Alumni Spotlight: Randy Cowan

Randy Cowan ('71, Physical Education) credits SUU as the basis for his successful career in education and in the Utah Army National Guard.

Professors Steve Lunt and Cleo Petty made lasting impressions on Randy through their teaching of life lessons through personal interest and example. "With their efforts I developed a love of physical education and helping students," he explains.

Randy's best college memory was meeting his wife Collette and the great times they had during their school years. They met through the Chi Sigma Upsilon Sorority - she was a member and he was honored as "Man of the Year" in 1969.

After graduating from SUU, Randy taught at the old Cedar Jr. High for eight years and then moved to the Utah Army National Guard where he enjoyed a successful 33 year career - 25 years of which he was on active duty. The Guard recognized his remarkable service with the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, several Army Achievement Medals and the State of Utah Solider of the Quarter.

Now retired from the National Guard, Randy is a substitute teacher, test coordinator at Canyon View High School in Cedar City, officiates high school softball in southern Utah and is the basketball coordinator for the Utah Summer Games. He also enjoys golfing, hunting, reading and serving in his church.

Randy and Collette are the parents of four children (two boys and two girls) and 12 grandchildren -- with two on the way. All of the Cowan children, including two of their spouses, graduated from SUU.

Alumni Spotlight: Brandon Guzman

Brandon Guzman ('08, Physical Education & Human Performance) is the Graduate Assistant Football Coach at Western New Mexico University where he is pursuing a master's degree in secondary education.

He credits the amazing faculty of SUU's Physical Education Department with helping him achieve the stellar education he now puts to good use coaching the Mustangs. "They showed me the right way to communicate and teach the individuals I coach," he says. "Dr. Jean Lopour was a great professor who was always full of energy and made sure her class was learning and understanding. She showed me what it means to be a great teacher."

Brandon also enjoyed his time outside of the classroom while at SUU where he excelled as an offensive lineman on the football team. His greatest Southern Utah memories involve his teammates and the experience of traveling all over the country with "a bunch of great people."

Coming from a small town in Arizona, Brandon worked hard to earn a football scholarship. He is only the second person in his family to graduate from college and counts his graduation from SUU as his proudest accomplishment.

Brandon volunteers at local football camps where he enjoys teaching area kids about the importance being active and healthy.

Alumni Spotlight: June Thorley

As a teacher and mentor, June Decker Thorley has enriched the lives of others through her passion for music.

Born in Parowan, Utah, her childhood was filled with music as she learned to play the violin, piano and French horn. She graduated from Parowan High in 1946 and enrolled at Southern Utah University (known then as the Branch Agricultural College) and graduated in 1948. She served as student body vice-president, was her class valedictorian and received one of the first four-year education certificates awarded by this institution.

June's 37-year education career touched the lives of thousands of students. She taught orchestra at elementary schools, Cedar Jr. High and Cedar High School, including private lessons to as many as 30 students each week.

Her love of students and sharing with them the joy of music produced award-winning orchestras and ensembles. Her groups routinely astonished audiences and regularly earned top region and state awards, garnering an unheard of 1++ rating prior to her retirement in 2005.

June is an active member of the Cedar City arts community. She is a founding member of the Orchestra of Southern Utah, has played in countless ensembles for community events and has performed in Cedar City's production of the Messiah for 66 years (and counting!).

Music has always been an important part of June's identity and she has loved sharing it with her students, many of whom graduated from SUU and are now educators. She explains, "Music is like great literature. It enriches and brings feeling that makes life bearable when you don't think you can bear it anymore."

In recognition of her remarkable career, the Alumni Association presented June Thorley with the 2010 Carmen Rose Hepworth Award during Thunderbird Awards.