A Message From the President
During the 2015-16 academic year, Weber State realized some big dreams. One of the biggest was the successful conclusion of Dream 125: The Campaign for Weber State. Back when the university began that comprehensive campaign, we aspired to raise $125 million to secure the future of this university.
By the campaign’s official closing on June 30, 2016, faculty, staff, alumni, supporters and students had all pushed the total fundraising amount to above $164 million! Those 16,640 campaign donors’ dedication to Weber State will reverberate through the decades. I am humbled by all of our contributors’ generosity, which will provide opportunity, enhance campus and advance knowledge for years to come.
The successes detailed in this annual report are organized under the campaign themes of providing opportunity, enhancing campus and advancing knowledge. We’ve also added engaging the community and athletics because Weber State wouldn’t be great, Great, GREAT without them.
Providing Opportunity
When recent dental hygiene graduate Stephanie Carranza walked across the stage during the spring 2016 commencement, she carried the memory of her sister, Pamela Carranza, with her. A fellow WSU graduate, Pamela died of cancer before her own commencement.
A new scholarship will carry Pamela's memory as well.
Enhancing Campus
The conclusion of the 2015-16 academic year also marked the completion of major construction for the Tracy Hall Science Center, which is now open for students. The vision and passion of many supporters coalesced into a campus facility that captures the wonder of science and elegance of mathematics.
Advancing Knowledge
Lisa Trujillo, WSU’s director of clinical education for respiratory therapy, realizes that knowledge is best when it’s shared. Toward those ends, she traveled with Weber State students to the country of Ghana in an effort to improve medical knowledge and support there.
Engaging the Community
Efficient processes don’t just improve the bottom line, they improve human lives. Such was the case at Catholic Community Services’ Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank, where WSU students and assistant professor Sebastian Brockhaus enabled those in need of food to get it more quickly.
Athletics
A promising young athlete sometimes just needs the right environment and the right color of jersey (purple, of course) to make big dreams happen. Just ask former Weber State player and Utah Jazz team member Joel Bolomboy.
As we reflect upon an amazing academic year, let’s continue to look for ways to make dreams happen.
With best wishes,
Charles A. Wight
President
Weber State University