Utah State University
USU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION /
UTAH STATE TODAY /
UTAH STATE MAGAZINE /
ATHLETICS /
MAKE A GIFT
Gradient
IN THIS ISSUE:
Graduation Stories • New SAA Officers • Aggie Summer Events • Nominate Someone to be Honored at Homecoming
Gradient
Behind Every Graduate a Story
Behind Every Graduate, a Story

Pause, and reflect on your graduation from Utah State University for just a moment. Of the more than 5,000 graduates honored this month, with whom do you relate most? Perhaps it is Briana Wipfler, the newly minted mother who is balancing studies and family life. Maybe it’s Kristen Hone (Herald Journal story), whose graduation signified the culmination of a two-decade long effort to complete her degree. Or possibly, it is law-school-bound ROTC student John Welch (Deseret News Story), who technically graduated in 1941, but received an honorary doctorate from USU this month. Whatever your story, it’s meaningful—it’s worth retelling to your posterity and friends.

One of the great opportunities afforded to all Aggies each spring is scanning the photos and stories of the previous year’s graduating class. If you’ve been following the usugrad18 hashtag, you’ve heard and seen many. In addition to reading more about the alumni above, we encourage you to take a moment to see the official photo galleries from 2018 commencement. We hope the memories of time spent at USU come flooding back.

See the Graduation Photo Gallery
Utah to Peru via D.C.
Utah to Peru via D.C.

Utah State University is a portal for discovering people, cultures, and ideas from around the world. Many alumni living in and around Washington, D.C., were reminded of that last month when they were invited to an exclusive social gathering at the Embassy of Peru, hosted by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Peru may seem like a peculiar choice, but USU and the state of Utah have strong Peruvian connections. Many USU faculty, like Bonnie Glass-Coffin, are conducting fascinating research in Peru. The Jon M. Huntsman School of Business has summer learning programs there. And, second to Mexico, Utah’s largest non-Anglo population is from Peru.

Read More
Life of the Party? We need you.
Life of the Party? We need you.
Incoming Aggies are excited for the chance to connect with alumni.

On the heels of this year’s graduating class is a horde of incoming freshman anxious to take their place on campus. College can be intimidating for these green, or shall we say baby blue, students. Fortunately, USU offers important orientation programs like the Freshman Welcomes, made possible through some amazing Aggie hosts!

READ MORE
Saddle Up
Saddle Up

Listen to Jack’s story on UPR

USU student Jack Charlesworth has an amazing story. While paralyzed from the chest down, Jack still rides and cares for horses. This was recently made easier, however, when Jack received his custom-built wheelchair from USU’s Assistive Technologies Lab (AT Lab). He’s now fully equipped to pursue his dream of being an equine therapist and helping others in similar plights look past their limitations and find joy in working with horses.

Jack’s dream would not have been possible without caring donors that support the Disability Resource Center, the facilitating office for services such as the AT Lab. We recently connected Jack with one such donor, Carolyn Benson, who donated a motorized wheelchair similar to Jack’s to the AT Lab. Wheelchairs like the one that Carolyn donated are usually parted out to form custom solutions for people like Jack. During the greeting, Carolyn was able to see firsthand the impact of her gift and Jack was able to express gratitude for the life-changing opportunity afforded him.

During the coming year, USU will be highlighting more stories of passionate donors changing lives. Be sure to look for these in Aggie Insights, the USU Magazine, and on the USU Alumni Association Facebook page.

Introducing the New SAA

The USU Student Alumni Association (SAA) develops programs which help students transition to becoming engaged alumni. The SAA also serves as a critical bridge that connects student activity with alumni involvement. We are very excited to welcome a new group of enthusiastic SAA officers. A few of these faces may look familiar as they’ve previously served in leadership roles. These are also the hardworking volunteers at True Aggie Night, the organizers of Alumnight networking activities, the volunteers at USU’s annual golf tournament, the facilitators of the class of 2019 senior gift, and so much more. You’ll be hearing more from them in future Aggie Insights. Daria Griffith will be authoring a regular article to give alumni more insight in what it’s like to be a very active student leader at USU.

SAA
Top row (left to right): Toryn Coombs, Traditions Executive; Dean Thacker, Alumnights Director; Tony Ahlstrom, Student Giving Executive; Dallin Perkes, Education & Outreach Director; Josh Segobia, Senior Gift Director
Bottom row (left to right): Daria Griffith, President; Claire Wever, Mentoring Director; Tarren Jessop, Executive Assistant; Nate Lundberg, PR & Marketing Executive; Taylor Bybee, Networking Executive.
Absent: Chase Jensen, True Aggie Night Director; Krista Steed, Social Media Director; Whitney Johnson, Homecoming Director; Ryker Moore, Fundraising Director; Lindsay Hales, Promotions Director; Haley Fishburn, A-Week Director; Rhett Ballantyne, College Networking Director.
UST
Check out these recent stories from Utah State Today (UST). You can subscribe to UST online.
New Leadership New Leadership: Provost Galey and Dean Kaluarachchi of the College of Engineering
Honorary Degrees Four Honorary Degrees Awarded at USU's 131st Commencement
Student-Athletes Utah State Recognizes 218 Student-Athletes at Annual Whitesides Luncheon
Boren Scholarship USU Student to Study in United Arab Emirates Through Boren Scholarship
Sorenson Center College of Education’s Sorenson Center for Clinical Excellence Opens (Utah Statesman)
UPCOMING
June 22 Aggie Lagoon Day
June 23 Fundraiser Golf Tournament to benefit USU multicultural clubs
June 24 Alumni Band Season Opener
July 13 Aggie Movie Night - Maverik Stadium
July 27 Aggie Day with the SL Bees
Oct 7-13 Save the Date, Homecoming Week
Tell us what you think
Tell Us

The USU Alumni Association is collecting nominations for Homecoming Honorees. Do you know someone that has done something extraordinary this last year and deserves to be recognized? How about ideas for a stalwart Aggie to serve as Grand Marshal? Nominations are being accepted for:

  • Alumnus/Alumna of the Year
  • Young Alumnus/Alumna of the Year
  • Grand Marshal

Write us an email and tell us why your nominee deserves to be recognized at Homecoming 2018. Send nominations to scott.olson@usu.edu.

 
Utah State University AlumniAlumni Relations
7500 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-7500

Phone: 435-797-2055
or 1-800-291-2586

Fax: 435-797-2591
Utah State University
twitter facebook instagram youtube