Why I'm Grateful for SUU - Larry Bliss

I want to share why I am grateful for Southern Utah University. First of all, if I had not come to Cedar City, Utah, I would have never met my beautiful wife Marilyn Bliss, who was working for Dr. Steve Lunt. Second, the education I received was a changing factor in my life to do better and look for ways to improve my life. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science with a major in Business Administration and minor in Accounting. The campus was much different back then in 1969. I met so many wonderful people at Southern Utah University, loved the campus and the life of a college student. 

Cedar City was the place where we were going to spend the rest of our life, but with a career starting with Coronet Variety stores out of Pasadena, California, we had many different adventures and cities to work and manage variety stores. I helped open a new grocery/variety retail store in St. George, Utah, we eventually ended up with True Value Hardware Corporation out of Chicago, Illinois, and we ended up setting in Spanish Fork, Utah, for 32 years with True Value, and retired two years ago. We have 5 wonderful children, 22 grandchildren and one great-grandson. 

My education at Southern Utah University, (College of Southern Utah) changed my whole life.

Larry Bliss is a 1969 graduate of SUU and lives in Spanish Fork, Utah, and is a retired consultant for True Value Hardware Corporation.

Jon McNaughtan - Why I'm Grateful for SUU

The holidays for me have always been a time to be with family and reflect on fond memories of being with loved ones. Though the majority of my life I thought of my family as a small group, consisting of my parents and siblings, this holiday season I feel privileged to take a moment to talk about what family has come to mean to me by sharing a few of the reasons I am grateful for the extended family that I found while attending SUU. 

I will clarify that my wife (Liz Day McNaughtan) and I both graduated from SUU in 2009 and while the most important relationship we developed on the SUU campus was ours, we are grateful for the many other friendships that stem from our association with SUU. In fact, for the last few years we have lived in Michigan, where our closest family members are a brutal 24 hour drive away. However, we have been very grateful for our extended Thunderbird family here in the Midwest that helped us move in, shared Thanksgiving dinner, and cheered on the T-Birds over the last three years. Not only have we continued friendships we started while at SUU, but have made new ones as we mingle with great fellow alumni.

What’s more, I am grateful that my experience at SUU was authentic. I have traveled back to Cedar City every year for homecoming except one. What still amazes me is that every time I go back the friends I made and mentors that guided me are there to express how much they care and ask about my life. At so many colleges the students are little more than a number, but at SUU even six years removed people still care because they were and are authentically interested in my success.

On top of lasting authentic relationships, I have found that in addition to being academically prepared while at SUU, my participation in applied experiences shaped my view of leadership and gave me the confidence to tackle challenging projects. I will forever be grateful for the rare opportunities I had to serve in student government, presidential ambassadors, residence life, and the many clubs I couldn’t help but join. I didn’t realize how rare the SUU experience was until I continued my education at other institutions and realized that many students long for an applied education to compliment their academic preparation but struggle to find opportunities.

In 2003 when I pulled out of Heber City, Utah, on the way to college at SUU I thought I was leaving home to start a temporary new adventure. However, it turned out I was just about to find a new home and extended family of fellow T-Birds that continue to influence my life in positive ways. I am grateful for the choice I made to attend SUU and for the continued experiences that demonstrate to me the power of a high quality personalized education.   

Jon McNaughtan is a 2009 graduate of SUU where he earned his bachelor's degree in communication. He and his family live in An Arbor, MI, where he is a PhD. student in The Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education.

Quinn Mortensen - Why I'm Grateful for SUU

From the onset of my relationship with SUU, gratitude for the University fast became a life-time experience. I have had the great pleasure to be involved with SUU as an undergraduate and graduate student, as well as a University professional, adjunct professor and now as an alumnus. As a student, I am grateful to the professors, students, staff and advisers...especially those in the communications department. Now in my life, during professional meetings and personal outings, whenever discussions turn to collegiate background I am often asked "What attracted you to SUU?" I typically begin listing several factors and benefits; most of which sprouted from the deep relationships that were forged during my time as a student and professional at SUU.  
I also worked for the University in a professional setting for five years after graduation. I am grateful for the training, friendships, mentoring and business experience I gained during that time. I didn't understand the depth and importance of those years until after I had moved on to different opportunities; some of which stemmed from both my educational and professional time at SUU. Now I am even more grateful to the many departments, teams and individuals with whom I was able to work in such an enjoyable and informative environment.

I attribute some of the best decisions and opportunities in my professional and personal lives to the University and Cedar City. I am proud to wear my SUU hats here in Texas, hang my SUU diplomas in my office and to say thank you to the University that helped me to become who I am today. Simply stated . . . I am grateful for SUU.

Quinn Mortensen is a 2004 and 2008 graduate of SUU where he earned his bachelor's degree in communication and a master's degree in professional communication. He and his family live in Houston, TX, where he works for a global software/safety company.