Here at Weber State, we've been talking about our institutional goal of "changing minds, changing lives" for more than three years. I am happy to report that, based on my conversations with faculty, staff, students and alumni since assuming the role of president of Weber State University last fall, the entire university community is wholeheartedly engaged in translating that mission statement into reality.

The experience of WSU sophomore Celeste Vilchis is a prime example of how that process works. Originally a Spanish-speaking native of California, Celeste was recruited by Dr. Joseph K. Ball of the Jerry & Vickie Moyes College of Education to join a federally funded program called STAR (Students Teaming for Achievement and Retention) in February of 2002. Celeste and three other bilingual students now devote much of their free time to mentoring Hispanic students who attend local junior and senior high schools.

Celeste assists the seven teenagers she mentors by attending classes with them, particularly science and math classes. As a math major, Celeste knows how difficult those courses can be for students for whom English is a second language. So she translates difficult concepts into Spanish and helps them complete crucial homework assignments. In addition to tutoring those students in a variety of subjects, Celeste also builds personal relationships with them, instills in them a desire to achieve their full potential and offers advice intended to help her charges face both academic and personal challenges.

Celeste says that helping these young people overcome language barriers and other educational hurdles is extremely rewarding. She and fellow mentors in the STAR program also benefit from their relationships with their charges by gaining invaluable teaching experience and acquiring a newfound sense of confidence and empowerment.

Celeste's participation in the STAR program resulted from Dr. Ball recognizing her potential both as a linguist and an avid mathematician. Such one-on-one interaction between faculty, staff and students creates an enriched educational environment at Weber State that emphasizes both learning in and out of the classroom. That process makes the minds of students richer and better prepared to meet the challenges of life. When they graduate, WSU students have a positive impact on other lives as academic, business, civil and social leaders, thus improving the communities in which they reside.

One such leader is Thomas C. Daniels, who graduated with a bachelor of science degree in history in spring of 1992. Tom came to Weber State after spending his freshman year at a large university where he felt like "a number in a crowd." He says that he chose WSU because it offered small classes, opportunities for personal interaction with professors and an environment "that seemed ideal for a student with a family."

Tom credits the late WSU historian Dr. Richard Eberle with inspiring him to pursue a degree in history and for "pushing and prodding me to excel." In addition to providing opportunities for Tom to write and deliver research papers, Dr. Eberle was also instrumental in helping Tom secure an appointment as a teaching assistant in graduate school.

Since leaving Weber State, Tom's life has continued to be eventful. He served a year in Bosnia with the U.S. Army, earned a law degree from the University of Tulsa and then, seeking to perform a higher form of public service, he joined the U.S. Department of State as a foreign service officer. While stationed at the U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya, Indonesia, Tom volunteered to go to Bali in the wake of the terrorist bombing there on October 13, 2002. He spent the next three weeks assisting American victims of that outrage and their families. He also recently created a President's Campaign Scholarship, supporting a full tuition and fees scholarship for a Weber State student.

I am proud to lead a university that is committed to providing quality education, one student at a time; where the faculty and staff know students well enough to recognize the full potential of an exceptional person like Celeste Vilchis; and where students learn to aspire to public service, as did Thomas C. Daniels.

With your help, Weber State will continue to be the kind of university that changes the minds and lives of its students and, through the efforts of its alumni and friends, builds better communities.

Sincerely,

F. Ann Millner
President
Weber State University