Alumni & Friends

Alumni Chapters Thrive "From Sea To Shining Sea"

SALT LAKE CITY

The evening of February 27, 2003 was the setting for the second activity of the Salt Lake City Alumni Chapter. At 6:00 p.m. some 50 of SUU's loyal supportive Alumni began gathering at Amicis' Restaurant just across the street from the Hale Center Theatre in West Valley City. Following a great Italian dinner with all the trimmings, SUU President Steven Bennion spoke, relating his observations of the Legislative session and reporting on the status of the University. After the Presidents report all adjourned across the street to the Hale Center Theatre to view the production of Big River. Big River is an adaptation of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, with music and lyrics written by Roger Miller. The stage of the theatre was transformed into the Mississippi River as much of the musical was performed on rafts. Theater-goers were inspired with the performances and the timely and powerful messages of the production.

The Salt Lake Alumni Chapter continues to plan activities. On June 26, a picnic was held in Liberty Park before a Salt Lake Stingers baseball game at Franklin Covey Field. Also on the near horizon, the group is in the planning stages of a tailgate party prior to the Weber State vs. SUU Football game on September 6, 2003 in Ogden. For more information call 1-888-586-1997 or e-mail jensen@suu.edu

Arizona

The Broadway Palm Dinner Theater West's production of Footloose - The Musical became the setting for the inaugural event of the SUU Arizona Alumni Chapter, Friday, June 13th, 2003. For several months now the Arizona Alumni Chapter has been meeting and planning this and other events in the valley of the sun for friends and graduates of SUU. Steven Messer ('94 business) serves as president of the group with Pete Thorley ('89 accounting), vice president, Tamara Turley ('99 science) as Secretary and Natalie Coombs ('92 business) as activities coordinator.

LAS VEGAS

Good food, fun in the sun and plenty of great entertainment was the order of the day at the SUU Las Vegas Alumni Spring Event held at a park in Summerlin, Saturday, April 26th. Sharon Rather, LV Chapter Board Member and Spring Event Coordinator, together with her husband Doug and members of the Las Vegas Chapter were stellar in the planning and coordination of this event. Thanks to excellent scheduling, the line-up of entertainment was exactly what was hoped for, including a spectacular appearance from SUU's Acclamation. "This event brought together friends, SUU Alumni and potential students to share an afternoon of friendship renewal and University updates" said Dennis Sponer, ('92 political science), SUU Alumni Association, Las Vegas Chapter President.

"It was a fun event and a great way to spend the afternoon," said Sharon Rather who adds "it's not too early for the Las Vegas Alumni Chapter to begin planning for SUU fall events getting underway August 28-30, 2003 for SUU's season opener football game in Reno, NV, SUU vs UNR. Soon after that, Alumni are invited to spend a delightful weekend in Cedar City where the air is cool and the scenery...spectacular." Events being planned in coordination with SUU Homecoming include: The Alumni Banquet, 5-K Road Race, the Homecoming Parade, Mix, Mingle & Munch in the park, and the Tailgate party just before the Homecoming Game. These events will be hosted by various Alumni Chapter organizations from California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah with representation from each of the Chapters across the US. For LV Chapter information and events, contact any of the board members listed on the SUU Alumni Web page or call the SUU Alumni Office toll free at 1-888-586-1997.

East coast

Live on the east coast? Then we hope to be seeing you at an SUU Alumni Chapter event very soon! Chapters have recently been organized in the New England and Washington D.C. areas. For upcoming events and activities, contact Kristian Olsen, ('02 business) New England Chapter President, (203) 251-8489 or Jenn Wilkey ('99 science) New England Chapter Vice President, (203) 826-7502.
Contact Mike Wasden ('01 communications) Washington D.C. chapter president, (703) 920-5479, for information on upcoming chapter events.

Both east coast chapters are eager for all SUU Alumni in these areas to join with them in planning events and activities in addition to mentoring new SUU graduates into their career fields through a new SUU program called "Lunch With a T-Bird." They would also like to extend their hand in friendship to ease the transition of fellow Alumni moving to the east coast. Certainly, there is no place like home, but being with SUU friends wherever you are, is the next best thing. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Alumni Focus

Dr. Rob Behunin ('89 english) has recently accepted a position with USU as director of the Vernal outreach campus. Behunin has been serving for the past year as director of distance learning for SUU following 8 years as professor of English literature at SUU. He received a bachelors degree from SUU and his masters and Ph.D at UNLV. He leaves SUU a better place for having been here. One of his former students said of him, "he was my favorite professor on campus. You could tell he really had the best interest of the students at heart." This comment epitomizes the commitment to teaching that make this institution such a wonderful place to receive and education.

Ross Miller ('71) was awarded the President's Award for distinguished service to his company, Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group Inc. Following Ross's graduation from Southern Utah University he attended Utah State University where he earned a Ph.d in Civil and Environmental Engineering and a Master's Degree in Public Health and Industrial Hygiene from the University of Utah. Miller served a successful career in the U.S. Air Force achieving the rank of Colonel. While in the Air Force he served as Director of Environmental Quality at the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE), Brooks Air Force Base, in Texas. Following his retirement Miller joined Parsons in July of 2001. He is the Technical Manager for Remediation and Hazardous Waste Service within the Parsons Group, and is responsible for managing the quality and competitiveness of the company's work in the Salt Lake service area.

Dr. Steven O. Laing ('76 education) currently serves as the Utah State Superintendent of Public Education. Following a successful athletic and academic career at SUSU where he earned all-conference honors both years for basketball, as well as academic all-conference. Additionally, Laing was selected the Outstanding Student Athlete as a senior and won the Pestalozzi Award as the most promising student in the field of education. After receiving his teaching certificate Laing began teaching at Cedar High and upon completion of his master degree was promoted to vice-principal. Four years later he became principal and then director of secondary education for the district. A couple years later he accepted the position of Superintendent for Box Elder High and then after just two years he accepted the position of associate to the state superintendent and became the superintendent for the whole state three years ago.