A Look Back at 2014 at WSU

                         
















2014 marked the 125th anniversary of the founding of Weber State University. Here is a look at the top stories from the year and all the amazing accomplishments of WSU faculty and students.
 

January

In conjunction with its 125th anniversary, Weber State University announced Dream 125: The Campaign for Weber State, the largest fundraising initiative in the institution’s history.
WSU Announces $125 Million Fundraising Campaign
 
Shane Schvaneveldt, professor of supply chain management, was honored for research with colleagues in Japan that examines the relationship between perceived quality, customer satisfaction and market share.
WSU Professor Wins Quality Management Literature Prize in Japan
 
After serving for one year as the volunteer interim director, Aaron Hall was selected as the director of WSU’s Alan E. Hall Center for Sales Excellence.
WSU Center for Sales Excellence Appoints Director
 

February

According to a WSU physicist, planets very unlike our own might actually be more habitable — “superinhabitable,” in fact.
Some Alien Planets Might be Better for Life than Earth, According to WSU Physicist
 
WSU communication student Kris Sanford trained to break the hand-cycle world record during his ride for charity.
Student to Ride Hand-Cycle 1,100 Miles for a Dream
 
Forrest C. Crawford, former assistant to the president for diversity, and Norm Tarbox, vice president for Administrative Services, were the 2014 recipients of the Alumni Association’s H. Aldous Dixon Awards.
WSU Dixon Awards Bestowed on Deserving Duo
 

March

WSU's Mozambique Women’s Center Project hosted “UNITY: An Evening of Culture and Art to Benefit the Women of Mozambique."
WSU Students Raise Funds to Build Mozambique Women’s Center
 
Weber State University was recognized as the No. 1 public institution in Utah for return on investment by PayScale, a salary data collection and comparison website.
WSU Recognized For Highest ROI Among Utah Public Institutions
 

April

Jennifer Turley of the Department of Health Promotion and Human Performance, and Kirk D. Hagen chair of the Department of Engineering, were recognized as the 2014 Brady Presidential Distinguished Professors during spring commencement. 
Presidential Distinguished Professors Recognized
 
WSU was included in "The Princeton Review's Guide to 332 Green Colleges: 2014 Edition.
Princeton Review Recognizes WSU in ‘Green Guide’
 

May

Weber State University students, faculty and staff spruced up their surroundings during WSU Makes a Difference in Ogden.
WSU to ‘Make a Difference’ in Ogden
 
Stewart Library's Digital and Archival Collections digitized 97 years of WSU's student newspaper, and the archive is now online.
97 Years of WSU Student Newspaper Now Online

Utah Gov. Herbert joined WSU President Wight and other dignitaries for the new Tracy Hall Science Center groundbreaking.

Groundbreaking for New WSU Science Building Set for May 16 

June

Dr. Robert Walker, WSU's chair of radiologic sciences, was selected as the Dr. Ezekiel R. and Edna Wattis Dumke Inaugural University Endowed Chair.
WSU’s Inaugural Endowed Chair Using 3-D Medical Imaging to Advance Health Care Education
 
Weber State University’s Department of Emergency Care and Rescue unveiled its new, state-of-the-art ambulance simulator. The simulator is the first of its kind in the Intermountain West.
An Indoor Ambulance Lets WSU Students Simulate Emergencies
 
Zoology professor John Cavitt, alongside three students, was the first person to track the migration of the American Avocet, a bird native to the Western United States, using satellite technology.
WSU Students, Professor First to Track Bird Species
 
A Weber State University faculty member jumped on her bike and rode for charity from Canada to Mexico along the Pacific Coast.
World Traveling WSU Nurse Bikes Canada to Mexico for Charity
 

July

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert appointed former WSU Senate President Brady Harris as the student regent on the Utah State Board of Regents for the 2014-15 academic year.
Former WSU Senate President Named Student Regent on Utah Board of Regents
 
Crystalee Beck, recent graduate of the Master of Professional Communication, received an international award for her master's thesis at a conference on corporate communication in Hong Kong.
WSU Student Receives International Award for Thesis on Gratitude in the Workplace
 
Zoology professor Sam Zeveloff was selected as a Fulbright Scholar and taught as a visiting professor at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna in Austria.
WSU Professor Receives Fulbright to Teach Wildlife Conservation in Austria
 

August

Weber State University held the grand opening for its new Public Safety Building, located on the northwest corner of campus.
Grand Opening Planned for WSU’s New Public Safety Building
 
WSU economics students and faculty traveled to Malawi, Africa, this summer to record data on the willingness of farmers to engage in programs that promote conservation.
WSU Students Improving Conservation Agriculture Practices in Africa
 
Community members and students were invited to learn from city officials about how city government works and ways to become involved.
Citizens Academy to Promote Understanding of Local Government
 

September

A Cold War expert from Germany was the first visiting international professor in Weber State University’s Department of History.
Cold War Expert Launches WSU Visiting Professorship
 
Interior design and design engineering technology students came up with plans for a cultural center for the Timbisha Shoshone Native American tribe during their annual design competition.
WSU Students to Design Native American Cultural Center
 
Thanks to the work of a WSU computer science student, medical-design tests can now be done on a computer, reducing the need for human or animal testing. For her work, Tina Van Riper was honored with the 2014 Academic Excellence Award from the Women Tech Council.
WSU Computer Science Student Honored for Innovative Medical-Device Testing
 

October

Four Weber State University interior design students competed at the 2014 International Interior Design Association Fashion Remix in Salt Lake City to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Interior Design Students Compete in Fashion Fundraiser
 
WSU volunteers participated in two service projects for National Make a Difference Day on Oct. 25 — the kind of service that has brought national recognition to the university.
WSU Volunteers Serve Community, Garner National Recognition
 
Weber State University was recognized with five commendations from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities accreditation evaluation committee following the committee’s October visit to campus.
WSU Receives Glowing Preliminary Review From Accreditation Team
 

November

WSU celebrated international students during International Education Week. Events highlighted different cultures from around the globe.
WSU Celebrates Cultures During Int’l Education Week
 
The digital media program launched WildcatONE-TV to showcase students’ video projects and provide 24-7 TV programing to the campus community.
WSU adds 24-Hour TV Programing to Campus
 
Communication student Dylan Allred took his talents to television for an internship at Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” in New York City.
WSU Student Interns for ‘The Daily Show’
 

December

Students in the design engineering technology program created a state-of-the-art fire-training maze for the South Davis Metro Fire Agency.
WSU Students Design State-of-the-Art Fire Training Maze
 
Utah folk artist Eric Dowdle, famous for his paintings and puzzles, depicted WSU and its history in his most recent work of art.
Weber State Campus Picture Perfect For Eric Dowdle
 
Author:
Marcus Jensen, Office of Marketing & Communications
801-626-7295 • marcusjensen@weber.edu
Contact:
Allison Barlow Hess, public relations director
801-626-7948 · ahess@weber.edu