Michael Don Bahr Loves the Power of Theater as an Educational Tool

If there’s one thing SUU’s Michael Don Bahr knows, it’s teaching. If there’s another, it would surely be youngsters

Want another? How about William Shakespeare and the Bard’s works?

He rolls all that interest and knowledge into a position that could very well be tailor-made for him. As the education director of the Utah Shakespeare Festival and the director of Shakespeare studies for the College of Performing and Visual Arts, responsibilities he both loves and magnifies, he is fully immersed in teaching Shakespeare to young people.

“I am in love with the power of theater as an educational tool,” Michael says. “It can teach any subject.”

And, his passionate works over the past 30-plus years underscore that belief.

He directs the USF’s Shakespeare-in-the-Schools Tour, a traveling roadshow of sorts that treks to schools around the intermountain West, delivering professional Shakespeare productions to 40,000 students annually and providing innovative looks at theater. He also runs the Thunderbard program for the University, exposing all incoming SUU students to Shakespeare on stage via the USF, and he manages the renowned High School Shakespeare Competition for SUU, an event that brings to Cedar City more than 3,000 students from 105 schools throughout the intermountain West and beyond. It recently celebrated its 40^th anniversary of filling area motels, hotels, restaurants and stores for a vibrant weekend.

If all that were not enough, he created and directs the Bard’s Birthday Bash for local elementary school students, who have come to campus over the past 14 years to celebrate and to learn of the life of the most revered writer in the western world.

Michael is known for his youthful enthusiasm and boyish charm, which belie the fact that he came to SUU in 1982 as a wide-eyed freshman from Richfield High School and was among the stars of SUU’s vaunted theatre arts program, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1989, his years here interrupted by an LDS mission. He went on to teach for 14 years in the public school systems of Utah and California, and garnered a fistful of awards for teaching excellence. He returned to the University in 1998 and has become an integral and indispensable part of the campus and community as his works at SUU help buoy Cedar City in myriad ways and his work with the Cedar Valley Community Theatre entertains, enriches and edifies the populace and gives voice to the creative dreams of everyday citizens.

He calls himself a “theater advocate,” and still performs on occasion, as he will in December as he reprises his popular role of Bob Cratchit in the USF’s production of A Christmas Carol on the Air. However, he prefers to direct, as he will with the CVCT production of Oliver!, now in rehearsals and slated for a January 27-February 4 run in the Heritage Theater.

Michael met his wife Kris (Michie) of Kaysville, Utah, at SUU and they are now parents to four and grandparents to five, “going on six,” he says.

Alumni Spotlight: Megan Grover

Megan Grover (’06, Elementary Education) is putting her SUU education and experiences to great use as a 5th/6th grade elementary school teacher at Grantsville Elementary School, in Utah’s Tooele School District.

Her duties are many and varied, she says, and she is primarily responsible for teaching the state core curriculum, making sure her students enjoy learning, collaborating with team members and maintaining good rapport with parents and people in the community.

From her earliest years, Megan always wanted to be a teacher, as she watched her greatly admired father set the example as he touched the lives of his students. 

“I want to make a difference in the lives of other people,” she says. “Being a teacher is one of the most rewarding jobs around, in my opinion.”

Megan says that while at SUU she learned how to be confident in the person she is, and to go after her dreams. SUU gave her a lot of opportunities to be herself, follow her dreams, and accomplish what she wanted to get accomplished.

One thing she learned, she says, is that “It is OK to fail as long as I have tried my best.”

The education that she received at SUU thoroughly prepared her to be a teacher because while she was in the education program at SUU, she was given a lot of hands-on, in-classroom experiences. During her practicum, also known as, “the block,” she was able to work in the classroom and really experience what it was like to be a teacher, rather than just learn about it in a textbook.

What Megan is most proud of professionally is her ability to interact and work well with others, and touch the lives of those she teaches.

“I feel like in my 11 years of teaching that I have really made a difference in the lives of other people,” she says.

 
Originally posted on suu.edu in October 2016

Alan Neves - Homecoming Outstanding Alumnus

Alan Neves’ desire to enrich the lives of others might well have been forged in a distant past by genetics and by circumstance, but his path of fusing performance and photojournalism to benefit an audience has brought him success, acclaim and happiness.

What is clear is that a generous sampling of talent was key in the career of the SUU Alumni Association’s 2016 Alumnus of the Year.

Alan, a multi-Emmy award-winner, spent more than two decades telling stories as a photographer for Salt Lake City television stations with a reach and impact of uncommon dimension, and has augmented his mainstream work with a busy slate of freelance projects that have allowed him to expand his reach.

Now, he is excited to be on a new course of service in his very first week as the broadcast lab production manager for Brigham Young University’s School of Communications.

He’s teaching, mentoring and guiding BYU students to tell stories as he has and still does: with the goal of enlightening and elevating lives.

He grew up in several locations around the country with his journalist parents, Les and Gay Neves, who raised a large family and also sponsored refugee families. Alan learned well to give back as he landed in Tooele, Utah, for high school, and grew in an all-purpose fashion, playing saxophone in the Buffalo band and filling the lead role in a number of school stage productions, displaying a talent that won him a theater scholarship to SUU.

As a freshman in 1985, he dated fellow theater student Glynis Adams a few times before leaving to serve an LDS mission to Ventura, California. Upon his return he gravitated to journalism as he performed on-camera and production work for SUTV. But, he also trod the boards, as they say, in a number of SUU theatre productions. That placed him in proximity to Glynis, daughter of SUU icons Fred and Barbara Adams, and the couple married in 1990 upon her graduation. Living in Alpine, Utah, they are parents to five children, including Katie, an SUU sophomore majoring in English and Shakespeare Studies.

Alan’s own SUU career portended great things. Vocal coach Doug Baker, then of the theatre arts department, says, “Alan always demonstrated the cornerstones of a fulfilling life and career: integrity, strong ethical behavior, sincerity and generosity.” Jon Smith, who taught him in television work, says, “We are extremely proud of Alan and his achievements and how he has carefully polished his storytelling and photography skills to a masterful level.”

And among his colleagues at KSL Television over the years is Carole Mikita: 

"Alan Neves is one of the good guys. We have been colleagues for more than 20 years and whether its news stories or traveling the country or the world for special projects, he has been superb. Whether it is shooting, or editing, coming up with creative ideas, I know that I speak for anchors, reporters, photographers, editors, he's the number one go-to-guy and everyone's favorite. Not only is his work ethic superior, but he's a man of good cheer. Always delightful to work with. So from all of us to you, congratulations dear friend."

Following his 1992 graduation from SUU in communication with a minor in theatre arts, Alan spent a year on the studio crew at KUTV Channel 2 before moving over to KSL where he relished being out-and-about, taking people places they could not themselves go.

His travels included work in Jerusalem, Japan, Great Britain and Europe, and the White House. He has filmed inside a nuclear submarine and the tombs that held the Dead Sea Scrolls and has covered earthquakes and the Olympics. And, in KSL’s unique role in the LDS Church, he has crafted more than 30 documentaries.

Alan found time to earn a master of fine arts degree along the way, as well. While his fruitful career marks him as an exemplary SUU graduate, his stated desire to tell stories that make a difference, that inspire people to be better, truly cements him as such.

Derrick Haslem - Homecoming Distinguished Service Award

Oncologist Derrick Haslem, a member of SUU’s class of 2000, has dedicated his life to steering people through the devastation of cancer and today provides all-encompassing treatment of the dire disease.

His Intermountain Precision Genomics provides a personalized approach to testing, diagnosing, and treating cancer, analyzing the genetic makeup of a patient’s cancer and joining a team of skilled specialists to determine how to most effectively treat that case with a customized, targeted plan.

It’s not just a clinic, but a program, he says, and from a St. George base, Derrick and his team reach through Cedar City and throughout southern Utah. He draws upon more than seven years treating cancer in IHC’s clinics in the region.

It is indeed distinguished service, which makes him ideal for that Alumni Association honor, one that he likely did not envision growing up in Vernal, Utah, before moving to St. George while a fourth-grader. His early life had been characterized by running though the alfalfa fields between the Green River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir, and by tagging along with his father, a building contractor. He was encouraged to take that line of work a bit further and become an engineer. He had an eye out even then, however, to put one foot into health care and toyed with the idea of biomedical engineering, perhaps designing artificial limbs, as he was intrigued, he says sheepishly, by Luke Skywalker’s prosthetic arm.

Later, though, he found that working directly with people and improving their lives satisfied him more than the thought of sitting in some cubicle somewhere. He determined he would work closer to the human condition and when his mother’s cousin succumbed at an early age to breast cancer, he first had the thought of combating the disease.

Following his days at Pine View High School where he first met future wife Amy, Derrick spent a year at Dixie College before serving an LDS mission to the Dominican Republic, where one-on-one work serving others changed his life. Continuing his education at SUU, he became the first intern in the University’s fledgling AHEC program and traveled to area schools encouraging students to pursue occupations in health care.

While a Thunderbird, he also courted Amy Lundin (lun-deen), whom he married in 1997. She earned an SUU degree the following year in business education and computer information systems. They now have five children ranging in age from 17 to four.

Also at SUU, he was a member of the intramural flag football championship team and the Pre-Med Club. He earned his degree in mathematical science with a minor in Spanish, and gives thanks to the school’s strong core of teachers and mentors, including Marty Larkin, Bob Eves, Michael Donovan and the late Jim Bowns. He, like so many, has vivid memories of Ty Redd’s Organic Chemistry course, which he says was one of the toughest experiences in his life but was invaluable preparation.

As a member of one of SUU’s renowned perfect classes of graduates accepted to medical school, he earned his degree from the University of Utah. While there, his now-cancer-free mother contracted colon cancer and he was highly impressed by the work of the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Thus, his specialty was revealed to him as he went on to complete his fellowship there.

Derrick’s practice, based on the personal approach, is committed to helping patients through the entire process connected with their disease, arranging for all aspects of treatment. In addition to fighting cancer, he and his team also help patients face the reality of their situation and to deal with it with dignity, he says. Encouraging the stricken to take advantage of time remaining is a vital aspect of the program.

As he goes about his daily duties caring for others, Doctor Derrick Haslem evinces the care and concern instilled by his family and by his teachers and mentors and in doing so, provides truly distinguished service. 

Brooke Ulrich - Homecoming Young Alumnus

When Brooke Tuttle Ulrich was growing up on her family’s alfalfa farm in Holden, Utah, she was a typical farm girl and—she says—never wore shoes. She did some coloring and drawing; she dressed her cats up in doll clothes, but maintains she never thought she had a creative side at all.

Today, that creativity has burst forward resoundingly, as she is a bright star in the world of Internet bloggers on craftwork, design, renovation and restoration, and more, as well as for saving money in the process. Her blog “All Things Thrifty” draws more than a half-million viewers each month, and she boasts nearly 80,000 followers on Facebook and a like number on Pinterest. Clearly, Brooke is a not only a product of the digital age, but a key component of this medium in empowering individuals in their home life.

It’s true that, as is the case with all three of our homecoming honorees, this 2016 Young Alumnus of the Year’s work is all about improving the lives of others. All Things Thrifty’s goals are to inspire and equip readers to tackle their own projects confidently, to provide easily understood tutorials, and to share information to positively impact readers’ lives.

As a Sterling Scholar in art at Millard High School, where Brooke also excelled in track and field and on the drill team, she first started to realize what she calls her “visual brain” when she painted a mural on the school’s weight room wall. But, it was her career goal to teach communication and advise a dance group at a school somewhere. A scholarship to SUU set her on that path, with suitable courses and extracurricular work as an SUUSA leader, a Presidential Ambassador and a member of the Waukeenyans. She was granted her bachelor’s degree in 2004 and stayed on to earn a master’s degree in corporate communication in 2007, and while a severe ankle injury ended her dance dreams, she did teach communication both at SUU and at Dixie College.

She met and married her husband Dan while at SUU and had the couple not decided to buy a home in St. George in 2009, her destiny may well have been what she had earlier planned. What came to pass, however, is indeed a charmed confluence, as she thoroughly enjoys being a largely stay-at-home mother to her four children and, also, conducting her own satisfying and rewarding career as well as exercising her creative gifts.

It all began when she surveyed her new house, which she termed “beige” from top to bottom. Despite having put the family savings into the down payment, she decorated the home herself through her imagination, her artistic talent and an eye for stretching a dollar. Soon, it was “by-bye beige.” Her brother, Court, encouraged and coached her to share her progress with online photos and “All Things Thrifty” was born to almost instant popularity, spurred by her ample network of friends.

Although she is quick to credit her husband, a multi-talented craftsman, for his abilities in creating whatever she can imagine, her talents have made her a frequent guest on many Salt Lake City television feature programs, and landed her a spot as a Home Depot trainer hosting Do-It-Yourself workshops all over the country, including teaching women how to use power tools. Virtual workshops over the Internet are now in her portfolio and she sees video as the prime tool for the future. She has shown a marvelous ability to adapt with the rapidly changing digital world.

Other partnerships of Brooke’s include Proctor & Gamble, Better Homes & Gardens, Rust-oleum and Shaw Carpets. A current tribute to her abilities and success has come with her being featured on the current cover of Welcome Home magazine.

In all that she does, Brooke Ulrich embodies that true Thunderbird spirit borne of an experiential education. Knowledge, ability and vision, coupled with a desire to aid others, are the mainstays of her success.

Alumnus Assumes New Role at the Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games

Pace Clarke, growing up in the tiny town of Tropic, on the periphery of Bryce Canyon National Park, enjoyed the quintessential rural Utah life. He rode horses, went four-wheeling, hiked, fished, swam, shot guns, and worked on the family farm and in its tourist-related businesses.

At Bryce Valley High, he competed in every sport offered and relished history and P.E. classes leading to his 2006 graduation. After working in construction for a spell, serving an LDS mission to Chile and earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from SUU in 2014, he and his wife Amanda, along with their newborn daughter Rome, returned to Tropic as Pace became the branch manager for State Bank of Southern Utah. It was a position his father, Wes, had earlier held for nearly nine years.

Today, he is the operations and development coordinator for the Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games, and his background makes him perfect for the post.

“We are thrilled to have Pace on our staff. It’s always a good day when a T-Bird returns to campus and we are excited with the experience and skill set he brings to the Games” says USG Executive Director Casey McClellan of his helpful and friendly new hire.

Pace replaces Steve Ahlgreen, who labored energetically for the Games for 18 years before his retirement this spring and who continues to serve as a volunteer.

While an SUU student, Pace worked on the construction and repair crew for Facilities Management under Ben Johnson, officiated at countless basketball and baseball games, and was an enthusiastic volunteer for the Games, adding to his cachet of know-how and connections that will serve him well in his new job.

“My varied experiences have allowed me to build a strong network that is helping me in my new position,” he says, “and this network has opened a lot of doors that will aid the Games as we go forward.”

Pace, in his new occupation, is charged with fostering and developing sponsorships and with developing new ideas on how to better serve and aid those who support the Games, and he says that his people skills will aid him in that endeavor.

“We so appreciate the sponsors we have and want them to know that’s true year-round, not just during the events,” he says. “I am excited to work with them and to find others who want to be a part of what we do.”

Pace also helps manage the budget of the Games and works with the USG team on the strategic plan for the 30-year-old sports festival that wrapped the 2016 edition up June 19. He says he thrives on the excitement engendered by the Games.

“I love the energy of the athletes and find that the Opening Ceremonies are a special look at the excitement of the Games in total. It’s fun to see the spectators join in that feeling,” he says.

Alumni Spotlight: Herbert Stinson

Herbert Stinson (’75, history) is the head assistant coach and chairman of the board of directors at Aztec High School in Aztec, N.M., and was inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) Hall of Fame on June 28, 2016, at the Galt House in Louisville, KY.

Stinson was introduced to wrestling as a high school sophomore at Aztec High School when coach Jerry Parker persuaded him to try out for the wrestling team. He made the team, went on to wrestle  at Southern Utah University (SUU), and from there the stage was set for his high school coaching career.

“College life and wrestling for what was Southern Utah State College (SUSC) was a great experience for a small town boy from Aztec, N.M.,” said Stinson. “My short stay at SUSC was one of the best years of my life and proved to be great preparation for me toward my life-long calling of coaching and teaching.”

Twelve wrestling state championships, three runner-up and three third place teams later, Stinson retired from New Mexico schools. He coached at Bayfield High School in Colorado for the next twelve years, building a solid competitive wrestling program there.

“There were so many people at SUU who played a role in molding me into the coach I am today,” says Stinson. “Some of these individuals include Coach Joe Lapour, Coach Kathryn Berg, Coach Tom Kingsford, Dr. Bruce Osborne, Dr. Morris Shirts, Dr. Steve Lunt and Dale and Suzanne Brinkerhoff.  All of my team mates, but especially captain Ladd Holman, Ralph Harrison, Scott Teeples and Richard Tree.” 

Stinson boasts 65 individual wrestling state champions, 208 individual place winners, 18 district championships, 19 High School All Americans, and 12 Academic All Americans. He ended with a 535-92-5 life time record. His teams of the 1990’s were ranked in the top 25 in the nation nine times and as high as number three in 1995 ending that season number seven.

He’s been inducted into four coaching hall of fames including SUU’s. He was selected as National Coach of the Year, in 1991, 1995 and 2000. In New Mexico he was AAA-A Coach of the Year six times and Coach of the Year three times. He was Teacher of the Year twice, once in Aztec and once in Bayfield.

“Helping coach Lapour with Wayne Ritter, a teammate from Aztec, who played football and wrestled at SUU was memorable,” said Stinson. “Ritter is now the school board president in Aztec.”

Stinson also coached football for 39 years. He was the defensive coordinator for 10 head coaches. His defenses had 57 shutouts, and in his 33 years as a defensive coordinator, he helped put the football teams into 25 seasons of playoffs for a total of 50 extra games and 3 state finals. He coached baseball for 10 seasons and in all coached in 20 state final events combined in three different sports winning 12 state titles.

As Aztec’s chairman of the board, Stinson is currently working to raise the money to build a new 100’ x 50’ top of the line wrestling room for the future wrestlers of Aztec High School. His wife, Terry, is a second grade teacher.  They have three grown children together, Tonya, Jeremy and Travis.

SUU License Plates Support Students

When an alumnus or community member buys an SUU license plate, it does more than allow free parking on campus; it also helps fund needed scholarships that change the lives of students.

One such student is Alexis Molnar, a senior graphic design major from Las Vegas, Nevada, who came to Southern Utah University and worried about making ends meet. At one point, she worked two jobs while going to school full-time and maintaining a 3.91 GPA through 76 credits.

Molnar said her scholarship allowed her to gain new experiences by serving in the graphic design club and volunteering as a graphic designer for the SUU Admissions Office, and less time worrying about making ends meet.

“When I found out that I had received this scholarship, I was brought to tears,” Molnar said. “I have been able to work less and focus more on my upper division coursework. During this time, I also received scholarship housing which helps my husband and me even more. This scholarship is a blessing to our lives and I am forever grateful!”

A shock came to Kelton Chapman, a junior communication major from Oak City, Utah, when he received a scholarship that was solely funded by SUU license plates. Chapman said he is grateful for alumni and community members for supporting SUU.

“It means a great deal that other people are willing to sacrifice something to help me in my schooling,” said Chapman, who plans on graduate school after he graduates from SUU. 

Another student who has her sights set on graduate school is Hadlie Visser, a sophomore elementary education major from Layton, Utah. Visser loves to read, be outside and plans on becoming an elementary school teacher after her SUU graduation.

“Not only does it (the scholarship) help me pay for school, but it also gives me confidence in myself,” Visser said. “Knowing that someone else believes in me enough to help me through school makes me feel more able to achieve the things I want to in college.”

Single mother of one and full-time student, Heather Gow, a freshman from Hampton, Virginia, came to SUU even though odds were against her finishing her education after she was divorced. 

Gow said she is willing to do anything to provide for her child who was diagnosed on the autism spectrum, which meant going back to school. 

“The scholarship showed me that I have support here at SUU and there are people willing to invest in my future,” Gow said. “When all the odds seemed stacked against me, having the support makes all the difference!” 

“All of us at SUU are so grateful for the support alumni and community members give our students,” said Mindy Benson, vice president for alumni and community relations. “Scholarships funded through the SUU license plate program do make a difference, and your support is vital to our students’ educational success.”

Alumni and community members wishing to purchase an SUU license plate and assist a student with his or her education, can do so for $25 at your local Utah Department of Motor Vehicles office. For more details, call the Alumni & Community Relations Office at 586-7777.

Carmen Rose Hepworth Alumni Award - Sally Hunter Jensen

Sally Hunter Jensen has what can only be termed a “big personality” and a talent for performing, along with a sincere concern for those who may not otherwise find acceptance. These traits, among many valuable others, have endeared her to her hometown and her alma mater and make her a greatly worthy recipient of this year’s Carmen Rose Hepworth Award.

She was born into one of Cedar City’s pioneering families, one that also is among the 142 families appearing on the SUU Monument to the Founders. She is the granddaughter of a Cedar City mayor, and her father, the late Forrest Hunter, operated several retail enterprises here before purchasing KSUB radio in the 1970s. He was a popular figure, and Sally’s mother Dawn, now nearly 90, continues to be among the city’s grand dames.

Sally grew with a panoply of dreams, but knew somehow that her future would include the arts, so she religiously studied piano, becoming her vocalist father’s most trusted accompanist. Soon she was performing at Cedar High and at what is now SUU, singing and acting in plays and operas. A popular student, she was elected Snow Queen in 1980.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in vocal performance with a secondary teaching certificate and taught at schools in Utah, Colorado and Arizona in the 1980s before deciding the calling was not for her. Along the way, she says, she kept her hand in performing. Among her side jobs was a turn as a singing waitress.

It was always her goal to become better at whatever she tried to do and to seek after excellence for her own fulfillment. If someone noticed, she says, that was always good too.

She has always been a welcome presence on SUU’s stages and her many performances included a role in the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s first matinee and first musical, The Mikado, in 1977. While enjoyable, performing was not paying her bills, so with the encouragement of her father and an industrious hunt for financing, she was able to follow her merchant heritage and open a retail store on Cedar City’s Main Street in 1990.

The Wizz is now a town jewel and has supported a wide variety of local programs, while also allowing Sally to contribute in broader strokes to the University, as well, as she has employed dozens of SUU students over the years. Campus customers provide greater than 50 percent of her business and important to her is the connection she feels with students, particularly those who may not feel that they fit in. Her store is a place where all feel welcome and comfortable and she counts herself as a friend, sounding board and mentor to students.

That speaks to her wide appeal to others, as she connects generations, hierarchies and interests.

She has also established an SUU scholarship in the name of her late husband. The Jason Ted Jensen Scholarship aids future teachers with an original approach to teaching and life and the desire to improve the education system.

Sally, with a strong sense of service, has also given integral labor to the Cedar City Music Arts Association, the Orchestra of Southern Utah, the Neil Simon Festival and the Red Rock Singers.

The Carmen Rose Hepworth award is presented annually at Thunderbird Awards. 

Q&A with Coach Eric Houle ('81)

This past fall, the Thunderbird Men's Cross Country Team won the 2015 Big Sky Championship at Cedar Ridge Golf Course. Head Coach Eric Houle was voted Big Sky Coach of the Year by his colleagues, an honor he has won 34 times in cross country and track & field in different conferences during his 23-year tenure at SUU. In this short Q&A, Coach Houle reflects on his career and what the Big Sky win means to the cross country program.

Q: Why did you decide to come back to SUU to coach?

"I spent ten years at high school coaching and I just badly wanted to get to the collegiate level. So when the job opened up I thought, ‘Wow. I can go back and coach Southern Utah? That would be crazy good.’ I remember that for five years, and even more, just walking on campus with this giggly feeling and thinking, ‘I’m the coach here.’ It was something I wanted to do and it’s not something I thought was going to materialize, but it obviously did. I seized that opportunity and the rest is history."

Q: What does the Big Sky Championship mean for SUU?

"It means we are a player and that we can compete no matter what the level is. We are rising as a university and we are showing in each one of those arenas, we can compete. In this arena, we can compete. In the academic arena, we can compete. In the theatre arts arena, we can compete. It is a testimony to the right decisions made early on that are affecting the present and the future. 

Q: What does the championship mean to the cross country team?

"We’ve won conference championships in each conference we’ve been in except for the Big Sky and we’ve been in Big Sky for three years. To go up against a team like Northern Arizona who out of the last 20 years has won 17 conference championships - to break that wall down and say “yes, you can achieve things” was really important for me to get across to our athletes.

 Q: Is the success of cross country any indication of how well track and field will compete in the spring?

"We are working with the distance runners right now, but we have signed some of the top sprinters in the country that will come on board. I think with the throws, the jumps, the sprints, and the distance coming together to start the indoor season and the success of the cross country team, I think we should be able to be very competitive in track. 

SUU: Training Ground for Today's Leaders

A pair of 21^st century Southern Utah University graduates guide Iron County’s two largest cities, as new Enoch Mayor Geoff Chesnut has joined fellow Thunderbird alum and Cedar City Mayor Maile Wilson as vibrant and forward-thinking leaders well prepared for their respective mantles.

Geoff, who took office in January, graduated from SUU in 2003 with a degree in political science with a strong minor in criminal justice, went on to earn a law degree from Arizona State University, and is a partner in Red Rock Legal Services.

He has a vision of uniting the more than 6,000 residents of the valley community that, he says, has become “fractured.” The 39-year-old father of three says that through a number of civic projects designed to bring people together, that his children and all young families in town can become a more embraced and integral part of the historic town.

The eloquent mayor and his wife Dezaree, who earned a teaching certificate at SUU and is close to fulfilling requirements for a master’s degree in education, are parents to five-year-old Phoebee and identical twin boys, one-year-olds Greer and Chandler.

A Salt Lake City native and transfer to SUU for his sophomore year, Geoff found the University to be a fulfilling experience, serving on the SUUSA judicial council for three years, and as student director of what is now the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service.

Maile, too, points to her SUU training as a key element in her success both as mayor and as an attorney with the law firm of Jones Waldo in Cedar City and St. George. She graduated in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in political science, followed by a master’s in public administration, then went on to receive her law degree from Charlotte School of Law, in Charlotte, N.C.

The Cedar City native took office in January 2014 as the first female and youngest mayor in the history of the city. Maile gained valuable experience as a member of the University mock trial team and, as an SUU intern for the Washington City manager, gained insight into public administration. She credits SUU’s program of augmenting in-class instruction with real-world application as giving her a strong foundation.

She followed solid examples of her grandfather Loren Whetten who held the mayoral position from 1966 to 1974, and of her parents, Rich and Linda Wilson, who have long been stalwart civic contributors.

Halfway through her elected term, Maile, 29, led the process to develop Cedar City’s first-ever strategic plan and looks forward to its implementation in the coming months.

“It’s vital that we prepare for our future growth with a strong and wise plan,” she says.  

Alumni Spotlight: Tiara Pulsipher

Tiara Pulsipher (’15, communication) is the floor manager for ABC 4 Utah.  The floor manager on a television crew is responsible for calling cues, given by the director in the control room, to the crew on the studio floor.

While considering which university to attend, Pulsipher checked out other communication programs. Whereas many other schools had great programs, she discovered that most students didn’t get hands-on practice until later in their education. At SUU, students are given the opportunity to gain hands-on experience during their first class.

“I got my job because of the experience I gained at SUU, which included learning all positions of news, talk, sports, film, radio, advertising, public relations, and other important skills, like writing, being a team-player and solving problems,” says Pulsipher.

Professor Jon Smith was a huge influence in the development of Pulsipher’s skills in broadcasting and film. He was willing to spend extra time helping her fine-tune her resume and demo reel. Smith gave her the guidance she needed to produce her best work and demonstrate her skills on paper and in person. He always had a 'dream big' attitude that inspired her to do her best.

“Not only did I land a job that I love, but I am already training to direct, which is my dream job! I did not expect to be able to move up this quickly,” said Pulsipher.

She learned a lot about herself while at SUU, because she was able to explore the many aspects of the communication field to figure out what she was really passionate about. After taking several very different courses she eventually gravitated toward the broadcasting major.

“Taking a lot of different classes helped me to close in on the one that I could see myself doing and enjoying for the rest of my life,” said Pulsipher.

Pulsipher enjoys spending her free time in the outdoors, with friends and watching movies. She is currently single and living in Salt Lake City with her pet Betta fish, James.

Originally posted on suu.edu in March 2016

Grace Simkins, a life well-lived

Grace Simkins of Cedar City, might just hold the distinction of being the oldest living* member of the SUU Alumni Association, having celebrated her 107th birthday this past November.

Her SUU journey began in 1958 at the age of 50, when she enrolled at SUU to renew her teaching certificate.

“Going back to school as old as I was, it made me feel like I had a future,” Simkins said. “It was like being young all over again.”

Simkins began her teaching career at an elementary school in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she experienced first-hand racial integration. While public perception at the time highlighted differences, she found none and loved her teaching career. 

What is her secret to a long life? She credits a loving family, devotion to religion, healthy diet and most important, plenty of laughter. 

Grace passed away March 7, 2016, before this spotlight could be published in the SUU In View Alumni Magazine. 

The Coaching Factory Night of Honor

In 1986, an SUU alumnus sports reporter created the moniker "The Coaching Factory" for Southern Utah University because of the success alumni coaches were having while coaching high school athletic teams.

Over the past 26 years "The Coaching Factory' alumni have won 548 state championship and 390 runner-up awards. In addition they have won 19 national championship and 2 coaches are in the National High School Coaches Hall of Fame.

Further, during the 2014 football season, 35 SUU alumni were head coaches, while the University of Utah had 17, BYU had 15, USU 12 and Weber State had 11.

During this school year, 31% of all principals in Utah high schools were SUU alumni, and most of them were former coaches.

On February 6, 2016, SUU and Dr. Steve Lunt (SUU Director of Special Projects and Events) honored alumni coaches who during the 2014-2015 academic year competed for their respective championship. The group was honored during halftime during a Thunderbird men's basketball game.

Ben Davidson - The Coaching Factory Hall of Fame Inductee

Southern Utah University proudly hosted its annual Coaching Factory Night of Honor & Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on February 6, 2016. Inducted into the Hall of Fame that evening was Ben Davidson from Cedar City, Utah.

Ben devoted nearly four decades of his life to Southern Utah University and its students, beginning with his 1968 enrollment. A 1972 graduate in physical education, he later earned a master's degree in athletic training from Indiana State University.

In 1979, he became athletic trainer and P.E. faculty member here as well as track and field coach for the NAIA level Thunderbirds, paving the way for the program's entrance into NCAA competition. In his eight years as coach, his athletes had great success, including four individual national championships, five second-place finishes and a pair of fifth place finishes. He was the National Athletic Trainers' Association Most Distinguished Trainer in 1999 and built SUU's athletic trainers' education program into one of the most respected in the intermountain area before his 2013 retirement.

Congratulations Ben!

Calvin Albrecht - The Coaching Factory Hall of Fame Inductee

Southern Utah University proudly hosted its annual Coaching Factory Night of Honor & Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on February 6, 2016. Inducted into the Hall of Fame that evening was Calvin Albrecht from Beaver, Utah.

Calvin, a 1973 SUU grad, returned to his alma mater, Beaver High School, to begin a 30-year career that included coaching football, boys basketball, track and field, and cross country. He led his charges to 11 state championships in three sports over the years. His Beaver cagers earned trips to the state tournament in 18 of his 20 years as coach, winning four times, and he stands among the state leaders in basketball wins posted at one school, with 351.

He also racked up six state titles in boys track and field and another in cross country. He was Utah's coach of the year in both basketball and track and field, and for 22 years helped guide the Beaver football team to five state championship and four runner-up finishes.

Congratulations Calvin!

Alumni Spotlight: Tico Pringle

Vicentico ‘Tico’ Fernando Pringle Jr. (’08, interdisciplinary studies) is a realtor and founder of the Pringle Group, with Keller Williams in Las Vegas, NV.

As an agent, Pringle is constantly networking, negotiating, lead generating and promoting himself through print and digital marketing campaigns.

“I realized early in my career, ‘it’s not always what you know, but who you know.’ Fortunately, Terri Hildebrand, assistant professor of biology at SUU, encouraged me to reach out and network with more people. This helps me today to reach more clients and grow my business,” said Pringle.

He continually seeks opportunities to further educate himself in real estate, to become a better agent and offer better quality services to his clients. He has plans to expand his business into Utah in 2016.
Pringle says graduating was a real accomplishment. He didn’t walk at graduation in ’08, because he was training for a career in professional football at the time, but says he left SUU with confidence.

“At one point, my younger brother Ryan was a [football] teammate of mine, for the first time, while we attended SUU together,” said Pringle.

He and his fiancée, Hannah have two boys together, Tico III and Ty, and two dogs Athena and Zeus. They enjoy traveling as a family and are involved in their boy’s youth sports.

Pringle enjoys reading and learning of new ways to help his clients and better himself. He likes to cook and he’s good at it, too! Working out and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are also important to him.

Originally posted on suu.edu in January 2016

President's Christmas Gala and Mannheim Steamroller Concert

Merry Christmas!

On a crisp winter night the SUU Campus was all in a buzz of celebration. Wednesday, December 2, 2015 will be remembered by many as being a night of honoring SUU, the Cedar City community and those individuals who have gone above expectations in paying it forward to this institution by providing scholarships, research and by supporting through generous donations for continued advances in the Colleges.

President Wyatt hosted over 500 guests to a glorious banquet and program.

Awards were given to Walter & Alice Gibson for their contributions to the Walter Maxwell Gibson College of Science and Engineering;

and to Ken & Helen Englehart who have been generous in their support of SUU students who will become teachers.






Members of the Old Main Society were honored and new inductions were made. The member listing was printed in the program: Members of the Old Main Society "Benefactor" is the level for gifts between $100,000 and $499,000.  "Gold Medallion" gifts qualify at $500,000 to $999,999, and the "Centurium Circle" is denoted by gifts greater than $1,000.000. "Legacy" is the level for planned gifts to the University in estates, bequests, wills, trusts and annuities.

Afterwards, guests were invited to attend the already packed Centrum Arena for Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas Concert by Chip Davis.

The house was packed with over 4000 in attendance and the music brought feelings of camaraderie and Christmas to SUU alumni, friends, students alike.

What a great way to celebrate as we ring in the new year together,

with expectations for a brilliant future for all!

Thor's Thunder Classic

Monday, October 26, 2015, started out with the alumni staff, students and volunteers applying sunscreen and filling their backpacks with water bottles at 5:00 am, as the caravan of four loaded to the brim vehicles, makes their way to the beautiful Entrada Golf Course in St George. Arriving before the first rays of the sun hit the red hills of Snow Canyon is the perfect way to start this exciting day.

As the golfers arrive, there is a friendly atmosphere as they greet one another, which is soon replaced by the competitive spirit. Each team participates to support better futures, through raising scholarship funds for SUU students. We recognize their efforts and appreciate their generosity in making this tournament successful.

Wells Fargo, Terri Hartley, was the corporate sponsor.








 
 
Tri-State Motors, Dave Morris, sponsored the Hole-In-One (#14) with a 2016 GMC shiny red pickup.

Todd Stenosky hit a hole-in-one (#12) making this his lucky day!






Wrapping up the tournament, all who participated had a feeling of victory for SUU and for the future of the many students who will be awarded scholarships to help further their education. Golfer's and staff made new friends, rekindled connections with each other, and finished out the day with a renewed enthusiasm to spread the good word about SUU.

 Go T-Birds!