Weber State recaps top achievements of 2023
OGDEN, Utah — As 2023 comes to an end, Weber State University looks back at another year of growth and achievements, including breakthroughs in technology, sustainability and community engagement.
January
Kicking off the new year, Weber State continued its support of the aerospace and defense industry in northern Utah. The university’s Miller Advanced Research & Solutions Center upgraded and installed a 3D printer, which prints composite materials used to design parts for a range of high-tech applications. Later in the year, WSU engineering students demonstrated their senior capstone project to a U.S. Space Command official as he toured the MARS Center.
February
When ChatGPT made headlines throughout the world, Weber State faculty found positive ways to introduce artificial intelligence into WSU’s learning experience. Alex Lawerence, who teaches in the professional sales department, led the charge by incorporating AI tools into the coursework of three classes with positive results.
WSU also created the new position of chief data officer, filled by Ivana Fredotovic. The position aims to improve student success and retention by developing a comprehensive strategy for student data and analytics.
March
In spring, a WSU student made national headlines for spreading messages of hope and positivity on TikTok. Sharon Barber, 79, has more than three million followers on TikTok, where her fans know her as “grandmagreat.” She is an example of her motto, “I can do hard things,” as she is earning her associate’s degree at Weber State and plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in creative writing.
The university also received a $1.2 million gift from America First Credit Union to expand the reach of the Wildcat MicroFund throughout Utah. The microfund serves socially and economically disadvantaged communities throughout northern Utah, offering cash grants of up to $3,000 and networking opportunities for Weber State students and area entrepreneurs.
April
Weber State honored the class of 2023 during its 160th commencement ceremony on April 28. The university awarded a record-high 6,775 degrees and certificates during the 2022–23 academic year. Graduates came from WSU’s seven academic colleges, representing arts to the sciences, associate’s degrees to doctorates.
May
The new Student Access & Success division welcomed its inaugural vice president, Jessica Oyler. The SAS division aligns areas of Enrollment Management & Student Success with areas that fell under the former Student Affairs division. The vice president of SAS position replaces the vice president of Student Affairs and will report dually to the president and provost.
June
Weber State brought old and new traditions to youth in Ogden. WSU continued its free summer Arts in the Parks and Science in the Parks programs for children throughout the Ogden community. The programs provide children with hands-on activities that encourage them to learn more about arts and science.
Weber also introduced its free REACH program, which offers youth with Type 1 diabetes guidance on maintaining a healthy lifestyle through recreational events.
July
For the 44th year, community members gathered to celebrate with a “pop” as the annual Lindquist Family Symphony Pops Concert and Fireworks lit up the skies above Weber State on July 16. The free community celebration was initiated by John A. and Telitha E. Lindquist in 1978. Today, it’s one of the largest firework displays in Utah and includes a live symphony and food truck vendors.
August
Kicking off a new school year, the Utah Foundation reported that Weber State topped the list in Utah for students’ 10-year net present value of their education.
Weber State was also recognized as a national leader in sustainability for its proactive efforts to become carbon neutral by 2040. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities selected WSU to receive the 2023 AASCU Excellence & Innovation Award for Sustainability and Sustainable Development. The university earned the honor specifically for its 5-point Carbon Neutrality Strategy initiative, selected by the awards committee for its outstanding results and potential to serve as a model for other institutions.
The university also welcomed four new members and a new chair to the WSU Board of Trustees. Ogden native Karla Bergeson was elected as the new chair with Keith Titus as vice chair. Four distinguished individuals also joined the board as members: Lori Belnap Pehrson, Casey Hill, Monet Maggelet and Tammy Gallegos. The board serves to establish policies, make strategic decisions for the university and oversee its activity.
September
Weber State advanced its partnership with TheDream.US, the nation’s largest college and career success program for undocumented students, providing nearly $1.2 million in scholarships to WSU Dreamers for the 2023–24 academic year. Thirty-one students received scholarships for the year, and the university plans to continue the partnership.
October
Numbers released from the Utah System of Higher Education's annual report showed that Weber State is home to 30,536 students, its largest-ever student body, defying the national trend of decreasing enrollment. Students who identify as Hispanic or Latino make up a record-high 13% of the full-time undergraduate student body, bringing WSU one step closer to its goal of becoming an emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution.
Weber State also hosted the premiere of its episode of The College Tour at Peery’s Egyptian Theater in downtown Ogden. The episode is centered on current and former WSU students, their ambitions and why they chose Weber. The university also randomly selected two high school seniors in attendance to receive a $2,000 scholarship.
November
Weber State was awarded $1.24 million from the National Science Foundation, the largest NSF grant received by the university to date. The NSF grant will bring four independent postdoctoral researchers to WSU for two years to collaborate with professors and students in STEM fields.
December
Weber State hosted its inaugural white coat ceremony for the university’s first cohort of physician assistant students. The Department of Physician Assistant Medicine gave 20 students traditional white coats, celebrating the transition from classroom study to clinical rotations. Starting in January 2024, the cohort will begin rotations at clinics and hospitals throughout Utah and into Colorado.
Marketing & Communications staff
- Contact:
Rachel Badali, news coordinator
801-626-7362, rachelbadali@weber.edu