Stuart Jones is Southern Utah University’s Vice President of Advancement and Director of the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics & Public Service. He recently returned to SUU’s campus after spending several years working as vice president for development at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, California and as vice president of institutional advancement at Dominican University of California in San Rafael, respectively. Jones left SUU as the Vice President of Advancement and Regional Services in 2002. He left SUU the first time in 1986 after serving as the student body president his senior year. He returned in 1992 and spent 10 years in leadership roles on SUU’s campus, where he led two successful comprehensive capital campaigns, helping to raise nearly $60 million for student scholarships, academic and athletic facilities, endowment, student housing, and faculty development. In his returning role, Jones will direct the most ambitious and aggressive fundraising campaign in SUU’s history.
Stuart Jones earned his B.A. in political science at Southern Utah University, his MBA at Utah State University, and his Juris Doctorate and MPA at the University of Utah. In addition to his work in higher education, Jones also practiced law with one of Utah’s largest and oldest statewide law firms, worked as a judicial clerk for the United States Court of Claims in Washington, D.C., and served as a political campaign director for two successful U.S. senate campaigns. His professional activities and affiliations include several board appointments, and he’s worked as volunteer legal counsel as a member of the Utah Summer Games Board of Governors. Among his many awards and honors, Jones was named Man of the Year by the Cedar City Chamber of Commerce and was a gold medalist in the Men’s Open Tennis Tournament in the Utah Summer Games.
When he’s not working, Jones enjoys travelling, athletics, and spending time with his wife Michelle and their family.
Vai Sikahema is a sports director and anchor for NBC 10 News in Philadelphia. Additionally, Sikahema is the weeknight sports director/anchor for myphl17 News at ten powered by NBC 10. Sikahema is also the host of “Wednesday’s Child,” a segment sponsored by the National Adoption Center, Freddie Mac Foundation and NBC 10 to promote the adoption of children. Known by many for his in-depth sports reports, Sikahema has also covered both the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, and the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.
Sikahema retired from the Philadelphia Eagles in 1994. He joined the Eagles in 1992 after completing the '91 season with the Green Bay Packers. Ranked first among the NFL's all-time career leaders in number of punt returns and second in punt return yardage, Sikahema is also a two-time All-Pro. In 1986, while playing for the Phoenix Cardinals, he began his television career at KSAZ-TV. For the next four years, Sikahema reported, and often shared the anchor desk. In 1991, he signed with the Green Bay Packers, and as his success on the field continued. He also carved a niche for himself as a sports reporter for WFRV-TV in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Sikahema is a native of Nuku’Alofa, Tonga, and at age seven, his family moved to Hawaii. He played college football (kick return specialist) for Brigham Young University, where he earned his degree in Communications. Sikahema resides in New Jersey with his wife and their four children.
Hyrum W. Smith, Vice Chairman of the Board for Franklin Covey, has been motivating individuals to gain better control of their personal and professional lives through values-based time and life management since he helped create the company in 1984. Franklin Covey is a training and consulting firm specializing in life management and personal productivity, and is recognized globally for the Franklin Planner—used by more than 5 million people worldwide.
Hyrum graduated from Brigham Young University in 1971. Ten years later, he created his own seminar company, Golden Eagle Motivation, and taught sales management. In 1982, he worked as a consultant for a time management company until he formed H. W. Smith and Associates. In early 1984, the Franklin Institute was created which now, as Franklin Covey, trains more than 40,000 people each month. In recent years, Hyrum has received many awards for community service, including the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America. His business endeavors are heralded across the world, including being recognized as the International Entrepreneur of the Year by the Brigham Young University Marriott School of Management. Hyrum also serves on the board of directors and councils of the Tuacahn Center for the Arts, SkyWest Airlines, the University of Utah National Advisory Council, the Dixie College National Advisory council and the Children’s Miracle Network. Along with his many community service awards, Hyrum has been awarded three honorary doctorate degrees.
Hyrum is the author of What Matters Most, The 10 natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management, The Modern Gladiator, Where Eagles Rest and Advanced Day Planner User’s Guide, and is co-author of Excellence Through Time Management. Some of Hyrum’s priorities are spending time with his family and horseback riding. He and his wife, Gail, are the parents of six children.
Jill Stevens is the current Miss Utah, the reigning Miss Davis County and the 2006 Miss Southern Utah University. A newcomer to the pageant world, Stevens has taken her competition by storm with her warmth, confidence and never-say-die attitude. In addition to her pageant accomplishments, Stevens graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in nursing this past year, and as was recently featured in the Muscle and Fitness Hers magazine as a Woman of Strength.
Stevens is an exercise junkie. As a sophomore at Davis High School, she took 4:30 a.m. cycling classes, which turned into a 5:00 a.m. running club, and carried right on through the extreme challenges of boot camp when she joined the Utah National Guard right out of high school. Jill has now completed 10 marathons and has been serving as a combat medic in the Guard for over six years of her eight-year commitment. While stationed at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan with the 211th Aviation Group, Jill worked as a medic on wounded soldiers and local families, especially children. She has earned five medals for her outstanding service, and recently addressed Generals from 40 nations gathered at Hill Air Force Base. She was the female member of the SUU’s ROTC Ranger Challenge team for two years.
Stevens never stops, and as she juggles her commitment to the National Guard with her preparations for the Miss America pageant, she stands out as a leader in nearly everything she does. At SUU alone, Jill served as Miss SUU, a Presidential Ambassador, and was a service leader. Jill gives a great deal of credit for where she is in her life to her mother, claiming “She taught me that if things fall out of place you don’t quit, you just try a different route.” In the future, Stevens would like to join a humanitarian team, live in a hut in the jungle, and help people who couldn’t otherwise get help.