contributions to career and technical education. PETER J. OWEN PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT, STUDENT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Troy Poll served as a student body officer in 2008-09 and was responsible for bringing guest speakers and concerts to WSU. He served on the board of the Student Alumni Association prior to becoming president. Poll has enhanced SAA membership benefits with a discount card to area businesses and restaurants. He is excited to work with the WSUAAsponsored student fan club Purple Pak to increase student COUNCIL Larry Leatham hopes to make a difference while serving as president of the Emeriti Alumni Council by working closely with the Student Alumni Association and alumni volunteers on several service projects. The EAC sponsors the Purple Paw Award of Excellence and reunites alumni through class and program reunions. Troy D. POLt ‘11 WSU ALUMNI WSU ‘08 YOUNG ALUMNI COUNCIL Peter Owen is a former student body president who graduated with a major in finance. He worked as an analyst for Flying J before taking a position with JD Clark & Company. Under Owen's leadership, the Young Alumni Council is organizing service projects and networking events, including workshops on utilizing job search engines and online resources, and raising funds for a new scholarship. participation on campus. | | News and ent online at alumni weberedu oe E-mail us at a lumni@weberedu ¢ or call 801- 626 7535, Sl ), Weber State University by fostering spirited - and lasting ties among alumni and friends. sna “The' Wsu Alumni Association champions — INIZVOVYWOSM/Nds addIM Poll will graduate with a degree in marketing in 2011. CLASS NOTES ALUMNI 60s 70S Rodney S. Page ’60 retired alter 25 years of serving as a judge in Utah’s 2"? District year at Washington Junior Court, which serves Davis, We- basketball, volleyball, tennis, ber and Morgan counties. Gov. Scott Matheson appointed him in 1984. Prior to being a judge, Rodney served two terms as the Davis County attorney. Larry Chesley ’64 was held as a prisoner of war for seven years during the Vietnam War. His jet was shot down in April 1966 on his 76" mission. He retired as a lieutenant colonel and later wrote a book about his High School. She taught physical education and coached the swimming, and track and held teams. She also taught computer classes. Joy later worked for the Internal Revenue Service. She has won awards for bowling, tennis and golf. experiences as a POW. Larry J. Dan Stallings ’66 retired trom Betaseed with 40 years in the sugar beet industry. He received a master of science degree in agronomy and began his career with Amalgamated Sugar in Nyssa, Ore., as senator. joining Betaseed in Kimberly, Joy E. Mower ’65 retired alter teaching 29 years at Ben Lomond High School and one with disease testing and variety development. He is married to Susan Bryan Stallings ’66. also served as an Arizona state UPDATES a research agronomist. After Idaho, he continued research Paul Neuenschwander ’70 has been appointed chief of staff tor Utah Lt. Gov. Greg Bell. Paul retired from a lengthy career in the mortgage banking industry and successfully ran for the Utah House of Representatives. He has served on boards for the U.S. League of Savings Institutions, Utah Bankers Association, the Road Home and the WSUAA. Brad Drake ’71 is executive director of Catholic Community Services of Utah. A nonprofit agency, CCS is the social service arm of the Catholic Church in Utah. The organization works with those in need regardless of religious afhliation. Brad is the first member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to lead CCS. Greg Bell ’72 was recently selected as Utah’s lieutenant governor. Prior to his appoint- rol OO WSU MAGAZINE | WINTER 2009 | CLASS NOTES ment, he was an attorney and property developer. He served on the Farmington City Council from 1990-94, was mayor of Farmington from 1994-2002 and was elected to the Utah Senate Dean W. Carver ’74 is analytic director at CENTRA Technology and retired head of the CIA office of East Asian affairs. He now contracts with the Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive, where he is responsible for tracking foreign efforts to illicitly acquire U.S. sensitive technologies and trade secrets. He also helps develop strategies to protect the United States’ critical national economic assets from foreign threats. Boyd L. Rasmussen ’75 retired trom the budget office of Hill Air Force Base after 31 years. He was also a bus driver for 16 years at Wasatch Transportation. Boyd served in the U.S. Naval Reserve and the Utah National Guard, retiring after 31 years. He has been married for 50 years to Delsa Owen Rasmussen ’59. Delsa is retired from America First Credit Union. The couple lives in Ogden and has four children and 12 grandchildren. Dan Dean ’76 returned to Weber after a 32-year absence and JoLynn, have six children and 17 grandchildren. in 2002. Greg and his wile, is now an assistant track and held coach, specifically responsible for the Wildcat sprinters and hurdlers. Both Dan and James Minster ’72 has served his daughter, Ally, hold Weber ofheer, a South Ogden City volunteer fireman and fre chief. James also served in the USS. Ogden Police, a full-time police State school records and are Big Sky champions. Dan was inducted into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992. He previously coached at Ben Lomond and Bonneville high schools. Dan and his wife, Charla, have Army in Vietnam, where he been married 34 years. have been married 43 years. C. Brett Nilsson ’79 was selected to represent the United: States on the World Council eight years on the South Ogden City Council. He has been a reserve officer for the South received the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service. He and his wife, Nancy, of the World Federation of Insurance Intermediaries. Brett is senior vice president for Ogden’s Buckner Co. and chairman of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America. He also has served the Independent Insurance Agents of Utah. The association awarded Brett its highest honor, the Burgener Award, a distinction that has been awarded only hive other times in the organization’s history. He and his wile, Nancy, live in Layton, Utah. Steve J. Johnson ’94 lives in Huntsville, Utah. An artist, his works have been exhibited at the Eccles Community Art classroom. Annette became an early childhood specialist, then a school administrator, and is now a coach and consultant for Utah school districts. Kathryn Ellison Firth ’88 taught French at Box Elder Junior High School and Viewmont High School. She was an active election judge and was on the Layton Arts Council. Her hobbies include sewing, genealogy and swimming. She and her husband of 50 years, Ralph, have six children, 20 grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren. 90s Joyce Martinez Pefia ’91 is an instructional coach at West Middle School in Nampa, Idaho, where she was named 2009 Teacher of the Year. Maren Anderson Coffman ’95 is an assistant professor of nursing at the University of North Carolina. She divides her time between teaching and research, having received a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to study adult Latinos’ access to health care. She also owns Epiphany Chocolatiers, where she duplicates Europe’s finest chocolates. Maren lives in Fort Mill, S.C., with her husband and four children. Jeff Perkins ’95 owns SelectionOne, a recruiting business that provides executive 100 WILL LOVE. YOU WILL LOVE recruitment, exit interviews and other services for employers in Wichita, Kan. The company also provides career counseling and résumé writing for job candidates. Jeff lives in Wichita with his wife and four children. Jenn Rapp 96 has acted and danced in national tours, including one for “Blues Clues” and one for “Dora the Explorer.” She directed, staged and that } your money provides scholarships. avings from rn ership benefits. aeanaeeee YOU WILL LOVE ee eseeeaeeneaanen OO: 8 22H EOD eeRrer ane reconnecting with classmates. see eee eee esreseeoeoaeereeeneene visi alumni.weber.edu/love or call 801-626-7535. eeee@ee eee aeaeaeoe ee eee Nada est EdAIMINANTY for Administrators, featuring key strategies for maximizing student engagement in the Center. _ Annette Brinkman ’87 coauthored Help Teachers Engage Students: Action Tools (O 80s CLASS NOTES choreographed family shows based on characters including surgery that is highly effective for common types of skin can- Dora, Clifford the Big Red Dog cer, at Intermountain Medical and SpongeBob SquarePants. She recently choreographed and directed the family show “Thomas & Friends Live.” Marcie Valdez ’97 is program director for Catholic Community Services of Utah. She served the Red Cross of Northern Utah as financial development and community services director for 10 years where she helped with fundraising and oversaw the armed services and utility assistance programs. She has a 6-year-old daughter. Group at Memorial Clinic in Salt Lake City. Jason completed an internship at LDS Hospital, a dermatology residency at the University of Iowa and a fellowship in Mohs surgery and procedural dermatology at the Skin Surgery Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. Randy Ricks ’99 is currently working as a district attorney team clerk at the Regional director of internal audit at WSU, where she is responsible for both internal audit and information security. Julie has been with WSU tor five years working as a senior auditor and | CLASS NOTES | WINTER 2009 WSU MAGAZINE territory management. Jason P. Hansen ’99 is a spe- cialist in Mohs surgery, a type of microscopically controlled OOS Pam Vineyard Boucher ’o0o, ’02 received her master’s degree in business and works as a unit chief of Operational Satellite Tracking & Launch Control at Hill Air Force Base. She has been presented the Spirit of Phoenix Award and Gail A. McIntyre Award. Pam survived two bouts of ovarian cancer. She loves to bicycle and enjoys painting and gardening. Deborah Lindstrom ’00 works at Hill Air Force Base as a logistics consultant with NexOne. She is president of the Ogden chapter of Soroptimist, an international organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women. Continue the Wildcat tradition! She is a certified information ence in sales, insurance and Justice. the American Woman Award, i systems auditor, certified infor- Stephen M. Thornley ’98 is an account manager for Radian Guaranty and is responsible for new account development and maintaining relationships with clients throughout Utah. A Weber County resident, he is a member of the Utah Mortgage Lenders Association and has more than 10 years of experi- Justice Center in Las Vegas. He will graduate from law school in 2010. Randy is a member of the American Center for Law & Nonresident Scholarship information security manager. mation security manager and certified fraud examiner. She is also certifed in the Governance of Enterprise IT. UPDATES Alumni Legacy Julie Park ’98 is executive N Oo ALUMNI | Ifyou earned a apes from WSU ™ and now live outside Utah, your child can attend Weber State through the Alumni Legacy Nonresident Scholarship Program, ~which waives the nonresident portion of tuition. To qualify, your child must: ¢ Be admitted; * Have at least one parent who earned an associate’s degree or higher from Weber; and - Enroll at WSU as a first-time student to the Utah System of Higher Education. getintoweber.com For more information, visit weber.edu/scholarships/ alumnilegacyscholarship 30 itt hath une Fide to a nv, S 2 | ond, Novemb y : ihe tamnous poem és verasctiee 3 : how many days are in each month? = | | Not anyWrone. a The WSU Alumni Association's 2010 planning calendar, filled with pictures of our beautifulcampus, {f | | | will help you keep the months straight. ey Jointhe WSUAlumni Association or renew your membership to get your ee Call 801-626-7535 or visit _alumni.weber. ele to join today. i. 2 Seth Pilkington ’08, ’09 works evaluates and treats children Schmitt, Griffiths, Smith & Co. under the supervision of a pediatrician. He is Huent in Spanish, is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Seth previously worked as a controller for the U.S. Institute of Languages. ae em auciber forte cer: fied public accounting firm of Physician Assistants, and is a Jessica Hess ’09 graduated member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. . . oe Dustin Havey ’06 is a pediatric physician assistant in Ogden. As a mid-level practitioner, he ee oe — magna cum laude with a degree in nursing before earning her master’s degree. Trained in —_family practice, she works at the Meghan Rawson Mann’06is employed by Davis Hospital & Circle of Life Women’s Center Medical Center and livesinOg- _ in South Ogden. She is certified den with her husband, Gregory. through the American Nurses Credentialing Center and has William G. Love ’07 is a experience providing care in semi-retired writer, researcher, psychiatry, long-term care, and preservationist and museum gynecology and obstetrics. volunteer. His first novel, Atrocities, was recently electronically published on the Kindle, Amazon’s wireless reading device. Hillary Hansen Flanick ’08 works at BioLife Plasma Services and lives with her husband, Mike, in Clearfield, Utah. Mari Rikuno Stuart ’01 is a nurse midwile at the Ogden Clinio, where she provides comprehensive care for female patients. Mari has eight years of experience in women’s health and speaks both English and Japanese. She is a boardcertified nurse midwife and ' Weber State's PLATE Is e re at, e reat, e re at! women’s health nurse Not only does it help youshow it makes your Wildcat pride, Adam Bingham ’02 has been students prachHoner years. He flew the C-17 in the Funds 2009 Hill Air Force Base Air Show. Adam earned his master’s degree and is an instructor at Altus Air Force Base, Okla. He has been deployed several times on dangerous missions. He and his wite, Shalisa, have a daughter. plate the sie) towa ; scholarships. | 3 rd to the premier of Chris“Sleepy Hollow.” Draper as a magician/illusionist/ reader in Las Vegas. Visit alumni.weber/LP or call 801-626-7535 for more , information. Ndr aad IMINNANTY Bt ell magic tian’s works mind g from WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY © Paul Draper ’02 worked with professor and writer/director , a difference for our in the U.S. Air Force for seven Ten Christian, 4 Mau | N . : ONLY AT WEBER by the Asseciated Students of Weber College aT ae a Published TRAVIS CLEMENS, UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS In the fall of 1935, an A-frame bulletin board appeared on the Weber College campus. Thumbtacks held signs announcing school functions. There were also spaces dedicated to school groups, humor and individual ads. “The board became so popular you almost had to wait your turn to get close enough to read what was on it,” remembered Weber College alumnus Robert Wangsgard. And thus was the beginning of the student newspaper, appropriately named The Signpost. Wangsgard was instrumental in helping start The Signpost, a publication that continues today. That year, Wangsgard was editor of the school’s yearbook, the Acorn. In the fall, his advisor, Cluster Nilsson, approached him about creating a way for the college to distribute information to the students. “At their meetings, the faculty had decided to ask the editor of the Scribulus and me to come up with some ideas on that,” he said. transitioned to a newspaper format with a drawing of a board of wood for its masthead. Over the next 75 years, The Signpost continued to change and grow. It became a weekly publication in 1959, moved to three issues each week in 1990 and started publishing online in 1997. Larry Stahle, who served as the faculty advisor to The Signpost from 1980 to 1995, believes that though the newspaper has transformed over the years, its benefit to student journalists is constant. “| think if you did a study, you'd find Signpost students really get involved, enjoy their university experience and graduate,” he said. "It’s an experience that helps them grow and develop beyond the classroom." Today, former staffers are sprinkled throughout local and national media organizations, as well as the governor's office and the Utah Supreme Court. Its alumni include former college athletes and famous Wangsgard spoke with Melvin Jennings—editor of the Scribulus, a student-run literary magazine at the time— and they decided to get their two staffs together to see if anyone was interested in creating such a program. musicians. “There was a great interest in it,” Wangsgard said. “Nine people from our two staffs said they would like to see what they could do to disseminate information throughout the school.” Throughout the years, the newspaper's students have One week later, The Signpost first appeared at Weber in the form of the bulletin board. "It was all organized with instructions on what could be posted and how long it could Stay there," Wangsgard said. Association and the Society of The bulletin board remained a fixture for the college during the next two years. In the fall of 1937, however, The Signpost been rewarded for their hard work with numerous awards from the Utah Press Professional Journalists. Last April, Weber State University invited former 1954 Signpost staff. Staffers to return to campus for the first reunion of SIGNPOST ank Mc Quown STAFF Thomas McKay ne Langford Phyllis Brown los Donahue peorge Metsu Lettice Orton E on mee Brean ae Orica Robert Wangsgard, in 1935 . vexs 54 meacdiugy, and at the Signpost reunion last April. The Signpost. Allison Barlow Hess, who has served as the newspaper's advisor since 2001, felt compelled to organize the reunion to help alumni connect with what's For several years there had been a constant demand by the of direct expression, students of Weber College for a medium both opinions and news. Such a medium has materialized this currently happening at the newspaper. “! wanted all of our alumni to see what we're doing and feel a part of it,” Hess said. At the reunion, Wangsgard was recognized with a spirited round of applause by those in attendance. “It made me feel good,” he said. “| am kind of proud of having been involved in something that was so popular back then and kept on going.” @ ! ! | = semper sere “They should feel like this is their home at Weber State and that they can stop by anytime." | year. It is embodied in the Signpost, which regularly “goes to press” twice a week. Conceived and sponsored by the executive officer of Acorn and Scribulus, this publication has in one year, grown to be a popular feature of the College. To the faithful staff st” members, it was: “Signpost first; pleasure afterwards.” 3 ay All the important student news, opinions, scandals, activities, and “wisecracks” were featured in this unique publication. Reading the Signpost became a regular part of the students’ schedule. Whenever the Signpost failed to appear, the students knew _ something was amiss. ; | that. | The Signpost has been instrumental throughout the year in promoting greater interest in school activities and has contributed much to the enlivenment of school spirit. _ | | WEBER STATE Now profitOrg PAID UNIVERSITY Permit No. 151 SLC, UT Department of University Communications 4025 University Circle Ogden, UT 84408-4025 Going Green Beginning this semester, students can breathe a little easier when they ride the campus shuttle. The university has replaced several diesel shuttle buses with new dual fuel-powered vehicles, which run on gasoline and compressed natural gas (CNG). The new Diamond Coach buses with Ford chassis seat 20 and can transport up to 30 people at atime. They are quieter than their predecessors and much more fuel-efficient. University fleet manager Mike Whetton predicts this change will save $200,000 a year. The introduction of the first three CNG buses was so well received WSU has added two more CNG shuttles to its fleet. Raa a coal