Thursday, October 17, 2013

Homecoming 2013 Outstanding Alumnus - Max Rose

Growing up in tiny Henrieville, Utah, population 160, Max Rose was fully immersed in education, as his father taught the town’s children, including Max and his 13 siblings, in a one-room schoolhouse.

Thus, it was not surprising that education became his own life’s work, as upon his graduation from Bryce Valley High School in 1963, Max enrolled at the College of Southern Utah, just as would a dozen of the Rose children. Max had excelled in mathematics—always in advanced courses—and he yearned to educate others. He determined to teach math at the college level and wished to return to teach at what is now SUU.

Max was an ardent student, greatly involved and a leader in the full spectrum of campus life and activities. He learned at the feet of a galaxy of revered SUU faculty members. In fact, he says, he liked his teachers so much that whatever course he took from them, he thought he might change his major to any one of those disciplines. Such SUU legends as Bessie Dover, Kim Jones and Paul Burgoyne were among his mentors, but it was Harl Judd who exercised particular influence over Max.

Following his graduation in 1969, Max married schoolmate Kathryn Duncan and the couple moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico, where Max would teach math. However, a sudden opening on the SUU faculty prompted Professor Judd to summon Max home on a one-year contract to teach at his alma mater. Afterward, Harl promised him that if he would go on to earn an advanced degree, that he’d be first on the list for any new position. Max took his master’s degree from USU and a doctorate from BYU and accepted what he thought would be an abbreviated position at Dixie College while awaiting an opening at SUU. However, through his hard work and talent, he soon became entrenched at Dixie and in St. George and somewhat reluctantly gave up his long-held dream of teaching here.

He went on to a stellar career at the St. George school, including tenure as a professor of math and chemistry and as vice president of academics. He capped his career with a decade’s service as the superintendent of the Washington County School District. Along the way, he served in a great variety of impactful civic positions, including a stint as the chair of the Dixie Regional Medical Center Governing Board. Today, he sits on the Dixie Board of Trustees and he and Kathy enjoy their four children and four grandchildren.

Through most of his years at Dixie, Max always sought to guide students to SUU to complete their education as, he has said, Dixie students tended to fit in well here. His own SUU experiences are treasured and he readily confirms that his years in Cedar City were truly important in shaping his life. He has, despite his ties elsewhere, always been a proud and exemplary son of Southern Utah University.

Homecoming 2013 Distinguished Service Award - Ted and Melinda Whitaker

It’s clear that the SUU experience becomes a family affair for many, as lives tend to entwine serendipitously and enduringly around the shared wonders of the University. Ted and Melinda Whitaker stand as prime examples of that thesis.

While each made a truly significant mark on campus life while students at SUU, the couple has joined to support the University in a variety of ways over the years as alumni. Ted’s tenure in service to SUU and its alumni spanned more than a decade, and he was an instrumental building block in the alumni chapters movement. As a true partner, Melinda dove right in with her husband to do all she could to further the causes of the institution and its alumni operations.

Each was born in Cedar City, but lived a couple of hundred miles apart through their youth. In 1965, Ted graduated from Granger High School in southwest Salt Lake County and came to SUU first. Melinda joined him from Beaver High in 1967. They worked together in student government, sharing an office, as Ted served as secretary of social affairs and Melinda as secretary of cultural affairs. She reigned as homecoming queen in 1969 and went on to the Miss Utah pageant while Ted saw his days at SUU interrupted by an LDS mission to Brazil and a semester abroad in Europe. Although they were dance partners in SUU’s International Folk Dance team, it was some time before Ted and Melinda embarked on the romance that has now lasted more than 40 years and produced four children and 10 grandchildren. They married shortly after their mutual graduation from SUU in 1971, Ted with a degree in languages and Melinda in elementary education. They proudly confirm that their years at SUU changed their lives and each readily points to Ken Benson as a seminal figure in their development as leaders, while Ted also credits Rod Decker, Gary Giles, Al Tait, Dixie Leavitt, Anne Leavitt and Mike Leavitt as notable exemplars and Melinda calls Laveve Whetten, Bessie Dover, Kent Myers, and Georgia Beth Thompson great influences on her life.

Through their life together, they have lived in Mesa, Arizona, Fillmore, Utah and now, Orem. Melinda has taught school for many of those years while Ted largely found his calling in the insurance business, having retired in 2011 from a long career with Allstate after beginning with Dixie Leavitt. Melinda, who earned a master’s degree from BYU in 2006, has been repeatedly recognized as an exceptional educator and still teaches today. Ted, who has been honored on many fronts, was a leader in the Junior Chamber of Commerce in Fillmore and for the State of Utah and has been a city councilman, a pilot, a volunteer fireman and a commander of search and rescue teams. His service to SUU includes a stint as the president of the Utah County Alumni Chapter and more than five years as the National Alumni Vice President of Chapter Relations.

Throughout the years, Ted and Melinda have ever been committed to the University and dependable and steadfast in their service. They have steered countless students to campus and have always epitomized the type of alumni that any institution hopes for.


Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Homecoming 2013 Young Alumnus Award - Jasen Wade Nielsen

When he graduated from Bonneville High School in Ogden as Jasen Nielsen in 1992, our 2013 Young Alumnus of the Year was unsure of what career he wished to pursue or just where he might prepare for it. Sandwiched around an LDS mission to Moscow, Russia, he bounced around to all of Utah’s other public universities with such disparate courses of study as psychology, history, forestry, and Russian. He longed for a place where he could find himself.

Fortunately, his brother-in-law had a place in mind, and told him he would love Cedar City and SUU and offered to pay for his gas for the trip if he were wrong. Of course, he wasn’t and when Jasen came to town and campus he immediately felt as if home. He reverted to a childhood hope to become a small-town veterinarian, and his new major at SUU was animal science. However, his plans again changed when presented with the opportunity to live at the entrance to Zion National Park. The only problem was that it involved taking a singing and dancing role in the timeless musical Seven Brides For Seven Brothers at Springdale’s Bumbleberry Inn and Grandma’s Playhouse. When not roaming Zion, he waited tables during the day and performed at night, 83 times. It was his first experience on any stage and, as it has many a fledgling performer, it hooked him. He immersed himself in the University’s acting and film curricula, ultimately earning a degree in communication with a minor in theatre.

He was called upon often for his ruggedness on stage at SUU and strikingly showed his acting chops playing multiple roles in A.R. Gurney’s The Dining Room before making a significant mark as the lead character, the Englishman Charlie Baker, in The Foreigner just prior to his 2001 graduation. His successes here cemented his plan to become an actor and he is now well on his way to a solid film career. His 13 acting credits thus far, with his screen name Jasen Wade, include Treasure in Heaven: The John Tanner Story, 17 Miracles, Amber Alert, and Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed. It is Jasen’s continuing desire to tell compelling and inspiring stories. He finds satisfaction from roles that feature strength of character and his work has included portraying individuals who represent those who founded southern Utah and this University.

His diverse SUU training has helped him work behind the camera as well, and he credits Jon Smith of the communication faculty for providing him with a solid technical education. Chuck Metten, then dean of the College of Performing and Visual Arts, was Jasen’s acting mentor and champion.

Today, in addition to his acting career, Jasen teaches a film course at Dixie State, and fights wildland fires for the BLM when free during the summer. He is married to the former Holly Green, who was a member of the SUU gymnastic squad, and they live in Washington County with their two children.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Alumna Creates Thor Quilt - Homecoming Drawing

I was just tickled when I found I could use my passion for quilting to help out the SUU Alumni Association. I made a Thor Rally quilt for myself last March and just loved the way it turned out. I was so happy to return to this pattern to make one for SUU. The pattern of the quilt is my own design. I wrote all the designing of this pattern on my blog. The Thor symbol on the quilt is a layered applique. That is taking lots of pieces of fabric, cutting them to the desired shape, and then sewing them all together. Sounds complex but not really, just a little time consuming. I spent about 6 hours making the logo alone. You can see how I made it step by step right here

I started quilting about 12 years ago. I asked my mother to teach me the basics before my husband and I and our oldest son moved across the country for medical school. I figured I would have lots of quiet nights to fill my time while Jacob studied. I enjoyed making baby blankets and an occasional large blanket for friends. In 2010 I discovered the "online" world of quilting. My hobby quickly turned to a passion. Since that time I have grown my blog to reach thousands of readers, shared so many tutorials, been published in magazines and books, and even started my own pattern line. I can't wait to see what the next years hold.

Submitted by Melissa Powell Corry ('00).

Melissa's Thor Quilt will be given away during Homecoming 2013. Suggested donations for the drawing:

3 Tickets for $5
8 Tickets for $10
20 Tickets for $20

Get your tickets by calling the Alumni Relations Office at 435-586-7777 or at Homecoming events on Thursday, Friday or Saturday (October 10-12).


P.S. Congratulations to Vanez Butler ('68) - winner of the Homecoming 2013 Thor Quilt!

SUUSA Memories 1993-1994

These were great times . . .

In 1993-94 we had some spectacular events take place such as the now Gerald R. Sherratt Library was completed and dedicated that year. I would say our student association was the first of its kind to actually receive a large donation proposed by Steve and Cindy Gilbert of $50,000 towards the SUU Rodeo Club to ensure its survival for years to come. 

In wake of a new student center soon to be built, myself and a team of students traveled to Colorado and California gathering many ideas of what we though students would enjoy for the now Sharwan Smith Center. Unfortunately, Sharwan's untimely passing led to the eventual naming the building after her. Many of us who associated with Sharwan and knew her smile and grace personally as her statue stands in the middle of the rotunda. She was not just a student, she was an inspiration.

Also that year, many dances and events were put on by Brian Green (SUUSA Activities Director) and his crew. Many can look back at the countless hours that were dedicated to having fun. Last, what I consider another tremendous accomplishment by SUUSA at that time was the design for the now "The Student Body" Fitness Center (now located in the Sorenson PE Building). The legacy of students having a vision and making sure that vision is complete was definitely a highlight.

So with that I raise my glass of milk and salute you all during that time and say "Carpe Diem" as Pierre Mvemba our Academic Vice President would say and seize the day...I know we did.

Submitted by Jason White ('98), SUUSA President 1993-1994.