WINTER 2012 Weber State University News for Alumni & Friends

Weber State University Magazine Vol. 16, No.2, Winter 2012 Contents editor in chief art director Amy Hendricks Hillary Wallace ’98 Contributing designer writers Emily Caraballo 8 Visiting Walter Reed Amy Hendricks photographers A WSU staff member recounts her visit with a soldier recovering at Karin Hurst Robert Casey John Kowalewski the now-closed Army medical center. Jonathan McBride ’08 Jonathan McBride ’08 Zac Williams ’01 Rebecca Ory Hernandez Peta Owens-Liston 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: [email protected] postmaster: Send address changes to Weber State University Magazine, Weber State 12 In Pursuit of Justice University, 4025 University Circle, Ogden UT 84408-4025. 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 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 weber state university board of trustees 2011-2012 rivet from a pair of jeans is evidence that still weighs on the mind of a Layton Alan Hall ’69, Chair City crime scene investigator? Or that a Colorado police sergeant’s service to the Jim C. Beardall, Vice-Chair Special Olympics led him all the way to Greece for the World Summer Games? W. Bryan Bowles Kyle Braithwaite Camille Cain Mary Hall ’85 18 Giving From the Heart Kathryn Lindquist Son creates scholarship in memory of his mother who died from Scott Parson Steven E. Starks ’03 breast cancer. Plus, read how a piano student chose to express her Gen. Kevin Sullivan (ret.) gratitude to WSU. 22 Cinderella Story We hope you enjoy the The tale of an alumnus’ rags-to-riches rise to NFL and opera fame extra content, including videos and slideshows, 26 WSU Salutes only available in this The university honors outstanding alumni and friends. digital fomat. Watch for the highlighted links. 28 Class Notes Classmates check in.

On the cover: Criminal justice alumni Lance Davenport '03, Marc Miller '06, '10, and Nalleli Sermeno '09 the year ahead is filled with things to Weber Now do. Look what we’re offering at WSU!

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WeberStateSports.com Also, follow us on Facebook and Twitter 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.

Still Growing

Weber State’s enrollment weber.edu/wsumagazine topped 25,000 students for the first time this fall. At winter 2012 25,483 WSU has achieved a new

| magazine wsu enrollment record four 4 years in a row. 5 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 winter 2012 | magazine wsu 4 5 WEBER WATCH wsu news & events

Click the icon for extra Coach Mac Retires VIDEO online only content. Back Talk After seven seasons along the sidelines, Imagine legendary head football coach Ron approaching McBride announced his retirement. In a stranger in a 2008, Coach Mac led the Wildcats to their foreign country first Big Sky football title in 21 years, and and asking his Wildcats reached the FCS playoffs them to write a following the 2008 and 2009 seasons. 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 conditions. Truong was one of only 10

undergraduate presenters selected weber.edu/wsumagazine from universities around the world. winter 2012 | wsu magazine wsu 6 7 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.

HA new ome book by Sweet history professor Home Susan Matt challenges the romanticized notion of American ruggedness and individualism. PROFESSIONAL In Homesickness: An American COMMUNICATION. History, Matt reveals that many of our pioneering ancestors struggled with bouts of homesickness, a MASTER IT. malady that sometimes proved fatal. Matt concludes that society has taught modern Americans to Apply by Feb. 1 repress “childish” weber.edu/mpc weber.edu/wsumagazine emotions like homesickness. winter 2012 |

wsu magazine wsu Master of Professional Communication 6 7 a day at ward 57 Walter Reed army medical center 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 Ocan’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 Walking around the corner, I see Sylvia talking face to face with a young man in his 20s. He is to medical staff in the hallway. I motion that I holding an IV cart with the one hand that he will be around the corner. While I’m waiting, her has. A quick glance shows that he has no legs, sister comes out. We meet, say hello, and I ask and one arm is missing. I look him straight in how they are doing. She is obviously tired but the eyes, say “hi,” and smile. He grins and says, OK, considering. I’ve come armed with goodies “I’ve got to get a coffee. That time of day.” I (tempting food, lavender lotion, and some things say, “Sounds good to me. I’m getting off here.” my little boy ordered for Seth: Elmo smoothie He asks who I’m visiting, and I say, “Seth.” He and Pirates’ booty snacks). Sylvia comes back, replies, “Oh, they’re talking with his mom right and we hug. She looks tired … really, really tired. now, but they won’t be too long. He’s doing really I go into Seth’s room. The sheer smallness of it well. Pretty beat up, though.” I say thanks and surprises me. There is less than 2 feet between head toward Ward 57, Orthopedics. the bed and the lavatory. (The reason Seth is in The staff is bustling around smiling. Instead of a small room is because there are no other beds traditional scrubs, everyone is in fatigues. I re- available right now.) There is one window, but ally like that. Uniform uniforms. The only people Seth can’t look out of it because he is facing the not wearing camouflage are the cleaning and opposite direction due to the bed’s orientation. service staff and visitors. We are the only splash Seth gives me a faint smile. We are introduced, of color in a sea of white and beige. and I say, “I hear the Prince Harry look-alike is in this room. You know, if you want to keep that lecture on brushing his tongue, and we all hear, status in Hollywood, you’ll have to eat a bit “that’s gross,” from Seth and chuckle. Seth then more.” I get serious and tell him how much drinks a Boost drink and talks about supper. I it means to me and my family that he was know from the looks of him that he’s not eating. so brave. I tell him this without crying. He He looks like he might weigh 120 pounds or so thanks me. His mom gets teary. … too thin. His intestinal tract is unhappy with What makes me feel a little better is that the combination of anesthesia, pain medication, Seth looks remarkably good for the trauma antibiotics and other meds. he has been through — mentally and physi- Seth’s mom shows me the beautiful blanket cally. His cheeks have some color, his circu- that was made for him. Seth is concerned about lation looks good, and his eyes are clear. His thanking everyone, and I think how well his mom tells me that his ears are really bother- mom raised him for him to even be considering ing him, and he likes us to talk softly. The others while in this condition. explosion has affected his hearing. It appears that everyone is getting weary, so I I’m shown his right lower leg that’s being ask if there’s anything else I can get for them. held together with giant cross pins in two Seth’s aunt asks for a ride to the airport. It’s places. It’s amazing how he is being put back the least I can do. I’m feeling helpless because together again. What is also amazing is how there is so, so much that needs to be done for my good his foot looks … good circulation, good friend’s son, and all I can do is bring gifts and color. It will heal, in due time. While staff give his aunt a ride to the airport. Heavy sigh. come in and out doing their regular checks, In the parking lot, two cars follow me, waiting for I visit with Seth, his aunt and mom, and give my parking space. It’s like Christmas Eve at the Seth’s mom a hand massage with the laven- mall … every day. There are that many people in der lotion. Her hands have no energy at all. the hospital. There are so many soldiers coming Limp rag doll. She’s exhausted. back hurt. I think about how they’ve sacrificed so the rest of us can enjoy our lives. nce the staff Ois gone, Seth’s And I cry. aunt checks out his teeth with her dental Seth has six pins in his right leg and is learning equipment and gives to walk with a prosthetic left leg. He has gained him a nice cleaning weight, and after being transferred to the new (she’s a dental hygien- Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in ist). She observes Bethesda, Md., for a while, he is now an outpa- that he’s getting a tient. Sylvia is at his side. You can keep track of black, hairy tongue Seth’s recovery at sethnewmanpack.blogspot.com. (not literally, but his tongue is grey from all Rebecca Ory Hernandez is a development director the meds). He gets a at Weber State University.

For more stories about Seth's recovery, click here and here. weber.edu/wsumagazine winter 2012 | magazine wsu 10 11 10 wsu magazine | winter 2012 Check out 801-626-6352 Friday 7:30a.m. -4:30p.m. Monday -Thursday7:30a.m. -5:30p.m. Ogden CampusStore

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11 weber.edu/wsumagazine Forty years ago, the first group of 16 criminal jus- and in countless other positions. They work in tice majors graduated from Weber State College. Utah, almost every state in the country, and even Back then their major was “police science.” The as far away as Albania and Saudi Arabia. program has evolved over the years to include law enforcement, law and justice, forensic science, and The following stories offer a glimpse into what corrections. Today, thousands of criminal justice criminal justice alumni are doing now and a look graduates serve as chiefs of police, corrections of- at some unique training they received at Weber ficers, lawyers, crime scene investigators, heads of State – training that helps them make our world public safety, crime lab directors, DNA analysts, 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 Team of eight Weber State alumni help solve crimes in Weber County and beyond

It was late. A father and mother were sound asleep, their drugs,” recounts Rimmasch, who was able to collect fingerprints children snug in bed, when a man busted in their front door, from the plastic that was wrapped around the father’s head. wrapped a sheet of plastic around the father’s head and searched Sandra Ladd ’02, ’04, aka Sandy, is head of Weber-Metro the home. He left without harming anyone, at least physically. CSI. She accompanied Rimmasch to the scene. While he pho- Emotionally, the family was traumatized. tographed evidence, she rushed to run the fingerprints through The Weber-Metro Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Unit was the national Automated Fingerprint Identification System. She

called to the scene to collect evidence. Paul Rimmasch ’97, aka got a hit. Within an hour of Rimmasch returning to verify that it weber.edu/wsumagazine Paulie, was assigned the case. was a match, they had the name of a suspect. “Here was a family who had moved into a home previously In this instance, it was a fingerprint. In others, it’s been a shard

winter 2012 occupied by drug dealers. This man had come back looking for 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 | magazine wsu 12 13 bodily fluids. Some evidence is too heinous to mention, having that involves hair, Nalleli Sermeno caused even an investigator to gag and a rookie cop to quit. ’09 hates dolls and mannequins, “Sometimes I feel like there aren’t enough gloves in the world Angie Petersen '08 hates fingernails. to touch what I have to touch,” says Rimmasch, stone-faced. A And getting them to stand still for a sly grin soon breaks across his face, and his coworkers chuckle. photo is impossible, what with them tack- Surprisingly, laughter is commonplace in the CSI office. ling each other like brothers and sisters. “It’s a coping mechanism," says Ladd. “We care about what “I get up every day ready to go to work. We work holi- we do. But, we see a lot of disturbing things. If we didn’t turn off days, nights, in the heat and freezing cold. We love it, our emotional response, we would bleed to death emotionally.” even if it’s not glamorous,” says Rimmasch, although Petersen But how exactly do they do that? “It takes a different kind of points out that many people think it is. “We once caught a fam- person,” says Ladd, just as Jason Romney ’97 says, “We’re weird ily taking a photo with our car,” she laughs. but normal.” As they laugh, Ladd explains: “We have to look at All it takes is one look at the blown-up photos of fingerprints crime scenes scientifically, not emotionally.” that line an entire wall of the CSI office to get back to serious Romney says some things will always bother them. “It’s hard business. “Our impact is minimal at times,” says Rimmasch. “The not to get emotional when a child is involved. But it helps that police know who did it, and we go out and take photographs. this team is very tight. We’re a family.” But, there are times when we provide that piece of evidence that It doesn’t take long to realize that. They do things together. helps convict a criminal. That makes it worthwhile.” They know each other’s idiosyncrasies — Ladd hates evidence

Little-Known Fact: Click the icon for extra Weber State was site of state’s first crime lab VIDEO online only content.

On the second floor of WSU's Social early 1990s, Weber County decided to Science building is a laboratory. There form a crime scene investigation (CSI) are tables and microscopes, nothing team. Weber State helped the county get out of the ordinary, unless you take the it off the ground and completely turned hallway to the back of the lab. That’s it over to the sheriff’s office in 1995. where you’ll find a strange metal cylinder Although students today no longer that plunges 12 feet beneath the floor — a help analyze items from real crime bullet recovery tank. scenes, a quick glance around the room It was here that evidence from real reveals all manner of “evidence” — bul- Utah crime scenes was analyzed from the lets, a shattered window shield, finger- early 1970s to the early 1990s under the prints, a black T-shirt with a bullet hole direction of Weber State’s first forensic in it. science professor, James Gaskill. Associate criminal justice professor In the early 1970s, Gaskill applied for Brent Horn points a digital camera at a federal grant to get a crime lab at then- the shirt. “See how it turns the shirt white Weber State College. and the hole black? It uses infrared light “We thought it would just be used by to make the bullet residue clearer and Weber County and by us, to teach our help us determine how close the gun was students how to analyze evidence. But when it was fired.” then the people responsible for issuing “That kind of practical experience is the grant came back and said, ‘We’ll fund critical,” continues Horn, a Ph.D. chemist, it, if it can be used by the entire state. We who is also a forensic scientist for the said, ‘Sure, why not,’” he recalls. Utah Bureau of Forensic Services. At the time, the Social Science build- The entire Weber-Metro CSI team ing was under construction, so the crime agrees. Each of the eight members lab was incorporated into the plans. learned in that lab from professors like Upon completion, anyone could bring in Gaskill, Russell Dean (who also served as evidence. “Patrol officers, chiefs of police, the Weber-Metro CSI director for many A student tests gunpowder in the crime lab. the FBI, the state forestry service — you years), Horn and others. Photo by Jon McBride name it,” says Gaskill, who has testified “First and foremost, we are scientists, in more than 2,500 court cases in 28 of and we must learn the science behind the That training is also why Ladd likes weber.edu/wsumagazine Utah’s 29 counties. evidence,” says Sandra Ladd ’02 ’04, head to hire WSU students. “They come to us In the early 1980s, Utah opened its of Weber-Metro CSI. “It’s important to get with a good, solid foundation in forensic winter 2012 own crime lab under the Department theoretical knowledge, but the hands-on science. And because of our history with of Public Safety and agreed to split the training that comes through labs and Weber State, we know what we’re getting casework with Weber State. Then, in the internships is incredibly important.” — we’re getting the cream of the crop.” | magazine wsu 12 13 dents,” says Bayley. Weber State is the The shield’s edges were beveled so Prison Time only university to attend all four days. officers could interlock them and make Criminal justice students As part of the exercise, teams of cor- one big shield. “We could move in on the train under most realistic rections personnel participate in mock combative individual and push him into cell extractions and all-out yard riots. a corner. Then, he could punch at the conditions possible While students aren’t allowed to be part shield until he wore himself out. That’s of the teams, they can play the roles of much safer for him and the officers.” “Could two of your students help us inmates or hostages. Miller hopes to use what he learned to out?” asked two organizers of the Mock “I tell students to participate as help train his fellow corrections officers. Prison Riot, a four-day training exercise much or as little as they want. They can “When I first heard ‘Mock Prison Riot,’ held at a decommissioned state peni- also be as aggressive or as subdued as I thought that’s what it would be — a tentiary in Moundsville, W.Va. “Did they they want,” says Bayley, pulling out his single, big riot, but it’s so much more even have to ask?” laughs associate iPhone to show a photo of a student with than that. It’s exactly the kind of training criminal justice professor Bruce Bayley. quarter-sized welts all over her legs. "She every good officer looks for.” Two WSU students were chosen, and had asked to be shot with pepper balls. for a few hours they used SEEK II Bio- She wants to be a member of a SWAT metric Recorders to take iris scans, fin- team when she graduates and wanted to An Unexpected gerprints and facial scans of other prison know what that felt like.” (Safety officers riot volunteers. Two days later, Bayley stop exercises if they get too dangerous.) Appointment and his students learned that Osama Marc Miller ’06, ’10 is a corrections Alumnus recalls being named bin Laden had been killed and that the officer with the Weber County Sheriff’s public safety commissioner device they had been using helped Navy Office. He believes the Mock Prison Riot SEALS identify the al-Qaida leader. was the best hands-on training he has It’s 2:35 p.m., and a meeting is being The annual event attracts corrections ever participated in. While he said riots conducted on the first floor of Salt Lake officers, law enforcement and military are not common locally, you have to be City's Calvin Rampton Building. It’s personnel from around the world. prepared for anything (case in point: he running a little late, so Lindy Brown, WSU students have attended the once had his nose broken by an inmate). assistant to Utah Commissioner of Mock Prison Riot for four years. “We’ve VIDEO Miller went to one workshop where he Public Safety Lance Davenport ’03, pops been there enough now that they know used a new extraction shield to help put out, gives a friendly wink and says, “He who we are, and they ask for our stu- an aggressive “prisoner” in restraints. shouldn’t be too much longer.” She’s used to managing his busy cal- endar. Head of a department that over- sees highway patrol and safety, commu- nications, 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 quar- terback 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 weber.edu/wsumagazine 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 winter 2012

| Click the icons for extra PICTURES online only content. wsu magazine wsu 14 15 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 faced. At the same time Utah began a break. “I wanted think about it. requiring additional documentation to to get my degree “It started out with pleasant conversa- renew drivers’ licenses, a new software but thought I was tion, and before I knew it he was asking system was coming online. The result: too busy. Looking me to take the job. I said, ‘I’m going to long lines at licensing offices and nega- back, that was a have to run this past my wife.’ He chuck- tive publicity. tactical error. I led and said, ‘Certainly.’” “So we acted. We extended hours. We wasn’t any less The transition from highway patrol su- allowed people to make renewal appoint- busy 10 years later. perintendent to commissioner wasn’t easy. ments online – that really helped. We had “I remember “I was very familiar with UHP, but a big hill to get over, but we did it." sitting with Kay there were nine other divisions that I The Department of Public Safety, Gillespie [long- knew very little about. I also had to be specifically the Division of Emergency time professor involved with the legislative process at a Management, also stayed busy this and criminal jus- much higher level than I had been used spring with widespread flooding in Utah, tice chair] and get- to, with only one day to prepare. The coordinating efforts between federal, ting direction from him. He was a great governor appointed me on Thursday, state and local governments. mentor,” says Davenport, who enrolled made the announcement Friday, and “There really is not a typical day on the at WSU again in 2000 and graduated in Monday the legislative session began.” job. It’s very unpredictable.” 2003. Today, there are still challenges, but Davenport enrolled at Weber State in Today, Davenport says with certainty, Davenport is much more at ease in his 1984 while working full time as a state that he would not be where he is without role. He recalls the 2010 changes to trooper and taking security jobs to pro- his education. “It opens doors. It is one Utah’s drivers’ license laws as being vide for his growing family. He took two of my greatest accomplishments.” one of the most stressful situations he’s classes a quarter until 1990, when he took

FORENSIC SCIENCE MYTHS Members of Weber-Metro CSI clear up common misperceptions about crime scene investigation.

EVERY CALL IS A HOMICIDE. CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATORS CARRY Weber-Metro CSI handled around 4,000 cases in 2010. GUNS AND INTERROGATE WITNESSES. Of those, only eight were homicides. The majority were In the past, the responsibility of crime scene domestic violence/assault cases and burglaries. investigation fell to law enforcement officers, and in some counties and cities FINGERPRINTS CAN BE LIFTED it still does. However, each member of FROM ANY SURFACE. Weber-Metro CSI is a civilian. “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, CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATORS DON’T those are more difficult,”Jason Romney '97 explains. DO PAPERWORK. Latent versus patent: Latent prints are not visible to the Nalleli Sermeno '09 recently naked eye. Special powders must be used to illuminate was assigned a homicide scene. them. Patent prints are visible without powders. The report took four days. “I spent my whole shift each day on the weber.edu/wsumagazine COMPUTERS MATCH FINGERPRINTS. paperwork,” she explains. “Properly The computer, specifically the Automated Fingerprint documenting the crime scene is Identification System, generates “candidates” extremely important. If evidence is submitted winter 2012 whose known fingerprints are similar to the | in court, every i has to be dotted, every t print being searched. A human must evaluate crossed,” says Sandra Ladd '02, '04. the “candidates” and the prints from the crime scene to determine if they match. wsu magazine wsu 14 15 A Volunteer’s Enthusiasm opportunities to develop courage and The Serving skills, experience joy, and develop friend- The Torch Run is an event where law ships. That’s why many of us got into Sergeant enforcement officers and Special Olym- law enforcement in the first place — to pics athletes escort the Flame of Hope help people, to champion those who have He barely spoke any Greek, she any to the opening ceremonies of local, state, been bullied, mistreated. ” English. But on a narrow street in a national and world Special Olympics Maher spent three weeks escorting small, Greek city, he reached for her competitions. The initiative encom- the Flame of Hope throughout Greece, hand, and she took it. They had never passes a variety of fundraising vehicles, bringing the message of the Special met before, this police sergeant and including pledges for runners, merchan- Olympics to communities along the way. Special Olympics athlete, but she dise sales, and other special events. The excitement was amazing, he said. trusted him; he could see it in You name it, Maher has done it on “I would liken it to a presidential cam- her eyes. behalf of the Special Olympics, from paign where the president walks a rope Together, they ran side by participating in Torch Runs, to plung- line, and he’s reaching out to people with side, hands clasped, behind the ing into frigid waters, to camping atop both hands. It was exactly like that in Flame of Hope as it made its a Colorado Krispy Kreme. He does it for many towns. That only intensified with way to Athens, Greece, the site the athletes and also because the Special the parade of athletes at the opening of the 2011 Special Olympics Olympics represents a positive in his life. ceremony. There were around 7,500 ath- World Summer Games, a As a police sergeant, it helps make up for letes, and I probably hugged, high-fived celebration of the abilities the negative he sees on the job. or knuckle-bumped at least 700 of them. of people with intellectual “Through the Special Olympics, we’ve I know how excited I was to be there. It disabilities. given people who, historically, have been was even bigger for the athletes.” It is a moment Ralph told they’d never amount to anything, 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 Depart- ment, 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. “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. VIDEO Photo courtesy of Ralph Maher

Click the icon for extra online only content. they would make it a big load. If it was Evidence measured, they’d make it a small load. “The Forest Service thought if they Remembered could show that the envelopes were being torn open at the same time, that Although James Gaskill is now would be incriminating evidence. And, retired, he still teaches as an adjunct pro- that’s exactly what we found after weeks fessor, still wears his Sherlock Holmes, of studying them. You see, the envelopes ear-flapped detective cap, and still 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 al- ways 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 remembers the evidence he investigated later become a homicide. as director of the crime lab at Weber “No one really knew what we were State — and there was plenty. looking for,” said Pilkington, who spent On a recent Tuesday afternoon, he years with Weber-Metro before becom- happened to be on campus, where he ing the supervising crime scene investi- shared how he once helped convict a gator for the Layton Police Department. timber company that was illegally under- “It just so happened that one member of reporting the number of logs it had cut the team spotted something in the grass and processed. How did he do it? It all and asked, ‘What was the girl wear- came down to little Manila envelopes … ing when she was reported missing?’ I remember someone saying, ‘A pair of “IT’S A LITTLE COMPLICATED BUT Calvin Klein jeans.’ In his hand was a VERY INTERESTING WHAT THEY rivet with the Calvin Klein mark on it.’” The girl’s body was found shortly WERE DOING,” GASKILL SAYS. thereafter. “You know, we never go into a case “There was a little shack in the saw- looking for appreciation or thank-yous mill, where there was a wire ring, and on from victims’ families, but in this case, this wire ring were a bunch of small, Ma- the family was sincerely apprecia- nila envelopes, like coin envelopes. They tive,” Pilkington said. “For those of us were supposed to pull one off after load- involved, bringing closure to this family ing each truck, and it would tell them, was the only thing that mattered.” ‘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,

Photos by Jon McBride Lessons Learned Through

Peta Owens-Liston, Contributing Writer LossPhotos by Zac Williams his own family, likely influencing his mother’s Giving Back in Memory decision to work up until three days before she of His Mother passed away. She was a medical coder at Hill Air “She taught me more in her death than I was Force Base. able to learn during her life,” says Weber State Already, students whose lives have been inter- University freshman Douglas Mullikin, a young rupted by breast cancer are stopping by WSU’s man reflecting on the loss of his mother. “I’ve Women’s Center to request an application. realized life is too short to be angry at anyone. Mullikin knows he is not alone; he hopes one day Spend it on loving and understanding those to meet the recipients of this scholarship and around you,” she told him a month before suc- hear their respective stories. cumbing to breast cancer. “I do my best to live by that and honor her — I don’t want to disappoint her,” says Mullikin, who Seed Money Takes Root reproaches himself for not being a better son Mullikin, who has his mother’s same chestnut while she was alive. brown eyes and sense of humor, was able to save His mother would be proud; Mullikin has created $300 of his own money (by living with a family a scholarship in her memory, making him one of temporarily to save on rent) with the intention of only a few students at WSU to establish a schol- finding a way to honor his mom. Last fall, he ap- arship for another student. proached Carol Merrill, director of the Women’s The Waynette M. Kittrelle Scholarship is a ges- Center, about how he could do this. ture rooted in Mullikin’s desire to cope with the “He was considering donating to breast cancer loss of his mother while still keeping her pas- research when he shared with me his dream of sionate, giving spirit alive, as well as his desire offering a scholarship in his mother’s name,” re- to help other students who are walking the same calls Merrill. Working with WSU’s Development courageous and difficult path. Office, she walked him through the steps and Established January of 2011, the scholarship is showed him how. for WSU students who have an immediate fam- With an additional $200 contributed from his ily member in their household struggling with grandparents, the dream became a reality. Now breast cancer or have a family member who has Mullikin is focused on fundraising efforts aim- recently passed away from the disease. It is also ing to grow the seed money and establish an for students who may themselves be battling endowment of $25,000 in order to sustain an breast cancer. annual scholarship. “It can be hard making ends meet when there “This is a young man who really wants his mom are medical bills and chemo expenses,” acknowl- to know that he is doing his best to go above and edges Mullikin, recalling the financial stress on 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.” weber.edu/wsumagazine – WSU freshman Douglas Mullikin

Peta Owens-Liston, Contributing Writer oss 19 Gratitude of ‘Grand’ Proportions

hen WSU senior Fan-Ya Lin Vaughan attended her out-of-state Wcompleted her performance of competitions. “I don’t think this is Ginastera’s Danzas Argentinas in the typical at most schools,” adds Lin, who Music Teachers National Association passed up offers from The Juilliard Steinway Young Artist Piano Competi- School and Oberlin College & Conser- tion in March 2010, she didn’t expect vatory to attend WSU. to win. The judges felt differently; her first-place finish distinguished her as This gift will resonate throughout the the youngest to win the national title in university’s Department of Perform- the competition’s 43-year history. ing Arts for many years to come. Her gift spurred many others to donate, The prize? An upright Steinway piano allowing WSU to earn the coveted worth $23,000. Through several ben- designation of an All-Steinway School efit concerts, Lin upgraded this prize — joining 135 prestigious institutions to a 7-foot concert Steinway grand of higher education around the world. piano worth $83,000 and donated it to the university. An instrument that “On a Steinway, you can do so many had been a conduit for her self-expres- different things to make your music sion since she was 4, was now also an more beautiful, sensitive, and full of expression of gratitude for the support detail and color,” explains Lin, who is she had found at WSU since arriving earning her bachelor’s degree in piano VIDEO from Taiwan in 2008. performance. “It is like each one has its own character.” “My professor, Yu-Jane Yang, was always there for me, caring about As students play the grand Steinway Click the icon my growth not just as a musician but she donated, Lin wants them to bring for extra online as a person,” says Lin, recalling how it to life through their talents but also only content. touched she was when WSU President to know that they, too, can accomplish Ann Millner and Provost Michael great things as students at WSU.

Merrill says, noting we all want our mother’s mother is perched on a table dedicated to breast approval. cancer awareness. He recalls her words as he Mullikin, who was 18 (his brother 16) when his was wrapping up high school: “Go to school, just mother passed away in 2007, has lived on his keep going to school Douglas; the more educa- own since, commuting to and from school by tion you get, the better off you’ll be.” bus. He spends most of his time at WSU, where One day Mullikin hopes his education will result he is earning a degree in business economics in a successful business career involving inter- and working two jobs in the Shepherd Union national travel. Building — at Wildcat Lanes and doing custodial work. “I have a lot of roots in this building, and very Students Want to Give little extra time,” says Mullikin, laughing as he Time- and financially strapped students typi- weber.edu/wsumagazine looks around, the rumble of bowling balls and a cally are not who come to mind when thinking of

winter 2012 steady buzz of student traffic in the background. donors. Yet, Jan Winniford, WSU’s vice presi-

| At a distance, a photograph of his smiling dent for Student Affairs, is not all that surprised. wsu magazine wsu 20 21 “The fact that someone would selflessly give WSU Student Association President Kyle back in a significant way says a lot about that Braithwaite understands why WSU students person’s giving spirit, yet it is also a reflection of want to give back. “When you feel the univer- countless students we have here. We’re finding, sity cares about you, you start to care about the especially in this generation, students who have university and find different ways to show you a high level of commitment and service to oth- care.” He adds that a lot of students realize what ers,” she says. a “jewel” higher education is and see giving back Winniford adds that these students make WSU as a privilege, not an obligation. faculty and staff proud as they continue to For Mullikin, WSU is a place that encourages di- actively contribute to a better world after gradu- versity and acceptance, a place open to students ating. “These are the kinds of lives we want our who come forward with new ideas. “They gave students living.” me a way to help keep my mom’s memory alive Giving back often has a ripple effect and doesn’t and do what she would want me to be doing — necessarily have to come in the form of dollars. helping others,” he says. “She left me with her Daily, WSU students are giving back in time, ser- ability to love all people.” vice 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 To give to the Waynette M. Kittrelle Scholarship, giving, even in the form of a small donation, is a visit weber.edu/give, click “Give Online,” choose great way to go beyond oneself and make a dif- “Other” and enter “Waynette M. Kittrelle ference,” says Winniford. Scholarship” in the comment box.

WSU Graduate Programs

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Accounting Athletic Training Business Administration (MBA) Criminal Justice Education English Health Administration Nursing Professional Communication Radiologic Science Taxation weber.edu/wsumagazine winter 2012 |

wsu magazine wsu For more information, 20 visit weber.edu/graduateprograms21 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, aT legendary New Zealand soprano for the fairy godmother and Juilliard’s Peter Jay Sharp Theater for the palace ballroom. from tonga to tackle to tenor 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 home- land and move their nine young chil- dren 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 expecta- tions 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 desir- able, 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 opera company. “And that’s when the opera bug bit me,” his passion for music in check. “I started thinking that claims Ta’u. The venom from that bite was so potent Ta’u singing was not very manly, so I would go to practice, go ignored an opportunity to resuscitate his NFL career. to my classes and quietly do my choir stuff.” “My agent told me the NFL was still interested in me, Attending Weber State University on a football scholar- but they wanted me to play indoor arena ball for one year ship, Ta’u chose to pursue a music degree, although his to build up my strength.” At a football camp in upstate motivation was hardly noble. “The real reason I majored in New York, Ta’u’s new coach complimented his on-field music was because I thought it would be easy,” Ta’u con- performance. But the next morning, Ta’u awoke with a fesses. “That was until I actually had to take music theory, nagging feeling that he needed to pursue a different des- ear training and sight singing classes. Whoa! I found out tiny. When his teammates arrived to pick him up for prac- there was way more to music than just singing.” tice, Pupu’a asked to be driven to the train station instead. Evelyn Harris, Ta’u’s voice teacher at WSU, admits On a train bound for New York City, Ta’u calmly reached his lack of musicianship was problematic. “Reading for his cell phone and broke the news to his father. music was extremely challenging for Ta’u,” says Harris. The year was 2003, and Ta’u Pupu’a was uncharacteristi- “I would count the notes with him over and over again. I cally caught without a game plan. “I had no idea what I was would have him listen to recordings of the piece he was doing in New York City,” says Ta’u. “I just knew I wanted to working on.” Harris was also concerned that Ta’u might be an opera singer, and New York City was America’s holy damage his vocal cords on the football field. “I guess land of music.” For months, Ta’u pounded the pavement in football players make gruff noises at each other in an search of a voice teacher and finally found an 86-year-old effort to intimidate their opponent,” Harris explains. “I contralto willing to work with him. Evelyn Reynolds spent really cautioned Ta’u to protect his beautiful voice.” the next three years fine tuning Ta’u’s vocal technique and It was a voice that Ta’u’s macho Wildcat comrades teaching him the distinctive bel-canto style that would came to respect. According to former head football eventually earn him the chance of a lifetime — an all- coach Dave Arslanian, Ta’u would frequently mesmerize expense-paid opportunity to attend The Juilliard School, an teammates at pre-game meetings. “We’d try to get the exclusive performing arts conservatory. players to relax and build team camaraderie,” Arslanian recounts. “On a regular basis we’d ask Ta’u to close the nter, Ta’u’s self-appointed fairy meeting for us by singing. One song our team requested over and over again was He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother. godmother. Despite his voice teacher’s admonition to conserve One miraculous evening in March 2007, Ta’u his vocal cords, Ta’u’s number one priority at WSU was and some friends attended an opera production football. And in 1995, his enviable combination of size at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House. At intermission, and speed captured the attention of head coach Bill Ta’u spied a poster announcing that Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Belichick of the Cleveland Browns, who selected Pupu’a was signing autographs at a nearby bookstore. The thought in the fifth round of the NFL draft. Shortly afterward, of meeting her was particularly appealing to Ta’u as he and the big-boned, big-hearted boy from Tonga received an Te Kanawa share a Polynesian heritage. intoxicating dose of financial security. “When I signed Ta’u stood in line for more than an hour before com- my contract, I bought my parents a car because they ing face to face with the celebrated soprano, who in didn’t have one. I bought my brother and his six children 1981 was handpicked to sing at the royal wedding of a five-bedroom house with a huge yard.” Britain’s Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. Who can say what it was about Ta’u that piqued the crowd- ogically, Ta’u’s Cinderella story weary prima donna’s curiosity? Whatever the reason, Te could end here on a high-note — Kanawa paused, then peered intently into Pupu’a’s eyes. She asked what he was doing in New York. “I’m a tenor,” no pun intended. But his “happily Ta’u responded in his grandest voice. Somewhat taken aback, Te Kanawa quizzed Pupu’a further about his vocal ever after” in the NFL was not to training, schooling and career objective. Suddenly Te be, and so, the next chapter of Ta’u’s amaz- Kanawa put down her pen and said, “I would like to help you. Here is my phone number. Call me.” ing adventure begins … Seven months later and without ever having heard During his second NFL season, Ta’u shattered the arch Ta’u sing a note, Te Kanawa invited him to perform for of his foot, an injury that left him broken in body and Brian Zeger, artistic director of Juilliard’s vocal arts de- spirit. Ta’u limped back to Salt Lake City, a self-perceived partment. Ta’u says that afterward, Te Kanawa turned to failure. “It was horrible. I felt like I had let down everyone Zeger and said, “Okay, he’s a diamond in the rough, but weber.edu/wsumagazine who had ever cheered for me.” he needs help. What can we do for him?” She promised Hoping a reconciliation with music would heal his Zeger that if Ta’u were accepted at Juilliard, she would wounded psyche, the distraught Pupu’a joined the cho- personally make sure he would meet his financial obliga- rus of Utah Opera, a Salt Lake City-based professional tions. Reluctantly, Zeger agreed to let Ta’u bypass

23 24

wsu magazine | winter 2012 | class notes

decisions, decisions…

Make gift-giving easy with a GIFT CARD from WSU Campus Stores. vided the singer withadditional funds when needed. one oftwo sponsors who throughout his schooling pro- plus amonthly stipend. She also introduced Ta’u to scholarship for Ta’u through her charitable foundation, Opera Studies. program, The Juilliard OperaCenter’s Artist Diploma in him for being accepted intothe school’s most elitevocal phone call from aJuilliard representative congratulating further consideration. Two weeks later, Ta’u received a of auditions, where only nine singers were selected for survived the first cut and advanced tothe next round the butterflies go away.” Ta’u game day; the firsthitand all he recalls, “but itwas like a and ready togo. “Iwas nervous,” audition, Ta’u was geared up By the date ofhis December defensive tackle he once was. the ferocious tenacity ofthe and adramatic monologue. prepared toperform five arias told toreturn infive weeks ing audition process. Ta’u was right intothe equally daunt- application process and dive True toher word, Te Kanawa arranged afull-ride Ta’u attacked the task with Juilliard’s rigorous general

perfect for: • • • •

Check out bookstore.weber.edu for Spring Semester Extended Hours New students Alumni, friends, family, neighbors Faculty, staff and coworkers Wildcats of all ages

concert mingle atthe Val Browning A. Center. Ta'u Pupu'a signs autographs during apost-

Ogden Campus Store 801-626-6352 Davis Campus Store 801-395-3574 just have tofind out what it is.” have todothe work. We all have aspecific calling. We the starsand planets togetyou there, but you still Pupu’a. “Some unseen, powerful force willalign all to play football, that willhappen,” says the spiritual life. “Ibelieve that ifyou are borntosing orborn sophical about the twists and turns ofhis storybook rafters. Yet he is also gracious and refreshingly philo- movie-star goodlooks and avoice that rocks the consummate leading man —atowering tenor with sophisticated Polynesian pioneer ofopera.He is a

facebook.com/weberstatebookstore Scan with your smart phone morphed intoasuave and Weber StateWildcat has through 2013.The former international engagements an impressive array of Already his agent has booked Juilliard inMay of2011. through.” was the one who had towalk the door,” she said. “Ta’u his father: “All Ididwas open her recent conversation with current success. Ta’u recounts Te Kanawa's role inPupu’a’s Yet, she is quicktodownplay Ta’u graduated from

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 Paul Bachman graduated with a bachelor’s degree in botany. She has bachelor’s degree in accounting. served as vice president of After attending law schools in Bonneville Travel, LLC, executive Wyoming and Florida, Bachman director of the Ogden Nature Center, practiced law for three years in and as an Ogden City Council mem- Sarasota, Fla. He returned to Ogden ber. Hall’s goal is to strengthen ties to accept a position with the law between the WSU Alumni Associa- firm of Van Cott, Bagley, Cornwall tion Board of Directors and the Emeriti Alumni Council, Young & McCarthy. Bachman joined WSU’s Young Alumni Council Alumni Council and Student Alumni Association. She hopes a in August 2010 and was elected president the following year. coordinated effort will result in greater participation from all He hopes to develop a model of leadership that will encour- age groups. She serves on WSU’s National Advisory Council age graduates within the last decade to provide service to the and Capital Campaign Steering Committee. An avid political community, support the university and develop resources for volunteer, she also enjoys attending Wildcat sporting and Young Alumni success. Paul and his wife, Christina Mitchell performing arts events with her husband, George Hall. Bachman ’04, are raising three future Wildcats.

Ed Freestone ’67 Lee Naylor ’12 President, WSU Emeriti Alumni Council President, WSU Student Alumni Association As a music education major, Ed Freestone was lead tenor in the col- Lee Naylor will graduate in the spring lege’s first large-scale opera produc- of 2012 with a degree in accounting. tion of Carmen. He was twice elected Naylor’s passion for all things purple class president. After graduation, began during his tenure as activities Freestone directed choirs at Ben director at Weber State University Lomond and Ogden high schools. Davis. In his sophomore year, Naylor In 1991, he traded his baton for a served as a mentor for the univer- computer and became a technology specialist for the Ogden sity’s Emerging Leader program. His dedication earned him School District. Freestone now leads the Emeriti Alumni Council, the distinguished Lisa Ellis Award for Excellence. Open to whose members attended Weber at least 40 years ago, as all students, the Student Alumni Association (SAA) is the well as retired faculty and staff. His goal is to increase member university’s largest student organization. Before becoming involvement in supporting WSU's activities and objectives, with the group’s president, Naylor was the SAA’s membership/ an emphasis on working with the Utah Legislature on higher edu- marketing director. He hopes to connect the graduating class Get your cation issues. Ed is married to Carol Cope Freestone ’65. Their of 2012 with the various programs, services and activities three children are all WSU graduates. available through the Alumni Association. Naylor’s goal is parking to help students create an experience at WSU that they will validated remember as “the best ever.” with a purchase of $5 or more. alumni.weber.edu ROW XX SEAT 28

25 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.

On October 13, 2011, the Weber State University Alumni Association celebrated Homecoming weber.edu/wsumagazine by honoring these outstanding WSU alumni and friends. Some teach, some volunteer, some winter 2012

| 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 magazine wsu 26 WSU Salutes is held each year during Homecoming Week. The public is invited to attend this free event. 27 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE Born in Nigeria, Ufo Eric-Atuanya ’92 W. Rolfe Kerr is a valued member parlayed his WSU bachelor’s degree in of the Weber State family, serving political science and economics into as Dean of Men from 1966 to 1968. international renown. Eric-Atuanya After becoming Utah Commissioner is the founder and managing partner of Higher Education in 1985, Kerr of Rimsom Associates, a strategic worked tirelessly to obtain necessary consulting firm. For nearly two funding for additional faculty, facilities decades, he has used his considerable and technology to support Weber’s skills and diplomacy to enhance trade and investment, burgeoning student enrollment. He enthusiastically alleviate poverty and create sustainable wealth in his encouraged Weber State’s efforts to establish new degree homeland as well as other countries in Africa, Asia and programs and gain university status in 1991. Latin America.

EMERITI ALUMNI LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS Elected Weber College student body Kevin Kempin ’90 graduated cum president in 1958, James C. Hurst ’59 laude from the John B. Goddard School rallied student support for Weber’s of Business & Economics at Weber push to achieve four-year status. He State where he also played men’s began his distinguished professional varsity tennis. Inducted into WSU’s career as a counselor at Oregon State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997, Kempin University and retired as University of is the president of Head USA, a leading Wyoming’s Vice President for Student global manufacturer and marketer of Affairs in 2000. A true Wildcat at heart, Hurst currently sports equipment. chairs WSU’s Student Affairs Advancement Council.

OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNUS EMERITI ALUMNI HOMECOMING ROYALTY Alan Martin ’05 used the technical Married 53 years, James C. Hurst '59 sales training he received at WSU to and Joan Rees Hurst were Ogden launch a textbook rental operation High School sweethearts who became out of an Ogden warehouse in 2007. engaged while attending Weber Campusbookrentals.com has since College. As members of WSU’s Emeriti mushroomed into a multi-million- Alumni Council, they provided dollar enterprise providing services to leadership for 2003’s Greatest students on nearly 6,000 U.S. college Generation — an unforgettable campuses. Martin donates a portion of his company’s series of lectures, exhibits, films and panel discussions proceeds to Operation Smile. 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 WSU PRESIDENT’S AWARD Jeanne Nowak Hall ’69 exemplifies a lifelong commitment to advancing As a past chair of WSU’s Board of education and opportunity. The former Trustees, Barney Chapman ’72 was Peace Corps volunteer is a certified instrumental in establishing a greater vision for community and legislative school counselor who worked with weber.edu/wsumagazine at-risk students in the Ogden School support for the university. In 1968, District for nearly 20 years. Hall is Chapman began work at America winter 2012 a past board president of the Boys First Federal Credit Union as a part- | & Girls Clubs of Weber-Davis. She spends much of her time teller. He retired 37 years later as time securing funds to provide college scholarships and senior vice president and chief lobbyist. Chapman is a critical services for disadvantaged residents in Weber retired U.S. Air Force Reserve colonel and has worked on County and elsewhere. the Utah League’s legislative committee. wsu magazine wsu 26 VIDEO View biographical videos online at alumni.weber.edu 27 28

wsu magazine | winter 2012 | class notes LM CLASS NOTES CLASS and live in South Ogden, Utah. Ogden, South in live and children two have Ann, wife, his He and students. former of but grandchildren students of former to children not only chemistry, to teach continues He years. 50 for more than at Weber employed State been ’55 Seager L. Spencer 50s Cartoon Characters instruction books, Creating art for his Known years. 35 for he held aposition Schools, Instruction of Art director to become to Minnesota ing mov before schools high Utah at taught Don art philosophy. in adoctorate with culminated education His Weber College. from degree ate of Science Associ an including schools, three from degrees five ’48, ’49 Jardine Don Fellow. Harris Paul tional Interna aRotary as honored he was Club, Rotary of the ber - Amem foundations. Schools Weber County and Hospital McKay-Dee the founding in War. arole He played Korean World in the and War II served Academy, James Naval U.S. of the Agraduate years. and on many Hughesfor off R. Howard magnate business American for of staff chief as He served to Weber State. center training Motors General instrumental in bringing the was and to 1990 1960 from Buick Whetton of Jim owner ’41 Whetton J. James 40s autobiography. his penning is Don retired, World Now Warduring II. he served Corps, Marine U.S. of the Amember magazine. art international of an editor also Animals Cartoon ing and Creat and earned earned , Don was was , Don was the the was has has - - - - LM LM LM LM dren and reside in Ogden. Ogden. in reside and dren grandchil four and sons two have They District. School ber We the in years for 34 school ’62 Fleming Myra wife, His 2004. in retiring years, for Force 32 Base Air at Hill T. worked Tams ’58 Kenneth grandchildren. 14 and sons four The couple has ments. accomplish forher awards many received has and sional profes estate areal as tionally na recognized to be continues Judy program. ski master’s the in participates also and races junior Valley Ogden the with he works skier, avid An Utah. of University at the school law attended Richard Denver, of University at the school business attending After Ogden. in business contractor aresidential of Webco Inc., owners Judy, the are wife, his and Webber’57 M. Richard great-grandchildren. two and grandchildren 13 children, Barbara Bouck ’83 Bouck Barbara wife, his and James birthday. and recently celebrated his 80 his celebrated recently and Ogden in He lives derwriters. of Un Board State Utah on the and Underwriters Ogden the of president as served James 1967. in underwriter health and life and consultant a financial He became 1959. in starting illustrator aconcept as tion Thiokol Chemical Corpora Chemical Thiokol Force. at He worked Air U.S. the with Japan and Korea in served ’56 Craner L. James Ogden. in live and grandchildren 12 and dren chil three have They years. 50 more than married been have LaReen, wife, his He and Washington. and Oregon Utah, in worked having Agriculture, of Department U.S. the with of service years 38 after ’56 Carley A. James

ALUMNIUPDATES , have four four , have retired retired , taught ------th -

For more information, visit information, more For live on campus? campus? on live ever you Did WHAT WENT UP—MUST COME DOWN Join us Friday, era of WSU student housing. WSU of era dorms and anew celebrate the to old “good-bye” say to reunite residents former as 2012 April 6,

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 sec- retary 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 We’re creating a new ALUMNI retired in 2004 after almost 40 DIRECTORY. Watch for a postcard years of government service. requesting your information so you Ken also completed a four- LM John L. Higgins ’68 worked month tour of active duty with as treasurer for the Del Monte can share your accomplishments the U.S. Army Reserve. He has Corporation. He also set up and reconnect with WSU friends. been married for 47 years to his business travel agencies in the wife, Carol. They have three late 1990s before retiring from sons; the youngest is currently a the human resources depart- WSU student. ment of Chevron in 2004. After a new pop-rock music album earning his bachelor’s degree that was released in 2011 and is LM Frank L. Salimeno ’65 prac- at Weber State, John continued 70s being considered for a Gram- ticed optometry in the Ogden his education at Case Western Timothy W. Blackburn ’70 my nomination. He currently area for many years and still Reserve University and Arizo- is a member of Van Cott’s resides in Palm Harbor, Fla. continues to see some patients. na State University. He and his litigation section and manager He is a former president of the LM wife, Linda, divide their time of the firm’s Ogden office. He LM Fredrick C. Mueller ’74 State Association of Optom- between residences in Clayton, focuses on representation of retired after 31 years from Cen- etrists and was a recipient of Calif., and Ogden. credit unions, family law and tralia College in Washington, the Optometrist of the Year personal injury. Utah Business where he served six years as LM is a award. He and his wife, Linda, Kenneth L. Nichols ’68 Magazine named Timothy one an instructor of informational professor of public administra- make their home in Ogden and of the 2011 Utah Legal Elite in science and the remaining tion and a cooperating profes- live part of the year in Green the area of business litigation. years as an administrator. He sor of public and international Valley, Ariz. He received his Doctor of currently resides in Shelton, affairs at the University of Jurisprudence at the Univer- Wash., with his wife, Sharon. AM Maine, where he has taught Dennis V. Chamberlain ’67 sity of Utah’s S.J. Quinney retired from the Utah State since 1996. He previously College of Law. He is married LM Brenda Crittenden Freeman Office of Education in 1997 worked for the Internal Rev- to Janette (Jan) Woodhouse ’75 is the owner of Brenda J. after 30 years of working in enue Service. Ken is president ’96. They have three children Freeman Insurance Agency rehabilitation and disability of Pi Alpha Alpha National and seven grandchildren. Inc. and an agent of State Farm evaluation. He ran his own Honor Society and coauthor of Insurance in Layton, Utah. She business as a Social Security Organization Theory: A Public Richard-Merlin Atwater ’73 is a Chartered Life Underwriter disability advocate for five and Nonprofit Perspective. He retired from the U.S. Air Force and a member of the National years. Dennis has volunteered and his wife, Barbara, live in Intelligence as a major in 1992. Association of Insurance and

at Ogden Regional Medical Orono, Maine, and have two The Florida Writer’s Associa- Financial Advisors, Davis alumni.weber.edu Center and Union Station. He sons, three grandchildren and tion nominated him for the Chamber of Commerce, Ki- AM and his wife, Jean Andersen two great-grandchildren. Nobel Prize in Literature for wanis, Junior League of Ogden ’65, live in Roy, Utah. his 25 published books. He has and the Utah Wildlife Board.

LM Lifetime WSUAA member AM Annual WSUAA member 29 30

wsu magazine | winter 2012 | class notes LM LM CLASS NOTES CLASS A certified insurance coun insurance A certified as the Millstream Classic Classic Millstream the as known collection car antique an had also They Co. Cab Yellow Ogden the started they Together Jackson’s parents. bought from eventually they which Ogden, in Motel Millstream at the worked both They at Weber State. students while met Jackson, husband, her and ’77 Smith B. Margo grandchildren. three and children four have Jeri, wife, his He and Association. Alumni WSU of the director a as serving currently He is of Utah. Contractors General of Association of the chairman convention and Association Junction Ogden of the ber mem board Inc., Ogden town of Down chairman president, Club Weber Wildcat State the as served He has 2006. in dent presi vice senior as Ogden in Company Buckner The joined selor, ’75 Gale H. Michael - - - - LM LM the Utah Association of Inde Association Utah the including awards won many has Brett Club. Country and Golf Ogden of the president past and Jaycees Ogden the of president vice past the is He councils. agent advisory on several served has and 1979 in career insurance his began He president. vice senior as Company Buckner for The ’79 Nilsson Brett C. 1989. Weber in State from before retiring administrator aid afinancial as served also He professor. science military a as to Utah returned then Richard &Mary. of William College atthe studies graduate completed He pilot. helicopter a he was where Army, U.S. the in career 23-year adventurous ’79 Mills L. Richard Utah. Willard, in The coupleCounty. lives Elder Box in teacher substitute a now is Margo Museum. Car

ALUMNIUPDATES had an an had works works - LM LM ter, ter, daugh Neil’s accounting. in degree amaster’s and rections degree in criminal justice/cor abachelor’s with graduated ’07 ’06, Garner C. Andrew son, Neil’s chair. vice as serves he where Council, City Ogden Ward 1on the Municipal sents repre He currently Ogden. in Center Hospital McKay-Dee at Services of Children’s manager ’02 ’82, Garner K. Neil grandchildren. two and dren chil three have They consultant. asoftware as he works where Idaho, Boise, in Carol, wife, his ’81 Supino A. James 80s a past president of the WSU WSU of the president a past and 10 grandchildren. 10 grandchildren. and children four have and Utah, Layton, in live Nancy, wife, his He and Award. Burgener Agents’ Insurance pendent Stacie B. Garner ’09 Garner B. Stacie lives with with lives is is , is , is - , - - - of Commerce and is the the is and of Commerce Chamber the Davis in involved is He areas. Utah Clearfield, and Layton the CPAs in LLC &Petersen, partner of Adams founding and managing ’88 D. Adams Steven Utah. Ogden, North ’89 Larsen Staci wife, his and Bryce Audit. to Internal apromotion he received years two after where graduation, ing follow immediately State ber at office We accounting the in working began Bryce director. assistant as 10 years including years, for 25 department the with been He has at WSU. dit Au of Internal director ecutive ’85 Barker Bryce R. student. WSU current a is daughter, Krystal, his and Weber State, attended Blake, son, His University. State Idaho at therapy physical in degree adoctoral completing She is Association. Alumni Student WSU plates. Pleaserenew!) (Thanks to thosewhoalready have details, orcall801-626-7535 Visit alumni.weber.edu/lp for students. you go andhelpdeservingWSU Show your Wildcat pridewherever $25 ormore to aWSU scholarship. license plate withacontribution of everyone you know to get aWSU To keep itsafe, encourage of extinction. is nolonger atrisk WSU license plate Thanks to YOU, our is the ex the is is the the is , live in in , live - - - - Shock Your Doc! 00s

AM Joseph A. Davis ’00 is a Prove you still financial consultant for Davis Financial LLC in Clinton, Utah. bleed purple. Join He was named Developing Sales Force, Salt Lake Branch, the WSU Alumni 2006-07 Associate of the Year. A member of the National Association today. Association of Insurance & Fi- nancial Advisors, he received the organization’s National alumni.weber.edu/membership Sales Achievement Award. He is also licensed with the Utah State Insurance Commission founding member of ProNet munities throughout Greece, tors of the Davis Chamber of for life, health and disability of Layton, a nonprofit profes- where the 2011 World Games Commerce and currently serv- insurance. Joseph and his sional network marketing en- were held. Read more at ing as the transportation com- wife, Cindy Newman ’06, live tity. He and his wife, Christie weber.edu/wsumagazine mittee chairman. For the past in Clinton with their son and Welch ’87, live in Kaysville, nine years, he also has served daughter. Utah, and have four children. The Georgia Council for on the West Point City Coun- She was second runner-up in Social Studies named Janet cil. Gary and his wife, Carolyn, Michael E. Freestone ’00 is a a Miss Utah Pageant while at Thurman Norman ’89 the live in Clearfield and have four nurse at McKay-Dee Hospital Weber State and won the indi- 2010-11 Outstanding Educator children, three of whom are Center in Ogden. He and his vidual talent award. A teacher of the Year. She taught U.S. currently attending WSU. wife, Joan, have two sons. in Davis County, she has also history and English in taught piano for many years. Bountiful, Utah, for eight years. Aaron R. Allred ’94 joined Debbie Van Noy Cragun ’01 She has taught U.S. history the Texas-based firm Jackson has worked at Weber State Larry R. Heagren ’88 is a sup- and government for the past 14 Walker LLP in 2011 as a part- since 1991. Prior to becoming port cell manager for Boeing. years in Atlanta. ner in the corporate and securi- the coordinator for the Non- He is currently working in San ties group. Prior to that, he was traditional Student Center, she Antonio supporting the refur- LM John E. Ulibarri II ’89 was a corporate transactions part- worked in the Women’s Center, bishment of the 747-8 Flight elected Weber County asses- ner at K&L Gates LLP. Aaron for the First Year Experience Test Freighter. Larry has lived sor and started working for is a member of the American program, and in the Student on both coasts of America the county at the beginning of Bar Association, Dallas Bar As- Success Center. Her husband, and in Europe with his job. 2011. For two-and-a-half years, sociation and J. Reuben Clark Ronald W. ’95, works in the re- Larry just finished modifying he was chief deputy in the Law Society. He was named spiratory therapy department Chinook helicopters with night assessor’s office. John and his a “rising star” by Thomson at the University of Utah Hos- vision equipment for the Min- wife, Randi, have two daugh- Reuters from 2005 to 2008 and pital. In 2010, Debbie received istry of Defence in the United ters and make their home in in 2011. Aaron received his the Patriot Award, a national Kingdom. He and his wife, South Ogden, Utah. Doctor of Jurisprudence from award given by the military Diane, have three children. Southern Methodist University to employers who provide Dedman School of Law. support above and beyond to A member of Colorado's Foun- military employees. tain City Police Department, 90s Scott D. Cheshire ’98 is Megan Wolthuis Grunander Ralph C. Maher ’88 has been Gary L. Petersen ’90 is a part owner of and a financial ’01 completed her Doctor of a volunteer with the Special founding partner at Adams consultant for Jim Barlow Medicine at the University of Olympics for many years. He & Petersen, CPAs LLC in the Advisors in Layton, Utah. He Utah, her general surgery intern- was chosen by his peers to Layton and Clearfield, Utah earned his Chartered Retire- ship at the University of Califor- represent Colorado during the areas. He has been in public ment Planning Counselor des- nia San Francisco, her general Final Leg of the 2011 Law En- accounting for 22 years with ignation from the College for surgery residency at Harbor- forcement Torch Run, an event prior employment at a large Financial Planning and enjoys UCLA Medical Center and her where law enforcement officers Salt Lake City firm and a small helping families and business escort the Flame of Hope to the owners plan and financially fellowship training in trauma/

Ogden firm. Gary is involved alumni.weber.edu surgical critical care at Cedars- opening ceremonies of Special in the community, serving as prepare for retirement. He and Sinai Medical Center. She is Olympics competitions. He past chair of the board of direc- his wife, Casey Barlow ’98, spent three weeks bringing the live in Layton with their four employed at the Ogden Clinic organization's message to com- children. and is married to Todd ’02, who

LM Lifetime WSUAA member AM Annual WSUAA member 31 32 wsu magazine | winter 2012 | class notes is currently finishing his fellow his finishing currently is and grandfather’s footsteps, footsteps, grandfather’s and father’s his in Following Ogden. in Center Hospital McKay-Dee at work he will Upon completion, of Utah. University at the gery sur orthopedic in training ship - - AM Shanda, have five children. children. five have Shanda, wife, his and Ken College. The American through tion designa Consultant Financial Chartered his He earned Ogden. in Company Insurance agent for York New censed Life Kenneth R. Richey ’02 Richey R.

is ali is Photo by Robert Casey Robert by Photo - - LM Lifetime WSUAA member career at Futura in 2007 when when 2007 in at Futura career his he began accountant, lic pub certified Alicensed Utah. Clearfield, in sion business extru aluminum an Industries, Futura ofofficer financial chief ’07 ’06, Dyer M. Brian children. seven their with Utah, West Point, in live Sarah, wife, his He and 2005. since program paramedic WSU’s in professor adjunct an as served has and years, two for Department Fire Ogden the captain, as years four with years, for 13 Roy,in Utah, department fire at the worked He Utah. for Clinton, chief ’05 Poulsen R. Jason way. the one on another with children five have Brooke, wife, his and Josh Ore. Salem, in University at Willamette degree tration Adminis of Business Master his he earned graduation, After Idaho. Meridian, in located firm management construction and contracting ageneral Inc., Structures for Engineered director development business ’04 D. Caldwell Joshua Ogden. in live They at WSU. degree amaster’s pursuing is Tyler, husband, Her University. State Fort Hays at Kansas' line on- education special in degree amaster’s pursuing is and District School Elder Box the for education special in works ’04 Barnum Morgan Jacy Ogden. in live Katherine, wife, his He and community. of the lower-income segment a serving uppractice alaw set to of Utah University the with working is taught and law has He also Guatemala. and Peru region, Amazon the in service providing Alliance, Hope the with worked He has nursing. to study to school back went ’03 Gladwell A. Dennis law, practicing successfully of years several After LM is fire fire is is the the is is a is

- - - Annual WSUAA member AM wife, Holly. Holly. wife, his with City, Utah, Lake Salt North in He resides nizations. orga community other various and Exchange Noon Ogden of the amember He is 2008. since Ogden in Company agent for The Buckner casualty ’10 Nilsson Blake 10s Utah, with their two children. two their with Utah, Clinton, in live Rachel, wife, his He and Award. Student ing Account UACPA Outstanding the received Chett degree, master’s his Upon receiving of CPAs. Institute American (UACPA) and Accountants Public of Certified sociation As Utah of the a member He is 2009. since &Co. Smith Griffiths, for Ogden’s Schmitt, accountant astaff been has ’09 ’08, Campbell J. Chett assistant. assurance purchaser/quality assistant an as Research for Trace Minerals works Victor Utah. Clinton, in husband, her Sheand PA her pleted training. - com she where University, ern at Midwest program assistant physician the by award service outstanding an with honored Shewas Ogden. in Parenthood (PA) for Planned assistant ’07 McPeck Scadden Jennika daughter. and sons two their and Heather, wife, his with Utah, Clinton, in resides He currently league. Football Wasatch Front the and schools high for football officiates and of Directors Board Chapter Utah Northern Cross Red American on the serves Brian controller. as hired he was is a licensed physician physician alicensed is Victor ’09 Victor has been a been has , live , live -

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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 com- munity, Wildcat Village will feature activity lounges, common kitchens and eating areas, and other amenities. Even the semicircle positioning of the buildings fosters a com- munity 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 consid- ered 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.