Big Win for the T-Birds on the Road; Support of Alumni

Congratulations to the T-Birds on their come from behind victory 35-28 over the Weber State Wildcats. The tailgate party was a lot of fun and a great way to reconnect with other alumni and current students. It was a great day to be a T-Bird as the stands were filled with SUU Red.

Other festivities of the tailgate included, Alumni Relations awarding a student scholarship for $250.00 for next semester. The scholarship was awarded to Joe Howe, a senior music major from Cedar City. A contest for the Best Salsa was held at the tailgate. Josie Beth Archibald took 1st Place with Camaree Staheli coming in a very close 2nd! Keep your salsa recipes handy for our next encounter with Weber State in 2012. Congratulations to our winners!

During the game SUU fans were continuously pumped up through the support of the cheerleaders and the SUU drumline. The fans were excited as they watched their team beat the Wildcats.

Don't forget about the last home game of the season as the T-Birds take on UC Davis Saturday October 29th at the Eccles Coliseum. Game starts at 1:00 PM.

Thor's Thunder Classic 2011

Congratulations to Color Country Pediatrics and team members Brad Larson, Kent Bradford, Dr. Brian Burrows ('98) and Greg Larson ('98) for winning the 2011 Thor's Thunder Classic with a score of 56 (15-under par) on Monday, September 26.

It was a fantastic day at Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club with 35 teams and 140 golfers participating in a 4-person scramble to benefit scholarships and the advancement of Southern Utah University. Thank you to everyone who participated.

Special thanks to Color Country Pediatrics for their continued support as title sponsor of Thor's Thunder Classic. Thanks also to our major sponsors: Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club, Dell Computers and SUU Marketing.

We also had wonderful support from the following organizations and individuals through their hole sponsorships: AMPAC, Big-D Construction, Christy's Red Hot Blue Glue, Dick & Sunny Reinhold, FFKR, Hill Sports, Intermountain Valley View Medical Center, Leavitt Group, Les Olson Company, MHTN Architects, Midwest Commercial Interiors, Nate & Lindsay Esplin, President Benson, State Bank of Southern Utah, Wells Fargo Bank and Zion's Bank.

Members of the SUU Women's Golf Team also participated in the tournament playing on teams and hitting tee shots from a few of Entrada's par 3 holes. Pictured left to right: Sadie Palmer, a senior from Tooele, Utah; Kacy Buckner, a senior from St. George, Utah; Rose Pelletier, a sophomore from Palmer, Alaska; Monica Jung, a freshman from Sydney, Australia; Shantell Spackman, a freshman from Richmond, Utah; and Kaohi Loo, a sophomore from Beaverton, Oregon.

Alumni Spotlight: Michael Hunter

Mike Hunter (’11, Chemistry) is realizing his education at Southern Utah University prepared him to enter medical school at the University of Rochester confident in his knowledge and skills.

Mike is a first year medical student at the University of Rochester. During orientation week Mike enjoyed meeting his new classmates, but was overwhelmed to learn they had undergraduate degrees from Harvard, Princeton, Johns Hopkins, UCLA, Stanford, NYU Columbia, Syracuse, Cornell and Dartmouth, to name a few. He wondered how he would compete with students from these prestigious schools. Before the first week was over he found himself leading small group discussions, answering questions no other student could and tutoring classmates in bio-statistics.

“I am confident other SUU science graduates are having similar experiences throughout the country.” He realized the quality education he received at SUU is comparable to the education of his peers.

Mike is grateful to professors in the sciences at SUU like James Chisholm, Ty Redd, and Kim Weaver for their investment in his education. These professors and many more took time outside of the class to help students progress.

During his time at SUU Mike enjoyed his involvement in student government as the Science Student Senator. He says Internal Medicine has always interested him and he wants his future practice to incorporate long-lasting patient relationships, preventative medicine and cost-effective treatments.

Alumni Spotlight: Linda Erikson Kay

Linda Kay (’72 Education) spent thirty years teaching first grade with a love for education that began at Southern Utah University.

Reading has always been Linda’s favorite aspect of teaching first grade children and one of her greatest accomplishments. She and a good friend introduced “Alphabet Town” to first graders where they taught them the alphabet sounds and rules through songs and role playing.

Linda doesn’t think she would have been as successful in her career in the education field without the training she received while attending SUU. When she was choosing a college to attend, she chose SUU because its education department was ranked as one of the best in the state.

She remembers fondly taking classes from Gwen Clark, Kent Meyers and Bonnie Bishop. These professors were dedicated to their students and instilled in Linda the love of teaching. They also prepared her with the teaching tools she would need to take into the classroom.

One of Linda’s favorite memories of her time at SUU was pledging Pi Rho Omega sorority. She said, “There never was a dull moment living with 12 roommates in the sorority house, especially when I was the house mother.” She was a member of Little Sister’s organization/Athenians. Later she was the president of the Athenians.

Linda retired in 2004 after teaching for thirty years in Washington and Piute counties. She and her husband Ken love to travel, are members of the Rods and Rebels car club and enjoy taking their 1938 Desoto to car shows.

Linda enjoys being a wife, mother, and grandma to her four children, four-step children and 18 grandchildren.

The Kays reside in St. George, Utah.

Alumni Spotlight: Mechelle Mellor

Meche  Mellor (’94, Physical Education) is a Private Banking Relationship Manager and an Assistant Vice-President at Zions Bank.

Professor Steve Lunt was an exceptional mentor and advisor for Meche. She explains, “The lessons he taught me in my Physical Education classes are relevant to everyday life.  In my head I will still hear him say – ‘questions, comments, concerns?’”

What did she like best about her experience at SUU? The opportunities of being involved with SUUSA and the Greek community, and learning that there was more to school than just going to class.

She also learned the value of volunteerism and service. Her professors were involved in Clubs and Organizations as advisors. The Student Activities office got her involved in helping provide activities for her fellow students. Even today, “I am encouraged in my current position at Zions Bank to be involved in my community. Due to my experiences at SUU, this fits with my own personal desires to serve those in my community,” she explains.

And serve she does, with a variety of organizations: Executive Women International, Alphi Phi International Fraternity, Ronald McDonald House Charities Gala Committee, Utah Symphony/Utah Opera, SUU Alumni Association, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, American Heart Association and the Arthritis Foundation.

It is difficult for Meche to pick one memorable experience while a student at SUU. She states, “I was very fortunate to be involved in a number of organizations from Acclamation to Phi Alpha Beta/Alpha Phi, to Student Government. All of which provided incredible experiences that I will carry with me throughout my life.”

Meche enjoys traveling, reading, eating good food, being in the outdoors and spending time with family and friends.

She resides in Farmington, Utah.

Alumni Spotlight: Jordon Sharp

Jordon Sharp (’05, Communication) is the Director of Sales and Marketing for Living Scriptures Inc. in St. George, Utah, and credits a persuasion class taught by Professor Matt Barton (’95) as laying a foundation for his successful career in sales and marketing.

SUU instilled in Jordon a love of learning, something he had not previously enjoyed. He went on to earn a master’s degree from Park University and is currently finishing up his doctorate degree from Colorado Technical University. “Although these other institutions have been exceptional, SUU’s amazing faculty and staff, beautiful campus and unique atmosphere are second to none,” he says.

A childhood dream came true for Jordon when he had the opportunity to work for the Walt Disney Company in public relations and marketing. But it is his work with Living Scriptures Inc. that satisfies him the most because of products that teach values and change lives. With more than 100 million dollars in product development, Living Scriptures Inc. has become one of the largest religious and historical libraries for children in the world.  With tens of thousands of sales associates Living Scriptures Inc. has employed during its 37-year history, Jordon still holds the record for the top sales team of all time.

Jordon’s best SUU memory is finding his wife, Liz Noel, in Willowbrook #89. Being involved at SUU as a presidential ambassador, SUUSA cabinet member, Acclamation member and winning the Mr. SUU contest were his best experiences.

Jordon and Liz, a registered nurse, have three children: Samuel 6, Chloe 3 and Phoebe 9 months. The Sharps have lived all over the country but came back to southern Utah to raise their family because they fell in love with the area during their time at SUU.  He and his family are currently working on creating a half-marathon in Kanab, Utah, to benefit suicide prevention in that area.

Homecoming 2011

Homecoming officially got underway on Saturday, September 17, with the annual Alumni Luncheon in the Gilbert Great Hall. Alumni from all eras gathered to remember and celebrate the ties that bind us all together as alumni of Southern Utah University.
Honored at the luncheon were Outstanding Alumni Gail ('51) and Jane Bradshaw, Distinguished Service Award Recipient Lee Fife ('72) and Young Alumnus Tommy Burr ('02).

The Bradshaws have been stalwart supporters of Cedar City, our region and of Southern Utah University. Fueled by their own spirit of service and through the family business, Bradshaw Chevrolet Buick, they have aided their community and SUU in profound ways.

Lee Fife recently completed an eight-year tenure on the SUU Board of Trustees, serving as chair of the Audit Committee, and the University greatly benefitted from this lifetime of experience in finance. He is the founder and senior lending officer for SunFirst Bank in St. George.

Tommy Burr is the senior Washington correspondent for The Salt Lake Tribune, covering Congress, the White House and federal agencies. He is past-president of the Washington-based Regional Reporters Association and chairman of the Congressional Standing Committee of Correspondents. In 2010 and 2011 he was named the National Press Club's Regional Reporter of the Year.

Prior to the Alumni Luncheon, several SUUSA Administration Reunions were held. Included in that mix were Steve Kiisel ('06-'07), Ryan Richey ('01-02) and Kimber Heaton ('91-'92). Take a look and see who you recognize.

Steve Kiisel Administration Reunion

Ryan Richey Administration Reunion

Kimber Heaton Administration Reunion

Later that day, the Homecoming Parade made its way down University Boulevard with entries from across campus and the community. This year's theme was "Kickin' It Old School" and the Agriculture Club took home first prize in the float division with its large cowboy boot kicking a football.

Bands make all the difference at a parade and we were thrilled to have three SUU Alumni enter their high school marching bands: David Jordan ('97) from Canyon View High School, Steve Shirts ('87) from Cedar High School and Carylee Foremaster Zwang ('05) from Parowan High School. All three directors have long supported and participated in the SUU Homecoming Parade and we appreciate their continued efforts.

Following the parade, large crowds gathered at Thunderbird Village and tailgated in preparation for the big game. And Thunderbird Football did not disappoint! Junior quarterback Brad Sorensen completed 20-of-28 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns as we rolled to a 45-22 win over UT-San Antonio in front of 8,683 fans. 

It was a fantastic Homecoming celebration. Thank you to everyone who attended and let's do it again next year!