Utah Tech University

Providing five children with mobility challenges the perfect gift in time for the holidays, students in Utah Tech University's Physical Therapist Assistant program have spent the last month customizing electric kids' cars and adapting them to each child. This is the fifth time that Utah Tech University has participated in the Go Baby Go program, which focuses on giving children with mobility challenges more opportunities to develop, grow, and play with other children.

Based on their strong academic standing and committment to improving the community, five Utah Tech students were chosen to receive this year's Board of Trustees Scholarship. Scholarship recipients were invited to the recent Board of Trustees meeting to share their stories of how the scholarship has impacted their college experience. The scholarship was created four years ago with the help of one of the current Board members, Colleen Kvetko. She decided to take this idea and create a system where the Board of Trustees would donate a certain amount to provide enough scholarship money for students to help make a difference. The scholarship is awarded to students who are full-time earning either a bachelor's or master's degree, have at least a 3.25 GPA, be a Utah resident, or international/DACA student, complete prior community service and write a one-page essay.

Utah Tech University freshman Darren Johnson created a Christmas light display that is featured in the 10th annual St. George Christmas Lights Spectacular. The display, which Darren has been preparing since August and has dedicated 600 hours of work to, features more than 20,000 controlled pixels, is synchronized to music, and allows the audience to be in control of the show.

Two dozen Utah Tech University students were selected as Student of the Semester in their respective departments for their academic achievement and dedication.

Showcasing one of many ways that Utah Tech University offers a hands-on learning experience, Utah Tech student Molly Shewchuk and Director of Web Services Aaron Campbell won second place at a pitch competition held at the institution's Atwood Innovation Plaza. The pair won a $1,000 award as a result of their pitch of StoryWave, a platform for artificial intelligence-generated and assisted stories that can create up to 60 pages or 40 minutes of audio based on simple prompts by the user. StoryWave addresses the issue that some face of not having anything to listen to that is catered specifically to their interests.

Utah Tech University students recently had the opportunity to participate in the Citizen Academy, a program coordinated by the IRS Criminal Investigation field office. This was a great opportunity for the students to learn about the careers of IRS special agents and see what a criminal investigation entails. The Citizen Academy is a unique opportunity and a perfect example of Utah Tech's polytechnic, hands-on mission of giving students opportunities to apply themselves outside of the classroom.

Utah Tech students Chloe Furse and Avery Fowers hosted a pumpkin drop-off opportunity for community members a few days after Halloween. Participants were invited to bring their old pumpkins which would be taken to the local composting center. Furse and Fowers collected the pumpkins at Vernon Worthen Park in St. George, Utah, and also taught about the environmental benefits of composting as part of the project.

This year, 43 students were selected to serve as Utah Tech University Student Ambassadors. In this role, selected students serve as the face of the University by providing campus tours and visits for prospective students and sharing information about the variety of opportunities offered at Utah Tech. Serving as an Ambassador also helps students improve their leadership and communication skills while being able to share their experiences with students on campus.

As part of Utah Tech University's Homecoming week, 28 women shared their talents and passions at the Miss Utah Tech University scholarship competition. The Miss Utah Tech University competition provides students with the opportunity to promote their community service initiatives, showcase their talents and compete for various scholarships. This year, five Utah Tech students were crowned as Homecoming royalty.

Zoe Sewell, previously known as Miss Utah Tech, has been crowned as this year's Miss Southern Utah. With this title, she plans to go to every high school in Washington to teach students about healthy lifestyle habits, helping them see their potential and rise to it. Zoe will also be volunteering around Southern Utah during her time as Miss Southern Utah.

Rachele Schulist, a Utah Tech University student and physical therapist assistant, earned the highest possible score of 800 on the National Physical Therapy Exam. Schulist took the test earlier this year and attended an award ceremony at the beginning of October to accept an award for this outstanding accomplishment that only .6%. of test takers achieve.

Utah Tech University's Student Association leads Trailblazers on campus. UTSA's president's cabinet is committed to giving students the opportunity to gain experience that will make them employable by equipping them with abilities to be professional, coherent and responsible. This year, four Utah Tech students are serving on the president's cabinet in the roles of student body president, chief of staff, presidential initiatives coordinator and director of Code Red.

Utah Tech University student Lilliana Rogers was recently awarded the Jay's Legacy Utah Tech Scholarship. The Jay's Legacy Foundation provides scholarship opportunities to students in memory of Utah Tech University student and athlete JeShan "Jay" Allen, who tragically passed away in a car accident. Rogers, a first-generation college student, lost her father at the age of 16, which motivated her to pursue a career that revolved around grief and loss. By receiving the Jay's Legacy Scholarship, Rogers has been able to continue working toward her goals.

This summer, eight Utah Tech students consisting of seven dancers and one photographer departed on a Study Abroad opportunity to Florence, Italy. In this three-week intensive dance study, students are housed together and are immersed in a rigorous schedule of three to four classes every weekday learning contemporary, jazz funk, ballet, and power ballet. This was also the first year a photography student participated in the opportunity, capturing the dance talents of her fellow students in the stunning surroundings of Italy.

Ten Utah Tech University students traveled to Spain this summer and immersed themselves in different educational systems while gaining new perspectives. Utah Tech's tagline of "active learning. active life." represents hands-on experiences for students. Studying abroad is a key example of experiential learning, as it provides students with immersive, real-world experiences that complement classroom learning.

Earlier this month, six Utah Tech students traveled to the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City and participated in the Miss Utah Competition. "The 47 contestants that competed at Miss Utah invested copious amounts of time for the once-in-a-lifetime chance of being Miss Utah," Sarah Ramaker, assistant director of student involvement and leadership at Utah Tech, said. "To many of them, being Miss Utah means a chance to be a role model for the women of our state to hopefully have the opportunity to inspire, serve, and pursue a higher education."

The prestigious Contemporary West Dance Theatre in Las Vegas recently accepted Utah Tech University student and soon-to-be graduate Jaesha Hall into its company. Securing an audition at the Contemporary West Dance Theatre was no easy feat, as potential company members had to be invited in to audition. Hall, from Roosevelt, Utah, prepared her resume and submitted multiple dance videos and eventually earned an invitation to audition. After spending three days in Las Vegas, Hall anxiously awaited the outcome for a month. Finally, the director reached out to Hall, stating that the company wanted to see her again. Hall spent one more day dancing alongside the company members before being offered a contract and a spot on the company.

Jason Cowley, a recreation and sport management student at Utah Tech University, was recently honored as the recipient of the National Recreation and Park Association Student Scholarship. This is a competitive scholarship that garners applicants from across the country and is awarded to only two students each year. The scholarship recognizes outstanding students for community service and contributions to the parks and recreation field while providing them with the opportunity to explore the industry at the NRPA Annual Conference.

In a display of academic achievement, nearly 12 percent of Utah Tech University students earned Dean's List recognition for the Spring 2023 semester. Specifically, 1,240 students were included on the Dean's List. Inclusion indicates students' strong commitment to their academic pursuits, as they must achieve a GPA of 3.5 to 3.89 for the Dean's List. Students are also required to complete a minimum of 15 credits.

Two of Utah Tech's art students recently received the prestigious Harry Bertoia Foundation Scholarship, earned through a combination of showcasing artwork, filling out applications, writing essays about the art, and securing letters of recommendation. The Harry Bertoia Foundation is a private charity that serves to educate the public about the late artist Harry Bertoia and modern art. Bertoia is best known for his architectural sculptures and furniture that he designed and constructed. The scholarship is offered to two qualified students to enable attendance at a Utah college.

In a display of academic achievement, nearly 10 percent of Utah Tech University students earned President's List recognition for the Spring 2023 semester. Specifically, 1,051 students were included on the President's List. Inclusion indicates students' strong commitment to their academic pursuits, as they must achieve a semester GPA of 3.9 or higher for the President's List. Students are also required to complete a minimum of 15 credits.

Utah Tech University recently celebrated the achievements of 2,804 degree candidates at the University's 112th Commencement Ceremony, welcoming the largest number of on-campus participants in the history of the University. During the ceremony, held on May 5th in the Greater Zion Stadium on Utah Tech's campus, the University honored the Class of 2023, with 44 percent earning a bachelor's degree, 36 percent earning an associate degree, 18 percent earning a certificate and 2 percent earning a master's degree. Candidates ranged in age from 16 to 65.

Earlier this month, several members of Utah Tech University's pickleball club successfully competed in the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating's first-ever Collegiate Individual National Championship in Fort Worth, Texas. This championship includes Men's and Women's Doubles, Mixed Doubles, and Men's and Women's Singles brackets. "It is hard to believe that last year, this was a brand-new club sport on campus, and they not only organized it themselves and raised funds, they were also the National Champion Runner-Up in 2022," said Executive Director of Campus Life and Wellness Christian Hildebrandt. "This year, in their second year of existence, they exploded, not only as a team but individually."

Engineering students at Utah Tech University showcased their skills and hard work at this year's Engineering Design Day. Community members, students, and families gathered on campus to enjoy the interesting projects created by UT engineering students. The projects that people could enjoy during Engineering Design Day included a series of nine mini golf courses created by the freshmen, carnival games made by the sophomores, and a turbo regatta race created by the juniors, which featured battery-powered pedal boats. Senior engineering students also had the opportunity to showcase their industry collaborative capstone projects. "Design Day is the engineering department's flagship showcase for students," David Christensen, assistant professor of engineering and chair of the engineering department, said. "This is when students get to show off their engineering prowess."

Utah Tech University celebrated eleven students this week by presenting them with the prestigious Elite 11 Award. First introduced in 2014 by Taylor Topham Twitchell and Joel Glauser, two former members of the Utah Tech Alumni Ambassadors, the Elite 11 Award recognizes 11 senior students who have excelled in academics and have been heavily involved in both University and community service. The number 11 signifies the year Utah Tech University first began in 1911. "This special and unique Elite 11 award is just one way to highlight and honor these amazing students at Utah Tech University," Betty Barnum, President of the Alumni Association Board, said. Students must have a 3.65 or higher GPA to apply and their in-depth application must describe all of their volunteer and service activities including their involvement in athletic or music programs. This year's recipients of the Elite 11 Award attended an honorary dinner, received a letter of recommendation from the University President, and will have their picture displayed on a plaque in the Stephen and Marcia Wade Alumni House.

Three Utah Tech students - Aly Encarnacion, Ashlyn Hawkins, and Spencer Manning - presented the results of their analysis of conducted local water samples at this year's Research Symposium. The students took samples from Quail Creek Water Treatment Plant, Sand Hollow Reservoir, and local tap water, and in collaboration with a lab at Utah State University, they studied to see if there were microplastics present in the water sources. The presence of microplastics in local water sources poses a major environmental concern, especially in relation to human health as there is evidence that these plastics can build up in human tissues and organs. The research conducted by these students allows for the assessment of microplastics in local bodies of water, which can provide potential insight about how to filter out these plastics, and how to improve future water regulation guidelines to reduce the amount of microplastics found in southern Utah water sources. "I learned so much about both microplastics and the filtration system that already takes place at Sand Hollow and Quail Creek reservoirs from this research," Hawkins said. "I have been reading so many papers and have become fascinated with water and how the state of Utah sets its regulations, maintains them, and how each regulation is thoughtfully and carefully set to improve the quality of our drinking water."

Utah Tech student Noelle Fuller took her artistic ability to new heights by transforming a plain red piano into an art piece showcasing Utah Tech University's beautiful Southern Utah surroundings. Fuller's piece was unveiled at a Utah Tech event in downtown St. George and will be placed in a prominent location in St. George for the community to enjoy. Fuller transformed the piano by adding a 3D bison head made out of spray foam and wood chips, painted several Southern Utah landscapes, and burned petroglyphs into the wood sidings. Fuller shared it took her roughly 1,100 hours to completely transform the piano but she said, looking back, it was completely worth it and a transformative experience. "It took a lot of research and planning time - creating mockups and different ideas to see which one would be approved, and then figuring out how to have those ideas come to life," Fuller said. "I am so happy I was able to do this and have this experience. I know so much more now because of this and I am so excited. I can't wait to keep exploring and sharing with the world."

Utah Tech students enrolled in the Literature and the Land course recently spent their Saturday volunteering with Conserve Southwest Utah at Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area. Working with CSU volunteers, these students recorded the locations of 20 tortoise burrows, 13 mammal burrows of interest, and they located one tortoise that was still hibernating in its burrow. Professor Theda Wrede, who teaches the course, believes that providing students with volunteering opportunities offers them multiple learning experiences that they can easily transfer back into the classroom. Volunteering with local environmental organizations like CSU also enables students to feel like active members of the community while at the same time, allowing them to bond with their peers. "In this class focusing on environmental literature, I encourage students to have first-hand experiences with nature to gain a better understanding of the ideas, processes, and concerns expressed in the texts we read," Wrede said. "Course contents become more meaningful, I believe, through experimental learning activities like these."

Austin Burns, a senior at Utah Tech University, created a visually stunning light display for Utah Tech's annual Fire & Ice Gala. With a Benson Boone concert to take place the next day, Burns flipped the light display 180 degrees in order to feature the singer and his set. Burns found his passion for lighting after getting involved in his high school theatre program and working at the Tuacahn Center for the Arts, and has since continued to find opportunities in the lighting world by working at the M.K. Cox Performing Arts Center at Utah Tech University.

As part of Utah Tech University's D-Week festivities, the Trailblazer Queen pageant provides students with the opportunity to showcase their talents, personalities, and passions on stage. Alijah Caskinette was crowned this year's Trailblazer Queen, wowing the judges with her talent of a self-choreographed contemporary dance routine. Caskinette was crowned alongside her four attendants: first attendant, Kimberly Querales; second attendant, Marinn Duncan; third attendant and congeniality queen, Madison Jackson; and fourth attendant and congeniality queen, Evie Barfuss. Every contestant who participates in the pageant is scored based on a resume, essay, private interview, talent, evening wear, and an onstage question. Trailblazer Queen contestants spend six weeks leading up to the pageant preparing and perfecting their talent and quick-thinking skills to ensure they're ready to impress the judges. As Caskinette steps into her new role as Trailblazer Queen, she wants to continue supporting and uplifting the campus community.