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 zac 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 of jordan courtesy photo weber.edu/wsumagazine spring 2013 spring | wsu 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 zac 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 zac wsu magazine wsu 8 9 zac williams zac 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.