A Look Back at 2015 at WSU

As 2015 comes to a close, we revisit some of the people and developments that made news at Weber State University this year.

January

Weber State University received the esteemed 2015 Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in recognition of service to the community.
WSU Earns Renewal of Prestigious Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement

Highly respected businessman and philanthropist John “Jack” B. Goddard passed away.  He was instrumental in Weber State gaining university status and later established an endowment for the university’s school of business and economics.
WSU Mourns Loss of Devoted Supporter

Continuing its efforts to promote diversity and unity, Weber State University opened its new LGBT Resource Center on Jan. 27. The center is housed in the Student Services Center.
Weber State to Open New LGBT Resource Center

February

Weber State University computer science graduate Mike Beasley worked with WSU assistant computer science professor Ted Cowan and his students to create a mobile app that helped document homelessness in Santa Clara County, California, during its homeless census Jan. 27-28.
WSU Students Develop App to Help Document Homeless in California

Ndaba Mandela, grandson of former South African President Nelson Mandela, shared his message and experiences, during Convocations at Weber State University.
Grandson of Nelson Mandela to Speak at WSU

Weber State University’s 19th annual Storytelling Festival, “Telling the American Experience,” took place Feb. 23-25. Each year the award-winning festival features the performances of national, local and student storytellers.
WSU Hosts 19th Annual Storytelling Festival

Radia Perlman, the woman many refer to as the “Mother of the Internet,” discussed lessons learned working in a male-dominated industry as well as the evolution of the Ethernet when she made two presentations at Weber State University on Feb. 26.
Internet Hall of Fame Pioneer to Speak About Gender, Technology at WSU

March

More than 300 Utah students flocked to the Weber State University pool for the SeaPerch Northern Utah Underwater Competition on March 10. The competition was part of a national program to promote STEM.
Utah Teens Immerse Themselves In Robotics Competition At WSU

One of the leaders of the “green-campus college movement,” David Orr, presented the keynote address at the sixth annual Intermountain Sustainability Summit at Weber State University, March 5-6 in the Shepherd Union Building.
WSU Hosts Sixth Annual Intermountain Sustainability Summit

Weber State University President Charles A. Wight finger painted with approximately 100 children enrolled in the WSU Charter Academy April 6. at the Melba S. Lehner Children’s School playground during Week of the Young Child.
WSU President to Finger Paint with Kids During Week of the Young Child

April

2015 marked the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta’s signing, and the document’s significance were honored during a Weber Historical Society lecture and traveling exhibit.  Stephen Francis, WSU associate professor of history, explored the impact and public opinion of the Magna Carta throughout its history April 13.
800th Anniversary of Magna Carta Celebrated at WSU Lecture and Exhibit

In 1965, the FCC granted licensing for, what was then, Weber State College to operate a 10-watt, non-commercial, educational FM radio broadcasting station. The student radio station celebrated the 50th anniversary of KWCR 88.1 with a number of events including live remote broadcasts, a birthday party and concert.
WSU Student Radio Celebrates 50 Years with Week of Activities

A group of Weber State University students, faculty and staff traveled to Thailand in May to construct a new kitchen and dining hall for an orphanage.  The team worked with a WSU alumnus who is a Thailand native.  She got involved with service during her job as a student aid for Weber State’s Open-Student Computer Labs.
WSU Contingent to Help Orphanage in Thailand

May

Weber State University’s class of 2014-15 had more than 5,337 graduates — the biggest class on record. Portland Trail Blazer Damian Lillard was one of two student speakers. Lillard completed his degree in professional sales in the College of Applied Science & Technology.  
Damian Lillard speaks at commencement

Madonne Miner, former dean of WSU's Telitha E. Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities, was named provost of the university. The WSU Board of Trustees approved the selection at its monthly meeting held May 1.
Dean Miner Selected as Provost

June

Weber State University and Ogden City’s College Town Initiative was honored on June 2 with the Larry Abernathy Award.  The Clemson Joint City University Advisory Board gave the award in recognition of WSU and Ogden’s ongoing collaboration during the International Town & Gown Association annual conference in Washington D.C.
WSU, Ogden Partnership Honored Internationally

Weber State University Provost Michael Vaughan was honored June 4 with the national William M. Plater Award for Leadership in Civic Engagement. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities created the award.
WSU Provost Honored Nationally for Community Involvement Vision, Leadership

The National Athletic Trainers’ Association named Weber State University associate professor Valerie Herzog one of its 2015 Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer award recipients. Herzog is the director of the Master of Science in Athletic Training, which is housed in the Jerry & Vickie Moyes College of Education.
WSU Professor Honored as one of the Nation’s ‘Most Distinguished Athletic Trainers

Children of all ages and abilities participated in science experiments and art projects all summer long thanks to Weber State University’s interactive outreach programs Science in the Parks and Arts in the Parks.
WSU Turns Parks Into Educational Hubs for Science, Arts

July

Weber State University’s physical education program offered an accredited fishing class during late July and early August. The class, which was geared toward beginners, was open to participants from all skill levels.
WSU Offers Fishing for Physical Education Credit

The Board of Regents approved two new master’s degree programs for Weber State University: an accelerated Master of Science in Computer Engineering and a Master of Science in Nursing-Nurse Practitioner.
WSU Announces Two New Master’s Degree Programs

The Chronicle of Higher Education honored Weber State University as a “2015 Great College to Work For.”  The results are based on an employee survey conducted at 281 colleges and universities nationwide.
WSU Honored As ‘Great College to Work For’

August

Weber State University hosted more than 100 scientists and engineers from around the world at the third annual Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Conference on Technologies for Sustainability (SusTech), July 30-Aug. 1.
WSU To Host Technology Sustainability Conference

Weber State University professor Kirk Hagen, chair of the engineering department, wrote a new textbook, “Introduction to Renewable Energy for Engineers,” published by Pearson in August.
 ‘Renewable Energy’ Renews Textbook for Beginning Engineers

Weber State University’s new nutrition cooking class became more self-sufficient with the construction of a greenhouse just east of Building 3 at WSU Davis in Layton. Crews broke ground on the greenhouse in July.
WSU Davis Breaks Ground on Nutrition and Botany Greenhouse

September

Students of interior design, construction management and design engineering technology at Weber State University had 48 hours to design a women’s community center and a police station to be built in a town in Peru.
WSU Students to Design Police Station and Women’s Center in Peru

Weber State University got a chance to show off its muscle and world-class facilities from September 25-27, when it hosted the 2015 USA Weightlifting National University Championships at the Wildcat Center for Health Education and Wellness.
WSU to Host and Compete in Weightlifting National Championships

How to engage 15 to 35 year olds, those defined as the millennial generation, in political and policy debates was the subject of this year’s Haven J. Barlow Fall Civic Leadership Forum sponsored by the Olene S. Walker Institute of Politics & Public Service at Weber State University.
WSU Political Forum Targets Millennials

October

Weber State University’s 17th annual Diversity Conference in October returned to issues of race with the theme "So You Think You're Blind to Color? Questioning Interpersonal, Institutional and Structural Systems of Racial Oppression.”
WSU’s 17th Annual Diversity Conference Focuses on Race

At the end of the semester, students in Weber State University’s MBA leadership course gave $6,000 to charities dedicated to addressing issues of poverty and inequality.  Economics professor Michael Vaughan donated funds, for three teams of students to identify, select and contribute $2,000 each to a non-profit organization in Weber or Davis County.
WSU MBA Course Studies Leadership Through Philanthropy

A panel of four state representatives weighed the potential benefits and disadvantages of medical marijuana during a discussion Oct. 28 at Weber State University. The panel was made up of Utah Reps Gage Froerer, R-Huntsville; Edward Redd, R-Logan; Rebecca Chavez-Houck, D-Salt Lake City, and Paul Ray, R-Clearfield. 
Utah Legislators at WSU to Debate Medical Marijuana

November

Weber State University held a series of Veterans Day events Nov. 11 culminating in a ceremony, “A Light to Remember,” at the Stewart Bell Tower Plaza. The evening tribute featured Rep. Rob Bishop; Col. David Lyons, commander of Hill Air Force Base’s 388th Fighter Wing, and WSU President Charles A. Wight.
Congressman and Col. Help WSU Mark Veterans Day

A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the grand opening of Weber State Farmington Station, a professional education center located in Station Park at 240 N. East Promontory, Farmington, Utah on Nov. 17.
Weber State Farmington Station Celebrates Grand Opening

MSNBC host and New York Times best-selling author Janet Mock discussed “living authentically,” during Convocations at Weber State University Nov. 17.  A national voice for transgender rights, Mock was named by “Time” magazine as one of “12 new faces of black leadership” and one of the “most influential people on the Internet.”
New York Times Best-Selling Author to Address Transgender Rights

December

In celebration of the holiday season and science, Weber State University hosted Faraday Lectures Dec. 21 and 22.  WSU President Charles Wight, chemistry professor Michelle Paustenbaugh and chemistry instructor Carol Campbell donned clothing from the 1800s and conducted scientific demonstrations to get families excited about science.
Faraday Lectures to Explore Chemistry for Christmas

More than 2,435 Weber State University students applied for graduation and were honored during WSU’s 146th commencement at the Dee Events Center on Dec. 18.
Commencement Ceremony Planned for Dec. 18

Author:

Melissa Smith, Public Relations
801-626-6348 • melissasmith9@weber.edu