A DREAM COMES FULL CIRCLE
In 2012, WSU outpaced CASEY NEVILLE ’09, ’10, ’12 perennial favorite Johns • Assistant professor Hopkins University to be WSU Department of Radiologic Sciences named the Best Radiologic Technology Training Casey Neville started with one goal: getting into WSU’s Associate Program in America by of Applied Science in Radiography program. That led to another: Auntminnie.com, an honor getting into the Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences bestowed by professional program. That led to yet another: getting into the Master of peers in the field of Science in Radiologic Sciences program. medical imaging. Today, Casey — the first person in his family to graduate college — is living his ultimate dream: pursuing his doctoral degree while teaching and mentoring students at his alma mater, home to the best radiologic technology training program in America.
For more information on WSU's radiologic sciences programs, Worthy of Your Dreams visit weber.edu/radsci. Weber State University News for Alumni & Friends
Weber State University Magazine Vol. 18, No.1, Spring 2013
editor in chief art director Amy Hendricks Hillary Wallace ’98 Contributing designer writers Amy Hajdas Matt Gerrish ’10 photographers Paul Grua ’02, ’13 Robert Casey Amy Hendricks NoW Sara Lleverino ’01 Allison Barlow Hess Zac Williams ’01, ’13 Karin Hurst Kimberly Jensen contributing editors Nancy B. Collinwood ’94 Margie Esquibel ONLINE! Karin Hurst John Kowalewski Brad Mortensen Amber Robson ’05 MASTER’S 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: DEGREE IN Send address changes to Weber State University Magazine, Weber State University, 4025 University Circle, Ogden UT 84408-4025. weber state university web CRIMINAL weber.edu wsu alumni association web alumni.weber.edu weber state university board of trustees 2012-13 JUSTICE Alan E. Hall ’69, chair Jim C. Beardall, vice chair • Degree can be completed in 12 to 16 months Karen Fairbanks Andrew Gardiner Mary C. Hall ’85 • More than $30,000 in scholarships available Kathryn Lindquist annually Scott Parson Steven E. Starks ’03 Jeff Stephens ’84, ’87 • Classes taught by professors with real-world Retired Gen. Kevin Sullivan experience • Designed for students with bachelor's degrees We hope you enjoy the extra content, in criminal justice, as well as other fields including videos and slideshows, only available in this digital fomat. Visit WSUMastersCJ.com Watch for the highlighted links. to learn more. CONTENTS 10 Half Century of Hoops WSU celebrates 50 years of Division I basketball. Plus, Damian Lillard wins NBA Rookie of the Year.
14 A New Element Meet WSU’s 12th president.
19 A Summer in China English professor details wondrous world of Middle Kingdom.
22 The Young & the Studious At 15, WSU’s youngest student is dreaming of medical school.
28 weber.edu/wsumagazine Class Notes
spring 2013 spring Classmates check in. | wsu magazine wsu 4 5 24 Parkman of Alcatraz Alumnus is park ranger on “The Rock.” weber.edu/wsumagazine spring 2013 spring | wsu magazine wsu 4 5 WEBER WATCH wsu news & events
allison barlow hess, university communications
Verbal Volley No one was at a loss for words when the nation’s top collegiate debaters descended on Ogden to test their mental agility, verbal acuity and research ability at the 67th National Debate Tournament. The competition attracted 500 of the best orators from public and private universities around the country, including Dartmouth, Harvard and Endowed Chair Selected Northwestern. Selected for his outstanding research from all over the nation,” said Jeff The tournament was last held at and dynamic teaching, Stanley Steagall, dean of the John B. Goddard Weber State 25 years ago. Coach Fawcett was named to the John B. School of Business & Economics. Omar Guevara said the competition Goddard Endowed Chair in Global WSU has the only supply chain was an opportunity to showcase Supply Chain Management. He is management program in Utah, WSU’s commitment to collegiate the first WSU professor to hold the boasting a 100 percent placement debate as well as the scenic campus title of endowed chair. rate from its degree and certificate and community. “Dr. Fawcett will bring national programs with employers such as attention to our program, lead the Hill Air Force Base, Ford, Boeing and curriculum and recruit new students General Electric.
Inspirational App Computer science major J.R. Westmoreland ’13 has a large home- video collection, so he decided to write an iPhone app that would catalog and organize movies and note who borrowed what and when. On his laptop, he typed, searched the Internet, created and designed — all without sight. Westmoreland is blind. His work required a few special tools, such as a Braille display and a screen reader that tells him in a human voice what is on his monitor.
“As far as we know, this has never been done before,” said Rob Hilton, associate professor of computer science. “J.R. has proven that a weber.edu/wsumagazine blind person can create an app from scratch, spring 2013 spring
| even though there is a strong visual component to the process.” zac williams Westmoreland hopes his design ends up in the app store and is an inspiration to other blind designers. wsu magazine wsu 6 7 Extreme Research The extreme thrills and spills of Winter Dew Tour athletes in Colorado contributed to valuable concussion research for a group of WSU athletic training and nursing students. The students used helmet sensors, video monitors and blood draws to gather novel information as part of a four- year study investigating overall brain health in college athletes. The research uses biomarkers to identify possible brain decay and memory loss in athletes who participate in sara lleverino contact sports throughout their college careers. “It’s not just the athlete who is sidelined for a concussion we’re concerned about, it’s the athlete who takes repeated, undetected blows to the head,” said Jordan Hamson-Utley, Rock On assistant professor in athletic training. “We can’t repair the After 100 years in operation, the WSU damage, but we can stop it from happening.” Bookstore (or Campus Stores as it’s now called) wanted to contribute something substantial to the university. The goal was achieved with the gift of a 65,000-pound granite boulder, 9 feet tall and 15 feet in circumference, etched with the flaming “W.” Campus Stores collaborated with Facilities Management to install the rock as part of the renovation of Tracy Plaza. The plaza beautification includes trees, benches and a water feature, and is part of an overall landscaping master plan that brings the majesty of the mountains to the campus. Students quickly adopted the new space. The first dance was held around the rock just two haslam photography/shutterstock.com weeks after installation, and it’s already a favorite backdrop for graduation photos. photo courtesy of jordan hamson-utley weber.edu/wsumagazine spring 2013 spring | magazine wsu 6 7 WEBER WATCH wsu news & events
Crime Seed Investigation Key information from native plants may help Weber County law enforcement investigate crime scenes. Botany major Jackie Parker ’13 is creating a plant database that will eventually grow to include 750 plant varieties found in Weber County. She catalogs each variety with information, including line drawings, photos, pollen traits, growing altitude and common locations.
Finding traces of a specific plant or pollen on a body may reveal important clues to investigators.
Parker has presented her research at the Utah State Capitol and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research conferences in 2012 and 2013. She plans to study botany in graduate school and wants to offer her knowledge as a crime scene consultant. zac williams
Wee Wildcats The first class of kindergartners soon will learn their ABCs, and much more, at the Weber State University Charter Academy (WSUCA) — Utah’s first charter academy authorized by an institution of higher education. Beginning in fall 2013, WSUCA will offer two half-day kindergarten sessions with 22 students in each. Educators from the Jerry & Vickie Moyes College of Education created the academy as a place for faculty, students and families to work together to develop children’s abilities — academically, socially, emotionally and physically. New classroom space for the academy will be located next to the Melba S. Lehner Children’s School in the McKay weber.edu/wsumagazine Education Building. spring 2013 spring | zac williams wsu magazine wsu 8 9 zac williams
Purple Partners The successful Damian Lillard NBA Draft selection party held at The Junction in downtown Ogden Customer First generated enthusiasm for a closer partnership between The new Alan E. Hall Center for Sales Excellence the university and the city. will focus on the most important aspect of sales — the With five representatives each from WSU and the city, customer. a 10-member "College Town" team is turning ideas into A pledge of $3.5 million from Alan ’69 and Jeanne ’69 action. The kickoff wasFootball Friday, where the city Hall helped launch the initiative. hosted pep rallies and parties at The Junction before The only one of its kind in Utah, the center will help each Weber State home game. find creative ways to stimulate and grow the economy Other plans include a WSU building downtown where through collaboration between the technical sales people can buy event tickets and bus passes, pay program and industry leaders nationwide. tuition, purchase Weber paraphernalia and eventually The center will deepen the real-world experience and take courses. résumés of graduates, while providing executives fresh Enthusiasts say “painting the town purple” will ideas from faculty and students at the university. enhance the university and the city with a new vibrant varnish.
Abounding in Green The 2013 edition of the “Princeton Guide to 322 Green Colleges” confirms what the campus community already knows: Weber State bleeds purple but lives green. Everyone is taking part. Student initiatives include installing 24 new campus bike racks and eight water bottle refilling stations in various buildings. With solar panels, new energy efficient lighting and improvements to the steam tunnel, the university saved energy and nearly $1 million in utility costs in 2012. The Arbor Day Foundation has also taken note, naming WSU a Tree Campus USA for the second year in a row, citing not only the university’s dedication to trees, but also its commitment to getting students involved in green service- learning projects.
In addition, WSU’s Dee Events Center was honored at the conclusion
of the 2012 Energy Star National Building Competition. Hosted by the weber.edu/wsumagazine U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the competition featured teams
spring 2013 spring from across the country racing to improve energy efficiency. The Dee reduced its energy use by 22.1 percent and prevented 337 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the course of the year, equal to the energy use from 17.3 homes. | magazine wsu 8 9 END LEG S OPS HO From left: Bruce Collins, Ron Abegglen, Jimmy DeGraffenreid
amy hendricks, university communications Celebrating 50 years of D1 men’s basketball paul grua, wsu athletics
or Wildcat men’s basketball fans, anniversary of Division I men’s bas- My dad was a janitor at church, so we Fthere have been great moments ketball. For a few hours, they shared went there. I went one-on-one against and then there have been the spill- details about big plays, great players Willie, and he beat me to death.” your-popcorn, hug-the-person-sitting- and unforgettable coaches. Former coaching greats Motta, next-to-you, scream-until-you’ve-lost- Like what happened the moment after Johnson, Ron Abegglen, Gene your-voice moments that, years later, DeGraffenreid hit the long bomb. Visscher and others all had stories to still give you goose bumps. “I made the shot and everybody tell, as well. Like when Jimmy DeGraffenreid sank dog-piled me. I thought I had tied the Abegglen recalled a Big Sky a 40-foot buzzer beater to miracu- game, not won, so I kept thinking, Championship game against Montana. lously slip past Utah State 87-86 in ‘We’re going to get a technical!’ In the “We had to win the game to go to the 1993 (the Wildcats didn’t lead that chaos, someone poked me in the eye, NCAA Tournament. I remember
– Bruce Collins “Weber State basketball changed me. I hope I changed Weber State basketball.”
game until the very end). Or when so I couldn’t even see the scoreboard,” thinking I had to say something good Weber State took down No. 3 seed DeGraffenreid said with a chuckle. to these guys, so I said, “Ruben Michigan State in the 1995 NCAA Or how Willie Sojourner — who was (Nembhard), when we win, you go tournament, and four years later, drafted 20th by the Chicago Bulls in and shake the opposing team’s coach’s in perfect Cinderella fashion, upset 1971 — came to play for Weber State. hand. Jimmy (DeGraffenreid), you North Carolina 76-74. jump up and down after we win.’ They With a sly grin, Nolan Archibald, who had to be thinking, ‘This old guy’s And while it’s fun for fans to reminisce played from 1966-68, said, “I’m the nuts,’ but we went out there, had fun, about those thrilling moments, it’s reason Willie was here. Coach (Dick) and we destroyed them.” even more fun to hear the players and Motta and (Phil) Johnson had brought weber.edu/wsumagazine coaches relive them. An all-star lineup Willie out to Ogden to watch him play, Johnson recalled one of the first of former Wildcat greats returned
spring 2013 spring but the floor was being refinished in games with Sessions Harlan and to their old home court in March for the Weber State gym. They called me Justice Thigpen. It was an away game, an “Evening With the Legends,” in and asked if there was any other gym and the two weren’t playing up to their th celebration of Weber State’s 50 where they could watch (Willie) play. potential. “They weren’t quick. We | magazine wsu 10 11 could not get the ball into play, and we got beat. Afterward, Coach (Motta) cornered them at the water cooler and said, ‘You CANNOT play that way. You HAVE to get us into play and play PROPERLY.’” “What Coach Johnson failed to tell you was that Coach (Motta) had tears in his eyes,” Thigpen said. “We were drinking water, and I felt a tug, and there he was. It was a shock to see him crying. He taught us about the importance of teamwork and victory. He brought out the best in me.” On a night filled with nostalgia, WSU's all- time scoring leader Bruce Collins summed it up best saying, “Weber State basketball changed me. I hope I changed Weber State From left: Bruce Collins, Ron Abegglen, Jimmy DeGraffenreid basketball.” With a roar of applause, the fans believed he — and all of those on the 50-member, 50th-anniversary team — did. NBA Rookie amy hendricks, university communications For the full team listing, click here. 012-13 o paul grua, wsu athletics 2 f t he Year Harold “The Show” Arceneaux
matt gerrish, university communications
hen Randy Rahe took a trip to Oakland, Calif., in W2007, he didn’t know what he was going to find. He was tipped off by a friend about a driven young point guard, and like most recruiting trips, the Weber State men’s basketball coach intended to sign the best player he could get his hands on. When he first arrived to watch the 16-year-old play, he unknowingly witnessed a unique talent that would some day become the 2013 NBA Rookie of the Year. “An AAU coach and good friend of mine called me up and told me about this kid named Damian Lillard who “I’m not sure we can actually get this kid. He might be too good.”– Randy Rahe
was still in his junior year of high school,” Rahe said. “So I went out in the spring of that year with one of my assistants and the first time I saw him, I looked at my weber.edu/wsumagazine assistant and said, ‘I’m not sure we can actually get this
spring 2013 spring kid. He might be too good.’” Six years later — after an illustrious career at Weber State that included two Big Sky MVP awards and an AP All-American honor — Lillard is taking the NBA by | magazine wsu 10 11 storm. On May 1, Lillard became the started to pile up for the Wildcat. level of play. He wanted to be with the first player from a mid-major college He was chosen to participate in the people he trusted.” basketball program to win the NBA All-Star Weekend Rising Stars Game, Lillard’s loyalty and impact on WSU Rookie of the Year award since the and then won the Taco Bell Skills continues, long after he is gone. 1982-83 season, also becoming just Challenge in dominating fashion, tak- “What he’s been doing to this point the fourth player to win with a unani- ing the crown away from perennial mous vote. has been terrific exposure,” Rahe All-Star Tony Parker. He swept all six said. “Our name is out there. Every Drafted No. 6 overall by the Portland NBA Western Conference Rookie of time they talk about Damian, they talk Trail Blazers last June, the rookie the Month awards, in addition to earn- about Weber State. It’s been nothing guard immediately earned a spot in ing the league’s Kia Community Assist but positive for everyone involved. the starting lineup, and started all 82 award, recognizing his charitable work. You put that on top of being the NBA games for the upstart Blazers. Looking back on Lillard’s successful Rookie of the Year from Weber State Lillard led all rookies in scoring with rookie season in the NBA, Rahe is still and it just adds to all of that.” 19 points per game, in assists with 6.5 proud that he managed to talk the per game and in 3-pointers made. His superstar into playing for Weber State. 185 “treys” set a single-season fran- “We got the recruitment started and chise record and also broke Stephen we stayed with him and developed Click here to read more about the Curry’s 2009-10 NBA single-season a relationship,” Rahe said. “As more successes of the men's basketball mark for rookies. He also became the higher level schools started to show program — including the historic first-ever rookie to lead the NBA in up to his games, we were starting to minutes played (3,167). get discouraged. But Damian was dif- 2012-13 season. As the season progressed, the awards ferent. He didn’t really care about the WEBER STATE FOOTBALL SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW! weber.edu/wsumagazine spring 2013 spring | magazine wsu 12 WeberStateSports.com 13 12 wsu magazine | spring 2013 shopWeberState.com Visit ournew websiteandchoose from alargeselection of alumnigear, Wildcat wear, giftsandmore. Shop WSU Campus Storesfromhome! 2012-13 of theYear NBA Rookie any onlinepurchase! 20% OFF Apply promocode"LILLARD" Campus Stores at onlinecheckout. Offer endsAug.31,2013
13 weber.edu/wsumagazine weber.edu/wsumagazine 15 -
university communications , amy hendricks amy Born Charles in Cove, Albert Glen N.Y., Wight, two at weeks age, beganof the journey typical any of Navy kid. His father, Charlie, was who in the middle the of Pacific Oceanon the day birth, hisof son’s and his was who mother, Dorothy, staying with mother her in Island’s Long North region, Shore moved from station station to before settling in Virginia, far not from Washington, D.C. There, the sailor-turned-math teacher-turned principal, and his wife, a reading and language arts raised teacher, love to Wight learning, there though was never any indication that would he become a chemist. Except maybe one. Getting from up his chair in his newly occupied and still some what barebones office, he said, “I’llyou.”show Openingthe glass a curio, of door removed he a vintage Gilbert chemistry set. “Ijust had one like this.” A red metal box, with complete He’s a physical chemist, professor, chemist, professor, a physical He’s runner, long-distance pilot, administrator, rocket of investigator holder, patent reader, explosives, and high propellants and father, husband, enthusiast, food author, extent, a software some to programmer. call a modern-day might you what He’s Renaissance man, with an eye-crinkling but smile and a firm handshake,he’llhe’d tellyou be called Chuck. rather much
zac williams
spring 2013 spring | | magazine wsu 14 14 wsu magazine | spring 2013 amy hendricks , university communications A wonderful children’s toy, children’s not enough it was to A wonderful it to adulthood. make didn’t original sistant vice president of Continuing Education, Education, president of Continuing vice sistant as of Undergraduate Studies, dean associate as such positions administrative into moved he as Ueven at the Honorsteach Chemistry to continued and classroom Wight the loved of chemistry. magic the demonstrated he where school, elementary daughters’ at his dad” science “the and department, chemistry the in chem-dog” “the nickname on the taking approachable, and fun science for making known He was 1993. in professor of chemistry a full becoming ranks, the through he rose There, U). (the of Utah University the Wight chose states, different three in jobs offered being after 1984, In positions. for nationwide teaching searched of Colorado, Wight University work at the toral completing post-doc and Caltech from istry chem in degree adoctoral earning After genes. his in just educator, was an that for becoming As explosives. and pellants pro rocket in expert an become eventually and major to chemistry his later change who would Wight, said about molecules,” out things new to find instrumentation the using enjoyed really “I fellowship. of asummer part as lab chemistry a in For it took doing research that, of chemistry. realm —to the of Virginia University major at the Wight sway on Wight’s 40 afriend from gift a was set the on, so and oxide, calcium bonate, - bicar sodium labeled of chemicals jars small Enjoying amoment withhiswife, Victoria — w ho had declared a pre-medicine apre-medicine ho declared had th birthday. T birthday. administrator at the University of Utah professor and chemistry former Wight, “Chuck” Charles A. president: New AT GLANCE: A - - he he - - 27; Heather, and 24 Children: EducationUtah Network enjoyswho at the acareer Wife: he still misses the classroom. classroom. the misses he still Though smiling. for he said, me,” outworked well me to apply, encouraged it advisors and and My step. mentors next the to take ready was “I hat. the in name Wight put his arose, University president of as Weber students State 26,000 more than to support opportunity when the So Wight said. students,” more many lives of the in adifference make can you administrator, you’re When an scope. in Your restricted but is deep, of sphere influence adepartment. in group, aresearch in classroom, a of people …in number small of arelatively lives the in abigprofessor, difference you make you’re When a much. very teaching enjoyed “I School. Graduate of the Dean and Studies president of Undergraduate vice associate State as the 12 the State as to Weber Wight what is brings job possible best to doing the dedication and That thoughtfulness Victoria Rasmussen, Victoria Rasmussen, Linda, 29; Jennifer, 29; Linda, can make a firm commitment.” afirm make can students need aprofessor who wouldn’t have enough and time, reason to do it. I’m I afraid for me not is agood enough to students.be fair Being fun butclass, Idecided it wouldn’t thought“I’ve about teaching a
th president of the university. president of the
laughing. she couldn’t stop it,” Wight said, she’d that Sometimes annoyed get appear,’ she’d and smile every time. It’sin there. going to upand bubble stomachher say, and ‘There’s asmile I’dshe was grumpy sad, or point to with his daughter “Any Linda. time toThinking of used he agame play Smile: Him Makes That Something 15 weber.edu/wsumagazine 16 wsu magazine | spring 2013 Front Endurance Run Running theWasatch marathon but has competed against his friend friend his against competed but has marathon ultra Wight an in against competed never has who Armentrout, said Iam,” than faster “He’s motivator. a as serving miles, for 15 alongside him running ultramarathons, for apacer Wight 100-mile as in acted even has Armentrout friends. and partners running remain two the and Lectures, Christmas Faraday U’s of annual the co-presenters were Fellow. aCannon Wight and He and chemistry professor of adistinguished is Armentrout U, where at the landed eventually but both paths, career They took separate at Caltech. days student graduate their Wight since known has Peter Armentrout him. describe how they just fact, in is, listener Agood sense. perfect makes comment that to Wight, For close who are those PRESIDENTIAL TRAITS ing where we want to go.’” to go.’” want we where ing decid before of things scheme grand Weber the in State is outwhere find Let’s talking. than going to do more listening I’m days, ‘For 100 said, sistently con at Ihave WSU, to institute going I’m programs new what about asked people have When agenda. astrong setting before to go in need we direction the about come to aconsensus and about ideas talk people, gather to Ilike transparency. and sus consen two: Ineed “Well, said, Wight one word, in style ship leader- his to describe Asked changes. any consider to to rush not want — he does he said people,” 1,000 at least met but slow —“I’ve anything job were on the months few first his while And race.” the wins steady and “Slow adage, old the with Wight familiar is Run, Endurance Front 100-Mile Wasatch the as well as thons, mara 35 completed more than who has runner A long-distance COMPLETELY LISTEN - - - - - your best interests at heart,” Gardiner said. said. Gardiner at heart,” interests best your someone who has to afriend, you’re talking like you feel president; university to ascary talking You welcoming. you’re and don’t like feel warm He’s me Chuck.’ but call Andrew, you, ‘Thank he said, and Wight,’ President ‘Congratulations, said, and up Iwent to him going president, to be he was that made was announcement the “After sincerity. Wight’s by impressed also who was Gardiner, said about him,” like I what is that and do that, He can room. the in person only you’re the like you feel make and say to to you have what listen can setting, agroup in interviewed when being people who, many aren’t “There committee. search presidential on the served Gardiner president Andrew body student WSU capabilities. listening on his commented have time Wight for first the meeting Even those said. Armentrout president too,” good a him make it will and colleague, agood him made punches the able with to roll Being laugh. agood had Everybody Iforgot!’” ‘Well, said, simply asmile with and shoulders his shrugged audience, at looked the at he looked me, So done. completely be it ignore just and he couldn’t so presentation, the going with along was slideshow A happen. wouldn’t explosion the it, Without on top salt. aliquid of the to pour forgotten had he realized up and set the toward he stepped and presentation, the in point to that came “It explosion. last his in ingredient forgot an Wight house, of apacked front in year, One out. sold often and popular wildly —were explosions but impressive small —featuring presentations The top hats. and tails complete with tuxedos, Victorian-era in Faraday, dress would two the 19 homage to famed Paying happen. didn’t or rather, happened, unexpected the where Faraday lecture a recalling president, as well him serve will that trait another as unanticipated” to the well to “adapt cites Wight’s ability also Armentrout plan.” a into put it it and synthesize information, that amass then and are, goals their what in, interested are people what is, thesituation outwhat to find first, able people whoone is to of listen those is “Chuck said, Armentrout seriousness, all In him.” beaten never “I’ve marathons. regular in th century scientist and gifted lecturer Michael Michael lecturer gifted and scientist century
VIDEO 17 weber.edu/wsumagazine 16 wsu magazine | spring 2013 he’s ever done, but Wight is confident. he’s but done, Wight confident. ever is anything than different job is this Admittedly, and do.” offer can we what sides to expand three all against to push provosts and to presidents up it is and on auniversity, to collapse threaten pressures of those three All cost. decrease and excellence and access to increase want “We all he said. at night,” awake provosts and presidents university most keep that things the are these Triangle, Iron the as known “Otherwise cost. and excellence access, he’d to focus: which like on at areas hinted he has then, Until October. in inauguration formal his during for university the agenda his unveil he will that Wight suggests donors. and alumni as well as students, and staff, and faculty many chairs, deans, presidents, vice trustees, sity - univer with met He has of Regents. Board state the with met and Legislature state the visited has He others. and of commerce chambers colleges, applied technology local of presidents the the of mayor Ogden, the with community, the in stops made To has tour Wight’s listening date, AHEAD A GLIMPSE Having alittlefunonvacation inSouthCarolina about education.” about to passionate do Iam it well. something, you’ll work hard you’re“If passionate about
TAKE TO THE SKIES THE TAKE TO education. education. technology how and he believes it transform can here Click of benefit volunteering Angel for Flight.” gives is you the biggest amazing an for and me, perspective, to Getting imagine. like know people this young woman the incredibly most optimistic and upbeat you could person to make of use last her the days best this on was planet. She was life. outlook on she the had She tremendous most trying dying from cancer. Even she aterrible though had prognosis, was ayoung she was woman, probably“She and 20s, in her impression. an recallingWight, passenger in quite particular one made who Flight West has truly amazing an lent perspective,” said in the air exciting, is“Being very flying but missions Angel for those in financialneed. charitable organization that arranges free flights medical for Mooney, is and avolunteer pilot for Angel Flight West, a Today, Wight co-owns asmall asingle plane, engine Flight Simulator,” only said, somewhat he jokingly. life. “Flying areal plane is alot easier than flying Microsoft’s apilotbecame not in just the on but real computer screen, from his brother, was he captivated. so, much that So he WightWhen received Microsoft’s Flight Simulator as agift to learn about to learn Wight's fascination with
Flying over theSanRafael Swell inUtah 17 weber.edu/wsumagazine 18 wsu magazine | spring 2013 underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance and its affiliates, 175 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA. © 2013 Liberty Mutual Insurance. Mutual Insurance and its affiliates, 175 Berkeleyunderwritten by Street, Boston, MA. © 2013 Liberty Liberty collected between Based ondata 1/1/2012 and6/30/2012. Individual Mutual’s autoand home program. premiums andsavings group willvary.savings for whoswitched customers to Liberty Coverage provided and allow, laws andregulations *Discounts are available where state by andmay state. vary To by the extent law, permitted areindividually may applicants underwritten; notallapplicants qualify. Figurereflects average national thisautoand homeinsurance program. Mutualtooffer receivesfor allowing Liberty This organization financialsupport Responsibility. What’syour policy? insuring your homeaswell. Mutual. You couldalsoenjoy discountstailoredtothe way valuable you live today andsave even moreby As aWeber University State alum,you couldsave upto$427.96*onyour autoinsurance withLiberty your favorite charity…whatever moves you most. buy your to room, monthly commuting pass, view donate ocean an to Upgrade CO CLICK CALL CONTACT USTODAYTOSTARTSAVING ME I N (800) 524-9400 www.libertymutual.com/weberstate to your localoffi c e
Client #101332 19 weber.edu/wsumagazine IN LEARNING WE TRUST
Teaching & Traveling in CHINA Michael Wutz, WSU Department of English, editor of Weber – The Contemporary West, and Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor
s the China Eastern Airbus descended into Shanghai Pudong International, overhead monitors reminded passengers to get their A circulation moving again. After being pressed into an airplane seat for 14 hours, we were glad to finally limber up with a set of exercises called “sunshine calisthenics.” Think the chicken dance with virtually no wiggle room and hundreds of bobbing behinds and flailing hands.
“Sunshine calisthenics” … a curious the seams and shrouded in a cloche of smog. phrase, it struck an immediate chord with The “calisthenics” part of the phrase, with its weber.edu/wsumagazine me. Upon arrival in Shanghai, and eventually overtones of intellectual stretching, flexibility Beijing, my first impressions of China were, and new learning, didn’t set in until the next spring 2013 spring
| indeed, the lack of space and sunshine in the day, as I plunged into the wondrous world of country’s megacities, which were bursting at the Middle Kingdom. wsu magazine wsu 18 19 Preceding page: Temple at Hua Shan, Shaanxi Province
Rooftop in the Imperial Summer Palace, Beijing Traditional dancers at the Mountain Resort, Chengde
TEACHING early as 5 a.m., I would hear students practicing their English by reading novels aloud or, in some In 2012, I had the privilege of teaching at the instances, acting out plays (such as Arthur Miller’s International Summer School of Renmin University The Crucible) in a grove of trees. On Renmin’s of China (RUC), one of the country’s most presti- English Language Corner on Friday evenings, my gious schools in Beijing’s desirous Haidian dis- colleagues and I were, within minutes, surrounded trict. Renmin derives from the Chinese word for by hundreds of students — including those from “people” and gestures to the institution’s historical adjacent schools — eager to try their English and connections to the Communist Party. But except get perspectives from abroad. At nearby Peking for some party-affiliated appointments in key posi- University, I witnessed tour buses of parents tak- tions, that connection has, at least publicly, been ing pictures of their children (often barely out of attenuated. The most visible connection of RUC to diapers) at the university’s entrance gate, to instill its communist legacy resides, perhaps ironically, in a spirit of ambition. And in what struck me as the the student body. Then as now, a sizable number most visible demonstration of the country’s desire of students are children of the Communist Party for educational pre-eminence, state-sponsored elite, their privilege showing, not in the uniformed digital signs projected against the subway tun- attire or political rhetoric of yore, but in the nels signaled what matters most to a generation Beamers and Audis crawl- of tech-savvy youth hurtling through the tubes of Digital signs projected what matters ing along on a crowded China’s capital: “In Learning We Trust.” most to a generation of tech-savvy campus. youth hurtling through the tubes of Less ironic, for students T R AV ELI NG China’s capital: “In Learning We Trust.” without political connec- If learning was suspect during the Cultural tions, is the competitive Revolution (1966-1976), when Mao Zedong entrance process. To get into Renmin, or any purged the country of what he perceived as a top-tier institution, students must score extremely lingering bourgeois intellectualism, so were most well on the National Higher Education Entrance forms of religious contemplation. If it had not been Examination. Those that do, exude a spirit of for the personal intervention of Mao’s more mod- confidence that their future is secure. At the same erate right-hand man, Zhou Enlai, Beijing would time, competitive pressure breeds an urge for weber.edu/wsumagazine have lost one of its major attractions, the Yonghe excellence and an ethos of rivalry. From my first Lamasery, or the “Palace of Peace and Harmony.” day in the classroom, students were as interested
spring 2013 spring With numerous shrines and a 55-foot Buddha in their final grades as they were in American his- carved from a single sandalwood tree, the temple tory, knowing that only a maximum of 20 percent ranks among the largest Tibetan monasteries in each class were, by administrative fiat, allowed and offers refuge from the bustle of Beijing’s an A. During my walks on campus, sometimes as infernal traffic. | magazine wsu 20 21 Religion and spirituality are alive and well in com- TUNING IN munist China, and I traveled to wondrous sites of devotion. Badachu, Mandarin for “Eight Great Music, too, filled the air at every corner. Large Sites,” is a complex of Buddhist temples east of choirs sang folk songs accompanied by an accordi- Beijing, where the incense of throngs of worshipers on; accordionists themselves would play in groups; — lit in gigantic burners — suffused the air with a and the nasal twang of the erhu (a two-stringed veritable scent of contemplation. An adventurous, fiddle), the tremolo of the pipa (a fretted lute with five-hour bus ride north took me to Chengde, a four strings), and the soft vibrato of the dizi (a town famous for the breathtaking summer retreat flute made from bamboo) added to the traditional of the 18th century Manchu emperors, but also soundscape. On the other side of the musical spec- for a set of awesome temples — among them the trum, I heard a musician playing Bach on his flügel- Potala and Panchen Lama palaces — built to com- horn, western-style memorate the visit of Tibet’s Buddhist figurehead combos playing dance I played Chinese hacky sack with music from around the in 1786. Together with thousands of pilgrims, I middle-aged men and women, hiked the five strenuous peaks of Hua Shan — one globe, and a gang of of China’s Great Five Mountains — in Shaanxi aging hepcats — com- communicating with my legs and joints Province and was impressed by the physical and plete with berets and where a common language failed us. spiritual strength of worshipers offering prayers in the usual beatnik wear the shrines dotting the terrain. Xi’an, the capital of — improvising a Charlie Parker tune … something Shaanxi Province, is home not only to the fabled you would expect in New York City’s Central Park, Terracotta Army, but also to the Hui, an ethnic not in downtown Beijing. If the Chinese are among minority of about 50,000 Muslims, whose ances- the most gracious and hospitable people I have en- tors brought their faith over mountain passes of the countered, they are also among the most Silk Road and into central China. Surrounded by a rhythmic and graceful. Sixth century labyrinth of canopied alleys that make up the city’s Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu famously boisterous bazaar, the Huis’ Great Mosque — much said, “Music in the soul can be heard by like Beijing’s Lama Temple — is beautiful and offers the universe.” I was privileged to hear respite to travelers overwhelmed by the smorgas- that soul — the soul of the Chinese bord of nose-, sound- and eye-candy. — resonating through the universe. In that sense and more, teaching in If street markets provide a window into the “real” China taught me more than I was China — its cuisine, culture, and aesthetics — so do able to impart. the country’s public parks. This is partly a func- tion of population density, often tight and multi- Xie xie (thank you), China! generational living quarters, reduced entrance fees for senior citizens, and the urge for a patch of airy green in the congested urban spaces. I felt no- Worshippers in Badachu where more in touch with the Chinese people than Boat riders in Zizhuyuan Park, Beijing in these belts of ponds and trees lacing their way through the cities. At Beijing’s Imperial Summer Palace — noteworthy for its spectacular lakes and landscape gardens — I was treated to ice cream by a young family eager to learn about America. In Zizhuyuan Park behind the National Library, I saw retirees dancing to Viennese waltzes, Argentinian tangos, and the rumba, with an occasional Chinese dance thrown in. In the coastal city of Qingdao — known to Americans for its legendary Tsingtao beer — I posed, as the Western novelty, with young couples for their official wedding photos. And in weber.edu/wsumagazine Beijing’s Jingshan Park, I played Chinese hacky sack
spring 2013 spring with middle-aged men and women, communicating with my legs and joints where a common language failed us.
An exhibit featuring photographs from Wutz's travels
| magazine wsu will be on display in the Stewart Library through Dec. 10. 20 21 WSU’s “Most universities we spoke to didn’t youngest student know what to do with a 14-year-old,” said Rachel Brooke, Jessica’s mom. is studying for medical school “I wanted a smaller university with a Kimberly Jensen, student body that aligned with LDS ... at Contributing church values, offered an institute Writer opportunities,” program and had a high placement she said. “My rate for pre-med students.” mom and dad They discovered all of that at WSU. have always had 15 very high expectations “Jessica is the youngest of me, and I’m very motivated.” student ever to enroll at At 5 feet 9 inches, Jessica looks Weber State,” said WSU Provost older than she is and blends in on Michael Vaughan. “Because of riving through the Dee campus with her backpack, a full our early college program, we had D Events Center parking lot, social calendar and a wide smile. already addressed the issues that Jessica Brooke is all jitters. In the “I’ve made the best friends here, surround young teenage students, passenger seat, her mom gently and I love going to my study groups such as computer access and reminds her, “Keep your hands where everybody wants to learn,” she restrictive materials.” at 10 and 2.” At 15, Weber State said. “I’ve become everyone’s little University’s youngest student is sister.” Physics professor Bradley Carroll more nervous about getting her instructs Jessica in his honors class. driver’s license than passing her Jessica considers herself a typical “She’s like any of the other smart, honors physics course. teenager who fights with her siblings, capable and interesting students in has chores and gets moody, but my classes,” he said. “If you had told “I’m so scared to take the test for my her journey has been anything me I had a 15-year-old in one of my learner’s permit, even though I’ve but conventional. classes, I wouldn’t have been able to studied,” Jessica said. “I want to pick her out. She fits right in.” get my license on my birthday Growing up in Gilbert, Ariz., Jessica in August.” wowed math tutors throughout Because of her age, Jessica lives at elementary school, skipped the home and is not allowed to date or Getting her permit shouldn’t be a eighth grade and high school, go to college parties. That’s just problem. Passing tests comes easily and at age 12 enrolled at the local fine with her. for Jessica, a WSU senior majoring in community college. “I would still zoology and math. She plans to apply hang out with friends my age,” to medical school before most her she said. “I just got to skip the age graduate from high school. social drama and gossip of “I’m still a teenager,” Jessica insisted. junior high.” “Instead of taking classes in a high Two years later school, I’m just taking classes at a
Jessica graduated weber.edu/wsumagazine university. I’m not trying to grow up with two associate’s fast; I just love to learn.” degrees and began spring 2013 spring Despite meeting all measures her university defining a child prodigy, Jessica search. doesn’t consider herself one. “I’ve just been given really great | magazine wsu 22 23 “I hang out with a lot of friends from church that are still in high school,” Jessica said with a smile. “I could still experience prom. That’s if I get asked.”
Jessica has encountered her fair share of critics along the way. “I’ve had friends tell me I’m missing out on my childhood,” she said. “Others assume my mom pushes me to succeed, but when they get to know me they’ll see I love the challenge.”
Extreme focus and hard work are how Jessica explains her success. “Nobody criticizes a teenager who is intense at sports,” she said. “Just because my intensity is on learning, some people think I’m weird. Defending myself can be very frustrating.”
With no plans to slow down, Jessica maintains a full course load with classes in chemistry, physics and music. She also volunteers for a humanitarian organization twice a week.
When Jessica isn’t studying, going to class or hanging out with her friends, she plays classical music on the piano and cello. "I am really happy with where I am in my life right now," Jessica said. “And pretty soon, my mom won’t have to drive me around
anymore. We’re both really excited weber.edu/wsumagazine about that.” spring 2013 spring | wsu magazine wsu 22 23 24 vance jayeson of courtesy photo
wsu magazine | spring 2013 They were sent there to be broken. broken. be to sent there were They were sent there to learn how to follow rules. of Fire” and “America’s Devil’s Island.” Inmates Rock,”“The Isle of “The Return,” No Ring “The in the maximum-security prison nicknamed institutions earned them all-expense-paid stays incorrigible criminals whose rebellion at other home to America’s most notorious outlaws — Fromcursed. 1934 to Alcatraz 1963, Island was the desolate, 22-acre isle believing it to be thousands of years, Native Americans avoided wind-whipped waters from which it For rises. sandstone with areputation as chilling as the A karin hurst FranciscoSan sinister a lurks of chunk mile and ahalf offcoast the craggy of
,
university communications 25 weber.edu/wsumagazine Yet, according to Weber State alumnus and U.S. National Park Service Ranger Jayeson Vance ’70, time “Rock” of Ages served as a federal penitentiary is only one chapter in The Alcatraz story began with the 1848 discovery the Alcatraz saga. Vance has led tours on the island for of gold along the American River. Suddenly, hordes more than a decade and calls Alcatraz “a layer cake of of treasure hunters headed to San Francisco. A history.” He says while most people know that Alcatraz lighthouse was built in 1854 to help them arrive safely. Island was the site of an infamous prison, very few To protect the mineral-rich Bay Area against possible realize that the nation’s first Pacific Coast lighthouse foreign invasion, the U.S. government blasted the was located there; that it was a Union fortress during island’s unyielding rock, erected steep, stone walls the Civil War; that it took center stage in a protest that and built a sturdy, three-story brick citadel with rifle- ignited modern Native American activism; and that it slit windows. During the Civil War, Fortress Alcatraz is now considered an ecological preserve. became a military prison where deserters and thieves were hobbled with heavy chains and iron balls. As the country expanded westward in the late 1800s, Uncanny Connection American Indians were routinely imprisoned on Vance never intended to work at Alcatraz, but his Alcatraz Island. A January 1895 article in the San personal connection to the island is uncanny. “It’s Francisco Call described the arrival of “murderous- as if all my schooling becomes relevant and all my looking Apache Indians.” (They were, in fact, 19 Hopi interests come together on Alcatraz,” says Vance, leaders from Arizona who had resisted government who studied history and psychology at Weber State. attempts to force their children into boarding As an interpretive ranger, he prepares historical schools.) With thousands of troops passing through presentations. “And with Alcatraz,” he adds, “you San Francisco during the Spanish-American War, the also have the psychological aspects of crime and prison’s population grew and another complex was punishment, isolation and remoteness, and then hastily constructed. redemption of the soul.” In 1912 a large, reinforced concrete cell house was Vance cut his acting teeth as “Malcolm” in a Weber built to replace two flammable wooden structures. State production of Macbeth. “Leading tours is theater The island became a minimum-security disciplinary in a way,” he says, “because you’re standing there barracks in 1915, with a new emphasis on education on a little podium with a microphone, and you have and rehabilitation. The Army transported soil to to know how to keep people interested or they’ll just Alcatraz and taught prisoners how to garden. In 1924, wander away.” Vance loves nature and says visitors the California Spring Blossom and are often surprised to discover stunning views, Wild Flower Association donated lush gardens and rare wildlife habitats on 100 pounds of nasturtium and Alcatraz. His wife, Judy, is even related to poppy seeds, and 300 trees and the famous artist who made the tiles used in shrubs to beautify the barren the warden’s house. landscape.
“With Alcatraz,” Vance says, “you also have weber.edu/wsumagazine spring 2013 spring
| the psychological aspects of crime and punishment, isolation and remoteness, and
wsu magazine wsu then redemption of the soul.” 24 25 photo courtesy of jayeson vance
Alcatraz entered its most unnerving phase in 1934 when the Army left the island and handed custody of its 32 worst offenders to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Over the next 29 years, a veritable Who’s Who of public enemies crammed into claustrophobic 5-foot by 9-foot cells. Troublemakers were isolated in the darkened D Block, or “The Hole,” where 30 inmates allegedly From Prison to Park During debate about what to do with Alcatraz, a group “an inmate could be boarded of Native American activists arrived there on Nov. 9, 1969, and claimed the island in the name of “Indians with less expense in New of All Tribes.” Their symbolic occupation lasted 19 months before fizzling shortly after the 13-year-old York’s Waldorf Astoria than stepdaughter of a charismatic leader fell three floors down a dilapidated stairwell to her death. in Alcatraz Penitentiary.” A Texas oil heir wanted to turn Alcatraz into a shopping mall, but instead, the island became part of lost their minds. Thirty-six men (including two the newly created Golden Gate National Recreation who tried twice) staged 14 separate attempts to Area (GGNRA) in 1972. Administered by the National break out of America’s first maximum-security Park Service, the GGNRA is considered one of the civilian penitentiary; 23 were recaptured, six were largest urban parks in the world. shot dead, two drowned and five were never heard Alcatraz tours began on a trial basis one year later, from again. despite objections from officials who feared they By 1963 Alcatraz had become too costly to operate. would glamorize criminal behavior. Former Bureau of One lawmaker told the U.S. Senate “an inmate Prisons Director James V. Bennett declared, “There’s could be boarded with less expense in New York’s something completely incongruous about young Waldorf Astoria than in Alcatraz Penitentiary.” children running in and out of Al Capone’s cell.” Attorney General Robert Kennedy pulled the plug. Today, Alcatraz Island is the Bay Area’s second most popular tourist attraction. On any given day, more than 5,000 people shuffle through the maze of 102-year-old prison walls. Tickets sell out weeks in advance. Vance believes part of the lure is morbid curiosity aroused by Hollywood movies that sensationalize tales of quirky inmates (Birdman of Alcatraz), ingenious breakouts (Escape From Alcatraz), and brutal prison guards (Murder in the First). Yet despite its astonishing popularity, the future of Alcatraz is uncertain. The facility is disintegrating and federal funding cutbacks may limit repairs. Then there’s Mother Nature’s tendency to torment the strange little island. “One of our concerns is climate change,” says Vance. “We’re probably looking at a 6- to 12-inch rise in sea level in the next 10 years or so,
which may threaten some of the historic structures.” weber.edu/wsumagazine In the meantime, Vance happily continues his workday routine — fielding questions about forts, spring 2013 spring fights and phantoms. If Alcatraz Island really is a layer cake of history, it seems the history buff from Weber State just can’t seem to get his fill. | magazine wsu 26 27 Did you know? The curious escape of 1962 is still an open case. A U.S. marshal is currently trying to track down a letter postmarked Honduras Despite claims that no one could purportedly written in the 1980s by survive a swim from Alcatraz to the escapee John Anglin — officially listed as San Francisco shore because of sharks missing and presumed drowned. and dangerous currents, Anastasia Scott, 17, made the crossing as a publicity stunt in October of 1933. (In 1955 at age 41, fitness guru Jack LaLanne did the same thing, only handcuffed!)
While attending Weber State College, Jayeson Vance was known as Clark Walker. He had his name legally changed after moving to San Francisco in the 1970s at the height of the city’s Erhard Seminars Training (est) movement. The intensive, 60- hour, est human potential workshop encouraged participants to disengage from the past and adopt a new sense of self. weber.edu/wsumagazine spring 2013 spring |
Sources: Interview with National Park Service Ranger Jayeson Vance, Feb. 4, 2013 Alcatraz Prison, geography.about.com Alcatraz Island, National Park Service website, nps.gov/alca/index.htm Alcatraz, MPI Home Video, 1977 Alcatraz Prison, history.com/topics/alcatraz Alcatraz: Island of Hate, Mariner Films Ltd., 1971
wsu magazine wsu Alcatraz, alcatrazhistory.com Alcatraz: Deconstructed, video clip (2:35), history.com/videos/alcatraz-deconstructed#alcatraz- deconstructed 26 27 28
wsu magazine | spring 2013 | class notes LM
’48 Peterson Alma LuRue married and studies his completed to Weber, he returned charge, Upon dis Korea. in stationed while technician surgical a as World trained and War II in He served Weber College. at quarter first of his end the at Army U.S. the into drafted ’48 Stevenson Dwight N. 40s NOTES CLASS 12 great-grandchildren. great-grandchildren. 12 and 10 grandchildren children, three have LuRue and Dwight mission. service a fulfilling currently is worker, and nance ordi temple president, stake op, bish as served he has church, LDS the in Active Council. Alumni Emeriti Association’s Alumni WSU on the serves Dwight 2001. in away passed LuRue where to Ogden, back moved Stevensons the 1990, In management. upper then ing, engineer in first years, for 38 Co. Gas California for Southern worked Dwight where fornia,
. The couple moved to. TheCali couple moved & License Plates License your choice of: One-year WSUAA membership for for OPTION 2 OPTION 1 Visit $ limited time" Utah DMV location to obtain WSU license plates * $25 scholarship donationcertificate to take to a 35 WSU & Alumni Membership & Alumni alumni.weber.edu/lp
- WSU State (Utah) Plate* - WSU Commemorative Plate was was you get ... get you - - - - - LM Pick-a-Plate number of great-grandchildren. of great-grandchildren. number agrowing and grandchildren 21 children, five have They Beverly. years, 60 of more than wife his with City Lake Salt in lives Dee society. mathematics national honorary an Epsilon, Mu Pi and society, research ascience Xi, of Sigma member a He was Society. Chemical can Ameri the in membership had he also Engineers, of Chemical Institute American of the ber Amem Universities. Western at Associated worked Dee tion, addi In Research. Chevron now Corp., Research California for assistant aresearch and versity Uni State at Iowa Engineering of Chemical Department the in aprofessor also He was Energy. of Department U.S. the within aprogram Sciences, Energy Basic of Office of the Division Sciences Chemical of the chief branch as retired ’53 Stevenson F. Dee of service, years 23 After 50s
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801-626-7535 - - - - LM LM July 24 July City’s Ogden been having community, the in active also is and Council Alumni Emeriti Association’s Alumni WSU of the amember He is housing. of Weber’s as director served He also Building. Union the for director, assistant later and director, program as he worked to Weber, where He returned University. State at Utah degree Shupe ’56 College, Weber from graduating After a four-chair dental clinic for the for the clinic dental a four-chair start couple helped the dentists, Utah by donated equipment With countries. developing humanitarian dental care in to provide finances and time their volunteered since have Peggy, wife, his He and 2000. in retired ’57 Clark Leon R. teacher. school elementary a retired ’57 Anderson Delores to married is Monty 10 years. th parade director for director parade Gerald L. (Monty) (Monty) L. Gerald earned his bachelor’s bachelor’s his earned Association scholarships and programs , who is is , who Proceeds benefit WSU Alumni LM dren and 35 grandchildren. grandchildren. 35 and dren chil seven Together, have they Fork, Utah. American in live Karen, wife, his tor. He and Salt Lake County deputy audi deputy County Lake Salt aformer also is Kent browsing. Internet safe of ensuring a goal with to businesses, certificates (SSL) Layer Sockets Secure offers that Utah, Orem, in pany com a Inc., Digicert of ficer of financial chief former and aco-founder He is accountant. public acertified as 2006 in retired ’58 F. Lundquist Kent one great-grandson. and 17 grandchildren children, nine have and Utah, Riverton, in live The Clarks China. and Uganda Israel, Vietnam, Korea, pines, Philip the Tonga, Guatemala, in served have Peggy and Leon addition, In Ethiopia. Ababa, Addis in leprosy with patients for at ahospital volunteered also They poor Salvador. in El - -
- - - eral manager of Martin Out- door Advertising of Kansas. 60s Woody received many awards LM Neil Chase Van Eerden ’60 in his lifetime, including the retired as the executive vice Distinguished Service Award president for Fabergé, a per- from Northglenn, Colo. He is fume and cosmetics company. active in civic and humanitar- While in the fragrance indus- ian organizations, including try, he created the perfume Northglenn/Thornton Rotary “Me.” A resident of Sparta, N.J., Club, Northglenn City Council, he currently serves as CEO Northglenn City Charter Com- of Van Eerden and Associ- mission, Northeast Kansas ates Inc. and is a member of Better Business Bureau, Kansas the National Association of Outdoor Advertising and Colo- Chain Drug Stores. Civically rado Jaycees. Woody and his engaged, he volunteers for the wife, Jan, live in Windsor, Colo. family and criminal court- house as a judicial assistant. AM Claudia Bennett Weathers Neil authored What You Don’t ’65 worked as a social worker See When You Ain’t Got a Gun, for Ogden City Schools with which was inspired by his the first Head Start program. grandfather. He and his wife, She also worked for the Weber Eleanor, were married for 60 School District as a counselor years. He has three children at Bonneville High School and and four grandchildren. at South Ogden Junior High Runfor the School in the Options Pro- LM Jo Ann Nielson Schmalz ’61, gram. Claudia served as PTA ’79 retired as a social worker president for Uintah Elemen- of it! in 2003 from McKay-Dee Hos- tary School and South Ogden Fund pital Center. She also worked Junior High School. She was a at Cassia Memorial Hospital member of the Junior League in Burley, Idaho, as a long- of Ogden and currently serves term care activity director and on the WSU Alumni Associa- Young Alumni 5K hospital social worker. Jo Ann tion’s Emeriti Alumni Council. serves on the WSU Alumni Claudia lives in Ogden with & Kid K Association’s Emeriti Alumni AM her husband, Val Weathers ’59, Council. She and her husband, who was in banking, finance Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013 LM Charles Schmalz ’61, live in and real estate development Ogden. Charles retired in 2005 until his retirement. Val served from Amalgamated Sugar Co. on the Wildcat Club Board of Directors. The Weathers have 5K as a technical services man- $20 adult ager after 28 years of service, three children and eight grand- $15 current WSU student having spent a total of 40 years children. in the sugar beet industry. Jo Includes entry fee, T-shirt & breakfast $5/non-participant breakfast Ann and Charles have three LM Marlene Barrett Orme ’66 daughters, 10 grandchildren retired after 28 years as an and two great-grandchildren. elementary school teacher. FREE Kid K She worked 10 years in Weber (age 10 and younger) Includes T-shirt & breakfast AM Ellwood (Woody) E. Curtis County and 18 years in Utah ’64 is semi-retired as owner/ County. Marlene lives in manager of a commercial Springville, Utah. window-washing business. Campus & Community invited For 29 years, he was an owner Proceeds benefit WSU Alumni Association or manager in the outdoor scholarships and programs alumni.weber.edu advertising and sign industry, including time spent as gen- Visit alumni.weber.edu/YAC5K to register or call 801-626-7518
LM Lifetime Member of the Alumni Association AM Annual Member of the Alumni Association 29 30
wsu magazine | spring 2013 | class notes AM LM Dell Isham ’68 Pam to Pam married is Lee Club. Wildcat of WSU’s amember is He Club. Lions Ogden of the president as and Commission Planning Ogden North the on Association, Products ing Decorat National of the board on the He served years. 50 than for worked more he has where business afamily Co., Glass of Crittenden manager and owner is ’69 Crittenden Lee C. in Vietnam Espionage War Love, and Vietnam: bye Good book third his published He recently Club. Sierra of the chapter Carolina South the and Water District Improvement Lake Devils the Association, Oregon Dental Hygienists’ of the director executive the on to He went become Oregon. in lobbyist and mayor senator, CLASS NOTES CLASS W S astate was
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three sons and 13 grandchildren. grandchildren. 13 and sons three daughters, three have years, 24 past the manager for office ’70 Coons Daenette wife, his and He Storm. Desert Operation their Wyoming families during with communicate soldiers helping years, for three network Radio Ham (MARS) System Radio Auxiliary Military Army the He served for eight years. System Patrol Ski National the for advisor medical the was and instructor ski acertified is years, 25 for more than scouting in active been having Scout, Eagle an is Michael Podiatry. in of Registration Board ming’s of Wyo president apast is and Surgeons Podiatric of sociation As Wyoming of the member a is and Medicine of Podiatric College Illinois from graduated , who has worked as his his as worked has , who alumni.weber.edu/lagoon lunch tickets,visit: For passports& p.m.a.m. –11 10 Aug. 3,2013 Saturday
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70s 80s
Francis M. Wikstrom ’71, a After attending Weber State, shareholder in Parsons Behle & during which time he worked FREE WSU Latimer’s Salt Lake City office, at Hill Air Force Base (HAFB), has been elected secretary of LM Wayne K. Brown ’81 furthered the American College of Trial his knowledge in logistics, Alumni App Lawyers. He has the distinction attending 13 classes at the Air of being the first fellow from Force Institute of Technology. Utah to become an officer of the He was manager for many dif- college. He has served on the ferent military programs within organization’s Board of Regents the F-16 Aircraft and the Peace- Share your for four years. Fran practices keeper Missile directorates for Wildcat pride complex civil litigation and several years. His assignment with fellow white-collar criminal defense. for his final three years was Stay alumni and He has served as an assistant division chief in the Training U.S. attorney and as a U.S. at- and Training Devices Director- connected friends. torney for the District of Utah. ate. Wayne has been retired He received his doctorate of since 2006. He is a lifetime law from Yale Law School. Fran member of the Mormon Battal- and his wife, Linda, live in Salt ion Association and an active Have access Lake City. member of the Northern Utah Historical Society. Wayne was WSUAA members to exclusive AM Floyd E. Hebdon ’72 retired awarded 17 individual awards receive the latest activities and after 40 years of working for as well as some team awards news and info opportunities. the Church of Jesus Christ of as an employee of HAFB. He about WSU. Latter-day Saints’ Family His- and his wife, Lawanna, live in tory Department. He worked Riverdale, Utah, and have 12 with acquisitions, references grandchildren. and as a cataloger of records from the United States. He and LM A certified public accountant his wife, G. DeLynne, live in in Utah, Dan C. Milne ’85 is a https://itunes.apple.com/us/ Salt Lake City. partner at Eide Bailly LLP. He previously served six years as app/weber-state-alumni/ LM Gary Lowe ’76 is owner of vice president of the SGS Tech- id580562139?mt=8 Lowe’s One Stop Blast shop in nology Group in Ogden and Hooper, Utah. He has worked was a partner for 12 years. Dan in the auto body and paint is a member of the American business for more than 45 years. Institute of Certified Public Gary has two sons, two daugh- Accountants, Utah Association AM Rebecca Winger Okey ’88, Head Start Program. She is also ters and 10 grandchildren. of Certified Public Accountants ’98 is the elementary literacy on the board of directors for the and Institute of Management specialist for the Weber School Utah Council of International Michael S. Gove ’79 has been Accountants. He has numerous District. She previously worked Reading Association. Rebecca a head PGA golf professional advanced professional creden- as a teacher in WSU’s Melba S. and her husband, Kay, have for 23 years, serving Astoria tials, including the certified Lehner Children’s School and five children and five grand- Golf and Country Club in management accountant and helped develop and teach in children. Oregon and, most recently, the certified information technol- the Family Literacy Project. Re- ogy professional designations. Inglewood Golf Club in the Se- becca was also an elementary Gregory S. Anderson ’89 is an Dan has served as president of attle area. He and his wife, Car- teacher and school reading spe- associate professor of informa- the WSU Alumni Association’s rie, live in Snohomish, Wash. cialist. She served on the policy tion systems at Brigham Young Young Alumni Council and council and is currently on the University. Prior to this posi- Board of Directors. He and his board of the Ogden-Weber tion, he was chair of the wife, Leanne, live in Ogden. Community Action Partnership alumni.weber.edu
LM Lifetime Member of the Alumni Association AM Annual Member of the Alumni Association 31 32 wsu magazine | spring 2013 | class notes CLASS NOTES CLASS one son. He and his wife, Gina wife, his He and one son. and Weber graduates, State are of whom two daughters, three has Greg gaming. video orative collab of effects the researches He magazines. technology for editor acontributing been has and textbooks, other as Science Computer with of Connecting co-author the He is BitBit Technologies. by of owner/president is Greg from Indiana State University. University. State Indiana from doctorate his Colorado and of University the from degree Administration of Business Master his Year. He received Teacher Crest of the a Crystal he was where at Weber State, department computer science ADD CURB APPEAL & HELP STUDENTS “WSU Wildcat” and receive aspecial discount. , as well well , as For alimited time, enter promo code scholarships and programs. curb and/or mailbox decal. alumni.weber.edu My Curb are teaming upto WSU Alumni Association raise money for students. - WSU Purchase acustom WSU Association and Sport Association of Certified Public Public of Certified Association Utah of the amember is ity. Jed Author Assistance Education Higher Utah at the manager audit an as years forworked 13 He previously 2006. since at WSU scholarships and aid of financial director the been has ’92 ’91, W.Jed Spencer 90s Healthcare. Healthcare. for Intermountain research medicine fetal maternal in works and of Utah University the from degree nurse tered regis her received She Utah. ’85 Dalton Proceeds willbenefit To order, visit The WSU Alumni , live in Springville, Springville, in live ,
ALUMNIUPDATES
- - Defense Lawyers. He was the the He was Lawyers. Defense of Criminal Association Utah the and Lawyers Defense nal Crimi of Association National of the amember is and Defense of DUI College National the for delegate Utah the is Glen P.C. Ogden. at Law in Attorney W. at Glen Neeley, attorney an of Law. He is School sity Univer City Oklahoma from of law doctorate his received ’94 W. Glen Neeley 1997, In one granddaughter. and daughters three sons, two have They Utah. Centerville, in live Michelle, wife, his and He Violence. Against Coalition Citizen’s Davis and Harbor, Safe Members, Council and Commissioners County of tion Associa State Utah Authority, Transit Utah the including boards, on many serves Bret of Representatives. House Utah of the speaker to the assistant an also He was transportation. of athlete manager general was and of 2002 Games Winter Paralympic and Games Winter Olympic the for committees organizing bid and Lake Salt on the served Bret Utah. Wayfor United of Northern development and of planning director he was elected, being to Prior 2007. January since er commission County Davis a as served has ’93 P. Millburn Bret children. three her with Ore., Hillsboro, in lives She worldwide. panies defense and aerospace com communications, for nology tech and solutions frequency radio provides that company a Semiconductor, at TriQuint ’93 Melinda Roylance McGrath children. three have and Utah, Bountiful, in Patsy, live wife, his He and Accountants. is a global staffing director director staffing aglobal is ------AM School in Roy, Utah. Roy, in Utah. School High Junior Ridge at Sand writing creative and English of teaching year 18th her in is She for Teaching Excellence. Foundation's Award sociation As Education National 2014 for the nominee Utah’s is She Teacher Year. of the to Utah’s runner-up second Year was and Teacher of the District School Weber 2013 the as selected was ’95 Graviet Jennifer daughters. three have Laura, wife, his and Glen School. Law at Harvard conducted Session Summer Defense of DUI College tional Na at the defense DUI in certification board awarded be to nation the in attorney 40th She lives in Pinedale with her her with Pinedale in lives She years. nine past for the Wyo., Pinedale, Home in Funeral of Covill owner the been has ’99 Weston Covill Elizabeth sons. two their with Utah, Riverdale, in live zanne, Ro wife, his He and Directors. of Board Association’s Alumni WSU on the serves currently Neal Wash. Everett, and Ogden in roles supply chain various in years for 11 Corp. forworked Kimberly-Clark He previously 2007. since worked he has where Corp., at Amedica tor of logistics direc the is ’97 T.Neal Clarke to 2012. 2009 from Foundation Sports Winter Valley Ogden for the of directors board the on served auditor. Jill an as KPMG firm advisory and tax audit, for worked the previously She years. for worked 14 has she where &Co., Clark JD ’97 ’96 Calton Starley Jill tant, accoun public A certified is managing director for director managing is - - , - - - Did you take classes here?
If so, mark your calendar for the ...
Weber College 25th Street Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013 CAMPUS REUNION REUNION: 2 p.m. & WSU Football game Hurst Center, Dumke Legacy Hall
Weber State Wildcats vs. Stephen F. Austin State Lumberjacks
Visit alumni.weber.edu/25 or call 801-626-7535
husband, Curtis J. Covill ’01, at California’s Fountain Valley manufacturing, publishing ships in the Utah Association who serves as funeral director High School. and transportation sectors. of CPAs and the American and embalmer. Zac serves as vice chair for Institute of CPAs. She has Zachary A. Williams ’01, ’13 is Wasatch Peaks Credit Union. 11 years of experience in the the owner of Williams Visual, He has written five cookbooks, accounting, financial report- 00s Inc., a visual communications including Hungry Campers and ing and auditing of privately company in Ogden that devel- the Little Cowpokes Cookbook and publicly held companies. For the past five years,Carla T. ops branding and communi- for young chefs. Zac and his After spending 10 years with Miali ’01 has taught elementary cation media for advertising wife, Aimee Aardema ’98, have Child, Van Wagoner & Brad- school at an ocean-view school and publishing clients. He is a three children. shaw CPAs in Salt Lake City, in Huntington Beach, Calif., strategic communication and she recently joined Adams & where she resides. She previ- marketing professional with Natalie Murphy ’02 is a certi- Petersen CPAs in Clearfield, alumni.weber.edu ously served as head coach for 14 years of experience work- fied public accountant and Utah. Natalie resides in West the girls’ volleyball program ing with clients in the finance, audit manager with member- Point, Utah, with her husband and four children.
LM Lifetime Member of the Alumni Association AM Annual Member of the Alumni Association 33 34
wsu magazine | spring 2013 | class notes CLASS NOTES CLASS prayer flags to peaks around around peaks to flags prayer Hope’s Radiating Team, carries Rescue and Search County Weber of the part also is who Brandon, countries. developing in equipment radiation update and to provide money raise who climbers mountain and gists oncolo radiation of comprised anonprofit organization Hope, Radiating he founded climber, avid an and care of cancer ity availabil of global A supporter Committee. Young Physicians on the sits and of Chancellors Board Oncology’s Radiation of College American to the adelegate Center.ment He is Treat Cancer Browning A. Center’s Val Medical Regional at Ogden Services West Cancer Gamma with oncologist diation Brandon J. Fisher ’03 Fisher J. Brandon LM Lifetime Member ofthe Alumni Association is ara is - - - - LM Call 801-626-6375 formoreinformation Call 801-626-6375 Perfect for family reunions, sports teams, clubs and fundraisers! ... through WSU Campus Stores! < Take abehind-the-scenes tour ofArtServices' production facility. ber of “teamgive,” a charity acharity of “teamgive,” ber mem aboard is Kristin Utah. Lake, Salt North in located Inc., at Maverik department marketing the in manager production and director art the is ’07 Kelemen M. Kristin for Printedge. representative asales as years for worked six He has WSU. attended also who Toothman, Lee husband, her with Tenn., Knoxville, in pany. resides She com at the years six of her two for she’s held aposition Corp., at Kimberly-Clark analyst transportation optimization ’06 Robinson M. Lynlee patients. honor of world cancer in the Custom Apparel SAVE
AM ALUMNIUPDATES Annual Member ofthe Alumni Association is a is Bi - - Lyn, live in Henderson, Nev. Henderson, in live Lyn, Brandi wife, his and Ernesto Vegas. Las of Nevada, versity Uni the and Library County Weber at the worked previously He College. State at Nevada ian emerging technologies librar an He is science. information and library in degree master’s a with University State Jose San from 2012 in graduated Jr. ’09 Hernandez Ernesto Utah. Bountiful, in lives She Utah. in Pets Homeless No More and Utah, of Northern Center Rehabilitation Wildlife for the avolunteer and children, in diseases neurological rare of awareness increases that on g
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live in West Point, Utah. West Point, in live ’04 Francis Michelle wife, his He and for design. association professional the Arts, Graphic of Institute American of the amember is Jason Services. Printing at WSU artist graphic a as worked City. He previously Lake Salt in Books at Signature manager designer/production the is ’12 Francis A. Jason Utah. Riverdale, in live Ruth, wife, his He and assistant. afront-end as at Costco and clerk resources ahuman as Mortgage Residential Primary at works ’11 Jones R. Joseph 10s , BRENDA M. KOWALEWSKI Professor of Sociology
David C. Trujillo, director of the Upward Bound As a graduate stu- dent at the University program, and Brenda M. Kowalewski, professor of Maryland, Brenda Marsteller and some of sociology, are the recipients of the WSU Alumni of her fellow sociol- Association’s 2013 H. Aldous Dixon Awards. ogy program cohorts met regularly for happy hour. They’d catch up and discuss new teaching techniques. DAVID C. TRUJILLO One trend, in particular, fascinated Brenda. Director, Upward Bound Program The more she heard about service learning, the more dedicated she became to having It’s a good thing Dave Trujillo ignored his Davis her students participate in community- High School guidance counselor. When the track based learning projects. “It’s hands-on star confided his dream of becoming a coach, the learning,” says the since-married Brenda woman laughed. “She said I wasn’t college mate- Marsteller Kowalewski. “And it’s for real rial,” Trujillo recalls. people, with real needs and real conse- Weber State College didn’t laugh. Trujillo quences if we don’t come through.” received a four-year athletic scholarship and Kowalewski came to Weber State in graduated in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in 1995. In 2006, she became the director physical education and a teaching certificate. He accepted a coaching of Community-Based and Experiential post in Roswell, N.M., but returned to Ogden each summer to work for Learning. Her first task was to create a Weber State’s Upward Bound program. He was hired full time in 1973 Community Involvement Center that would and became Upward Bound director in 1986. match students with service opportunities Upward Bound targets high school students who have the potential and show faculty how to convert existing to pursue a college education, but may lack adequate skills or sup- courses into community-engaged learning port. Trujillo works with about 75 students a year and takes his job very (CEL) classes. Her enthusiasm for experi- personally. “I teach family values like honesty, trust, accountability and ential learning is apparently contagious, as sacrifice,” he says. He also encourages students to participate in com- the popularity of this teaching approach has munity service. “It’s amazing to see these low-income kids giving up spread phenomenally at WSU. “It started their food to help other people,” says Trujillo, who also knows the value out as this grass roots kind of movement,” of being able to list service projects on a college application. says Kowalewski, “and in five years has Trujillo’s secret weapons are his self-deprecating humor and ability grown to 66 faculty teaching 197 formalized to relate to kids whose odds of attending college are stacked against CEL classes.” them. “I tell them I was just a fat little Mexican kid who was given a great Kowalewski has won multiple awards opportunity and took advantage of it,” he says. He recounts numerous and national acclaim for her groundbreak- stories of students who conquered crippling obstacles. He tells of one ing studies and academic publications. But teen who had an alcoholic father, an abusive, drug-addicted mother, more than anything she hopes students and a severe speech impediment. With Trujillo’s guidance, the boy leave her classes feeling empowered. persevered and eventually received a $43,000 scholarship to Stanford "When you put students in a situation University. “How do you inspire kids to go somewhere beyond average?” where they can see change, or the potential asks Trujillo. “By giving them dreams, and then opportunities to make for change, that they, themselves, are creat-
those dreams become realities.” ing, then I’ve done my job.” alumni.weber.edu
Named in memory of the former Weber College president, the H. Aldous Dixon Awards have been presented annually since 1970 to honor faculty and staff who have demonstrated careers of excellence and have gone beyond the call of duty to support students. Dixon served as president of Weber College from 1919 to 1920 and again from 1937 to 1953.
35 Non-profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE
PermitPAID No. 151 Department of SLC, UT University Communications 4025 University Circle Ogden, UT 84408-4025 zac williams Aging Graciously
A lot happened in 1906. President Teddy Roosevelt pushed for progressive reforms. Ford Motor Co. introduced its $500 Model N automobile. Broadway audiences tapped their toes to George M. Cohan’s catchy new song, You’re a Grand Old Flag. The first hotel and casino opened in downtown Las Vegas. The average U.S. worker earned 22 cents per hour. A killer earthquake brought San Francisco to its knees … and a Pennsylvania couple, Samuel and Flora Derr, had a baby girl named Marguerite.
Marguerite Derr Groff Flickinger is Weber State University’s oldest living donor. On March 9, 2013, she turned 107. At a private celebration, President Charles Wight presented Marguerite with a purple blanket and led hospice workers and university representatives in a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday. Sporting a megawatt smile and a stylish copper-blonde hairdo, Marguerite waved and blew kisses as 107 helium balloons were released in her backyard.
“God still gives me the power to enjoy life,” says Marguerite, who, along with other family members, started a scholarship fund in 1979 to honor her grandson, a gifted student artist who died in a tragic skiing accident. To date, the Douglas P. McFarland Memorial Scholarship in the Telitha E. Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities, has helped 25 talented art students pursue their educational dreams.
To support the Douglas P. McFarland Memorial Scholarship, or another university President Wight wishes Marguerite scholarship or program, visit weber.edu/give a happy 107th birthday. or call 801-626-6138.