Campus Tradition Puts Face to Each Scholarship's Impact

Scholarship Luncheon, Gilbert Great hall

The weather outside was frigid, but inside the Hunter Conference Center, hearts were warmed during the fourth annual Scholarship Appreciation Luncheon on January 16, which brought SUU scholarship recipients together with the donors who have paid for their education, revealing the impact a single person can have on another’s success.

Though the event was intended for students to give thanks to their benefactors, the givers were, in turn, just as openly grateful for the students they were able to support.

According to donor Dan Jones ('70) of Cedar City, whose parents created the Homer and Belle Jones Scholarship Endowment, “It was great to talk to the student who is benefiting from my parents’ legacy. To know that their sacrifice wasn’t in vain brings me great joy.”

SUU President Michael T. Benson echoed that sentiment saying, “It is one thing to construct buildings or build football fields, but without students, none of us would be here. These donors truly emulate the spirit shown by the original founders.”

During the luncheon, three scholarship recipients addressed the group and shared their stories of hardship, strife and even tragedy. Though their experiences were different, each imparted an inspiring account of how the generous support of others has changed their lives forever. 

Jourdyn Cleveland

One student speaker, Jourdyn Cleveland of Cedar City, a senior studying elementary education who has been fighting cancer since the age of 15, said, “I know that whatever time I have left, I want to do something with it and pursue my dreams. Giving is an ongoing process and is more than writing a check, it’s changing a life.”

In addition to thanking donors, the luncheon was also intended to recognize student success in academics. Through the generosity of Edward and Carolyn Rondthaler, two $3,000 prizes were awarded to SUU’s top psychology and music students.

This year’s music recipient went to Alex Byers, a senior music education major. The award for psychology went to Shalisha Jessup, a senior from Adamsville, Utah. Both students have 4.0 GPAs.

During his closing remarks, Benson asked the students in attendance for two commitments: “I ask you, first, to complete your education and then, later in life, give back to the place that gave you your start. To give a student just like you a chance at an education.”

For the 2012-13 school year, 3,372 students received institutional scholarships, totaling $10,818,218 to help SUU’s students.

Jeffrey Ure, student speaker
at the Scholarship Luncheon

Garrett McCullough, student speaker
at the Scholarship Luncheon

Shalisha Jessup, recipient of the
Rondthaler Prize in Psychology

Alex Byers, recipient of the Rondthaler Prize in Music

Danielle Erickson performs Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Alex Byers and Christina Meikle perform a scene from
Madima The Catalog Aria from Don Giovanni
Accompanied by Dr.  Willem Van Schalkwyk

Alumni Spotlight: Bob Grove

Bob Grove (’87, Communication) is the owner of DriveAway Vacations and Wild West PR.  As it turned out, his major and work experience as a student at SUU was the perfect combination.   

In 1993 Bob founded DriveAway Vacations, a business that promotes places to go, things to do, and sights to see that are within a day’s drive of Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.  Seven years later he created Wild West Public Relations & Marketing and integrated both this past year to form a new marketing alliance for tourism businesses.   He “got hooked” in the travel and tourism industry while a student and working at hotels, travel agencies, Brian Head Ski Resort, SkyWest Airlines and rental car companies.   

He’s been featured on KSL TV’s Utah Business, KSL Radio’s Speaking on Business with Fred Ball, and was on the cover of Travel Agent Magazine as an entrepreneur of diversity in travel.  Bob is a frequent media expert source in discussing travel trends in the Intermountain region and is a member of the executive board for the Utah Society of Association Executives.

Graduation day was the highlight of Bob’s college career.  Not because he didn’t have a great SUU experience but because he was the first in his family to receive a college degree.  “While sitting with my graduating class listening to a bag pipe band play, the realization set in that I did it!  It was one of the proudest moments of my life,” he explains.

Bob and his wife Susan have five children and four grandchildren.