Utah Tech University

Utah Tech University recently celebrated its first group of graduates. Twenty-four students earned their Associate of Science degrees in Nursing and were honored at a pinning ceremony in early August. "These graduates are outstanding examples of those who are seeking excellence and professional growth." Associate Professor of Nursing Judy Scott said. "After graduation from the AASN program, all are ready to enter our RN-BSN program to continue to grow and learn." Utah Tech partnered with Dixie Technical College to provide pathway options for students who have already become licensed practical nurses or earned their paramedic certifications and want to work toward becoming a registered nurse.

Southern Utah's canyon tree frog population is dropping, and dropping fast. Curt Walker, a professor at Utah Tech University, took it upon himself in 2008 to raise awareness and get to the bottom of the mysterious, growing absence of the once thriving population. Nearly 15 years later, and Walker still ventures out to places like Zion National Park and Quail Creek State Park each week with various students from Utah Tech University. The group has come to two conclusions - one, that the consistent drought in St. George is affecting the water-dependent species; and two, a fungus called chytrid is common in the local communities of canyon tree frogs.

This summer Utah Tech students Ethan Allen and Janna Brown, along with Dr. Ka-Wai Yu of the UT Music Department, visited Saarburg, Germany to perform in the Saarburg Music Festival. Allen performed a total of four times and Brown performed five times at the festival. Additionally, the experience of mingling with others who had already established a career path in music was valuable to both students, helping reinforce what they wanted to pursue as well as push them to new levels.

Utah Tech University student Dusty Hart recently competed in the SkillsUSA national competition in Atlanta, Georgia where he was awarded first place for his screen-printing ability. Hart won a small printing press, an ink mixing system, a ticket to a MADE Lab class in Texas, and 500 dollars. Initially, Hart participated in the screen-printing competition at the post-secondary level. He entered the state competition, held at Salt Lake Community College, where he also won first place for his quality screen-printing work.

Learning more about their art and working on their craft, select Utah Tech University dance students recently returned from participating in the Florence Summer Dance experience. The three-week intensive Study Abroad program offers students the opportunity to network with international artists, develop character, and release their artistic expression.

Seven Utah Tech students, led by Professor Robert Kagabo, took just over three weeks of their summer to travel to Uganda, participate in humanitarian work and learn more about health and social challenges there. The students, majoring in degrees such as pre-med, nursing, biology, and population health, were able to fully immerse themselves in the country and the various cultures found within. In Uganda, the students conducted community-based participatory research, letting the local community make decisions and the group assisting with those decisions. The group also learned about the public health challenges that affected the area, like malaria, the West Nile Virus, Ebola, and a rise in teen pregnancy since the instating of a quarantine to protect the public against COVID-19.

Kylee Newsome, an intern with Utah Tech's Digital Forensics Crime Lab, had the unique opportunity to spend six weeks at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences this summer. She spent this time exploring the Forensic Sciences program and piloting an upcoming student exchange program between Utah Tech University and the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. While Newsome's emphasis at Utah Tech is Digital Forensics and Defense, the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences emphasized additional programs, broadening Newsome's knowledge of forensics studies. As part of this opportunity, Newsome watched students participate in a mock fire crime scene investigation, listened to graduate students present their thesis projects, and gave a briefing to the Dutch students on American Universities and career paths post graduation. Newsome was also able to make connections with the Netherlands Forensic Institute and tour a local police department. For Newsome, Amsterdam offered a well-rounded experience beyond classroom studies, with weekend trips to Germany and Belgium, a river cruise, and time to immerse herself in a new culture. According to Newsome, it was a once-in-a-lifetime trip. "Amsterdam was an amazing experience where I was able to learn about forensic sciences like biology and chemistry. It was a good way to broaden my knowledge of the field that I am studying."

Sebastian Hotalen, a member of Utah Tech University's Rodeo Club, is hitting the road to compete in the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming. Hotalen, who is from of Belgrade, Montana, said he is "feeling pretty confident" about competing as a bareback rider in Casper - and with good reason. This will be Hotalen's second appearance at the CNFR, missing his freshman year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, he made it to the National High School Rodeo Finals three times, and in his senior year was named Top 15 out of high schoolers in the world. Outside of the arena, Hotalen is studying management at Utah Tech and is working toward becoming the first person in his family to earn a college degree.

Dixie State University theatre students participate in the first-ever Student Playwrights Festival, a nine-day event featuring 15 plays written, directed and performed by DSU students. Of the plays performed, ten were short plays, around ten-minutes long, and five of them were full-length plays. A total of 24 students either wrote or directed the plays and all worked hard to make the shows a success.

Dixie State University recently celebrated the achievements of the institution's largest-ever graduating class of 2,684 degree candidates at the university's 111th Commencement Ceremony. During the ceremony, held on May 6 in Greater Zion Stadium on the DSU campus, the university honored the Class of 2022, with 60 percent receiving bachelor's degrees, 38 percent associate degrees and two percent master's degrees. Candidates ranged from 16 to 79 years of age and included students from 49 states and 15 countries. Of the graduates, 63 percent are female and 37 percent are male.

Dixie State University Physical Therapist Assistant students participated in the Go Baby Go program, offering community children the gift of mobility through customized cars. "Through this program children with disabilities, as young as 7-9 months, are able to learn to control the cars and experience the world in a way the rest of us take for granted, choosing which direction to go and what to explore," said Drew Wilcox director of the Physical Therapist Assistant program. "This allows them to interact, to learn, to grow and to develop an awareness of their world that isn't possible when your entire world is reliant on others." DSU students met with the parents and their participating children to learn about each child's unique disability, their favorite color, the type of car they wanted and other things that make each child unique so the cars could be completely customized.

As a formal event patterned after the Academy Awards, Dixie State University's Dixie Awards ceremony has been a traditional part of student life at Dixie State for decades. This annual ceremony recognizes the accomplishments of Dixie State students, faculty, staff, community members and business who have shown a remarkable commitment to either DSU, particular programs, or organizations. The Dixie Award ceremony was held on April 29 and included a variety of categories with the top five finalists in each. The categories include: Teacher of the Year, Teacher of the Year - Rising Star, Part-Time Faculty of the Year, Distinguished Staff Member of the Year, Distinguished Staff Member of the Year - Rising Star, Student of the Year, Club of the Year, Stafford Student Involvement, Entertainer of the Year, Dixie Spirit, Heart of Dixie, and Commitment to Diversity.

Dixie State University's Alumni Association recently held the Dixie 11 event to celebrate eleven extraordinary bachelor's degree candidates of 2022 who have excelled in academics as well as university and community involvement. "After carefully reviewing over 70 applications for the Dixie 11 award, I was astonished and proud of the achievements of these students," said Alumni Association President Betty Barnum. "Clearly these applicants are the best of Dixie State University and the final 11 are the best of the best!"

Mechanical engineering students showcased their skills and hard work at Dixie State University's Engineering Design Day held this week. Hundreds of community members, families, and students gathered on campus to enjoy the numerous projects created by DSU's engineering students. Activities at Engineering Design Day included a series of mini golf courses designed by the freshmen, carnival games made by the sophomores, and a "turbo regatta" race, which involved a bundle of races between a normal, human-powered pedal boat and modified, battery-powered pedal boats built by the juniors. Seniors also had the chance to showcase their capstone projects, which included a bottle-flip simulator and a computer numerical control wire bender that was built at less than ten percent of the size of industrial wire benders. David Christensen, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, emphasized that this is the first graduating class of mechanical engineers that Dixie State University has ever had, with the program starting only in the fall of 2018. This was also the first year for the carnival segment of Engineering Design Day, and only the second year for the Turbo Regatta Race.

Five Dixie State University students have been accepted into various medical schools after completing the Utah Health Scholars program available to them at DSU. All are on track to continue their education and follow their dreams of working in the healthcare industry. UHS is a program that helps students on the healthcare path including but not limited to medical, dental, physician assistant and pharmacy.

Five Dixie State University students have been selected for Johns Hopkins and Stanford summer undergraduate research programs where they will work alongside world-class scientists. DSU students will have the opportunity to participate in breakthrough discoveries advancing the understanding of the human body through their research of biomedical, biochemical and bioinformatics. "This program really allows our students to set themselves apart and compete at the highest level," shared DSU faculty member and Biotech Program Coordinator Douglas Sainsbury. "Students in the past have gone on to top tier medical schools, research programs, and a couple are working in the industry right now."

ASL students of Dixie State University were given the opportunity to go to Disneyland and California Adventure Park to interpret Disney-related songs, shows and performances. Dr. Allyson Hamilton and visiting professor, Tiffany Harding came across a colleague, Sam Farley, who is on Disneyland's and Disney California Adventure Park's interpreting team. The three of them developed a course around theatrical interpreting. The class met four times before traveling to Disneyland. The first class involved students and several interpreters working on various songs and shows offered at Disneyland. Touring the Cox Auditorium, Broadway Bound Children's Theatre, and Saint George Musical Theatre took up the second class period. Similar to the first-time meeting, the class worked on presentations and meet-and-greets that are interpreted at Disneyland and California Adventure Park. As for the fourth class, the students went over any performances and source languages that hadn't gotten to in previous meetings.

Dixie State University students recently worked with IRS special agents in a mock scenario to gather evidence, arrest and convict someone of tax evasion as part of the Adrian Project, a hands-on experience that provides students with a glimpse at the life of an IRS special agent. Many students of differing backgrounds came together in this real-world application of their classroom-taught skills. Students sat at tables throughout the Gardner Ballroom with multiple agents at each table. Agents helped students use their accounting skills to round up evidence in an example of a fraud referral case. Each student had a folder containing documents that they used to eventually arrest and convict the suspect of tax evasion in a role-play with the agents. "The Adrian Project offers a look at a day in the life; it's a great way for students to see if being an agent is a good fit for them," Rochelle Blatter, senior career counselor at Dixie State, said. "We have students here that are accounting majors, criminal justice majors and others. It's an opportunity to apply what you learn in class."

Snow Canyon High School seniors and Dixie State University concurrent enrollment students Aurianna Dunn and Gracie Newby attended the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Conference and student academy in Seattle, Washington. Dunn and Newby are part of the Washington County School District's K12 Internship Program, which provides work-based opportunities for high school students. Throughout the course of their internship, Dunn and Newby participated in an open house exhibition for the DSU Crime Lab, networked with industry professionals, and attended the AAFS Annual Conference and one-day academy event.

Dixie State University students are spreading awareness in the Southern Utah community about the risks and early indicators of identity theft and elderly fraud to help keep some of the region's vulnerable population financially safe and secure. Students in the university's chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners took turns presenting on identity theft and elderly fraud throughout February as part of this free series.

During this year's United Spirit Association Collegiate Championships, the Dixie Blaze Dance Team secured a 2nd place finish in the hip-hop dance category. In their first ever competition, Dixie Blaze beat out teams from Southern Utah University, San Jose State and other Division I dance teams from across the nation. "Our girls have put in so many hours of practice getting ready for the Collegiate Championships," Head Coach Kori Esplin shared. "I couldn't be prouder of them, and to come home from our very first competition taking 2nd against all those incredible teams is amazing!" Beginning their season in July, Dixie Blaze dancers attend early morning rehearsals, chorography workshops and light-night practices to solidify their routines. Showcased at all of the home football and basketball games, their trick-filled and high-energy routines always entertain Trailblazer Nation fans.

Natural Science major Brady Iverson is truly embodying Dixie State University's polytechnic mission through his internship with the Southern Utah Science Cafe live events and podcast. As an intern, Iverson has had the opportunity to interview and record for his own podcast episode, "All About the Bees: Utah's Favorite Insect" as well as create the podcast opening theme music, manage the Science Cafe's social media account, and conduct research on a variety of topics. Interviewing local bee expert Dr. Joan Meiners for the podcast was a dream for Iverson, who shares a passion with Dr. Meiners for bees. "It was really neat to interview Dr. Meiners, Iverson shared. "I went through her whole body of research and then, right there in front of me, I was able to ask her every question that popped into my head. Getting that firsthand experience was really cool."

Dixie State University students showcased their dedication to their academic success with 2,627 students or 21 percent of the student body making the honors list in the Fall 2021 semester. Specifically, 1,212 students were highlighted on the President's List, with 1,415 students making the Dean's List. Inclusion on the honor roll requires all students to complete a minimum of 15 credits, with President's List awardees achieving a GPA of 3.9 or higher and students on the Dean's List obtaining a GPA of 3.5 to 3.89.

For Dixie State University students Alyssa Janeway and Samantha Ortiz, an unexpected friendship has blossomed into the content creation platform, Coffee With Besties. The web show's overarching mission is to highlight the importance of the University's Department of Media Studies. "The Media Studies Department has taken major budget cuts, and we couldn't do the show without the technology and equipment they provide us," said Janeway. "Sure, we could film it on our phones, but we've put together this show through the school, for the school."

Dixie State University film students spent two years creating the feature film "Into the Fire: A Utah Boy's in the Blues," which was recently showcased in the 12th annual DOCUTAH Film Festival. DSU music major Isaac Erikson collaborated with the film students to create this film, bringing to life his father's passion for the blues. Through this collaboration with the DSU film students, Erikson was able to combine his passion for music and love for his father to shed light onto the modern era of blues music. These students were given hands-on experience in creating a documentary style film and were also able to travel to Nashville, Tennessee where Isaac's father, Dick Earl Erikson, was judging at the International Blues Challenge.

Students in Dixie State University's Dance Program recently had the opportunity to experience active learning firsthand by choreographing for and performin in the university's annual Student Dance Concert. Held November 18 and 19 on the Dixie State campus, the concert offered 29 dance students the chance to participate in 12 choreographed pieces. The concert is a collaboration of students in three distinct courses within Dixie State's Dance Program: Choreography Practicum, Dance Production and Dance Performance. The Dance Program at Dixie State University helps a diverse population of students achieve their dance education goals by teaching the skills of embodied practice and scholarly and creative inquiry.

Erik Hughes is the first student at Dixie State University to receive the Global Scholar Award. The award was created last year by the DSU Global Engagement Committee to recognize students who incorporate global studies into their education to further enrich their experience. Erik studied at Meijo University in Japan from Fall 2018 to Spring 2019, as part of an exchange program through DSU Study Abroad. "I learned much about the Japanese culture and their way of life," said Erik. "There are things that I adopted that I still use to this day." This study abroad opportunity allowed Erik to beocme immersed in the Japanese culture and also interact with students from around the globe. "There were also students from France, China, Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia, and many other countries that I interacted with and had the chance to learn about their cultures. I think this knowledge about cultures is the most valuable thing I learned during my time spent in Japan," he said.

Recently, Dixie State University commenced in their 70th annual Miss Dixie Pageant that began as a DSU homecoming tradition in 1951. Taking the crown in this year's pageant is Miss Carli Gumm, a 21-year-old junior from Minden, Nevada, majoring in Mathematics Education.

In honor of Native American Heritage month, Dixie State University recently held the 25th annual Miss Native Dixie Pageant on the DSU campus, with Delaina Becenti being crowned Miss Native Dixie 2022. This year the pageant showcased three contestants - Cristal Elias, a senior exercise science major from Cedar City, Utah; Delaina Becenti, a freshman general studies major from Green River, Wyoming; and Naji Runs Through, a sophmore art major from Ivins, Utah. As Miss Native Dixie royalty, Delaina and her attendants will serve as ambassadors for the Native American population at Dixie State University, inspiring students to complete their education.

Dixie State University's nursing student Teralin Petereit recently won first place in the 2021 Rebelle Rally race for the 4x4 class. The Rebelle Rally is a week-long event covering 2,500 kilometers of stunning terrain across the Nevada and California desert. With no cell phones or GPS, this eight-day competition is the ultimate challenge of precise navigation as competitors race to accurately find hidden checkpoints using only a map, compass and roadbook.