THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY • SPRING 2013

A work of

HEARTBeverley Taylor Sorenson and the arts in Utah

Congratulations Cam & Coach Houle

“I only fathomed, a little bit, that I might be

able to win. To have it happen was just unreal,

I’m still in a bit of shock.”

CAMERON LEV INS

“This really just cements Southern Utah

University Track & Field in the history books.

I can’t think of a better student-athlete than

Cameron Levins to represent SUU and our

program, and I look forward to what is in store

for us going into the future.”

ER IC HOULE

For more information on The Bowerman, the award, the trophy, and Bill Bowerman himself, visit TheBowerman.org.

SUU’s Cameron Levins was named the 2012 Bowerman Award winner, which is essentially the Heisman Trophy of the collegiate track & field world. It is given annually to the most outstanding male and female track & field athletes of the year.T H E B O W E R M A N A W A R D

Cameron Levins (’12)

Head Coach Eric Houle (’81)

It’s no secret we love the artsIt’s written across campus in bronze sculptures, grand turrets, packed theatres and

longstanding galleries. It is an enthusiasm evident in every nuance and masterpiece

among the College of Performing and Visual Arts’ more than 150 productions

each year. And it echoes yet again in the makeshift galleries that pepper campus

hallways, the late-night second-stage student productions and the campus and

community fundraisers that all continue to champion art’s cause.

And yet, these efforts all attest to one simple fact: there is still more we can and should do to support

the talent and passion that exists within our campus and across our Thunderbird community.

This issue of SUU In View contains exciting news of the future of the arts at SUU and, more broadly,

in arts production and education across the region. From administrators to students, we are all eager to

move forward in this collective work to create, teach and inspire. As you will soon see, the stage is set

for many masterworks yet to come.

S U U A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 1

2I N V I E W

R E G U L A R F E A T U R E S

Soaring Higher . . . . . . . . . 10-11T-Bird Tally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Honors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Old Main Society Inductees

Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30-31Class Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . 32-33 Alumni Photos and News

University Headlines . . . . . . . . 34We Will Remember . . . . . . . . . 35Last Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 A Local Legend’s 50th Birthday

Baking up Success PAGES 4-7Husband and wife alumni team up to open a wedding cake business, winning “Cupcake Wars” and national acclaim.

Experience More PAGES 8-9SUU’s new catch phrase is more than just a marketing tagline.

Everything You Already Knew PAGE 12The University continues to rack up awards for academic excellence, affordability and service learning.

High Flyers PAGE 17Five stellar T-Birds are inducted into the SUU Athletic Hall of Fame.

Thunderbard PAGE 29A new program introduces freshmen to Shakespeare.

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2013EDITION

C O N T E N T S

O N T H E C O V E R

Beverley Taylor Sorenson’s contributions to the arts have enriched all of Utah. See pages 24-27 for a look at her legacy at SUU.

SUU in View is created twice a year, in the

fall and spring. Past editions can be found

online at suu.edu/alumni/magazine.

351 West University Blvd.

Cedar City, UT 84720

(435) 586-7777

email: alumni@suu.edu

web: www.suu.edu/alumni

Executive Director

Mindy Benson

Production Assistant

Ron Cardon

Layout & Photography

SUU Publications

Contributing Writers

Larry Baker

Jennifer Burt

Amy McIff

Jessica McIntyre

The staff of the offices of Alumni Relations and University Advancement

The Southern Utah University Alumni Association supports and celebrates the University by fostering a lifelong spirit of loyalty, service and fellowship among alumni, faculty, students and friends of SUU.

S O U T H E R N U T A H U N I V E R S I T Y

ALUMNIRELATIONS

S O U T H E R N U T A H U N I V E R S I T Y

ALUMNIRELATIONS

IRON COUNTY CHAPTER

S A L T L A K E C H A P T E R

EditorJennifer Burt

Creative Director Rohn Solomon

Campaign for SUU PAGES 20-27The $100 million fundraising effort for the University enters the final stretch, celebrating remarkable success and aiming to reach the goal.

R E G U L A R F E A T U R E S

Soaring Higher . . . . . . . . . 10-11T-Bird Tally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Honors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Old Main Society Inductees

Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30-31Class Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . 32-33 Alumni Photos and News

University Headlines . . . . . . . . 34We Will Remember . . . . . . . . . 35Last Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 A Local Legend’s 50th Birthday

Founders Celebration PAGES 14-16Bloomers and basketballs, a human book-moving chain, and some war surplus student housing are all lesser-known parts of the story of SUU.

S U U A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 3

4I N V I E W

The first wedding cake Janell Brown

(’03) ever made was for a cousin whose

wedding was 330 miles away from the tiny

apartment kitchen in which Brown baked

and assembled all five buttercream tiers.

“I had just finished taking the Wilton cake

decorating classes and of course thought,

‘Oh, I can do anything.’”

The novice at-home baker and her sister

set out for a slower than normal drive from

Cedar City to Logan, Utah, on high hopes

and nerves. Fortunately, it went off without a

hitch, and Brown soon after officially entered

the wedding cake business when she signed

up her first non-family clients: five brides she

met as a first-time bridal show vendor.

“That’s where it all started, and it’s just

grown from there.”

The recently donned victor of Food

Network’s “Cupcake Wars” says this with

an ease that makes you believe the years

between baking a few simple wedding cakes

from home to winning national recognition

and a growing celebrity clientele as one

of Salt Lake City’s most promising new

businesses were, well, a piece of cake.

But as any baker will tell you, the devil

is in the details, and each ingredient is

as important as any other. Their pace may seem fast, considering

Brown and her husband, Trent (’06), just opened the family business

One Sweet Slice in 2011, but each step has been carefully measured,

combining into the perfect recipe for entrepreneurial success.

From baking a few cakes and teaching cake decorating classes nine

years ago while Trent finished his business marketing degree at SUU,

Janell slowly expanded her clientele by word of mouth alone. A new

mom at the time, she was happy with the creative outlet and extra

spending money, and “didn’t think much else would come of it.”

But she was more talented than her nonchalant retrospective would

let on, and even after relocating to northern Utah (which meant

establishing an entirely new base of clients and colleagues), word of

mouth served the young baker well.

“We got to the point with wedding cakes that my business either

needed to grow into its own space or I had to quit, because I couldn’t

accommodate all the requests in my kitchen at home.”

After a company layoff that left Trent unemployed, the couple

thought, “Well, let’s open a shop and see how it goes,” Janell reflects.

“Our plan was to open a cake shop, but cupcakes had become so

SUCCESSBaking upOne sweet hobby turned booming business when husband and wife alumni join forces to battle the nation’s best bakers…and win.

Trent and Janell Brown, in front of the original One Sweet Slice in South Jordan, Utah.

S U U A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 5

popular, we figured we may as well

sell them up front.”

She laughs, “I thought I could just

pour my cake batter into cupcake

liners. I quickly learned that they’re

two totally different things.”

She shrugs off the stress that must

have come after committing to a

business model based in part on

a product that was not yet

6I N V I E W

perfected. “It took a few months

of experimenting.”

Trent, however, is a bit more

honest about all that went into

their efforts. “She went through

each recipe at least 20 times.”

But wait, there’s more.

“We were committed, and we knew

we could only do it together—I’d run

the business and she would produce

the product—but that was two days

before our youngest daughter was

born.” He laughs, “Not exactly the

ideal time to open a business whose

primary workforce is the new mom.”

Knowing they had to open their

doors by the summer’s busy wedding

season, the Browns had just six

months to renovate a shop, expand

their marketing, hire and train

employees and, as Janell puts it,

“figure out what we were doing.”

They set up a futon in the stock

room, and Trent managed their three

older kids and the business side of

things while Janell took care of their

new daughter, the storefront, the

employees and the recipes.

Just two years later, one Sweet

Slice now has stores in South

Jordan and Sandy, Utah. The

company produces cupcakes

and specialty cakes for clients

across the country, including

many A-list celebrities. They

are the preferred vendor

at Utah’s most prestigious

event venues, winner

of “Cupcake Wars,”

and the creative force

behind the book One Sweet Cupcake:

Professional Decorating and Recipe

Secrets Made Easy, to be released

this fall.

As she describes her experience on

“Cupcake Wars,” Janell reveals the

optimism that has surely driven One

Sweet Slice’s success: “If you want

to win anything, you’ve got to go in

thinking you’re a competitor and that

you can do it.”

And the inspiration behind the

One Sweet Slice moniker says much

about the Brown’s perspective on

their recent success. “Ultimately,

everything people get from us is to

either celebrate an event or brighten

someone’s day. That time is a little

slice out of life that’s happy and

memorable and worth celebrating.”

From the taste testing parties

in their kitchen with friends to a

professional-grade kitchen on a

California soundstage, Janell and

Trent Brown have shaped one sweet

life simply by doing the things they

love alongside the people they love

the most.

FIVE Sweet TIPS Trent’s advice to entrepreneurs

1. Surround yourself with advisorsMost entrepreneurs want to help each other succeed, and there are networking groups (chamber of commerce, ConnectShare, BNI, etc.) to help you connect.

2. Utilize free small business resourcesMany non-profit organizations and banks offer free business development consulting from retired business owners who have experience building and running a business.

3. Understand your customerCustomers aren’t just buying a product, they’re buying an experience. What do your customers want, and what are you doing to stand out from all the rest?

4. Know your competitionKeep constant tabs on your competition. Follow them on Facebook, visit their website, see how they’re advertising, etc. Then do something better.

5. Learn from mistakesThe only way you can grow is by consistently acknowledging mistakes and shortcomings and correcting them.

ONE Sweet BATCH Janell’s tips for the perfect cupcake

1. Do not put multiple cupcake flavors in the same pan. Each recipe cooks differently; vanilla cupcakes, for example, bake faster than chocolate.2. Fill the paper liner 2/3 full so you get a cup-cake that crowns nicely but doesn’t overflow.3. Set your oven temperature five degrees lower than the recipe calls for.4. Always remove the cupcakes when you lightly press the top with your finger and it springs back.5. Don’t ice your cupcakes until they are completely cool, and use a pastry bag with a large tip—no Ziplocs!6. Put your sprinkles or garnish on the cupcake immediately after they are iced, otherwise the icing will crust over and the decorations will not stick.

Chocolate Stuffed Red Velvet Cupcakes

Dark Chocolate Ganache• 1 c. milk chocolate chips • ½ c. heavy cream • 1 TB. unsalted butterHeat butter and cream just until boiling. Pour over room temperature chocolate and whisk until smooth. Cover and let sit until cool.

Red Velvet Cupcakes• 2 c. all-purpose flour • 4 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder • 1/2 tsp. salt • 1 ½ c. granulated sugar • ½ c. unsalted butter, at room temperature • 2 large eggs • 3 tsp. red gel food coloring • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract • 1 c. buttermilk • 1 ½ tsp. baking soda• 1 tsp. vinegar

Preheat oven to 375° F. Line a standard muffin tin with paper liners.In a small bowl sift flour, cocoa powder & salt. Set aside.In the bowl of an electric mixer beat butter and sugar on medium speed for 2-3 minutes, until light in color and well combined. Beat in egg, food coloring & vanilla.Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined.In a small bowl combine baking soda and vinegar. Stir into batter.Bake 15-17 minutes, or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Let cool completely.Core center of cupcakes and fill with ganache. Top with icing. Cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.

Classic Cream Cheese Icing• 8 oz. Cream Cheese• 2 c. Butter• 1 TB pure vanilla• 1-1 ½ lbs. powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth and no lumps remain. Add vanilla and beat together. Add powdered sugar one cup at a time until thick and creamy.

S U U A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 7

"Of course the perfect SUU cupcake would have to be red and white. And I think I’d pick something classic, like red velvet, but I’d add a twist. That's SUU to me. You go in knowing it will be a good experience, but you walk away surprised at just how great it really has been."

Janell Brown

For two months, sophomore

Brandy Holm paced a dark section

of a Costa Rican beach from 8:00 at

night until 4:00 the next morning,

hunting translucent waters and

combing sandy beaches for the

discreet signs of nesting sea turtles,

completing requirements for a class

at SUU in land-locked Cedar City.

Of this experience, the Hurricane

biology major said, “It was more

than a class, I experienced real love.”

She continued, “I came to love the

people I was with, love the sand on

my feet, love the sound of the waves,

love the cause behind my work, and

love all those small things I never

really thought about before.”

Holm hasn’t simply filled her time

as a college student with classes

and homework; she’s committed to

experiencing these years and the

learning that comes along with it by

getting involved in her field through

one of SUU’s four experiential

education centers. Just two years

in, it’s already as clear as the waves

she patroled that she’ll leave with

much more than she ever could have

imagined at the outset.

In its new experiential learning

model and countless other ways,

SUU is committed to making sure its

students experience more.

“Our goal is that our students

stop the pattern of just attending

class and doing homework. We

want them to experience and create

memories, that is how they will

learn,” explained VP of University

Relations Dean O’Driscoll (’83)

when asked of the inspiration behind

the new tagline.

What’s more, as tuition skyrockets

across the nation, SUU administrators

are committed to providing this

unmatched experiential learning

without pricing students out of their

education.

As the only university in Utah

and one of just 11 public schools

across the West, SUU was included

in The Princeton Review’s “Best

Value Colleges: 2013.” It was also

recognized for the second consecutive

year as one of “America’s 100 Best

College Buys” in a nationwide

evaluation that weighs each school’s

academic success against its price

tag to determine which of the best

colleges are the most affordable.

And while rankings are nice, SUU

Provost Bradley Cook says the best

validation comes simply from seeing

students succeed. Students from the

first group of experiential learning-

tracked students completed their

capstone projects last fall, and the

Provost says he and his faculty are

encouraged at how eagerly students

are jumping into the experience over

just check-listing their way from one

class to the next.

Such was the case for Misty

Fielding, a junior sociology major

from Richfield who saw the problems

A T S O U T H E R N U T A H U N I V E R S I T Y , S T U D E N T S

8I N V I E W

You may not have seen it yet, but SUU has adopted a new slogan, “Experience More,” and whether splashed across billboards or marking a postcard in a high school senior’s mailbox, the new marketing campaign is a great deal more than just a new tagline.

A home energy windmill, the creativity engagement project of integrated engineering student Tyler Richardson.

S U U A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 9

rural schools in Jamaica were facing

while vacationing there.

“I knew I could make a difference

but wasn’t sure how to get started.”

In this, she found the perfect

experiential learning capstone

project, and her research began.

“Seeing all that needs to be done

has really motivated me to continue

my education so I can go back and

help those children out of poverty.”

Senior Tyler Richardson proves

experiential learning is no less

impactful closer to home. The

integrated engineering major used

his knowledge of engineering

and renewable energy to create a

windmill out of a treadmill motor,

trampoline legs and bike tires that

now powers his family’s home.

“I have always been interested

in the idea, so I combined my

favorite hobbies in one project,” said

Richardson. He now hopes to use

this as a starting point to implement

in third world countries.

These experiences are all much

more than a diploma; they are

proof that with more opportunities,

attention, success, adventure and

support, ideas expand and lives take

shape—all proof that SUU’s students

really do experience more.

Want to “Experience More” cash in your pockets?

Do you have an experience from your time as a T-Bird that you’d like to share? Turn it into a video or billboard to promote SUU’s “Experience More” and win $500 cash. This contest is open to all SUU alumni as well as students to submit their own “Experience More” marketing ideas. The contest continues through May. Rules and past winning submissions can be viewed at suu.edu/ur/contest.

Brandy Holm in Costa Rica, researching sea turtles as part of her global engagement project.

I N V I E W

CHAMPIONSHIPS BY THE DOZENThe 2011-12 SUU Gymnastics squad earned yet another Academic

National Championship—its 12th—after leading the nation with

a team GPA of 3.843 during the 2011-12 season. Then a senior,

now a T-Bird alumna, Lauren Jeffrey (’12) led the team onto

victory with a 4.0 GPA. Fellow seniors Brooke Cersosimo (’12)

and Anna Schumacher (’12) were close behind, with a 3.92 and

3.93 GPA, respectively.

SOAR ING

Kent Myers (’51) (left) is the newest member of the Utah

Sports Hall of Fame’s Officials Hall of Honor, inducted

for superior achievement as a sports official at the high

school and collegiate levels. Kent was a basketball,

football and baseball official for more than 25 years, as

well as a coach and sports broadcaster. He also served

as the Southern Utah Officials Association president

and as a trainer and examiner.

HIGHER

OFFICIAL RECOGNITION

Thunderbirds far and wide continue to make their mark. We applaud the heights they’ve reached and look forward to all that is yet to come.

S U U A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 11

IN STEP WITH SUCCESSAccomplished dancer, choreographer and SUU alumna Jessica Metcalf

(’08) received a Fulbright Scholarship for postgraduate students to

study at London’s University of Roehampton, with plans to explore the

historical, social and cultural impact of dance on society.

SUU alumni dominated the Utah Association of Secondary School Principals’ 2012 administrator of the year awards. Principal

Rick Robins (’96), of Juab High School, was named the Utah High School Principal of the year and Dana McConnell (’92 -

B.A., ’07 - M.Ed.), of Pine View Middle School, was selected as the Utah Assistant Principal of the Year. Additionally, Royd

Darrington (’99), of Enterprise High School, was most recently named Utah’s 2012-13 Secondary Principal of the Year.

CHIEF PRINCIPALS

A DREAM FULFILLEDUtah Shakespeare Festival founder

and former College of Southern

Utah theatre professor, Fred C.

Adams, directed the Festival’s 2011

production of A Midsummer Night’s

Dream, which was filmed live by

BYU Broadcasting. The broadcast

recently eared a 2012 regional Emmy

for Best Special Event Coverage

Live or Edited. Both Adams and

the Festival’s executive director, R.

Scott Phillips (’76), joined BYU

Broadcasting to accept the award.

Vocal students Alex Byers,

Taliah Byers, Shaye Leavitt and

Christina Meikle earned a second

place title at the National Opera

Association’s annual collegiate

competition. SUU was one of just

five schools to qualify for the

final round of competition, and

2012 graduate Geneil Perkins

helped the quartet originally

qualify before graduating last

spring and passing the baton for

the 2013 final competition.

Communication grad Paul Ward (’87) was

selected by the Phoenix Business Journal as the

Phoenix, Ariz. Marketer of the Year. His company,

Matter Value LLC, supplies marketing expertise

to professional services firms nationally through

outsourced Chief Marketing Officers (CMO).

BRAVISSIMO!

MARKETING WHIZSUU senior Brad Sorenson was named the 2012 Elite Quarterback

for the FCS in the College Football Performance Awards, recognizing

his hard work and excellence over the T-Bird star’s three seasons

on the SUU squad. Sorenson is SUU’s second player to earn a career

Elite award from the CFPA, joining Tysson Poots (’11), who earned

the honor at wide receiver to conclude his college career.

HOLDING THE LINE

12I N V I E W

We all know the least expensive

option does not always come at

the highest quality and yet, now

more than ever, slashed price tags

drive sales. This is true, too, of

higher education, according to a

recent study by student loan giant

Sallie Mae. Its “How America Pays

for College 2012” profile reports

that more than any other time in

history, tuition is the primary factor

in college selection for students

and their parents. In fact, in 2012,

approximately 70 percent of families

eliminated top college choices based

on cost.

What’s more,

student loan debt

in the U.S. has

now surpassed

all other kinds of

debt, and of the 20

million Americans

who attend college

each year, close to

12 million borrow

annually to cover

education expenses—a number that

is expected to continue rising. But

all is not lost.

With a rising academic reputation,

SUU has once again made its mark

among the top tier of the West’s

very best universities—one of only

40 public schools to earn such high

marks from The Princeton Review.

And we’ve done it more efficiently

than most.

While a personalized, hands-on

education in a supportive campus

environment remains our hallmark,

excellence and value have also

become well-known traits of the

SUU experience, with solid strides

in student retention and graduation

rates as well as a noticeable rise

in the academic preparedness of

incoming students in recent years.

So when we say that SUU is a

“best buy,” we’re not talking bargain

basement find but, rather, a true

steal of a deal.

In fact, for the second consecutive

year, SUU is also included in the elite

“America’s 100 Best College Buys”

listing, which means

that of the nearly 7,000

accredited colleges

and universit ies

across the nation,

SUU is recognized

as one of the very

best at balancing

academic excellence

and affordability.

What’s more, we have

the second lowest

annual tuition among the nation’s

100 best buys, and we’re one of just

13 western schools to be included on

the list.

According to Associate Vice

President for Enrollment Stephen

Allen (’98), who visits with students

and parents across the West as

they investigate colleges, “SUU is

becoming recognized throughout

the region as the premier institution

for a high quality undergraduate

experience at an affordable price.”

In a recent tally of student

indebtedness among the West’s

universities by U.S. News, SUU was

ranked third among all schools for

the lowest student debt at graduation.

According to the report, just 50

percent of SUU graduates leave with

any student debt at all, with an

average indebtedness of just $12,632.

Conversely, the highest reported

average student debt among western

universities was $54,885; were an

SUU student to take out loans for the

full tuition amount every semester to

complete a four-year undergraduate

degree, their indebtedness could still

not reach such staggering heights.

So while a low price and top

quality may not always match up, in

our case, the two go hand in hand.

And that’s what it takes to be a truly

best buy.

Everything You Already KnewRankings attest to a Rising Hallmark

Seal Finished Look

Seal with the gold bleed

Seal die cut pattern

Gold color: Pantone 871 M

BEST

VALUE COLLEGES

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2013EDITION

“SUU is becoming recognized throughout

the region as the premier institution for a high quality undergraduate

experience at an affordable price.”

Recent changes to age

requirements for missionaries of the

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day

Saints have impacted colleges and

universities across Utah. And while

it may have changed plans for high

school students you may know, it

hasn’t changed ours.

Students who plan to serve an

LDS mission upon graduating from

high school should not delay the

college application process. Apply

now, enroll later with SUU’s available

enrollment deferment of up to two

and a half years. This streamlined

process will ensure all student records

and financing are in order upon

a missionary’s homecoming, rather

than worrying about the application

process during or after a mission.

The same is true of scholarships,

which can also easily be deferred.

For more information, please

visit suu.edu/prostu/defer.html or

contact the SUU

Welcome Center

at 435-586-7741

or

info@suu.edu

Apply Now, Serve Now, Study Later Accommodating the LDS Missionary Age Change

SUU professors and

students travel all over

the world in pursuit

of their studies and

advancing their

fields. The past year

alone has seen T-Birds

on showcase from

Costa Rica to China

and India to Swaziland,

discussing everything

from new trends in fossil

formations to the biological

cycles of beef. While scholars

and professionals across the

nation hear these outstanding

presentations, the people within a

few yards of the scholars rarely do.

That is soon going to change.

In its inaugural year this April, the Festival of Excellence brought the

exceptional academic presentations, plays, research, paintings and books created

by the SUU community and heralded around the globe back to Cedar City.

Regular classes were cancelled for the early April festival so every

student, faculty and staff member on campus could either present their

work or attend the festival to hear from their colleagues and mentors.

The day opened with a keynote address from Peter Sham, co-creator of

the internationally acclaimed Lend Me a Tenor: The Musical. Attendees then

took part in workshops and sessions across campus for the remainder of

the day.

Intentionally maintaining a broad theme, Provost Bradley Cook

emphasized that the festival is set up for any student or faculty or staff

member to share their work. “We didn’t want to narrow it down to one area

of focus,” he said. “We wanted to involve all within the community because

excellence lies within every area of study.”

The festival is designed with room to grow. In coming years, presenting at

the conference will likely become a requirement for student capstone projects.

Cook also hopes to include alumni presentations in future years and is

excited about the prospect of seeing the fruits of former students’ labors

now that they have made their way in their respective fields. He also sees

the opportunity for current students to see their future degrees in action as

both motivational and formative as they cement future aspirations.

Showcasing EXCELLENCEInaugural festival celebrates outstanding work at SUU

Lesser Known Moments in SUU History

Through five name changes and 116 years, SUU has

endured and thrived. While much of our legacy has

served to inspire and entertain in the form of well-

loved traditions and stories, much remains hidden

in seldom perused books and photo collections.

In that spirit, we present a quick glance at a few

lesser-known moments in University history.

SHIFTING STANDARDRed, white, navy blue, royal blue, coral, turquoise,

orange and scarlet—at one time or another, all have

been our hallmark colors, along with five different

names and three mascots. Originally the Aggies, the

Branch Agricultural College eventually departed from

their Utah State branch founding in 1947 and became

the Broncos. This began a 14-year tradition of Bronco

pride that included pulling a model horse around the

gym floor, skirting the Lady Broncettes while fans

did the “Bronc Stomp.” In 1961, however, an article

in the student newspaper, The Thunderbird, reported

that five other schools within a 1,000-mile radius

of the College of Southern Utah were also broncos,

spurring a campaign to change CSU’s official emblem.

Suggestions came in from across campus, including

the colts, rattlers, lions and even gophers, but the

frontrunners that made it to ballot were falcons, iron

men and thunderbirds. The rest is T-Bird history.

STORIED PASSAGEThe University’s library collection has traveled a

tale of fiery peril, homelessness and, on the lighter

side, a unifying fortitude. On a wintery morning

in 1948, Old Main caught fire, the library within in

grave danger of decimation. In an effort to save the

collection, students and faculty quickly formed a

chain ascending the fire escape to pass precious books

and artifacts to safety. Saving just 20 percent of

the collection, the small assemblage of books

found temporary home in the cafeteria. In the years

that followed, donations would build the collection

to include more than 8,000 volumes, but there was

no library in which to store them. Without a home,

books were scattered across campus until 1955 when

they were moved to the dual-purpose Auditorium

building. Years later, on a much brighter day in 1969,

a 350-person human conveyor belt again stretched

across the upper quad (photo above), in Old Main’s

reconstructed shadow, passing 45,000 books hand to

hand from the Auditorium to the newly-completed

Library (now the Electronic Learning Center) in

a single day, thanks to the help of faculty, staff,

community members and even local schoolchildren.

TRAILER TOWN & CHICKEN COOPSThe conclusion of World War II brought with it a

period of great expansion for the Branch Agricultural

College. The largest ever student body, exceeding 400,

would necessitate added faculty and new facilities,

including living quarters for both staff and students.

Like many others, the BAC set its sights on surplus

materials from military bases across Utah, and in 1946,

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Worth Noting:

S U U A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 15

Lesser Known Moments in SUU History

50 trailer houses from Tooele’s St. Johns Military became

BAC’s new student housing. Adjacent to the Centrum’s

current location, “Trailer Town” was a collection of trailers

positioned around two central buildings that housed

plumbing facilities for bathing and laundering. Residents

of Trailer Town were allegedly identifiable by the scent

of fuel oil that heated their accommodations, which were

modestly equipped with an icebox and hotplate stove.

Apartment buildings known as “The Chicken Coops”

were then taken from the Topaz Military Base to house

BAC staff, and a three-wing military barracks from Topaz

became Dorm B, home to 100 male BAC students.

BLOOMERS & BASKETBALLSAt the turn of the century, in SUU’s formative years, the

newly invented sport of basketball was the talk of college

campuses all across the East. Having studied at Harvard

before accepting an offer to join the three-member faculty

of the Branch Normal School in Cedar City, Utah, Annie

Elizabeth Spencer was eager to share the new sport with

students in the West. The institution’s first female faculty

member, Annie worked to build competitive sports into

the school’s “physical culture” program. She formed the

first basketball club at BNS (photo above), composed of

the school’s most athletic female students and coached

by her future husband, E.J. Milne. Long before the men’s

team was formed, women played basketball on campus,

on a makeshift court in Old Main complete with a crowd

of intrigued spectators—their first glimpse at the nation’s

new sport. A lack of nearby competitors limited the team’s

competitive success but the program continued, growing

year after year. The BNS eventually became the Branch

Agricultural College, and a newly established men’s

basketball team ushered in the institution’s first “golden

era” of sports, winning the state basketball championship

in 1916 and again in 1918.

WHAT A WONDERFUL DECADE With student enrollment exceeding 600, the 1960s

ushered in another boon of growth. With the construction

of three buildings under way, students at CSU anxiously

awaited completion of a new student center, men’s and

women’s residence halls, and a science building. A far sight

from Trailer Town, Manzanita Courts and, later, Juniper

Hall were modern in every respect with telephones, TV

lounges and an intercom system. In grand fashion, and

bringing great attention to the small-town school in 1962,

CSU welcomed “Satchmo” (yes, that Louis Armstrong) to

campus to commemorate the new school’s great season

of change. The famed trumpeter and his backup All-Stars

performed a sensational toe-tapping jazz concert for a

ticket price of just $2.50.

BAC repurposed abandoned structures from closed military bases following the war to form The Chicken Coops (top) and Trailer Town (bottom) as expanded housing for students and staff.

J. DOUGLAS KNELLDoug Knell, who passed

away on Oct. 9, 2012, at

the age of 79, was a true

son of southern Utah

who ever toiled to build

the community and the

University. His lifetime

of work in the travel and

hospitality fields, as well

as his constant amiability, made him a beloved figure

in the area, and as a gifted saxophonist and a lover

of outdoor recreation, he was ever a recognizable

figure in Cedar City. A 1953 graduate of the Branch

Agricultural College who later also attended the

College of Southern Utah, his loyalty to his alma

mater was supremely evident over five decades of

exemplary service to Southern Utah University.

PAMELA REDINGTONPam Redington retired

from the University in

2012 after 40 years of

dedicated and singular

service. She began her

SUU career in 1973 as

secretary to the dean of

students and directly

raised the quality of

student life for 15 years before becoming executive

assistant to the leadership of the Utah Shakespeare

Festival, where she made a daily difference in the

efficacy and the success of that organization. Known

as much for her always pleasant ways as for her

great breadth of knowledge and abilities, she never

hesitated to give of herself and her resources to

aid all areas of the campus over four decades.

G E T T O K N O W T H E F O U N D E R S

Milton BennionMilton Bennion was offered the position as first

principal (president) of the Branch Normal School

(BNS) shortly after graduating from the University of

Utah.

Versatility was one of the most important qualities

that all of the founding faculty needed to succeed, and

in addition to his administrative duties, Milton taught

American history and civics courses plus physical

geography and physiology throughout his three years at

BNS. Among the many legacies that Milton Bennion left

SUU was a system of student self-government.

After leaving BNS, his lifelong service and leadership

on the national education scene as well as in the Salt

Lake valley and state of Utah were impressive.

A sense of humor remained one of Milton’s

trademarks throughout his life. When Milton came out

of the anesthesia after a leg amputation due to diabetes,

he noted the somber mood of his loved ones and said,

“Well, if I have to die, I’d rather die feet first than head

first.”

In addition to his quick wit, Milton’s university

associates admired his intellectual acumen, his

character and integrity. LeRoy Cowles, a colleague in

the College of Education, said: “He had the most logical

mind I have ever known.” Colleague George Thomas,

president of his alma mater, observed: “Milton Bennion

could sit as judge of his own case and adjudicate it as

fairly as any man.”

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS

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F L Y E R S

Five Thunderbird alumni were inducted into Southern Utah University’s Athletic Hall of Fame in January, the first inductees since 1996. We take great pride in these standout alumni who have made their mark on SUU’s campus and in sport across the nation.

STUART ADAMS (’85) was a two-

time all-American in golf who led

the Thunderbirds at the 1985 NAIA

National Championships with a fifth-

place individual finish and seventh-

place team finish. Adams still holds

SUU’s single-round scoring record

with a 61 he shot at Boise State

during the 1984-85 season. Adams,

who is one of just six golfers in the

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

Hall of Fame, currently practices

optometry in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

CHERRI FRANDSEN (’97) was a four-

year letter winner in women’s

basketball who helped lead SUU

to three straight American West

Conference championships, from

1994-1996. She is still the school’s

career scoring leader with 1,762

points, while ranking second all-

time in field goal percentage, third

in rebounding and blocks and fifth

in steals. She currently resides in

Panguitch, Utah, where she coaches

at the youth and high school levels.

MYNDEE KAY LARSEN (’98), also a

four-year letter winner in women’s

basketball, teamed with Frandsen on

all three AWC championship teams

and was a member of the school’s

inaugural Mid-Continent Conference

squad. As a senior, Larsen set two

NCAA records which still stand,

for converting the most consecutive

field goal attempts (28) and setting

a 72.4-percent shooting record.

She is also SUU’s career field goal

percentage and blocks leader, and

ranks second in rebounds and fourth

in free throw percentage. Larsen,

who went on to serve as an assistant

coach and administrator at SUU, is

currently assistant commissioner for

the Summit League.

DAVOR MARCELIC (’91) scored a men’s

basketball record 1,710 points in his

time at SUU from 1987 to 1992 and

is one of just two Thunderbird men’s

players to surpass 1,500 points. He

also holds the school’s single-season

scoring record of 659 points, which

he scored in 1991-92 when he led the

Thunderbirds to a 20-8 record, the

school’s second-best mark during

its NCAA era. In addition to his

scoring marks he is still among the

school’s top-10 in career free throw

shooting, 3-point shooting, assists

and rebounding. He currently works

in real estate in his native Croatia.

RICK ROBINS (’97) was a four-year

starter at quarterback for the

Thunderbirds who left as SUU’s

career total offense, total plays,

passing attempts, pass completions,

passing yards and passing

touchdowns leader. He still ranks

among the top three in all categories.

At graduation, he also held two of

the top four single-season marks

for pass attempts; two of the top-

three season completion marks; and

two of the top-four single-season

passing yards marks—all including

the category records. And he held

two of the top-three single-season

marks for total yards and plays.

Robins is currently the principal at

Utah’s Juab High School.

With many accomplished athletes

in our Thunderbird ranks, SUU

Athletics plans to conduct Hall of

Fame inductions on an annual basis

moving forward.

Left to right: Hall of Fame inductees Rick Robins, Stuart Adams, Cherri Frandsen, and Myndee Kay Larsen, with SUU Athletic Director Ken Beazer. Not shown: Davor Marcelic.

As the University’s student population continues to grow

and diversify, so too does our base of proud alumni who

know first-hand the value of the SUU experience. With high

hopes to pass that tradition on, many alumni unfortunately

find that out-of-state tuition rates are challenging to bear.

Fortunately, SUU’s Alumni Legacy Scholarships give

nonresident students who are the children of an SUU,

SUSC, CSU or BAC alumnus a scholarship to cover the

difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition, making

the Thunderbird tradition more affordable for the children

of proud alumni everywhere. After recently increasing

funding for these legacy scholarships, the University is

excited to offer more of its own this special perk.

To qualify, students must:

• Be admitted and enrolled as a first-time, nonresident

student,

• Have at least one parent who graduated with an

associate’s degree or higher from SUU (SUSC, CSU, etc.).

Alumni Legacy Scholarship awards are, however, limited

and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis,

with two levels of funding:

Tier 1: Four-year renewable scholarship of $10,500/year

Tier 2: Four-year renewable scholarship of $7,000/year.

Please note: Students who accept an Alumni Legacy

Scholarship will not be eligible to gain Utah Residency.

For more information as you plan for the future, please

contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at 435-

586-7735. Scholarship information is also available online

at suu.edu/scholarships.

Keeping it in the Family

In 1970, Galen Rose

(’77) had little idea of

what his future would hold

as a freshman zoology

and biology major at Southern Utah State College. His

Thunderbird allegiance grew, however, and the 1976

student body president left school with a diploma and, soon

after, a wife in SUSC’s 1979 Homecoming Queen Regina

Peterson (’81).

Today, 33 years since they first met during the Homecoming

Queen competition, the couple has established a loyal brood

of Thunderbirds in The Dalles, Oregon. All three of their

children have now attended SUU, and the latest Rose on

campus, Lindsey, is currently studying exercise science as

a senior on an Alumni Legacy Scholarship.

“We, of course, had a great experience at SUU and knew

it would be a great fit for our children. But with all three

kids in school [their older two have moved on to graduate

school], our options were somewhat limited. The Alumni

Legacy Scholarship gave us a way to get Lindsey where she

really wanted to go.”

Galen and Regina come from a long line of SUU true.

Most of Galen’s 13 siblings went to SUU, as did all four

of Regina’s siblings. “SUU is our school, that’s where our

roots are, that’s where our love is. We’re just so happy we

have been able to pass that experience on.”

Galen and Regina Rose, when they first met (inset) and surrounded by their current all-Thunderbird family (above).

S C H O L A R S H I P S F O R T H E T - B I R D T R U EAlumni Legacy Scholarships for SUU Descendants

Grandchildren too!The 2013 Legislative Session included the passage of Senate

Bill 51, the “Higher Education Tuition Waivers” bill, which will

extend alumni legacy nonresident scholarships to grandchildren of

alumni. Spread the word to inspire the next generation of SUU true.

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countries are now playing host to Peter Sham and Brad Carroll’s “Lend Me A Tenor: The Musical.” The musical is now playing in Germany, Austria, Finland, Spain and England.

total items used within the Library in 2012 by students and faculty. This includes books, media, E-books and special collections.

job placement touted by the School of Business for its graduates, who also hold an outstanding 92-percent acceptance rate into graduate accountancy programs across the nation.

Guitar Hero playing computer created by SUU’s computer engineering students had just 15 losses to more than 200 wins at the GEEX Gaming and Electronics Expo.

countries that T-Birds have flocked to, with more than 400 students participating in the Study Abroad program each summer, studying on six continents. Programs range from sociology in Nepal, to theatre in London and anthropology in Botswana.

acres utilized by agricultural and animal science majors at the hands-on ranch and farm. These students work with 60 cows and 20 horses.

3,6003,600

94%94%elementary students have been served at the Cedar Mountain Science Camp since 1999. Local fourth, fifth and sixth graders participate at this two-day camp hosted by SUU students.

3,8443,844

TALLYT-BIRD

Southern Utah University’s

comprehensive campaign The

Future Is Rising has now surpassed

the 86-percent mark in its targeted

amount of $100 million. The

campaign, announced in the fall

of 2011, will powerfully propel the

University forward in its mission of

inspiring and educating those who

will use a strong and principled

character to help shape the future of

our world.

“Our many alumni and friends

have displayed foresight and

great generosity in supporting

this campaign and have proven,

time and again, their willingness

to back our endeavors,” said SUU

President Michael T. Benson. “We

are incredibly grateful for their

unwavering commitment and

encouragement.”

While diligently focusing on what

still must be accomplished in the

campaign, the University continues

to treasure those who have seen fit to

support the effort through gifts both

large and small. The list of those who

have given to the campaign is long

and varied, and each contributor can

be counted as among those who will

make a great difference in the future

of the University and its students. All

who give are investing in that future.

Scott Snow of Las Vegas, Nev.,

is one such supporter of the

advancement effort in the past year.

He believes strongly in the value

of education and in the tools it can

provide for the future of individuals.

He also believes in the need to

assist students who have the ability

and the drive to succeed but who

lack the financial resources. This

belief comes from experience, as

he worked in the business field in

St. George for several years before

determining to become a Certified

Public Accountant, which led him

to SUU, from which he graduated

in 1987. While in school, he worked

full-time and was married with

children, and was able to draw upon

the resources of his parents to help

finance his studies.

However, he said, “I had in

mind the struggles of many in this

recession-like period and now that I

am in a position to help, asked myself

‘If not now, when?’” This question

led him to donate to the University’s

scholarship fund in business and

accounting, so that others can begin

their own journey to success.

While student aid is a great

need at SUU, a key element of the

campaign is what is now known

as the Beverley Taylor Sorenson

Center for the Arts, encompassing

the new Shakespeare theatre and

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THE FUTURE IS RISING THE CAMPAIGN FOR SUU

86%+

G O A L : $ 1 0 0 M I L L I O N

Campaign for SUU forges forward

the Southern Utah Museum of Art, as well as an artistic

production building. Along with a number of substantial

gifts—including a $3 million grant from the George S. and

Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation and a $6 million dollar gift

from the Sorenson Legacy Foundation (see story beginning

on page 24)—is a $5 million gift from the Engelstad Family

Foundation of Las Vegas, toward the building of the new

Shakespeare theatre and its service to students of all ages.

The Festival’s Nevada connection has been strengthened

over the past 18 years through the Festival’s education

programs, which now annually serve more than 9,000

students from the Silver State. The Engelstad gift will help

the Festival significantly expand its educational programs

to serve even more students in Nevada and across the

Intermountain West.

The Engelstad Family Foundation is the realized dream

of Ralph Engelstad, former owner of Las Vegas’ Imperial

Palace casino and hotel, who created a foundation that

would draw upon his family’s assets to support the

communities they call home, with education being the

Foundation’s driving, founding goal.

The Emma Eccles Jones Foundation, long a dynamic

supporter of SUU, recently saw the value in helping to

establish an Early Childhood Education Enhancement

Project to meet the growing needs of parents, educators,

and most importantly young children in southern Utah.

The gift, to be utilized in the Beverley Taylor Sorenson

College of Education and Human Development, will meet

the educational needs of pre-kindergarten students and

their parents on many fronts.

“This gift for early childhood education will help ensure

that every child in southern Utah, no matter their family

income or circumstance, starts out with a fair shot to

succeed in school and in life,” said Dean of Education and

Human Development Deb Hill. “Southern Utah University

will develop new programs to improve opportunities and

outcomes, including engaging parents in their child’s early

learning and development. Early childhood education

makes good economic sense.”

Emma Eccles Jones was a noted philanthropist, educator

and pioneer in early childhood education. She also taught

generations of prospective teachers, providing them with a

solid foundation for their careers.

These programs and their benefactors will greatly assist

the University in its quest to improve and expand its service

to the public. Again, while funding for scholarships is

always at the top of University needs, a wide range of other

giving opportunities exists, and those interested in being

a part of The Future Is Rising campaign are encouraged

to contact the University

Advancement Office at

435-586-7775 or visit the

campaign website

suu.edu/rising

S U U A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 21www.suu.edu/risingwww.suu.edu/rising

“I had in mind the struggles of many in this recession- like period and now that I am in a position to help, I asked myself ‘If not now, when?’” S C O T T S N O W

Betty Engelstad (right) with Kris Engelstad McGarry

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THE FUTURE IS RISING THE CAMPAIGN FOR SUU

Every winter for the past 14 years,

alumni and friends of the University

come back to campus to dine with

strangers, each one different from the

year before when these same visitors

came to campus for lunch. They pair

off with students and though they

have never before met, most will

likely close this short meeting with

heartfelt words of both gratitude and

encouragement that speak to a much

more lasting relationship than can

be established over a lunch hour.

What’s more, these visitors know

that when they can no longer make

this annual trip to campus, children

and, someday, grandchildren will

carry on in this tradition—a lunch

with a stranger that affirms a lasting

legacy.

But this story isn’t about the

pilgrimage back to campus for lunch;

it’s about the students these visitors

have dined with and the many

more who have yet to benefit from

endowed scholarships established

decades ago that continue to impact

students today.

These students anxiously await

this annual gathering—SUU’s

Scholarship Luncheon—looking

forward to finally thanking in

person that one individual, family or

even organization who has forever

impacted their success.

Such was the case this past

February for Grayson Moulton, a

senior at SUU who has funded all

four years of his education with

fingers crossed, on a mix of hard

work and scholarships.

“I was always raised to do the

very best you can, and others will

take notice,” said Moulton. “But it

gets to a point every semester where

you’re crunching numbers and you

don’t know how it’s ever going to

work out.”

According to the U.S. Department

of Education’s annual report on

higher education, public college

tuition has increased 15 percent on

average over the past three years.

Conversely, stable employment is

harder to come by, and public sector

job losses alone in recent years have

The Students behind the Scholarships

A Worthy

Investment

Senior Grayson Moulton

S U U A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 23www.suu.edu/risingwww.suu.edu/rising

been the most dramatic since Labor

Department records began in 1955,

according to a Reuters analysis.

Now more than ever, students

and their families must factor

affordability into not just the college

selection process but also into

determining whether or not college

is even a possibility.

“It’s always a huge sigh of relief

when you find out you’ve gotten

a little help,” Moulton said of all

that hinges on financial support in

college. “It’s a vote of confidence

that someone sees something in you

that’s worth the investment.”

More than that, for Moulton

and the nearly 3,000 students who

attend SUU on scholarships in a

given year, the financial support

allows students to be students,

putting everything they have into

learning and developing themselves

as individuals.

“There is so much to get involved

with beyond just homework and

classes, but there is only so much of

you to go around. With scholarships,

you really feel you have more energy

and freedom dedicated to the things

you are dedicating your life to.”

Moulton, who has funded a

majority of his schooling on his

own, said there have been times

when he has had up to three jobs

to pay for tuition and housing and

living expenses. He said those were

the semesters when he felt most

stretched and the least successful.

“You earn what you work for,” he

explained. “It’s really been important

to me that I’ve been able to work for

school and work for my future over

just working for a paycheck.”

“These side projects and other

opportunities that we really want to

participate in and that will enhance

our marketability and experience all

require as much as any class does.

With my scholarship, it’s been nice

to be able to pursue everything I

want to rather than just a few things

that I can fit in.”

Moulton has already seen

the benefits of getting involved.

After acting in every main stage

and second stage student and

departmental production he could

over the past four years, all while

earning top marks in his classes,

the musical theatre major has been

selected as a Greenshow performer

and cast member of Anything Goes

for the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s

2013 season.

“This is going to be amazing. I

can’t tell you how fortunate I feel to

gain this experience.”

The budding actor has big plans

after graduation to either jump into

acting as a profession by way of

graduate studies in theatre or attend

law school to ultimately become an

entertainment lawyer. He anticipates

his upcoming summer of 10 hours a

day, six days a week work with the

Festival will bode well for both his

talent and work ethic as he prepares

his post-graduate applications.

In addition to his studies and

extracurriculars, which will range

from acting to student government as

senator for the College of Performing

and Visual Arts in his final semesters

at SUU next year, Moulton plans to

dedicate a few hours of his time to

L-SAT prep daily. He and his wife

will also welcome their first child

this summer.

His demeanor doesn’t let on all

that must certainly be running

through his mind, and Moulton is

gracious and confident when he

talks of the work still ahead.

“It can be overwhelming at times,

but I know this is all working in

my favor,” he says of the long days

balancing school and family and

jobs and extracurriculars.

“I look at every semester, and I

am just amazed and grateful. I know

I couldn’t have stretched things

any further without having to give

something up, and I am so glad

I didn’t have to give up all these

things that have made me who I am.”

A Worthy

Investment

Senior Jeffrey Ure speaks at this year’s Scholarship Appreciation Luncheon.

The Beverley Taylor Sorenson

Center for the Arts is expected to

begin rising on the SUU campus early

next spring, in large measure thanks

to the generosity of the Sorenson

Legacy Foundation led by Beverley

Sorenson, a visionary and singular

friend of not only the University but

of education in general, and arts

education for children in particular.

The center will encompass visual

arts, live theater, and dynamic arts

education in one area of campus

and will dramatically magnify the

cultural life of Cedar City and its

surrounding region.

While the $30 million center

is being made possible thanks to

the generosity of many insightful

and invested benefactors, including

governmental entities, and to the

efforts of dedicated and visionary

arts educators as well as campus and

community leaders, Mrs. Sorenson’s

$6 million gift provided funds to

reach the goal to push the overall

project forward, as well as ongoing

support for arts education and

outreach.

The decision to name the center

for Mrs. Sorenson was an easy one,

as she has formidably supported

the arts throughout her life, and

particularly as a tool to enrich the

lives and futures of children.

“Indeed,” said Dean of Performing

and Visual Arts Shauna Mendini,

“we are privileged to name our

Center for the Arts in honor of

Beverley and her vision of the power

of art in improving quality of life,

particularly when it touches the

lives of children. It is essential that

her legacy of love for the arts be

echoed throughout the entire state

of Utah through the Beverley Taylor

Sorenson Center for the Arts.

Mrs. Sorenson grew up in a

family deeply involved in artistic

pursuits and she engaged in dance

and music training from a young

age. Later, she and her husband, the

late biotechnology pioneer James

LeVoy Sorenson, ardently supported

both the arts and education, and

it was Mrs. Sorenson’s greatest

desire to unite the two worlds in her

philanthropy.

The Sorenson Legacy Foundation

previously donated more than $3

million to Southern Utah University

to fund three components: the Emma

Eccles Jones Teacher Education

Building, an endowed chair position

for elementary arts education, and

scholarships and arts education

programs. In 2006 the College of

Education and Human Development

was named the Beverley Taylor

A work of

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Sorenson College of Education in

honor of her generous support.

Unquestionably, Mrs. Sorenson’s

life work has been to provide

children with a solid foundation in

the arts and, importantly, to provide

teachers with the resources to more

effectively teach the arts.

She has said “all children are

at risk,” and it is that philosophy

that served as the driving force as

she began creating an integrated

arts teaching model in 1995. Mrs.

Sorenson collaborated with arts

education professionals, state

organizations, higher education

institutions to design an effective

model, and in 2008, the Utah State

Legislature recognized her efforts

by adopting the model her team

developed and naming the initiative

the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts

Learning Program.

To develop a strong and lasting

foundation, Mrs. Sorenson and the

Sorenson Legacy Foundation have

committed more than $50 million

to ensuring the long-term success

of arts education in Utah, including

endowing the University’s ArtsFusion

program, which brings arts to the

widest possible range of southern

Utah schoolchildren. ArtsFusion, a

concept fostered by Mrs. Sorenson

more than six years ago, has met

with extraordinary success and

has positively affected the lives of

thousands of young Utahns, many of

which would not have otherwise been

privileged to have any appreciable

measure of exposure to the arts. The

endowment, in addition, cements

the permanent legacy of the Beverley

Taylor Sorenson Endowed Chair in

Art Education.

ArtsFUSION provides teacher

workshops with professional guest

artists in dance, music, theatre and

visual arts, and makes possible

numerous arts outreach programs

as well. One of the most ambitious

aspects of the program is the

ArtsFUSION Kids Camp “Art, Music

and Me.” This two-week summer

program, for children ages 8-12,

focuses on a theme each year that

relates to “me, my family, my

community, and the world.” Sixty

children participate in music and

visual art on the SUU campus each

day for three hours.

This long-supported vision,

coupled with Mrs. Sorenson’s

generous support of the Center for

the Arts, has set her apart as a

tireless advocate for arts education.

In addition to numerous national

recognitions, including receiving

the Eli and Edythe Broad Award

for Philanthropy in the Arts from

Americans for the Arts in 2011, she

has been repeatedly lauded for her

commitment by several of Utah’s

institutions of higher learning. At

SUU alone, she has been recognized

with an honorary doctorate, a place

in the University’s Hall of Honor,

and this spring, with the Presidential

Medallion of Service at the Founders’

Celebration.

Beverley Taylor

Sorenson

I N V I E W

THE FUTURE IS RISING THE CAMPAIGN FOR SUU

“Beverley has long championed

creative relationships between

higher education and professional

organizations as a means of

supporting art and art education,”

said Dean Mendini. “Our activities

will be enhanced through a center

dedicated to sustaining the legacy of

Beverley Taylor Sorenson.”

The Beverley Taylor Sorenson

Center for the Arts will serve as the

home to the Southern Utah Museum

of Art and the New Shakespeare

Theatre as well as an artistic

production building for the Utah

Shakespeare Festival. Sculpture

gardens and other outdoor features

will also be included in the grounds.

In addition to Mrs. Sorenson’s

gift to fund the Center project,

a profoundly generous gift of $5

million toward the New Shakespeare

Theatre and for the Festival outreach

programs was received from the

Ralph and Betty Engelstad Family

Foundation of Las Vegas, Nev. This

vibrant project has also garnered

generous support from many of

Utah’s most prestigious philanthropic

organizations, individuals, and

public entities. They include the

George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles

Foundation, Karen and Alan Ashton,

the State of Utah, Iron County and

Cedar City Corporation.

The Festival had been engaged in

a fundraising campaign for several

years to replace the deteriorating and

less-than-suitable Adams Memorial

Shakespeare Theatre, while the

funding process for SUMA

kicked off in late 2009 when

the renowned painter Jim Jones

bequeathed his home and final

collection of paintings to ignite

the work. It was not until mid-

2012 that the wisdom of combining

the facilities on one site was

explored and later approved

by campus and state

officials.

“Although

both SUMA

and the New

Sha kespea re

T h e a t r e

p r o j e c t

had been

p r e v i o u s l y

proposed and

approved, we

felt there were

economies and

efficiencies that

could be realized

in combining some of

the functions of both the

museum and the theatre,” said

SUU President Michael T. Benson.

“Further, the opportunity to create

a cultural nexus in the heart of

our community, one that would

be a year-round draw for tens of

thousands of visitors, was another

enormous benefit in twining these

facilities.”

While the campus celebrates

the most recent donations and

pledges, as well as news of the state

authorization to begin the project,

fundraising efforts continue and

naming opportunities for important

facets of the Beverley Taylor

Sorenson Center for the Arts exist.

Gifts of all amounts are welcomed.

To explore becoming a partner with

the University in this momentous

undertaking, please contact Staci

Carson (’85) at (435) 865-8186 or

Donna Law at (435) 865-8182.

At this year’s Founders Celebration, Beverley Taylor Sorenson received the

first Presidential Medallion of Service award given at Southern Utah University.

S U U A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 27www.suu.edu/risingwww.suu.edu/rising

The Southern Utah Museum of ArtSUMA’s educational mission

is to instruct and inspire the

next generation of art museum

professionals as it will become

the first nationally-accredited art

museum staffed and operated by

mentored students in a shared applied

research and learning environment.

As a model laboratory for collection

and exhibition research, educational

programming, public school

outreach and empirical evaluation

of the visitor experience, SUMA

will present a new age of unique

educational opportunity as it also

enriches area students of all ages, as

well as their teachers. As a regional

art museum, SUMA will serve a

broad geographic community year-

round, including residents, tourists,

SUU students and thousands of area

K-12 students. More than 60,000

visitors per year are expected, as

SUMA will host art exhibitions

from around the world, house the

University’s permanent collection,

and design, curate and produce

touring exhibits. Additionally, the

museum will provide unrestricted

views of the conservation labs and

collection storage, showcasing a

behind-the-scenes look into the work

of artists, curators and educators,

thus furthering the educational

model.

The New Shakespeare Theatre To continue to present life-

affirming classic and contemporary

plays in repertory, with Shakespeare

as the cornerstone, and to increase

youth educational opportunities

to cultivate the next generation of

theatregoers, the Utah Shakespeare

Festival (USF) will replace the aging

Adams Memorial Shakespeare

Theatre. The 35-year-old structure

must be replaced for several reasons,

including its lack of patron services,

inferior amenities for actors, and the

need to move it from its current site

on the SUU campus to a location

where the performance season could

be extended beyond the summer

months. The new theatre will include

seating for 890 audience members

per performance, youth education

and rehearsal space, elevator and

ADA access, dressing rooms and

backstage space for artists.

The USF Artistic Production BuildingThe Festival does not currently

own rehearsal spaces to mount

its eight annual professional

productions and three Greenshows.

The new artistic production building

will provide a hub facility that keeps

administrative offices, education

spaces, rehearsal halls, and various

costume, hair and make-up shops

near the performance spaces,

allowing for greater efficiency.

Additionally, in order for USF to

reach its full potential (operating in

rotating repertory for nine months

out of the year), dedicated space

near the theatres will serve these

many production elements currently

located in old and inefficient homes

and buildings off campus.

The Beverley Taylor SorenSon CenTer for The arTS will provide much-needed facilities for the Utah Shakespeare Festival and for a unique art museum that will also serve as an educational center

28I N V I E W

Holiday Gala recognizes generous donorsMore than 250 of Southern Utah University’s close

friends and supporters enjoyed an evening of celebration

at the annual Holiday Gala in the Steve Gilbert Great Hall

on campus Dec. 7.

Old Main Society honorees for the event were Maud

Trismen Mason and Cedar City Corporation.

Maude Trismen Mason is a recent transplant to

southern Utah after living virtually all of her life east of

the Mississippi. Born in New York and reared largely in

central Florida, she was exposed at an early age to the

arts and developed a love for horticulture. She gained

renown in the 1960s as one of the pioneers of the American

assemblage art movement and saw her work rewarded by

a Gold Medal at the 1964 World’s Fair. Throughout her life,

Miss Maud—as she is known to many—studied a wide

range of subjects for personal enrichment following her

graduation from Rollins College in Osceola, Fla.

Maud directed a sizable gift toward the Southern

Utah Museum of Art, which continues to work toward

completion through donated funds. Today, Maud and her

husband Keith thrive in Kanarraville on the Rocki Alice

Ranch, enjoying a wide range of endeavors and interests.

Cedar City Corporation, the governmental and services

body of the city, has, for more than 115 years, been

more than a mere host to the University. The community

has maintained its enduring commitment to SUU over

many decades and in diverse and momentous instances.

City leaders have always provided support across a

broad range of needs on many mutually-beneficial fronts,

including such important University components as the

Utah Summer Games and the Utah Shakespeare Festival.

The Dec. 7 program also featured recognition of all

donors and celebrated the induction of new members Betty

McDonald and June Sewing into the Old Main Society.

Also inducted into the society, but unable to attend, were

Alice Gibson and her late husband, Walter Gibson(’51),

Jerry Grover, Scott Snow and Anthony Stocks.

Right: Michal Adams, Nina Barnes, Joe Burgess, Michael Benson Below left: Maud Trismen Mason, Keith Mason, Michael BensonBelow center: Betty McDonald, Michael BensonBelow right: June Sewing, Michael Benson

S U U A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 29

Freshmen poured out of packed

cars full of clothes and kitchen

supplies last fall, to settle into their

new homes on campus. In the midst

of buying books and making friends,

these freshmen were inducted into

a new program that would help

them connect with their peers and

prepare for the college classroom in

a fresh way relying, ironically, on an

ages-old text.

In the past year, students have

come to SUU from 45 states and 37

countries. In efforts to unite these

more than 1,800 students from various

backgrounds and cultures under

a common experience, University

administrators implemented the

ThunderBard program, utilizing

one of their greatest allies, the

Utah Shakespeare Festival, to its

advantage.

This common experience program,

which required all incoming students

to read the same book—Hamlet—

and then discuss their thoughts

in classes and workshops, helped

freshmen acclimate to the pace of a

college course while learning more

about the University, the community

and one another. They also came

to understand one of Shakespeare’s

greatest plays. All freshmen students

were then given a ticket to the

modernized version of Hamlet,

performed by the Utah Shakespeare

Festival.

Of her experience, McKenzie

Hildman, a freshman studying

nursing from Caldwell, Idaho,

said, “ThunderBard created a bond

between all of us freshmen and gave

us something to do together. We

were all in the same boat, and it gave

us that much more of a connection

with the community.”

Of learning more about one of

the world’s greatest playwrights,

Brittany Childs, a freshman from

Junction City, Kan., said, “This has

made us all a little more balanced.

Up until I saw the Festival’s version

of Hamlet I never liked Shakespeare’s

work. But now I have a better

appreciation for him.”

Don Weingust, director of

Shakespeare Studies at SUU and

a key player in the ThunderBard

movement, explains the association

between connecting students and

learning Shakespeare. “It makes

Shakespeare—one of the world’s

greatest dramatists—relatable in

modern times. We open their minds

to something outside many students’

ways of thinking, and that carries

over into the rest of their lives.”

JUNE 24 - AUG. 31 Shakespeare’s King John

Shakespeare’s The Tempest

Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost

Cole Porter’s Anything Goes

Reginald Rose’s Twelve Angry Men

JUNE 24 - OCT. 19Rick Elice’s Peter and the Starcatcher

SEPT. 18 - OCT. 19Shakespeare’s Richard II

Roger Bean’s The Marvelous Wonderettes

UTAH SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL 2013 SEASON

For tickets or information about the Festival, call 800-PLAYTIX, or visit www.bard.org.

ThunderBa rdSUU teams up with the Shakespeare Festival to give new students an introduction to the great playwright

30I N V I E W

Alumni FocusStay in touch with your former classmates and share in the celebration of your accomplishments through our online Class Notes webpage: suu.edu/alumni/classnotes

What are some favorite SUU experiences?

Paige: There are many, but working

as an Upward Bound counselor and

selling tarts at the Greenshow stand

out. I had a group of dear ladies

from England ask where I was from

because they did not recognize my

accent. When I said, “Right here in

Cedarshire,” they were amazed!

Mark: The Debate Team.

Where did you meet? I was on the forensics team and he

was in debate. We would talk on the

bus ride home from events for hours.

What was a favorite dating activity while at SUU?

We would bet who would get the

lower test score (I thought he was

much smarter than I) and the loser

(person with the high score) had

to buy the winner a personal pan

pizza from Pizza Hut. We would also

go to the basketball games, theatre

productions and fishing.

Where is your favorite vacation?We went to Zion in February and

it was amazing! We also showed our

two daughters Red Cliffs State Park

and Harrisburg. Those were favorite

places for us during spring break

while at SUU.

What have you been doing since graduation?

I attended Wayne State to receive

an MFA, worked for the Flagstaff

(AZ) Symphony, Theatrikos and

Northern Arizona University. I taught

arts management at NAU and worked

in development. After producing

a play for a couple of filmmakers I

made my way to Los Angeles.

What is your most memorable professional accomplishment?

Producing an underwater magic

special for NBC in the Bahamas

where a requirement for the job was

to learn to scuba-dive.

How were you involved on campus?

I worked with the Utah Shakespeare

Festival Outreach Program, was the

first Sigma Nu girl (so proud of

those boys) and served as an SUUSA

senator.

How do you keep your Thunderbird pride alive?

I am so proud of my University and

recommend students attend SUU and

participate in the amazing theatre

program.

PATTI DUCE’90, theatre arts. Television producer. Los Angeles, CA.

Have you received professional recognitions?

I have been recognized locally,

state-wide and nationally for my

production and service. In 2006,

I was ranked #46 in the top 200

realtors in the nation for production

by the Wall Street Journal.

Who were your SUU mentors?Ken Benson mentored me the

most through leadership trainings,

personal character building activities

and Dutch oven cooking. Other great

mentors include Sterling Church,

Richard Dotson, Bessie Dover, Keith

Anderson and Fred Adams.

How are you involved in your community?

I have served and held various

positions in the Kiwanis Club, local

board of realtors and Relay for Life.

I would love to see an end to

all cancers, and am naïve enough

to believe it can happen in our

lifetime. My most enjoyable service

is in my church.

DAVE TAYLOR’75, sociology. Associate broker at ERA Realty Center. Cedar City, UT.

MARK & PAIGE ISHIIMark: ’88, business administration. Owner of Ishii Graphic Design.Paige: ’87, communication. Data security analyst coordinator for Inter-mountain Health Care. Orem UT

ALICIA BROOKS’04, theatre arts. Special events manager. Arlington, VA.

What are you doing now?I work at the historic Ford’s

Theatre, site of the assassination

of Abraham Lincoln. Besides VIP

opening night performances and

receptions, my team plans events

all over D.C. including the Library

of Congress, the National Portrait

Gallery, the U.S. Capitol and even the

White House.

What is a professional highlight?Ford’s underwent a major

renovation and transformation, and

I am fortunate to be part of the team

that raised more than $50 million

to create the new Ford’s Theatre

Campus where Lincoln’s legacy lives.

How does your SUU experience influence your work today?

Attending a smaller school like

SUU allowed me to try anything and

everything that interested me: SUU

News, SUUSA, Power 91 and Alpha

Phi. My SUU experiences planning

events shape what I do today. You’d

be surprised at what SunFest and a

presidential gala have in common!

Do you have a favorite SUU tradition?

Does Top Spot count?

Where did you go after SUU?I earned a bachelor’s degree from

Utah State, a master’s in English

from Washington, and enjoyed a

42-year career with Alaska Airlines,

including 20 years on the staff of

the Association of Flight Attendants

training new leaders in labor-

management relations.

Do you volunteer?Yes, I have been to northern

Uganda three times since 2010 with

NGO, THRVE-Gulu working with

former child soldiers. I am president

of the Puerto Vallarta Garden Club;

we are planting amapas, primavera

trees and bougainvillea throughout

the city for the first Bougainvillea

Festival in May.

What are some favorite college memories?

Taking physiology from my

grandfather, David L. Sargent;

changing my major to English after a

Shakespeare class from Fred Adams;

Adagio with LaVeve Whetten; and

music lessons by Blaine Johnson.

How did SUU shape you?As a student, I saw SUU as a perfect

little liberal arts college. I love the

humanities and have pursued social

justice and beauty, the manifestation

of the liberal arts.

SUZANNE KIRKPATRICK ’65, English. Retired, airline industry. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

S U U A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 31

Don’t forget

to connect

with Southern

Utah University

Alumni on

FacebookLike us and watch for:

• Trivia Tuesdays (win prizes)• Photo Fridays• News & Event Information

facebook.com/suualumni

S O U T H E R N U T A H U N I V E R S I T Y

ALUMNIRELATIONS

S O U T H E R N U T A H U N I V E R S I T Y

ALUMNIRELATIONS

IRON COUNTY CHAPTER

S A L T L A K E C H A P T E R

32I N V I E W

Class Notes

ABOVE: Several young SUU Alumni at an impromptu reunion at a recent Utah Jazz Game. Top row (left to right): Emily Burt (’11), Justin Nelson (’11), Kelsey Nelson (’11), Alayna Ferrin (’10), Carl Webb (’10), Jeff Kinsel (’10), Cody Alderson (’09), Dallin Crane, Michael Hunter (’10). Front row: Heidi Eysser (’13), Amy Paget, Alex Jones, Loryn Killpack, Stefanie Higginson, Christina Longhurst (’11), Jenny Longhurst, Cambria Beebe (’09)

LEFT: Lorraine Warren (’53) and Lea Decker (’89) took care of kitchen duties and kept the batter coming for the 2012 Homecoming Pancake Breakfast. Thank you ladies!

ABOVE: Proud T-Birds supporting Cameron Levins at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Pictured left to right: Diane Houle (’84), Eric Houle (’81), Layne Richards (’98), Chandice Richards (’00), Brayden Richards and Javin Richards.

LEFT: Erin Hensel (’04) and Beth Hensel Clark (’04) give a “thumbs up” during the Homecoming parade.

ABOVE: Jeff Kinsel (’10) and Carl Webb (’10) showing their T-Bird colors at the Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia.

We’d love to feature Thunderbird adventures far and wide in the next Class Notes. As you reconnect with your college pals, snap a pic and send it our way: cardonr@suu.edu

S U U A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 33

ABOVE: A fantastic group of alumni attended the 2012 Homecoming Banquet, including (pictured left to right): Staci Carson (’85), Stacee McIfff (’96), Brad Bishop (’93), Stuart Jones (’86), Mindy Benson (’94), Keri Mecham (’97), Darren Marshall (’96), Jamie Shaw (’96), Mechelle Mellor (’94), Nikki Nicholas (’99), David Blodgett (’93), Lisa Blodgett (’93), Gary Giles (’57), Vera Jean Giles (’57), Vicki Challis (’70), Art Challis (’72), Clyda Torres (’61), Ron Cardon (’96), Max Torres, and Mark Russell (’74).

ABOVE: Christian Ross (’13), McKenzie Romero (’09 & ’12) and Jennifer Hansen (’10) pose on the set of KSL TV in Salt Lake City after things slowed down on election night this past fall. All three work with the KSL and Deseret News multi-media news operation.

ABOVE: Elyce Schmutz (’85), Ann Cherrington (’55) and George Cherrington (’55) were among the large crowd of alumni who enjoyed Homecoming Saturday.

ABOVE: Stuart Jones (’86) and TJ Nelson (’12), both former student body presidents, enjoying last fall’s homecoming festivities. Stuart was SUUSA president in 1985 and TJ in 2012.

RIGHT: Natalie Miller Crockett (’06), Kiersty Lund Loughmiller (’04) and Ashley Goodrich Dixon (’05) have remained best friends since their days at SUU. In fact, all three live within

10 minutes of each other in Utah and had their babies within a month of each other. Congrats to Natalie for winning the race!

34I N V I E W

RE D

OCT. 13 – LIBRARY MARKS AMERICAN MILESTONESThe Friends of the Gerald R. Sherratt Library marked a unique convergence of national anniversaries — the 150th for the Union Pacific Railroad, the 90th for the Utah Parks Company and the 50th for the Library’s own Special Collections — in a combined celebration of the organizations most influential in developing and connecting southern Utah to the rest of the nation.

FEB. 1 – BELOVED PROFESSOR BECOMES DEAN OF EDUCATIONAfter teaching in the College of Education & Human Development for the past 12 years, Dr. Deborah Hill was selected as the dean following a nationwide search. As any of her former students can attest, Deb’s enthusiasm is infectious, and SUU leaders have high hopes for the college’s future under her leadership.

SEPT. 25 – SUU TO OPEN CULTURAL CENTER IN CHINAThe U.S. Department of State selected SUU as one of 10 U.S. universities to establish an American Cultural Center in China, charged with fostering an understanding of American culture, history, values, policies and institutions, as well as conveying the good will and generosity of the American people.

U N I V E R S I T Y H E A D L I N E S W O R T H R E A D I N G

DEC. 9 – PANCAKES PROMPT NEW CAMPUS TRADITIONStudents took a tasty study break before finals week in a new SUU tradition. More than 70 faculty and staff volunteers served as chefs, wait staff and dishwashers in the inaugural Pancake Study Break. In all, students consumed 135 pounds of bacon; 100 pounds of pancake mix; and 110 gallons of milk and juice at the late-night celebration to mark the end of the fall semester.

SEPT. 14 – SCIENCE GETS A GOLD FOR GOING GREENThe Center for Health and Molecular Sciences at Southern Utah University recently received LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, affirming its excellence in energy efficiency, sustainability and environmental quality. The Center is the only building in Utah’s southwest region to receive LEED Gold Certification.

MAR. 4 – OBAMA: SUU SERVES ‘WITH DISTINCTION’In just one year, the SUU community touted a 64-percent increase in service completed, logging in 141,307 hours of community service in the past school year, a feat which earned the University its fourth Presidential Service nod and first-time appointment as one of the nation’s universities “with distinction” for service and service-learning.

rememberWE WILL July 1, 2012 - December 30, 2012

S U U A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E F A L L 2 0 1 2 35

ALUMNI

Victor Dean Allred (’42), age 89,passed away April 27, 2012

Elaine B. Jensen (’45), age 87,passed away July 13, 2012

Ray T. Johnson (’53), age 82,passed away July 21, 2012

Jesse V. King (’11), age 24,passed away July 21, 2012

Loleen N. Grimshaw (’41), age 88,passed away July 26, 2012

Mitchell Tyler Nehrenz (’03), age 38,passed away July 29, 2012

Jorilong Edwin (’87), age 56,passed away August 12, 2012

John Michael Doland (’71), age 64,passed away August 18, 2012

Ida Eleen Robinson (’93), age 75,passed away September 9, 2012

Angel Randall (’06), age 29,passed away September 14, 2012

Cathy A. Lindell (’01), age 57,passed away September 15, 2012

Steven Chatterley (’75), age 62,passed away September 19, 2012

Rhonda M. Fisher (’12), age 59,passed away September 27, 2012

J Douglas Knell (’53), age 79,passed away October 9, 2012

W. Nicholas Lunt (’53), age, 79,passed away October 15, 2012

Dr. Paul R. Lunt (’41), age, 91,passed away October 15, 2012

Dee G. Cowan (’35), age 94,passed away October 9, 2012

Fayila Williams (’75), age 93,passed away October 11, 2012

Marcia C Clark (’94), age 61,passed away October 24, 2012

Clark G. Segler (’78), age 58,passed away November 2, 2012

JoAnn Grimshaw (’52), age 80,passed away November 12, 2012

Dr. Raymond H. Brown (’79), age 80,passed away October 28, 2012

Lael M. Dotson (’47), age 85,passed away November 20, 2012

Nina L. Hoyt (’70), age 79,passed away November 24, 2012

Roger A. Ludwig (’76), age 62,passed away November 29, 2012

Dahl L. Brown (’69), age 72,passed away November 30, 2012

Roy “Pug” Parry Urie (’40), age 92,passed away December 24, 2012

Karma B. Jolley (’53), age 79,passed away December 24, 2012

Blaine A. Tebbs (’69), age 68,passed away on December 28, 2012

FRIENDS&SUPPORTERS

Larry Andrew Olsen, age 78,passed away July 1, 2012

Mark A. Benson, age 83,passed away July 29, 2012

Tom Reynolds, age 73,passed away August 5, 2012

Harold Norton, age 99,passed away August 16, 2012

Jason C. Prisbrey, age 45,passed away August 19, 2012

Max W. Getz, age 90,passed away August 21, 2012

Gordon J. Myler, age 62,passed away September 6, 2012

Valorie Topham, age 64,passed away September 9, 2012

Rhett Kelsey Newby, age 24,passed away September 10, 2012

Jesse Ray Robb, age 73,passed away September 12, 2012

Max Palfreyman, age 78,passed away September 11, 2012

Carol H. Dodds, age 79,passed away September 17, 2012

William Munoz, age 25,passed away September 22, 2012

Jacqueline Mertin, age 30,passed away September 22, 2012

Robert Evans, age 37,passed away September 22, 2012

Vern K. Kupfer, age 91,passed away September 29, 2012

Max D. Weaver, age 95,passed away October 15, 2012

Roger J. Vandenberghe, age 76,passed away October 9, 2012

Robert J. Horlacher, age 81,passed away October 19, 2012

James R. Craig, age 73,passed away October 20, 2012

Margery M. Twitchell, age 96,passed away November 11, 2012

Helen G. Sargent, age 93,passed away November 15, 2012

Scott F. Andersen, age 51,passed away November 23, 2012

LaRue Morris, age 91,passed away November 21, 2012

When you learn of the passing of an SUU alumnus or friend, please contact Ron Cardon by phone (435-586-7776) or by email (cardonr@suu.edu).

36I N V I E W

Last Word

It’s best known for its traveling

cow. And, according to SUU

Alumni Facebook users, its fry

sauce, English chips and vanilla

coke, in that order.

But mostly for the black-and-

white plastered Holstein, which,

until 1999 when vandalism

necessitated its permanent

attachment to Top Spot’s roof,

traveled across the county and

as far as St. George in late night

pranks by Cedar City’s high school

and college students.

In its decades of travel, the cow

has turned up in some interesting

spots: cemeteries, actual hitching

posts, front yards, and swapped

out for the horse atop a different

restaurant’s roof in St. George. In

one of the most daring relocations,

it even turned up on the doorstep

of the Highway Patrol building.

And in the most sentimental,

a handful of couples who first

met at “The Cow” (a moniker as

well-known as its given name)

have actually included Top Spot’s

mascot in their wedding line —

SUU students included.

For the record, the fry sauce

is an original Top Spot

family recipe, as are a

majority of their menu

items. And the cow? Its midnight

adventures are just the beginning

of a reputation that, coupled with

down-home fast food, has kept Top

Spot on the map as Cedar City’s

oldest restaurant still in business.

Family-owned and operated

since it first opened, the Top Spot

is proud to be old school and takes

pride in the little things that make

them different, like carhops in an

age of drive-throughs, second-and

third-generation employees who

are encouraged to get to know

their customers, and homemade,

hand-selected and prepared food.

“Unfortunately, it’s just a dying

part of our culinary culture,” said

Craig Barton, who has owned the

restaurant since he purchased it

from his father in 1981. “We’re

like the old mercantile stores and,

eventually, this will probably all

give way to the national chains.

But for now, we’re sitting tight and

sticking to the things that made us

successful to begin with.”

With as many traditions as

years under its belt and hundreds

more memories and friendships

surrounding the longstanding

drive-in, many a T-Bird counts Top

Spot as an integral part of their

college experience — including

five of the Barton’s children who

carhopped while attending SUU.

Happy 50th birthday to an old-

school stalwart that, like SUU, is

happy to maintain its personal

touch and the one-of-a-kind

experience that makes our Cedar

City home something special.

Fifty Years at the TopSecret sauce, an iconic bovine and old-fashioned ideals uphold Cedar City’s longest standing restaurant

KEEPING IT OLD SCHOOLEven if they cut a menu item,

Top Spot is still happy to make

their long-time customers’

favorites. Worth trying again:

the Curly Dog and the Top

Dog. Ask for them by name.

Annual support from alumni and friends is critical to SUU’s

future. A Southern Utah University education should be

affordable and accessible for all students and the support our

students receive from the Annual Fund is used all over

campus.

Your commitment and annual participation, at any level, are

vital to SUU’s continued success. Our unique environment for

learning depends on the support of

everyone, every year.

suu.edu/giving

Here’s to Alumni Days at Shakespeare!

Photo: Leslie Brott (left) as Mistress Alice Ford and Victoria Adams-Zischke as Mistress Margaret Page in the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s 2006 production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. (Photo by Karl Hugh. © Utah Shakespeare Festival 2006.)

Come back and enjoy the beauty of campus, renew friendships and create new memories. Visit suu.edu/alumni to learn more and to purchase your six-play ticket package, or call (435) 586-7777

• 12 Angry Men• Love’s Labor’s Lost• Peter and the Starcatcher• The Tempest• Anything Goes• King John

View all six plays of the Utah Shakespeare Festival 2013 season, plus attend exclusive events with Festival staff & cast!

A L U M N I D AY S A T S H A K E S P E A R ES O U T H E R N U T A H U N I V E R S I T Y

ALUMNIRELATIONS

S O U T H E R N U T A H U N I V E R S I T Y

ALUMNIRELATIONS

IRON COUNTY CHAPTER

S A L T L A K E C H A P T E R

June 24-26, 2013

Alumni Association

351 West University Blvd.

Cedar City, UT 84720

Electronic Service Requested

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDCEDAR CITY, UT. 84720

PERMIT NO. 53

If the addressee no longer lives

at this address or for name and

address corrections including

duplicate magazines, please call

435-586-7777

S O U T H E R N U T A H U N I V E R S I T Y

ALUMNIRELATIONS

S O U T H E R N U T A H U N I V E R S I T Y

ALUMNIRELATIONS

IRON COUNTY CHAPTER

S A L T L A K E C H A P T E R

ALUMNIEVENTS

We invite you to join your Thunderbird Family at the following events:

MAY 3-4: SUU COMMENCEMENT

JUNE 24-26: ALUMNI DAYS AT SHAKESPEARE

AUGUST 3: SUU DAY AT LAGOON

SEPTEMBER 30: THOR’S THUNDER CLASSIC

OCTOBER 10-12: HOMECOMING, TRUE TO SUU!

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THESE AND

FUTURE EVENTS, VISIT WWW.SUU.EDU/ALUMNI

OR CALL (435) 586-7777

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Connect with an Alumni Chapter or Network Representative in your area.Go to suu.edu/alumni

ALUMNICHAPTERS

Old yearbooks on display in the library during Founders Celebration