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!