Congrats Welcome Graduates & Newcomers UNIVERSITY For summer events For a list of graduates go to page A16 see section B ouSuunews.comrnal Cedar City, Utah J Southern Utah University Summer/Graduation 2016 Valedictorians set to walk By NAOMI BEATTY and Social Sciences; Kelli Because much of the dean’s and to get into law school you [email protected] Christensen for the College council’s decision is based have to have a high GPA and of Education and Human on grade point average and do really good on the LSAT. Every spring, a dean’s council Development; and Josh Kariya scholastic achievement, many So that’s why I worked so from each college gathers to for the College of Business students are aware of the hard. This is like icing on the select an outstanding student with are the 2015-16 college valedictorian award and actively cake for me. It’s just a pretty high academic achievements to valedictorians. engage in pursuing academic high honor and it’s just fun to become the valedictorian of that Wilcken, said he didn’t excellence in order to qualify. be recognized for all of my year’s graduating class. realize he would become the Crozier said his motivation hard work.” This year, five students earned valedictorian for his college for getting good grades was a Recognition is made to the honor of valedictorian for until he received the email mixture between his desires to each college’s valedictorian their colleges. James Wilcken congratulating him. attend law school and to receive selection during the graduation for the College of Science and “It was an honor to receive,” academic recognition. ceremony, especially in the Engineering; Danikka Johnson Wilcken said. “I didn’t think “It’s something I’ve worked three to five minute speech for the College of Performing I was. I’ve got good grades, towards,” Crozier said. “I’ve each valedictorian gives to his and Visual Arts; Clay Crozer but a lot of people did. It came kept my grades high because or her peers. JODIE LYBARGER / UNIVERSITY JOURNAL for the College of Humanities completely by surprise.” I’ve wanted to go to law school See HONOR, Page A12 Incoming SUUSA President Tyler Cornia speaks after his inauguration. When students return in the fall, Cornia will have taken over duties as SUUSA president. Cornia set to lead SUU student body By DAYSA team that helps. So I think that’s CORRINGTON where my confidence really [email protected] comes from. I don’t give myself that credit, I definitely think it Tyler Cornia is the 2016-17 was everyone else but it was cool SUUSA president and has plans to see us come together.” for the future of SUUSA and Cornia was born and raised SUU’s student body. in South Jordan and graduated The SUUSA final elections took from Herriman High School place in March and Cornia and his in 2012. Cornia is a senior election team swept the polls with marketing major and is all members of Cornia’s Hello currently the SUUSA athletic party elected into office. director and a presidential Cornia said one reason he ambassador at SUU. ran for SUUSA president was On top of being next year’s because he loves SUU, and SUUSA president, the 2015-16 after looking at the school’s SUUSA athletic director and a retention rates and how low presidential ambassador, Cornia they are compared to the past also loves to hike, backpack, 10-15 years, it motivated him play on SUU’s co-ed volleyball team and occasionally assist in to create a team so that they UNIVERSITY JOURNAL FILE PHOTOS could influence those rates in a the astronomy lab. positive way. Keri Mecham, the director SUU President Scott Wyatt leads the largest group University President Jiang Hongxin (bottom right). “I guess I just started putting of student involvement and of freshmen to enroll at SUU during Flight School in Snow accumulates outside the Centrum Arena, leading together a team,” he said. “I leadership, said she thinks August (top right). Wyatt ties a ribbon with Hunan to a snow day at SUU. was confident in who I put Cornia will do a great job and together and one thing I learned that he is well organized and throughout leadership is having has already made new plans and a good team gets you far. It’s not goals for SUU. me myself, it’s having a good See CORNIA, Page A21 Editor’s note: Thanks for Come and go the good memories SUU By JOSH MARTINEZ Another school year comes to end for SUU [email protected] By SAM BURFIEND “Semester in the Parks,” a scholastic effort government system and hope to implement Well guys, I never thought it would come but graduation is and JOSH MARTINEZ in southern Utah’s national parks starting in the change by the 2017-18 election year. finally here, not only for myself, but for many others in the The new proposal includes the president [email protected] fall semester later this year. The initiative is a class of 2016. What a ride! semester-long program (modeled after study with three vice presidents: vice president I have spent three years with the University Journal, mostly [email protected] abroad experiences) that is designed to take for clubs and involvement, vice president of in sports, and I am in awe at the wonderful students and academics and financial vice president. faculty, including coaches, we have at SUU. Another school year has come to a close advantage of the parks surrounding SUU. While I will be leaving Cedar City for Phoenix, I will never in Cedar City and it was an eventful one. Most Outdoorsy School in the Nation SUU has Jumpstart education forget the memories I’ve made here and for all of you for From new institutions to pilot programs This year 44 students joined a new being a part of that. This school is and will forever be a part to NFL scouts looking at several football SUU was named the 2015-16 Most Jumpstart General Education Program, in of my identity. players, SUU has made the news on many Outdoorsy School in the nation by The which embarked them on a34-credit year- Outdoor Nation On Campus Challenge. The This is the last time I will write on these pages as editor- different fronts. With the year coming to an long trial journey. The Jumpstart Program in-chief, so let me take this time to thank all those a part of challenge to become the National Outdoor will expand into two sections in the fall, one the T-Bird family. It has been a pleasure and an honor to rub end, it is time to look back at some of the Champions began on September 6, 2015 top headlines from the past year. in the morning and one in the afternoon. Each shoulders with all of you guys. and after six weeks of outdoor competition new program will accept about 48 students. My last piece of advice I would leave you is to take full These stories are in no particular order, but between 56 schools, SUU won with 14,000 advantage of all the opportunities this school has to offer. rather serve as what we think are some of the points over its nearest competitor. SUU features largest freshmen class ever You won’t regret it. biggest stories that happened this year. SUU welcomed its largest freshman class Stay classy Cedar City and for the final time of my SUUSA looks to reorganize in fall 2015 with over 1,500 incoming collegiate career, this is Josh Martinez signing off from SUU. SUU adds Semester in the Parks The members of SUUSA have proposed freshmen. Everybody take it easy and have a great future. SUU administration created a pilot program, a change in the structure of the SUU See HEADLINES, Page A9 Inside & Online A look into the 2016 The school year through a cartoonist Weather Update Utah Summer Games There is a 90 percent chance of showers Throughout the school year, the University Journal has published an editorial Saturday for graduation with highs in the 50s. In June and July, Cedar cartoon by cartoonist Samuel Sherrill. Sherrill takes a look through the past year — Almanac, Page A3 City will host its annual Utah and shares some of his favorite cartoons. Summer Games, a miniature — OPINION, Page A5 version of the Olympics which is Index open to the public. News ..........A3,A9,A10,A12,A16,A21 The Utah Summer Games Changes for USF’s summer season Opinion.............................................A5,A6 includes a variety of sports, including The Utah Shakespeare Festival (USF) dedicates its 55th season volleyball, Karate, basketball, to new changes. The 2016 season is producing eight shows this Graduation Guide..........B1,B2,B3,B4 gymnastics and arm wrestling, for season with the new Beverly Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts Accent .......................................... A13,A14 all ages and skill levels. completed. — SPORTS, Page A17 — ACCENT, Page A13 Sports ..................................A17,A18,A19 Page A2 University Journal Graduation/Summer 2016 Graduation Edition/Summer 2016 University Journal Page A3 PHOTOS BY JOURNAL STAFF THE THUNDERBIRD ALMANAC APR. 28- MAY 04, 2016 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES AND WEATHER Saturday, APRIL 30, 2016 APR.Thurs. 28 University Commencement Ceremony 51ﾟ/36ﾟ The formal ceremony to confer degrees upon SUU’s Class of 2016. SYDNEY BROWN / UNIVERSITY JOURNAL Graduate Processional Lineup • 8:00 a.m. • Upper Quad The SUU Thunderbirds competed in a Red vs. White football Scrimmage in the All SUU graduates, dressed in cap and gown, meet on the Upper Quad Eccles Coliseum (left).