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2002 News Archive

FALL SEMESTER 2002
December 13, 2002-National security and individual rights topic lecture
December 10, 2002-‘Tis the season for music
December 9, 2002-DSC tuition rates topic of Dec. 11 meeting
December 9, 2002-DSC to host "Stress Day"
December 5, 2002-Ground is broken for Dixie's fine arts building
November 27, 2002-Groundbreaking set for fine arts facility.
November 14, 2002-The new Dixie Applied Technology College
November 14, 2002-Dixie State College to host Career Day
November 13, 2002-DSC nursing program receives donation
November 11, 2002-Groundbreaking set for DSC’s fine arts facility
November 11, 2002-November once again CAREER MONTH
November 11,2002-"I CAN DO THAT Therapy" subject of next Forum
November 8, 2002-DSC book drive kicks off Monday
November 4, 2002-Concert to feature trio of DSC musical groups
October 24, 2002-DSC's nursing program steps towardsaccreditation.
October 21, 2002-Community invited to DSC accreditation meeting
October 21, 2002-Mountain Meadows Massacre topic at Dixie Forum
October 16, 2002-How about that Jazz!
October 11, 2002-Health Sciences facilities dedicated at Dixie State
October 11,2002-Religions of the World on display at DSC library
October 10,2002-Health Sciences facilities to be dedicated at Dixie State
October 10, 2002-Six to be inducted into DSC Hall of Fame this weekend
October 9, 2002-DSC receives accreditation commendations and recommendations
October 7, 2002-Homecoming takes center stage at Dixie State
October 6, 2002-End of an era, beginning of a new one at DSC
October 4, 2002-Spectrum managing editor next up a Dixie Forum
October 4, 2002-DSC undergos accreditation evaluation
September 27, 2002-Composers John Duffy and Phillip Bimstein next up at Dixie Forum
September 27, 2002-DSC’s block schedule about to start
September 18, 2002-Growth continues at Dixie State College
September 18, 2002-Immigration and diversity the topic of next Dixie Forum
September 16, 2002-Service topic of next Dixie Forum
September 17, 2002-Homeless or not, DSC theatre to kickoff season
Septem ber 9,2002-USU MBA returns to Dixie State for 3rd cycle
September 9, 2002-Dixie Forum speaker to reflect on 9-11
September 6, 2002-World awareness to be promoted during DSC’s World Week
September 6, 2002-End of an era, beginning of a new one at DSC
September 4, 2002-New Dental Hygiene Clinic opens at DSC
August 30, 2002-DSC art professor next up at Dixie Forum
August 30, 2002-Earning college credit abroad, in Costa Rica
August 23, 2002-Osmond brothers to kick off Dixie Forum
August 23, 2002-DSC Launches New Elementary Education Program

SUMMER 2002
August 8, 2002-DSC Preschool gears up for fall
August 7,2002-Fall Registration up at Dixie State College
July 25, 2002-And the winner is…KCEC-TV
June 27,2002-DSC High School Automotive Program places 6th at nationals
June 12, 2002- DSC’s Gardner Student Center to expand

National security and individual rights topic of public lecture at DSC
(ST. GEORGE – Dec. 13, 2002) National security and individual rights will come under examination during a public lecture Friday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m. in the Dunford Auditorium at Dixie State College.
Dr. J.D. Williams, emeritus professor of political science at the University of Utah, will present the lecture, which will be the culminating event of a weeklong faculty seminar led by Williams at the college.
"J.D. Williams is a master teacher and speaker, and he’ll be speaking on a topic that should be of concern to every American citizen," said seminar director and DSC English professor Dr. Tim Bywater, a former student of Williams’ at the University of Utah. "A course taught by Professor Williams is an experience one never forgets. He has incredible power as a teacher as well as genuine empathy for students that makes all the difference."
Professor Williams earned his degrees at Stanford and Harvard, and began teaching at the University of Utah in 1952, retiring in 1992. He received the University’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 1983, the Rosenblatt Prize for excellence in 1992, and a doctor of laws degree in 1996.
The protection of liberty has always been one of Williams’ primary interests. His work has been honored by the Utah Bar Association with its Liberty Bell Award, B’Nai Brith’s award for contributions to human brotherhood, and the Utah Library Association’s citation for the defense of the First Amendment.
The seminar and lecture are products of a Challenge Grant awarded to the college by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in 1993. Private donations helped complete the grant funding of nearly $1 million.
The grant’s purpose is to enable Dixie faculty to interact with some of the finest teachers and scholars in the world. Others in the series thus far have included scholars from Cambridge University, David Bromwich from Yale, and Terre Tempest Williams, one of America's finest environmental writers.
"The public lecture enables the general public to benefit from the NEH grant as well," Bywater said. "The topic, "our loss of civil rights in the wake of 9-11" is important to every citizen."
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‘Tis the season for music
(ST. GEORGE – Dec. 10, 2002) Dixie State College’s Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Singers will join together in a combined concert Friday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church and School.
"This will be a wonderful night of music celebrated in the Christmas spirit," said Chamber Orchestra director Scott Tanner. "The music selected for this performance has been chosen to appeal to audiences of young and old alike."
In addition to Christmas selections by the Chamber Singers, the concert will consist of "Greensleeves," by Vaughn Williams, "Holberg Suite," by Edvard Grieg, and the highlight performance, Vivaldi’s "Gloria."
"Vivaldi’s "Gloria" is a musical experience not to be missed," Tanner said.
The DSC Chamber Singers is a select, auditioned group of singers taken from the campus at large and is directed by Dr. Ken Peterson.
The Trinity Lutheran Church and School is located on 2260 E. Red Cliffs Drive. A donation of $2 per student and $5 per family is appreciated.
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DSC tuition rates topic of Dec. 11 meeting
(ST. GEORGE – Dec. 9, 2002) Last month, the Utah State Board of Regents approved a 4.5 percent first-tier tuition hike for all Utah colleges and universities for the 2003-04 academic year. It is now up to each individual institution to decide whether it will increase tuition on top of that.
An open meeting will be held Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m. in the Dunford Auditorium, Browning Building to discuss potential second tier tuition increase scenarios at Dixie State College. All students and community members are invited to attend the meeting.
"College officials want to make sure that DSC remains financially accessible for any and all students who want to enroll here," said DSC vice president of student services Bill Fowler. "We strongly encourage student input at this meeting."
DSC student body president BenJoe Markland has met with students regarding a potential second tier tuition increase, Fowler said, and is working hard to keep any additional increases as low as possible while helping the college meet its financial obligations in the midst of reduced state appropriations. A final determination on 2003-04 tuition rates will be made in January.
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DSC to host "Stress Day"
(ST. GEORGE – Dec. 9, 2002) Just hearing the words "final exam" is enough to make any student’s palms sweat. In order to alleviate some of the stress associated with finals week, Dixie State College’s REACH Club is hosting a "Finals Stress Reduction" day Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the Gardner Student Center.
The activity coincides with Stress Awareness Week at colleges and universities nationwide.
Students can look forward to prizes, snacks, games and other activities.
"This is a stressful time for students," said DSC Wellness Center director Barbara Johnson. "The hustle and bustle of the holidays is enough to stress anyone out. Couple that with multiple final exams, and you’ve got quite a stressful combination. This activity is designed to help students blow off some of that steam."
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Ground is broken for Dixie State fine arts building
(ST. GEORGE – Dec. 5, 2002) Ground was broken today for the new 70,000 square foot-plus Delores Dore’ Eccles Fine Arts Center, marking the first official day of construction for Dixie State College’s long awaited new fine arts building. The anticipated completion date for the building is January 2004.
"Oh, you don’t know how grateful I am to have this day arrive," said DSC president Dr. Robert Huddleston during the groundbreaking ceremonies. "It’s been a long and arduous journey, a journey with a goal in mind and a goal accomplished."
According to Huddleston, there were those who doubted that this was the right building to pursue. Many of those doubters, he said, don’t recognize DSC’s longstanding commitment to the arts, a commitment that, in addition to successful fine arts programs, has produced a Celebrity Concert Series, an amphitheater at the mouth of Zion National Park, an annual invitational art show, and successful partnerships with many community groups, including the Southwest Symphony.
"We’ve been committed to this project," Huddleston said. "We’ve never wavered. No doubt we could have gotten other facilities up quicker, but we think we made the right decision, and today confirms that."
"This process has been filled with yield signs, speed bumps, U-turns, and stop signs," Huddleston added. "Fortunately, w e& #146;ve busted through those barriers and accomplished the task."
The college’s pursuit of the new building spans nearly two decades. The original fine arts building on campus was built in 1962 for a maximum student body of 500. In 1981-82, total enrollment at Dixie State was 1,904. Enrollment at the college now nears 8,000.
In addition to a lack of space, various safety and code violations began to surface in the early 1990s. Conditions became so bad that the basement floor was ordered vacated in 1998.
The college pursued capital improvement funds, but in the end, it was determined that total demolition was the only viable option.
The prospective new building has been near the top of the Utah State Board of Regents’ priority list since 1997, yet the money for the new building, nearly $19 million, has not come easy. Despite significant contributions from the Eccles Foundation and Sears and Graff families, the remaining state funding for the building has been on spin cycle on Utah’s Capitol Hill the past three years.
Local legislators and college officials continued to work tirelessly to ensure the building received its fair share of representation, however, and the building received new life and ultimate approval in January 2002.
"This is a building that has been substantially earned by this institution," said State Representative David Clark. "At a time when state budgets and revenues are certainly in the challenge category, I think it should indicate to this community and to the college the significant role that we place on arts and theatre and the importance and the relevance it has within our community."
In addition to office and classroom space, the new facility will include a 500-seat performance theatre, a black box theater, a music concert hall, and several rehearsal halls. It will also include a new art museum, which, in addition to various traveling exhibits, will house the college’s annual Sears Dixie Invitational Art Show.
"I can’t think of a better place for a beautiful fine arts gallery than at the edge of the desert, where so much of the beautiful art is inspired," said Alan Layton, president of Layton Construction, which will head the project. "We’re inspired to be a part of this project and look forward to a wonderful celebration when we cut the ribbon."
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Groundbreaking set for DSC’s fine arts facility…finally
(ST. GEORGE – Nov. 27, 2002) The wait isn’t quite over, but it’s getting close. Dixie State College will break ground for its long-awaited fine arts building Thursday, Dec. 5, at 11 a.m.
"This is 30 some odd years of effort culminating in the groundbreaking for this building," said Fine Arts Department Chair Eric Young. "It’s past time, and Dixie and the community are ready for this building to happen."
All community members are invited to the groundbreaking ceremony, which will take place west of the Graff Arts Building (tile mosaic). Similar to the Avenna Center, the new Delores Dore’ Eccles Fine Arts Building – named in honor of the major gift contributed by that foundation – will be a community-centered facility in addition to its academic and student functions. The 70,000 square foot-plus building will be the largest on campus.
"It’s right on the border of our campus, perhaps one of the more public borders we have," Young said. "It will be a showplace and a very unique building. It has been designed to integrate into the rest of the campus’ architecture, but it will have a definite quality about it that it will become a nice gathering place for the community."
In addition to office and classroom space, the new facility will include a 500-seat performance theatre, a black box theater, a music concert hall, and several rehearsal halls. It will also include a new art museum, which, in addition to various traveling exhibits, will house the college’s annual Sears Dixie Invitational Art Show.
While the bulk of the $19 million allocated for the building has come from state funds and private contributions, the building is, in part, a product of the Sears Dixie Invitational. The invitational originated with the purpose of raising funds for a new fine arts building. Since 1987, the show has netted over $500,000 toward that end.
Appropriately enough for a fine arts building, the saga that has finally led to the new facility’s groundbreaking has been a dramatic one. Originally constructed in 1962 at a cost of $934,605, the Auditorium and Multi-purpose Center, later named the Graff Building, was designed to accommodate a student body of 500. Three hundred students were enrolled at the college at the time.
In the early 1990s, various safety and code violations began to arise. In 1997, the college requested nearly $1 million in capital improvement funds to address the problems. One year later, however, it was determined that 70-percent of the Graff Building needed replacing and that demolition should result. Seismic problems were also revealed at that time. Also in 1998, the fire and safety code violations became so extreme that the basement floor was ordered vacated.
The proposed new building then went the way of the pinball in the state legislature for the next three years before receiving final approval earlier this year.
"It’s been a process that’s seen a lot of ups and downs, but we’re looking forward and not backward," said DSC President Dr. Robert Huddleston. "This is going to be a wonderful and very striking addition to our campus and community as a whole. It’s a facility we’ve needed desperately for a long time for instructional purposes, but it’s also going to enhance the cultural opportunities available in this area. We’re all looking forward to its completion."
Construction on the Delores Dore’ Fine Arts Center will take just over one year with an expected completion date of January 2004, two months earlier than previously anticipated. The project’s general contractor is Layton Construction. Two webcams have been installed showing construction activities and progress. They can be accessed online at http://webcam.dixie.edu/.
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The new Dixie Applied Technology College - what is it??
Demand high for students with applied technology skills
(ST. GEORGE – Nov. 14, 2002) Have you seen the new sign on the east side of the North Plaza Building on the DSC campus along 100 South and wondered just what the DXATC is? You may have also been curious as to know how this new technical college relates to Dixie State College.
Perhaps the best way to picture this new college and its relationship to Dixie State is to think of it as a close friend and partner. It is a separate college, which provides applied technology programs to high school and adult students.
The mission of the DXATC is to work closely with the Washington County School District and with Dixie State College to make sure that duplicate programs are not offered, and to offer additional programs needed in the community that Dixie State College does not offer. Emphasis is placed on creating career pathways for students so they can begin preparation for a job in an applied technology field while in high school and continue with an easy transition after graduation.
Training for high-demand jobs and training for industry certifications are also a major focus of the new college. President Huddleston and Superintendent Granger have been very supportive of this new college and continue to be close partners as the DXATC begins to develop new training programs.
The Dixie Applied Technology College began with the passage of the UCAT legislation in June 2001, which created a new, tenth college in the Utah System of Higher Education. This new college was named the Utah College of Applied Technology. UCAT is made up of 10 regional colleges severing different areas throughout the state. The DXATC is the regional technical college set up to serve Washington County.
Utah high school students may enroll in any one of the 10 regional applied technology colleges tuition-free, and tuition for adults is minimal. Adult students are charged a base tuition of 95 cents per clock hour; however, some programs require additional fees due to industry standards for equipment and materials needed to offer state-of-the-art training.
Students may register at any time during regular business hours and receive instruction in a self-paced format. The flexible schedule is ideal for working adults with limited time and for high school students who want to supplement their high school schedule. Classes are offered during both daytime and evening hours depending on the program.
Examples of programs being offered are the building construction program, where students learn skills required to build a home, the diesel mechanics program, which partners closely with the Dixie State College auto mechanics program, and the new dental assisting program, which will partner with the DSC dental hygiene program beginning spring semester.
A high demand exists for students who complete their training in all of these programs. A complete list of available programs and instructions for registration are available on the DXATC web site. The address is www.dixieatc.org or call 652-7730 for additional information.
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Dixie State College to host Career Day
(St. George, UT – Nov. 14, 2002) Daytime classes on Nov. 19 have been cancelled at Dixie State College, but the campus will be abuzz nonetheless between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
High school seniors from Utah, Nevada, and Arizona will congregate on campus for the college’s annual Career Day. The event has been a fixture at the college for 25 years.
Some 25 high schools will participate in Career Day this year. Some will bring their entire student body, consisting of as few as four students, while some will bring as many as 350. All, however, will come for the same purpose.
"Our goal is to present the best up-to-date, credible and useful information available on a wide variety of occupations to students in the process of making decisions that will affect the rest of their lives," said DSC Career Center Director Virginia Woodward.
Presenting that information will be over 100 local professionals representing nearly 85 different occupations. Students will be able to select four workshops of their choice to attend. Approximately 120 workshops filling nearly every classroom on campus will be available to choose from, with 30 workshops running each of the four hours.
Morning and afternoon classes have been cancelled, not only to make way for the high school students, but to allow DSC students to attend as well. Evening classes (after 5 p.m.) will go forward as scheduled.
"One of our best measures of success as a college is when our former students find satisfying and rewarding employment," Woodward said. "Many of our DSC students are struggling to make career decisions. Numerous studies indicate that when students set career goals, even if they change their goals at a later date, they are more likely to stay in school and their grades tend to be better."
Community members are invited to attend workshops as well.
Career Day begins at 9 a.m. in DSC’s Cox Auditorium with a general assembly and introduction. Workshops will begin at 9:30 a.m. and run through 1 p.m. Workshop schedules will be sent to the respective high schools prior to Career Day. For more information, call Virginia Woodward at (435) 652-7736.
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DSC nursing program receives donation
(ST. GEORGE – Nov. 13, 2002) It has been an eventful month for Dixie State College’s nursing program.
In October, the program dedicated a new nursing skills lab. Later that month, it received resoundingly high marks on its initial accreditation bid. And now, the program is on the receiving end of a $50,000 donation.
On the giving end of the donation was Dixie Regional Medical Center.
"DRMC is an integral part of our health science programs at the college," said Dr. Robert Huddleston, president of Dixie State College. "They’ve lent tremendous support to our entire institution over the years and this is just one example of that. This really is a gift to the entire community because it’s only going to help raise the level of health care available in this area."
One of the purposes of the donation is to help keep the effects of the national nursing shortage at bay, DRMC officials said.
"We have challenges in nurse recruiting – all hospitals do," said Vicki Wilson, human resources administrator for DRMC. "However, the impact of the shortage has not been as severe here at Dixie. We are proud of or nursing staff and are working hard to be the ‘employer by choice’ to reduce turnover."
Even so, the hospital plans to hire over 60 RNs next year when new positions and turnover replacement are taken into consideration.
"We are optimistic that with solid support of nursing programs like Dixie State’s and aggressive recruitment, we will have the staffing we need to sustain the excellent level of health care we currently provide," Wilson said.
Fortunately for Utah, interest in the nursing profession does appear to be high statewide. Students are applying to nursing schools in strong numbers, Wilson said, and at many institutions there are not enough spots available to take them all. In Dixie State’s case, enrollment in the college’s individual nursing programs is near capacity.
"DRMC is hopeful that this donation will boost the number of openings available at DSC," said DSC Director of Health Sciences Kevin Tipton. "We’ve got a great partnership. They are very willing to step onto our turf and say, ‘What can we do to help?’"
One thing both parties are looking forward to is a new 400,000 square foot IHC hospital currently under construction in St. George. Dixie State hopes to prepare many of its graduates for the positions that the new hospital will create.
In terms of nursing alone, the college currently offers a practical nurse certificate and an associate degree in nursing (RN). In addition, DSC graduates 120 certified nurse assistants each semester. The college is currently seeking funding for a new health sciences building and has plans to offer baccalaureate degrees specific to health occupations in the future.
"The DSC nursing program is vitally important to our hospital's success," said DRMC Administrator Steve Wilson. "DRMC is committed to helping increase the capacity and success of our major community partner in health education -- Dixie State College."
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November once again CAREER MONTH at DIXIE STATE COLLEGE
(ST. GEORGE – Nov. 11, 2002) Two years ago, DSC President Robert Huddleston issued a proclamation designating November as Career Month for the purpose of encouraging students to select an academic or technical major early in their college experience. That proclamation continues to remain in effect.
Numerous studies have indicated that selecting a major early is an important factor in achieving success in college.
"The decision of selecting a career is one of the most important choices students will make in their lifetime," said Dr. Max Rose, DSC vice president of academics.
Career Month will kick off Nov. 14, with, "Discovering Your Work Style," a workshop conducted by Tonja Easson of Academic Innovations. Academic Innovations is the company that created the award winning textbook, "Career Choices." The workshop will be held on Thursday at noon in room 113 of the Science Building.
In addition, the "Career Wizard" will again be around campus dispensing wisdom and helping students with their "future" career plans.
"Students wishing to shorten their time to a degree should choose a major early," said Dr. David Borris, dean of business, technology, and health sciences. "The costs for obtaining a higher educational degree continually increase. It pays to plan early on a career choice to minimize cost."
November is also the month that high school seniors throughout southern Utah converge on the DSC campus to participate in Career Day, which falls on Nov. 19 this year. Over 117 workshops introducing students to a variety of careers will be available for career exploration purposes.
"Your career, the endeavor of your life, is a journey," said Joe Peterson, dean of arts, letters, and sciences. "It’s important that students begin that journey well. Students should spend time now to make sure that the steps they are taking now will lead them to a destination that is right for them. It's important to choose your major and set forth plans for the trip you'll make."
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"I CAN DO THAT Therapy" subject of next Dixie Forum
(ST. GEORGE – Nov. 11, 2002) The importance of education – for both men and women – and preparing for the unknowns that lie ahead will be the topic of this week’s Dixie Forum: A Window on the World Tuesday at noon in DSC’s Dunford Auditorium.
Elisabeth Rhodes Bingham, current chair of Dixie State College’s National Advisory Council (NAC), will be the forum speaker.
A successful businesswoman and humanitarian, she will talk about the world that was opened up to her because of her experiences in work and school. She will also touch on the subject of being a professional and the benefits it brings to parenting, as well as the humanitarian aid projects she is currently involved with.
The title of her presentation is "I Can Do That Therapy."
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DSC book drive kicks off Monday
(ST. GEORGE – Nov. 8, 2002) Last fall students at Dixie State College, together with the help of the community, raised $5,000 to help aid an eight-year old near drowning victim.
This fall, DSC students are out to collect 5,000 new and used books of all reading levels for children and various organizations, such as Dixie Care and Share and Purgatory Correctional Facility.
The book drive is part of the college’s "Camps to Community – Drive for Five" service program, a bi-annual service event at the college. This fall’s Drive for Five will be done in memory of the late Lois Wells, a local educator and literacy advocate who helped many in Washington County learn to read.
"Just like last year, we can’t do it without the help of the community," said DSC Studentbody President BenJoe Markland. "Everybody has a book or two laying around the house that they don’t need anymore. Instead of keeping them on the shelf to collect dust, this is an opportunity to pass it along to someone else."
Local high schools are also getting involved in the project. Beginning Monday, college and high school students will distribute grocery bags and flyers to homes around the community explaining the service project. Those interested in donating can fill the bags with books and leave the filled bags on their curbside Friday morning for pick-up later that afternoon.
The book drive will culminate in a "Book Bash" Saturday, Nov. 16, in the college’s Old Gym parking lot from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free food, live entertainment, and prize giveaways will all be a part of this final push to reach the 5,000 mark. All community members are invited to attend.
In addition, A DATS trailer will be in the Old Gym parking lot along 700 East, serving as a drop-off point throughout the week. Book donation boxes will also be available at many local grocery stores beginning Monday and will remain throughout the month of November.
The Campus to Community program was instituted at the college last year under the leadership of 2001-02 student body president Connor Shakespeare. In addition to last fall’s project, DSC students helped plant trees at the newly dedicated Southern Utah Water Conservation Garden.
"We want this to become a longstanding tradition at the college for years to come," Markland said. "We at Dixie State appreciate the overwhelming support the community gives us. It’s important to us the students that we give something back."
If you have any questions or would like to help with the book drive , call Donna Stafford at 652-7513 or BenJoe Markland at 652-7517.
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Concert to feature trio of DSC musical groups
(ST. GEORGE – Nov. 4, 2002) The Dixie State College Symphonic Band, Brass Choir and Woodwind Choir will team up in concert this Thursday at 8 p.m. in the Avenna Center Cox Auditorium.
The program will be of a patriotic nature in honor of Veteran’s Day. Cost is $2 a person or $5 a family. Faculty, staff, and students with an activity card will be admitted for free. Veterans will also be admitted at no charge.
The band will perform "A Festival Prelude" by Alfred Reed, "American Folk Rhapsody No. 3" by Clare Grundman, "Resting In The Peace Of His Hands" by John Gibson, "American Overture For Band" by Joseph Willcox Jenkins, "American Civil War Fantasy" by Jerry Bilik and "Celebrations" by John Zdechlik.
The program will also include four marches by John Philip Sousa, "The High School Cadets," "El Capitan," "Bullets And Bayonets" and "The Star And Stripes Forever." A special musical salute to the men and women of the armed forces will also be presented.
The Symphonic Band is a 70-member group of very fine college musicians. Performing regularly for various programs in and around the community, they are directed by Gary Caldwell. The Brass Choir is directed by Ronald Garner and the Woodwind Choir by Denis Zwang.
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DSC's nursing program steps towardsaccreditation.
(ST. GEORGE – Oct. 24, 2002) Throughout the week, an accreditation committee representing the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission evaluated the college’s Practical Nursing and Registered Nursing (ADN) programs according to a number of standards dealing with mission and governance, faculty, students, curriculum and instruction, physical facilities, integrity, and educational effectiveness.
"We will recommend to the Panel of Review that we grant initial accreditation with a visit in five years," said evaluation committee chair Kathy Hankel (University of South Dakota) to faculty and administrators. "All three of us our very confident in what we’ve recommended."
The committee reported its recommendation early Thursday in an exit meeting. Patterns of strength and patterns of concern were also brought forward by the committee.
Specifically, patterns of strength included:
1. Strong leadership within the program, specifically by the division director.
2. Strong community support for the program, expressed both in words and financially.
3. A cohesive, dedicated, caring, faculty interested in student success.
4. The program’s systematic plan for program evaluation and assessment of outcomes.
5. The program’s effective achievement of its goals and purposes.
The committee also expressed pleasure with the progress made in a number of other areas.
"I’ve been doing business since 1988, and I must say this is one of the best student groups I have ever seen," Hankel said.
"When it comes to curriculum, we think (the program’s) conceptual framework is very strong," Hankel also commented. "For a program that is this young, I’ve never said that before – ever – in 14 years."
Both programs are less than five years old.

The committee also took an interest in the expansion of Dixie Regional Medical Center.
"We think that’s a real plus for the program because it’s only going to give you more clinical opportunities at different levels that you’ve never had before, Hankel said.
The committee also pointed out two areas in which the programs could improve:
1. Fit of the program in the overall college structure in terms of the organizational chart, job descriptions, titles, etc.
2. Lack of sufficient human resources in terms of full-time faculty and clerical support.
"I felt that we would meet the standards, and we’re pretty close to that mark," said Kevin Tipton, director of health sciences at DSC. "I knew we weren’t perfect, but I felt we were ready. It’s nice to have this step under our belt."
The initial recommendation is considered the first step in the accreditation process. The committee’s recommendation will now be turned over to a Panel of Review in January. A recommendation will then be made to the Commission. The Commission will then make its final recommendation, and DSC will be notified of the program’s official accreditation status in April.
The accreditation visit comes at the heels of an institution-wide accreditation evaluation. Dixie State College is seeking initial accreditation at the baccalaureate level and will be formally informed of its accreditation status in January.
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Community invited to DSC accreditation meeting
(ST. GEORGE – Oct. 21, 2002) Fresh off the heels of a campus wide accreditation evaluation, Dixie State College’s nursing program will now undergo its first accreditation evaluation. Specifically, accreditation officials will evaluate DSC’s Practical Nurse (LPN), and Registered Nurse (RN) programs.
A community meeting will be held in conjunction with the accreditation visit Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the Udvar Hazy Business Building, room 361. All community members are invited to meet with the accreditation team and offer input regarding the programs.
"I feel real good about it," said Health Sciences Director Kevin Tipton of the accreditation evaluation. "I know there are things that we haven’t gotten like clockwork. That’s all right -- we want to improve, and we hope the evaluation team points those things out to us. But I feel that we’re going to match the requirements."
An accreditation exit meeting will be held Thursday at 8 a.m. in the Udvar Hazy Building, room 361, at which time the accreditation team will present its initial findings.
The college’s Registered Nurse program is an associate level program. The Practical Nurse program is a certificate program and paves the way for students to get their LPN. Both programs are seeking accreditation by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.
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Mountain Meadows Massacre topic at Dixie Forum
(ST. GEORGE – Oct. 21, 2002) The student produced documentary film, "The Mountain Meadow Massacre," will be the subject of the next two presentations at Dixie Forum: A Window on the World, the first taking place Tuesday at noon in the Dunford Auditorium at Dixie State College. The documentary won two Telly Awards in 2000.
The film’s executive producer, Eric Young, will speak about what went into producing the film and will lead a discussion about the film’s impact. The first half of the documentary will also be shown Tuesday, the second half being shown the following Tuesday, Oct. 29.
"I was very impressed when I saw what he, his students, and colleagues put together," said Dixie Forum coordinator Terre Burton. "I think audience members will be, too, particularly if they haven’t yet seen it."
Young is both the director of the Digital Motion Picture Production Program and chair of the Fine Arts Department at Dixie State College. He also teaches courses in communication.
He is the former director of photography in film production for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has 15 years experience producing and directing in the commercial film and video production industry.
Other projects that Young has had a direct hand in include "Ancestors," a nationally aired documentary series on PBS and "Falling Out," a documentary detailing the history of above-ground nuclear testing in southern Nevada.
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How about that Jazz!
(ST. GEORGE – Oct. 16, 2002) The professional basketball team up north isn’t the only one gearing up for another season of "Jazz." Dixie State College is getting set for some Jazz of its own. The college’s Jazz Ensemble will be in concert Oct. 22, at 8 p.m. in the Avenna Center Cox Auditorium.
"This year, we have one of the strongest group of jazz soloists ever," said DSC Band Director Gary Caldwell. "What a great addition to the program and what a joy these musicians are to work with."
Tuesday’s program will include a variety of compositions including "Well You Needn’t," "On Green Dolphin Street," "Chelsea Bridge," "Coastline Cruise," "Hot Strip Shuffle," "Wind Machine," "Santa Fe Trail," ‘How Sweet It Is," and "Georgia On My Mind."
Represented at the concert will be some of the great jazz composers, such as Sammy Nestico, Hoagy Carmichael, Louie Bellson, Frank Mantooth, Billy Strayhorn, Phil Wilson and Thelonious Monk.
The Jazz Ensemble is a 17-piece big band comprised of some very fine student jazz musicians, Caldwell said. Featured student soloists are Josh Marshall, tenor sax; Antoinette Rennerfeldt, alto sax; John White, alto sax; Lisa Shelton, trombone; Jeff Caldwell, trumpet; Kali Terry, piano; Dan Garofalo, guitar.
Special guest artist for this concert will be Denis Zwang on tenor and soprano sax. Denis is a local musician who performs regularly for recording studios, casuals, Tuacahn and the Utah Jazz among others. He also teaches and works at Music Affiliates.
Cost is $2 a person or $5a family, no charge for students with an activity card.
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Health Sciences facilities dedicated at Dixie State
(ST. GEORGE – Oct. 11, 2002) Two new health sciences facilities, a dental hygiene clinic and a nursing lab, were dedicated Friday at Dixie State College.
Administrators, faculty, and graduates from both programs expressed appreciation to the donors who made the facilities possible and recounted student success stories within both programs.
"To those individuals who donated to this particular project and to our faculty who work in this area, bless your heart," said Dr. Robert Huddleston, college president. "May God bless you for your help because you won’t just change peoples’ careers, you’ll change generations."
The Dr. Mervyn & Sue Cox Dental Hygiene Clinic opened this summer to students and the public. The clinic consists of 14 operatories and accompanying equipment, including X-Ray equipment.
Prior to the clinic coming on board, all clinical instruction for the program had taken place off campus in local dentist offices, clinic space that was donated in the college’s behalf. Now, all clinical and classroom instruction take place in the same building. The new clinic was made possible primarily through donations from within the local dental community, many of whom were honored at the dedication ceremony.
"I’m very proud to say I’m a graduate of the Dixie State College dental hygiene program," said Ashley Ence, a graduate of the program who spoke at the dedication. "As I look back on those two years, I learned many lessons that have helped me become who I am today."
The new nursing lab nearly quadruples its predecessor in both size and equipment. Eleven beds and accompanying equipment are available for student training compared to the four formerly available. Each of the college’s three nursing programs – Certified Nurse Assistant, Practical Nurse (LPN), and Registered Nurse – now has its own segmented lab space.
"This is a special program, this is a special school – I’m glad to see its growth," remarked DSC nursing graduate Matt Trane Webb, also a clinical instructor for the college’s CNA program. "I can see Dixie State College one day becoming Dixie State University. I envision the day when we will have a bachelor’s degree and even a master’s degree (in nursing)."
Both facilities are located in the Jennings Technology and Health Scienc es Center, the new home to Dixie State’s entire health sciences division. This marks the first time all health sciences programs have been consolidated under one roof.
"For the students, it’s made them feel like they’re more of a bigger picture," said Kevin Tipton, director of health sciences. "Nursing students are here with dental hygiene students and EMT and EMS students. I think they feel like they’re part of a bigger program, here with other health professionals and colleagues."
In the future, the college hopes to build on the health sciences foundation now firmly in place.
"The next step will be to have a building specifically dedicated to the health sciences where we can expand the number of programs," said George Whitehead, director of institutional advancement at the college. "I think I’ll see that take place while I’m still working here at Dixie State College – I’m certain of that."
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Religions of the World on display at DSC library
(ST. GEORGE – Oct. 11, 2002) Religions of the World, a Utah Arts Council traveling exhibit, will be on display at the Browning Library on the campus of Dixie State College through Nov. 4.
The exhibition displays the illustrations and text from the book, A World of Faith. Peggy Fletcher Stack, religion writer for the Salt Lake Tribune provided the text for the paintings done by Utah artist and educator, Kathleen Peterson.
All of the text and imagery have been reviewed by people of each religious tradition for accuracy and tone. The exhibit serves as an introduction to the remarkable diversity of religion to young people.
Bigotry begins with ignorance, and many of today’s children know little or nothing about faiths other than their own, said Traveling Exhibition Coordinator Glen Richards. The goal of the exhibit is to demonstrate the similarities and connectedness that exist among the world’s religions.
The Traveling Exhibition Program is a statewide outreach service of the Utah Arts Council. The program provides schools, museums, libraries and galleries throughout the state with a variety of exhibitions. For further information on the program, contact the Traveling Exhibition Program of the Utah Arts Council. The program is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, Washington D.C. and by programming funds from the Utah Arts Council.
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Health Sciences facilities to be dedicated at Dixie State
(ST. GEORGE – Oct. 10, 2002) Two new health sciences facilities will be dedicated Friday at Dixie State College. A new dental hygiene clinic and nursing skills lab recently opened on campus and will be the primary focus of the dedication, which begins at 2 p.m. in the Jennings Technology and Health Sciences Building.
"Both are wonderful facilities," said DSC Vice President of Academics Dr. Max Rose. "They reinforce two already solid programs and improve the all around quality of both. They’re wonderful additions to their respective programs and to our institution in general."
Both facilities are considerable upgrades to those the ones they replaced.
In the case of the dental hygiene program, the new clinic has enabled all classroom and clinical instruction to take place under the same roof for the first time in the program’s four-year history. Up until now, all clinical instruction took place off campus in dentist offices around town, space that was largely donated in the college’s behalf.
"It’s definitely taken some of the pressure off our dental hygiene program," said DSC Health Sciences Director Kevin Tipton. "Being in two clinics just ran them ragged because they had to schedule themselves at two different times to do the same thing they’re able to do now in one clinic."
The new clinic was made possible primarily through donations from within the dental community.
While a nursing lab has existed on campus, it was a far cry from what nursing students enjoy now. The new nursing skills lab nearly quadruples the former lab in both size and equipment. Nursing students from three programs – Certified Nurse Assistant, Practical Nurse (LPN) and Registered Nurse – once shared four beds with which to do their training. Eleven beds and accompanying equipment now fill the new lab, room enough for three separate segments within the lab, one for each nursing level.
The Jennings Building is the new home to the entire health sciences division, which before was scattered throughout campus. The dedication will also serve as an open house for the entire division. The community is invited to attend the dedication and tour all of the division’s facilities. A tour will take place immediately following the dedication, beginning at 2:50 p.m.
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Six to be inducted into DSC Hall of Fame this weekend
(ST. GEORGE – Oct. 10, 2002) Dixie State College will honor four outstanding individuals and one couple as this year's inductees into the college’s Hall of Fame.
Each inductee or their representative will be presented a medallion at the fifth annual Hall of Fame ceremony to be held in conjunction with Homecoming Founder's Day activities Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in the St. George Tabernacle.
"The Hall of Fame is composed of Dixie State College’s greatest – CEOs, professional athletes, national politicians, research scientists, and humanitarians," said Director of Institutional Advancement George Whitehead. "The college is extremely fortunate to have such prestigious and fine alumni."
Honored in the area of Public and College Service will be Dan C. Watson ('41), a Dixie College legend and icon. Among numerous duties and talents, Dan wrote songs, served as administrative assistant to five Dixie State College presidents and worked as Commencement Committee Chairman for 28 years. His honors are many including the "Distinguished Alumnus Award." His service and dedication to Dixie are heart felt and generous and have spanned over 40 years.
Also to be honored in the area of Public and College Service will be Dr. Mervyn K. Cox who is a graduate of both Dixie High School and Dixie College. He was the first orthodontist in St. George. His kindnesses to Dixie State College include the MK Cox Auditorium, the new Dr. Mervyn and Sue Cox Dental Hygiene Clinic, the family fountains sculpture garden, and the library carpeting.
Ferron C. Losee (deceased), Dixie's eleventh president ('64-'76), will be honored in the area of Education. He is widely known as the "Builder of the Dixie College Campus." During his tenure, enrollment grew from 383 students to 1,200. He directed the building of the O.C. Tanner Amphitheater, Dixie State College Outdoor Mosaic, and the water fountain in the campus center. He is also remembered for hiring Mrs. "D" who started Program Bureau and set in motion the "Dixie Spirit."
To be recognized for their contributions in the area of Business, are Ken and Wilma Gardner. Ken founded Electrical Wholesale Supply with several units in Utah and Idaho. The Gardners’ love Dixie State and have always affirmed that any success they've had in life was a result of their associations with those inspired with the spirit of Dixie and their focus on excellence. Ken passed away in 1988. Wilma has served on the National Advisory Council. The Kenneth N. Gardner Student Center in the heart of campus was made available by their commitment to Dixie.
Dixie College graduate Phil Tuckett will be honored in the area of Athletics. Phil played football for Dixie from 1964 to 1966 where he was Honorable Mention All-American running back (he shared this honor with O.J. Simpson). He began his professional football career with the San Diego Chargers. Tuckett is currently vice president of special projects at NFL Films. Since 1978, he has won 28 Emmys for cinematography, writing, editing and directing, and a Billboard Music Award. He has served as a member of the Dixie State College National Advisory Council.
Additional details of the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of the these six Hall of Fame honorees will be given at the Founder's Day Assembly.
The Hall of Fame was introduced at the college in 1998 at which time 18 individuals were inducted as charter members. The photos and plaques of this year’s inductees will join the past 52 inductees on the Wall of Fame located in the Avenna Center, Cox Auditorium.
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Dixie State College receives accreditation commendations and recommendations
(ST. GEORGE – Oct. 9, 2002) Dixie State College is one step closer to becoming an accredited institution at the baccalaureate level. After two days of intense evaluation, an accreditation team representing the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges today reported its initial findings.
Dr. John Lawson, chair of the evaluation team and academic vice president at Idaho State University, reported on the committee’s general commendations and recommendations to DSC faculty, staff and administration in an exit meeting this morning.
The college received six commendations. Specifically, Dixie State College was commended for:
1. Its high level of dedication and commitment to the success of its students.
2. Its commitment to provide a high level of information technology for students and faculty.
3. Its exemplary performance in providing community service, continuing education, and cultural activities in the local community.
4. Its extraordinary success in fundraising exemplified by the amount of scholarship funding made available to support student access to the institution and the major gifts that have played a significant role in ensuring the construction of key facilities.
5. The physical appearance of the St. George campus, which serves to welcome visitors and reinforce the sense of pride so evident in the members of the community, students, faculty, staff, and trustees, and citizens of the region.
6. The priority given to the planning of the physical development of the campus.

Four recommendations were also given. It was recommended that the college:
1. Review and revise its faculty evaluation process.
2. Engage in a process that will cut back on faculty and staff workloads.
3. More clearly and accurately communicate with its constituencies.
4. Review its current mission statement, both to affirm its general content and to implement adjustments that would make it fully consummate with current institutional realities and reflect Dixie State College’s unique and wonderful characteristics.
"We were extremely well prepared for this evaluation, and I think it showed in the committee’s findings," said DSC President Dr. Robert Huddleston.
The committee’s complete report and recommendation on accreditation status will now be turned over to both the college and the Commission on Colleges and Universities for review in December. In early January 2003, the college will be notified in writing of the Commission’s action. Dixie State College is seeking both initial accreditation at the baccalaureate level and to have its lower division accreditation reaffirmed.
"The college is very grateful to the members of the committee in helping the college review its overall performance as an institution and improve its services," said Joe Peterson, DSC dean of arts, letters, and sciences and the college’s accreditation liaison officer.
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Homecoming takes center stage at Dixie State
(ST. GEORGE – Oct 7, 2002) Dixie State College will lay out the welcome mat for its alumni, friends, and the community Oct. 7-12 during its annual Homecoming Week. This year’s theme is "Unite the Dixie Spirit."
Homecoming Week officially gets under way Monday, with the majority of the week’s activities taking place Friday and Saturday. All community members are invited to attend, regardless of their tie to the college.
"This is a great time of year, one we always look forward to,& quot; said Kalynn Larson, alumni association director at DSC. "Homecoming is not only a great tradition that alumni get excited about, but it’s a fun time for the entire community. We like to see everyone get involved, whether they’re a Dixie State alum or not."
The DSC Homecoming Queen Pageant will lead off this year’s activities Tuesday at 7 pm in the Cox Auditorium. Over twenty freshman and sophomore candidates will participate. The eventual homecoming queen will qualify for the Miss Utah Pageant. Cost is $3 a person.
The heart of Homecoming Week kicks off Friday, Oct. 11. An Alumni Assembly will be held at 10:30 am in the Cox Auditorium. The assembly will feature performances by DSC alumni. Admission is free, and the public is invited to attend.
At noon on Friday will be the annual Golden Generation Luncheon and Program in the Gardner Center Ballroom. Cost is $10 a person.
The first annual Alumni Golf Tournament will also take place Friday. The tournament tees off at 2 pm at Sunbrook Golf Course. Cost is $85 a person. All proceeds benefit the college’s scholarship program.
The events of Saturday, Oct. 12, begin with the Homecoming Parade. The parade begins at 9:30 am and will travel down Tabernacle Street beginning at 400 East and ending at 100 West. All entries must line up at the parade’s starting point (between 700 East and 400 East on Tabernacle) at 9 am. Parade entries must contact Donna Stafford at 652-7513 by Thursday at noon.
Immediately following the parade will be the DSC Founder’s Day Assembly and Hall of Fame Ceremony, which will be held in the St. George Tabernacle Saturday at 10:30 am. The public is invited to attend. Admission is free.
The DSC Alumni Association tailgate party gets underway Saturday at noon. The Rebels will host Eastern Arizona beginning at 1 pm. Tickets to the game are $5 and can be purchased at the box office.
The week wraps up Saturday evening with the alumni banquet, which will be held at 7 pm in the Old Gym. Speaking at this year’s banquet will be alumnus Bruce C. Hafen. Jim Lundberg (’50) will be honored as this year’s "Distinguished Alumnus." Cost is $11 to attend. A dance will follow at 9 pm in the Gardner Ballroom.
Tickets for the luncheon, banquet, and golf tournament can be purchased from Kalynn Larson in the North Administration Building. She can also be contacted at 652-7535 or via email at larson@dixie.edu. Tickets may also be purchased from Dan Watson at the Alumni House located at 658 E. 200 S. Phone: 652-7538.
Other student events include the Powder Puff Football game Wednesday at 7 pm at Hansen Stadium, a service project Thursday at 10 am (meet in the Gardner Center), and a Rebel Spirit Day Bonfire Friday at 9 pm. The DSC soccer team also has matches both Thursday and Friday at 6 pm at Hansen Stadium.
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End of an era, beginning of a new one at Dixie State College
(ST. GEORGE – Sept. 6, 2002) A 40-year era has come to a close at Dixie State College, and a new one is about to begin.
After nearly 20 years of anticipation and three years of planning and state requests, Dixie State College will finally have its new fine arts center.
The Graff Fine Art Center’s long-awaited and much anticipated date with the wrecking ball began Aug. 14. Demolition on the 39,000 square foot building will run through October, and construction on the new 70,000 square foot Delores Dore’ Eccles Fine Arts Center will begin in November.
"We’re on our way," said executive director of campus services Ned Carnahan.
The new building is scheduled for completion in March 2004, quick turnaround, Carnahan said, considering the building’s size. The facility will have the distinction of being the largest on campus, overtaking the 58,000 square foot Udvar-Hazy Business Building and the 67,000 square foot Burns Arena.
The sentiment is a bittersweet one for many on campus. After all, the building was one of the first on campus and has been a college icon since it was built in 1961-62.
"It was a wonderful place to go, but a bit inadequate," said fine arts department chair Eric Young who attended classes in the building as a Dixie student in 1980-81 and again in 1983-85. "It’s hard to see it come down, but it’s good to see the campus progressing."
Even the most sentimental, however, can’t dispute the need for the new building. The old building was originally designed to accommodate a mere 500 students. Today, enrollment at the college has exceeded 7,000. In addition, an architectural and engineering study has indicated that replacement of the building is the only reasonable solution to correct all of the ADA, fire, building code, and seismic problems that have recently plagued the building and rendered much of it unusable.
The new facility will include an art museum, which will house traveling and campus collections, a 500-seat main performance theater, a 150-seat black box theater, a concert hall, and supporting rehearsal halls, offices, and classroom space. Much of the fine arts department, including the music and theatre departments, will call the new building home.
"It should be an exciting building and we’re anxious to see it come on line," said vice president of college services Stan Plewe.
The price tag for the project will just exceed $18 million, the majority coming from state funding. The new facility has been named in honor of the Eccles Foundation, which contributed $3 million in the project’s behalf. In addition, $500,000 has been raised through the Sears Dixie Invitational Art Show.
Though much of the Graff Fine Arts Center has been reduced to rubble at this point, the building’s legacy will live on. In fact, part of the old building, the section that the historic tile mosaic adorns, will remain standing after it undergoes some safety code upgrades and remodeling. That section of the old building will continue to bear the Graff name.
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Spectrum managing editor next up a Dix ie Forum
(ST. GEORGE – Oct. 4, 2002) The Spectrum and Daily News’ own Todd Seifert, managing editor, will shed some light on the world of journalism at Dixie Forum: A Window on the World Tuesday at noon in the Dunford Auditorium at Dixie State College.
Seifert will speak on the role a local newspaper plays in a community and how it has evolved over time. Specifically, he will address the role of local newspapers today.
"I think this topic is an important one," said forum series coordinator Terre Burton. "We often expect small town newspapers to do the same thing as big city newspapers, but we also want all the local touches as well. It’s a difficult balance, and I think people will leave this forum with some unique perspectives."
Seifert has been in the journalism profession for nearly a decade and has "worked for both small and large newspapers – and everything in between."
Born in Leavenworth, Kan., he attended the University of Kansas and graduated from that institution’s William Allen White School of Journalism.
While in college, Seifert worked as a sports reporter for the Wichita Eagle in Lawrence, Kan., and did internships at newspapers ranging from a weekly newspaper in Paola, Kan., to the Kansas City Star.
Seifert formally began his journalism career in 1994 at the St. Cloud Times in St. Cloud, Minn., where he worked as a copy editor through 1997. In 1997, he became the assistant sports editor at The Springfield News-Leader in Missouri where he was later promoted to the position of news editor.
He has worked in his current position at The Spectrum and Daily News since May 2001. He and his wife, Amy, have two children, ages 3 and 6.
Seifert will be followed by southern Alabama photographer Stephen Savage, currently an artist in residence at The MESA in Springdale, who will speak at Dixie Forum Oct. 15.
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Dixie State College to undergo accreditation evaluation
(ST. GEORGE, UT – Oct. 4, 2002) After two years of operation at the baccalaureate level, Dixie State College will undergo its first four-year accreditation evaluation next week. A team of thirteen evaluators will be on campus Oct. 7-9.
"The accreditation process reviews an institution to its core," said Dean of Arts, Letters, and Science Joe Peterson who has overseen the college’s accreditation preparation. "It has given the college a chance to sift through all of its practices – everything from chemistry classes to the cafeteria – and make sure that all institutional facets are functioning and coordinating effectively."
Dixie State is currently accredited at the associate level, its most recent evaluation occurring in 1992. In 2000, the college applied for and was granted "candidate status" for accreditation at the baccalaureate level. The Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges will now evaluate DSC’s track record thus far. Not only is the college seeking initial accreditation at the baccalaureate level, but also to have its lower division accreditation reaffirmed.
Over the past two years, Peterson has been charged with coordinating and compiling an institutional self-study in preparation for the evaluation, documentation that spans 45 feet in shelf space. Virtually every employee on campus has been directly or indirectly involved in writing this self-study.
In addition to scrutinizing the self-study, evaluators will interview faculty and staff during their three-day visit. Students may also be asked to provide input to the accrediting team.
"In my opinion, we're completely ready for the evaluators' visit," Peterson said. "After they've read our materials and visited our campus, they are going to see the obvious quality of our college and the good that we're accomplishing. I'm nearly certain that we'll receive high marks."
DSC will receive those marks Wednesday. An exit meeting is scheduled at 10 am in the Duford Auditorium, Browning Building. Ten commendations and 10 recommendations will be read at that time by the evaluation committee chair. Prior to the exit meeting, a meeting will take place between the committee chair and the college president at which time the "Recommendation on Accreditation Status" will be given. The team’s recommendation will then go to the Accreditation Commission for review.
A full accounting of DSC’s accreditation self-study can be found online at accred.dixie.edu.
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Composers John Duffy and Phillip Bimstein next up at Dixie Forum
(ST. GEORGE -- Sept. 27, 2002) Emmy Award winning composer John Duffy and Fellow composer Phillip Bimstein will be the guest speakers at Dixie Forum: A Window on the World Tuesday at noon in the Dunford Auditorium at Dixie State College.
"Each will share an overview of their artistic careers and play some of their musical compositions," said Dixie Forum coordinator Terre Burton, an English professor at DSC. "In addition, they will discuss their views on the artist's social responsibilities within their communities. We’re excited to have them both on our campus."
Duffy has composed more than 300 works for symphony, orchestra, theater, television and film. His Broadway and off-Broadway theater scores include "The Ginger Man," "Macbird," "Mother Courage," "Playboy of the Western World," and numerous Shakespeare plays.
He is well-known in Utah for his Symphony No. 1:Utah, commissioned by the Sierra Club in the late 1980s, to draw attention to the preservation of public lands in southeastern Utah.
Duffy, who currently lives in Maine, has received an artistic grant to stay at The MESA, an arts and humanities residency center in Springdale, Utah, through Oct. 17. During his stay he will research and compose new works, including a boxing opera based on Joe Louis, Max Schmeling and Hitler, an opera about the biblical David, and an opera based on Shakespeare's love scenes.
A popular Dixie Forum speaker last March, former Springdale Mayor Phillip Bimstein is an alter native classical composer. His 1997 album, Garland Hirschi’s Cows, received international acclaim, and his music has been performed by a host of ensembles in venues ranging from the Kennedy Center to the Aspen Music Festival. He has also recently performed and written for the chamber folk quartet blue haiku.
In the 1990s, Bimstein began a career in politics as the mayor of Springdale, Utah where he currently resides. In 1997, he was elected to a second term as mayor. In the 1980s, he led the new wave band Phil ‘n’ the Blanks whose three albums and six music videos were MTV hits. He has been described by Outside Magazine as "America’s only all-natural politician-composer."
The forum is a part of The MESA’s "First Forums" funded by the Utah Humanities Council. For additional information about The MESA contact Kim Konikow at 435-772-0300.
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DSC’s block schedule about to start
(ST. GEORGE – Sept. 27, 2002) The block schedule at Dixie State College is about to get underway, giving students a second chance to get an entire semester’s worth of college credit completed by the end of fall semester if they’re not already on their way to doing so.
Fall semester block courses, which follow an accelerated schedule, begin at Dixie State College Sept. 30.
Block courses follow an eight-week schedule as opposed to the traditional 16 weeks that make up a semester. While classes are taught at a faster pace, most of which meet daily, course duration is cut nearly in half.
"Block courses open up opportunities for students," said Dean of Arts, Letters, and Science Joe Peterson. "Overall, they give students a chance to modify their class schedule if they need to or enroll in classes if they were unable to do so at the top of the semester."
Most of the classes offered during the block either satisfy general education requirements or are popular electives. A complete list of block offerings can be found on page 18 of the fall class schedule. A number of block courses are also offered at DSC’s Hurricane Center.
Students interested in adding block classes can do so through Oct. 11. Registration can be done in person at the college, online at www.dixie.edu, or by calling 435.652.7701.
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Growth continues at Dixie State College
(ST. GEORGE – Sept. 18, 2002) Dixie State College this week announced fall enrollment increases in both headcount and FTE over fall semester last year. Three weeks into the semester, full-time enrollment has topped off at 4,260, a four percent increase over last year and the college’s tenth consecutive FTE increase for fall semester in as many years.
Total enrollment (headcount) for the semester is 7,473, a three percent increase over last fall’s third week totals.
Both enrollment totals are the highest in the college’s history.
"The vitality of Dixie State is strong," said vice president of student services Bill Fowler. "Our cutting-edge excellence in instruction, technology, degree offerings, facilities, and cost make us one the best college options in the intermountain region. The mix is an attractive one to students, and we continue to grow as a result."
Fowler also attributes part of the recent growth to an increase in transfer students into the college’s bachelor degree programs.
To compare to a decade ago, total enrollment for fall semester 1992 was 2,868 (FTE was 2,402). The Utah State Board of Regents has projected that over the course of the next two decades, Dixie State College will grow at a faster rate than that of any institution in the Utah System of Higher Education.
"As a two plus two institution," Fowler said, "meaning students can get their two-year degree plus two more, I think Dixie’s on the front end of many wonderful things."
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Immigration and diversity the topic of next Dixie Forum
(ST. GEORGE – Sept. 18, 2002) One of the enduring themes in United States history is immigration. The U.S. been called a "nation of immigrants," yet do native-born Americans really know how to treat newcomers?
Earl Mulderink, associate professor of history and social sciences department chair at SUU, will address this issue at Dixie Forum: A Window on the World Tuesday, Sept. 24 at noon in DSC's Dunford Auditorium. "Natives vs. Newcomers: Immigration and Civil Society" will be the theme of his presentation.
"At present, one in ten people currently living in the United States is foreign-born,
and these newcomers often face an unfriendly reception from native-born
Americans - themselves the products of earlier waves of migration," Mulderink said.
The forum will explore the historical patterns of immigration and provide a
context for discussing fundamental questions about citizenship, discrimination, assimilation, and "Americanization," significant issues today in Utah and the intermountain West.
Mulderink has taught courses in American, African-American, and South African history since joining SUU's faculty in 1995. Educated at Northwestern University and at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, his scholarly work has centered on the histories of racial and ethnic minorities in the United States, mainly during the Civil War era.
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Service topic of next Dixie Forum
(ST. GEORGE – Sept. 16, 2002) Former Zion National Park superintendent Donald Falvey and his wife, Carole, will be this week’s guest speakers at Dixie Forum: A Window on the World Tuesday at noon in the Dunford Auditorium at Dixie State College. The couple has a long track record of volunteerism and service and last year at this time served as volunteers in New York City.
Don Falvey currently serves as an advisor to UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, where he assists in organizing disaster response efforts. In addition to post-Sept. 11 efforts, the c ouple has recently helped provide disaster aid relief in Houston (Tropical Storm Allison), in Happy, Texas (tornado) and in western Colorado (wildfires).
Carole Falvey has given decades of service in a variety of activities and organizations. While functioning in a support role of her husband’s work and career, she has provided leadership in such diverse areas as education as a tutor and in the PTA, community service, including fundraising, March for Parks, environmental clean-ups, and probation counseling, service organizations such as the Lions and Lionesses Clubs, and church service as a teacher and in various committees.
Don Falvey retired from his position at Zion National Park in 2000 after 36 years of continuous federal employment. In addition to implementing the innovative transportation system at the park, he was key in helping Zion obtain a precedent setting Water Rights Settlement Agreement, providing a federal reserved water right and eliminating the potential for construction of dams on the Virgin River above the park.
Falvey is currently serving as the planning team leader for an open space preservation project – the Confluence Park – in southern Utah.
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Homeless or not, DSC theatre to kickoff season Sept. 26
(ST. GEORGE – Sept. 17, 2002) Though a new fine arts center is on the way, Dixie State College’s theatre department is temporarily without a home. But that won’t stop the show from going on.
DSC Theatre’s opening production The Cripple of Inishmaan will remind you that even in the worst of times, love and laughter do triumph.
It is 1934 on Inishmaan, a tiny island off the coast of Ireland. The town is buzzing with talk about the coming of Hollywood director Robert Flaherty to a neighboring island to film his new movie The Man of Aran. This is the chance for which Cripple Billy, an orphan boy whose chief occupation has been gazing at cows, has been waiting. Billy will do anything to audition for the Yank filmmaker. Life on the island is hard and bleak, but the whimsy of its inhabitants and their ability to triumph in the face of adversity is uproariously funny and uplifting.
The production is being staged by Varlo Davenport, director of Theatre at DSC.
"The first time I read this play I knew I had to direct it," said Davenport. "The characters reminded me of people I knew growing up. I recognized them and wanted to share their quirkiness, humor and strength with an audience."
The Cripple of Inishmaan was written by Martin McDonagh, who has been called "the most wickedly funny, brilliantly abrasive young dramatist on either side of the Irish Sea." At the age of 16, he ventured out on his own because he was exasperated with teachers who felt the need to tell him how to write.
Now, at the young age of 31, McDonagh is one of the most celebrated playwrights of western contemporary theatre. He is the youngest playwright to have ever had four plays running simultaneously in London. His plays have been honored with Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle awards.
"With the demolition of the Graff Fine Arts Center, DSC Theatre was rendered homeless for at least a year and a half," said Davenport. "That presents some interesting challenges, not the least of which is figuring out where we will stage our shows."
The Cripple of Inishmaan will be presented in a black box theatre configuration on the Cox Auditorium stage with the audience sitting up on the stage with the actors.
Professor of Theatre Dr. Brent Hanson is designing the set for this production. Costumes and an original score are being created by designer Andrea Davenport. Josh Scott, program technical supervisor, is designing lights and sound and overseeing construction. Katie Puusalu, a DSC student, is serving as stage manager.
The Cripple of Inishmaan runs September 26, 27, 28, and 30, with a 7:30 curtain. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Cox Auditorium Box Office. For additional information call 652-7880.
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USU MBA returns to Dixie State for 3rd cycle
(ST. GEORGE – Sept. 9, 2002) Beginning in January, Utah State University’s MBA program will once again be available at Dixie State College.
Dr. David Luthy, associate dean of the College of Business at USU, will be on the DSC campus Friday, Sept. 13, to meet with students interested in pursuing an MBA degree. Two information meetings, one at 2 pm and one at 7 pm, will be held in the Udvar-Hazy Business Building, room 220.
The College of Business at USU is very well known for its "Traveling MBA" program taught throughout the state, region, and internationally in cooperation with industry and professional associations.
Utah State University previously sponsored successful programs with Dixie State College in 1997-1998 and 2000-2001, and both institutions are excited at the prospect of a third cycle.
"I think the relationship has worked out wonderfully," said DSC business department chair Dr. Phillip Lee. "We’ve been able to graduate 20-plus students each year. A lot of them have been returning students who have already begun their careers, but the program is for anyone who qualifies."
In order to qualify for the program, students need to have completed a bachelor’s degree and all basic business and related accounting prerequisite course work. The program takes approximately a year and a half to complete and is offered on weekends, primarily Friday evenings and Saturday mornings.
Students enter the MBA program and proceed through it as a cohort, working in groups on team projects that reflect the real-world setting of industry. All courses are taught in person by USU faculty.
"We’re excited to offer another round," Lee said. "As I’ve looked around at other programs, it’s one of the better ones out there."
For further details regarding the MBA program, contact Dr. Phillip Lee at (435) 652-7832 or call Mary Jo Blahna at Utah State University at (435) 797-1773.
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Dixie Forum speaker to reflect on 9-11
(ST. GEORGE – Sept. 9, 2002) Dr. Sharon Richens, eye physician and surgeon who lived and practiced in the Middle East for two years, will be the guest speaker at Dixie Forum: A Window on the World, Tuesday at noon in DSC’s Dunford Auditorium. The forum coincides with the college’s annual World Week.
Richens be talking about her experiences in Jerusalem and how they have affected her reflections about September 11.
"Although Dr. Sharon Richens could talk to us about her experiences as an eye surgeon, it seems more appropriate this September to speak to us of her own knowledge of and reactions to what is going on in this turbulent part of the world," said Dixie Forum coordinator Terre Burton.
In 1997 and 1998, Richens was a fellow at St. John Ophthalmic Hospital in Jerusalem, a charity eye hospital established in 1882 by Queen Victoria and the Order of St. John. This hospital provides ophthalmic care to residents regardless of race or creed.
"Her experiences in Israel, working with Muslims, Jews, and Christians have led her to insights that are, I think, worth hearing about," Burton said.
Richens earned her medical degree at the University of Utah and has practiced in Virginia and Washington.
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World awareness to be promoted during DSC’s World Week
(ST. GEORGE – Sept. 6, 2002) Dixie State College is opening its window on the world next week. The college’s annual World Week, now a ten-year tradition, kicks off Sept. 9 and run through Sept. 13. This year’s them is "Uniting Hands and Hearts."
"This activity is a celebration of the differences in people," said Donna Stafford, director of student activities at Dixie State College. "We look forward to this event every year, but it holds special significance this year since it will coincide with the anniversary of the September 11 tragedy. At no time has it been more important to come together and embrace and understand new cultures than it is today."
Most prominent among the week’s activities will be a candlelight vigil in honor of September 11, which will begin at 8 pm in the Encampment Mall. The community is invited to take part.
Retired Air Force Col. Joseph Bebel, who has worked at the Pentagon and is a Nobel Peace Prize winner, will speak, as will St. George City Prosecutor Larry Meyers. In addition, the vigil will include a Native American flag song, the singing of the National Anthem and other patriotic songs, and a short video presentation.
Earlier Wednesday, students and the various campus clubs will take part in the national day of service as designated by President Bush. Each of the clubs will clean in and around a different building on campus from 11 am to 1 pm. Those interested should meet in the student government room on the second floor of the Gardner Center.
World Week kicks off Monday at noon in the Gardner Center Plaza with a parade of flags in which each nationality represented at DSC will be recognized. In all, 44 different flags will make up the parade. Business professor Dr. Verl Anderson, who regularly travels to Russia to aid deaf and blind children, will offer remarks.
On Tuesday, Dr. Sharon Richens, an eye physician and surgeon currently practicing in St. George, will speak about her own reflections on Sept. 11 at Dixie Forum: A Window on the World at noon in the Dunford Auditorium. Richens was a fellow at St. John Ophthalmic Hospital in Jerusalem, a charity eye hospital established in 1882 by Queen Victoria and the Order of St. John, where she treated Muslims, Jews, and Christians.
Thursday has been designated international food day. Beginning at noon, a half-dozen international cuisines will be made available on the Gardner Student Center Plaza. Friday will feature a kanikapila, or gathering, again on the plaza at noon where Hawaiian band, Circle Island, will perform. A dance will be held Saturday in the Gardner Student Center Ballroom from 9 pm to midnight to wrap up World Week. Admission to the dance is $3 with activity card, $2 for those who wear some article of clothing native to a certain culture or ethnicity.
Once a month throughout the year the college will hold an activity designed to promote diversity.
"Despite all the differences that we might see on the outside, on the inside we all have things in common," said campus life vice president and World Week organizer Quinnton Rees. "We don’t always see what we have in common. Sometimes it takes an event like this to help us realize that we have more in common than we might think."
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End of an era, beginning of a new one atDixie State College
(ST. GEORGE – Sept. 6, 2002) A 40-year era has come to a close at Dixie State College, and a new one is about to begin.
After nearly 20 years of anticipation and three years of planning and state requests, Dixie State College will finally have its new fine arts center.
The Graff Fine Art Center’s long-awaited and much anticipated date with the wrecking ball began Aug. 14. Demolition on the 39,000 square foot building will run through October, and construction on the new 70,000 square foot Delores Dore’ Eccles Fine Arts Center will begin in November.
"We’re on our way," said executive director of campus services Ned Carnahan.
The new building is scheduled for completion in March 2004, quick turnaround, Carnahan said, considering the building’s size. The facility will have the distinction of being the largest on campus, overtaking the 58,000 square foot Udvar-Hazy Business Building and the 67,000 square foot Burns Arena.
The sentiment is a bittersweet one for many on campus. After all, the building was one of the first on campus and has been a college icon since it was built in 1961-62.
"It was a wonderful place to go, but a bit inadequate," said fine arts department chair Eric Young who attended classes in the building as a Dixie student in 1980-81 and again in 1983-85. "It’s hard to see it come down, but it’s good to se e the campus progressing."
Even the most sentimental, however, can’t dispute the need for the new building. The old building was originally designed to accommodate a mere 500 students. Today, enrollment at the college has exceeded 7,000. In addition, an architectural and engineering study has indicated that replacement of the building is the only reasonable solution to correct all of the ADA, fire, building code, and seismic problems that have recently plagued the building and rendered much of it unusable.
The new facility will include an art museum, which will house traveling and campus collections, a 500-seat main performance theater, a 150-seat black box theater, a concert hall, and supporting rehearsal halls, offices, and classroom space. Much of the fine arts department, including the music and theatre departments, will call the new building home.
"It should be an exciting building and we’re anxious to see it come on line," said vice president of college services Stan Plewe.
The price tag for the project will just exceed $18 million, the majority coming from state funding. The new facility has been named in honor of the Eccles Foundation, which contributed $3 million in the project’s behalf. In addition, $500,000 has been raised through the Sears Dixie Invitational Art Show.
Though much of the Graff Fine Arts Center has been reduced to rubble at this point, the building’s legacy will live on. In fact, part of the old building, the section that the historic tile mosaic adorns, will remain standing after it undergoes some safety code upgrades and remodeling. That section of the old building will continue to bear the Graff name.
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New Dental Hygiene Clinic opens at Dixie State College
(ST. GEORGE – Sept. 4, 2002) The dental hygiene program at Dixie State College recently opened the doors to a brand new dental hygiene clinic that, for the first time in the program’s four-year history, will allow all classroom and clinical instruction associated with the program to be held under the same roof.
"Life is a little bit easier for us because we’re right here on campus with everything in house," said DSCU Dental Hygiene Program director Dr. Gordon Jennings. "Now instead of running back to the college to get a supply that’s missing, we just go to the supply room across the hall and get it, so it’s pretty nice. The school’s done us right. It took us a while to get it, but they did us right."
The Mervyn and Sue Cox Dental Hygiene Clinic is located in the former lapidary lab in room 119 of the Jennings Technology Center. The price tag for the remodel, approximately $450,000, was covered primarily through private donations, many from within the dental community itself.
Fourteen operatories with accompanying chairs, lights, and equipment make up the clinic along with a wet and dry lab, sterilization area, supply room, and reception area. All X-rays, including developing, are also done in-house. The equipment is a combination of new and old, much of it being donated by local dentists.
"Of all of the remodels I’ve seen, I’ve never seen a finer remodel than to take the lapidary lab and turn it into the dental clinic," said director of institutional advancement George Whitehead, who’s seen a number of remodels over his 25 years at the college. "It is professional, and is as nice a clinic as I’ve ever seen anywhere. It is five-star."
A clinic the college could call its own has been a goal since the program was brought aboard in 1998. Since that time, DSC has borrowed clinic space from several local dentists -- primarily Drs. Jim Ence and Bob Prince. In April 2001, Jennings estimated that well over $100,000, which the college would have otherwise paid in rent, had been donated by these two dentists alone. Others who have donated space, time, and supplies include Drs. James Ott and Larry Staples.
"I cannot express how grateful we are for their help and level of endurance in sacrificing their facilities for our clinical work," Jennings said. "All in all, there is really no way to even begin to put a dollar figure on everything the dental community has done for our program."
The new clinic will provide a shot in the arm to a program that is already flying high. A highly competitive and popular program, between 200 and 400 applicants vie for 14 spots each year, allowing for 28 students to be in the program at any given time. The Class of 2002, the program’s third graduating class overall, collectively turned in one of the nation's top scores (top 10 percent of 236 programs) on the National Board Exam, a written exam that every graduate of every program must take.
In addition, four Dixie State students scored 100-percent on the Western Regional Exam, a clinical exam that the DSC program as a whole has averaged approximately 95 percent on. On top of that, the program enjoys nearly 100-percent placement of its graduates, which typically start out making $200 a day on the job.
The clinic is open to the public and will continue to offer the same services formerly offered off campus, including comprehensive cleanings and X-rays. While these services are relatively inexpensive, approximately $20 for a cleaning and full set of X-rays, patients need to be prepared to spend a little more time than they normally would given the instructional nature of the clinic. The clinic is able to forward exact duplicates of its X-rays upon request and does require that its patients see their own dentist at least once a year to ensure that they get all of the care they need and not just the cleaning. The clinic can be reached at 652-7877 for more information or to make an appointment.
Both the dental hygiene clinic and a new nursing clinic will be dedicated in October. Both facilities are located in the south wing of the Jennings Technology Building. An open house for the entire Dixie State College health sciences department will also be held in October. Call George Whitehead at 435.652.7677 for details.
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DSC art professor next up at Dixie Forum
(ST. GEORGE – Aug. 30, 2002) Glen B. Blakley, professor of art at Dixie State College, will be the next guest lecturer at the college’s weekly forum series, Dixie Forum: A Window on the World. T he forum is scheduled for Sept. 3 at noon in the college’s Dunford Auditorium, Browning Building.
Blakley will speak about keeping journals with quick sketches to enhance the memory of what people see and experience. As an avid journal keeper, he fills as many as six books a year. On his recent 21-day trip to Europe with students, he completed three sketch books.
"I've seen Glen's sketches and have been fascinated by them," said Dixie Forum coordinator Terre Burton. "Glen tells me that even those of us who think we can't do anything with a sketch book might be convinced that his method is worth trying.
Also a part of the forum, Blakley will discuss famous journal-keepers, such as Charlton Heston, Charles Darwin, and Leonardo da Vinci. He will talk about his own journals and the purposes of sketching in a journal. He will also show sketches from his European trips, such as those of the Catacombs of Rome and the Blue Grotto in Capri, as well as sketches from Dixie State College Art Department trips to Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Blakley also uses a camera to record images, but he’s found that sketches and even written text are more effective than photographs at helping to recall the emotions and feelings he has about an area.
"When shooting a photograph, it only takes a second to decide what you want to shoot and a split second to shoot it," Blakley said. "With a sketch, even at 20 or 30 seconds, you spend much longer concentrating on what you’re sketching. Therefore the memories related to the image are much stronger."
Dixie Forum kicked off its fall season last week with Nathan and David Osmond who performed various numbers and spoke candidly about their careers in the music industry. On Sept. 10, Dr. Sharon Richens, an eye surgeon who has traveled widely, will be the forum speaker. All students and community members are invited to attend all forums.
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Earning college credit abroad, in Costa Rica
(ST. GEORGE – Aug. 30, 2002) When students at Dixie State College go to register for Geography 2990 this spring, they won’t find it scheduled in a specific classroom, or even building for that matter. In fact, it’s scheduled in a whole other country.
Instead of sitting in the classroom learning about the geography of Costa Rica, up to 20 students will spend 10 days exploring Costa Rica’s tropical rain forests, beaches, volcanoes and culture first-hand and earn college credit while doing it. The trip, which will run Mar. 14-23, is part of DSC’s travel study program.
"Costa Rica is the jewel of Central America," said professor Kelly Bringhurst who has visited the country three times in the past three years to prepare for the course. "Its stabile government, friendly people and variety of national parks make it the perfect place to study the tropics. Students will have the opportunity to see and learn things that a typical tourist misses."
The course will take students from the capital, San Jose, to Tortuguero on the Caribbean side of the country where they will travel by boat through narrow canals in the rain forest, likely seeing monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and a variety of birds.
The bulk of the trip will be spent near Monte Verde, the famous cloud forest in Costa Rica, where students will explore the forest in detail.
Students will also see the active volcano Arenal, visit Carra National Park, famous for Scarlet Macaws and crocodiles, and spend some time on the beach.

Cost for the 10-day trip, including all transportation, meals, lodging, and guides, is $1,895. The 2-credit course is open to anyone and can be used as elective credits toward graduation.
An informational meeting will be held Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7 pm in room 115 of the Science Building. Those interested in learning more about the trip are encouraged to attend. Sept. 5 also marks the first day to register for the trip. A $100 deposit is due Sept. 20, the balance being due Dec. 6. The trip is limited to 20 participants. For more information, contact Kelly Bringhurst at 652-7768 or bringhur@dixie.edu.
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Second Generation Osmond brothers to kick off Dixie Forum
(ST. GEORGE – Aug. 23, 2002) They are handsome. They are smart. And they’ll both be on the campus of Dixie State College Tuesday to kick-off the season of the noontime forum series, Dixie Forum: A Window on the World.
David and Nathan Osmond will speak to DSC students and the community about their careers, goals, and performances this summer at Tuacahn Amphitheatre. They’ve also been invited to sing. The forum will begin at noon in DSC’s Dunford Auditorium.
Both brothers have played prominent roles in Tuacahn’s production of the musical, "Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," David in the lead role of ‘Joseph’ and Nathan in the role of brother ‘Naphtali’. Both have also played roles in "Annie Get Your Gun," also presented at Tuacahn this summer.
"I thought the Osmond brothers--Nathan and David--would be great guests for the first Dixie Forum of the season," said Dixie Forum coordinator Terre Burton. "Both young men are not only talented, but personable. I've watched them talk with audience members after their performances. Even though they are popular and well known personalities, they took an interest in each person they talked to, including very young children."
Both David and Nathan are the sons of 70’s pop star Alan Osmond of the Osmond Brothers. Together with their four other brothers, the two perform in a group of their own, the Osmond Brothers – Second Generation, also known as 2ndG.
Dixie Forum: A Window on the World is an academic forum introduced at the college last year. The forum series can be taken for credit (HON 161R), but students, faculty and staff, and friends are welcome to attend whether they’ve signed up for credit or not.
This year’s forum series will be held on a weekly basis each Tuesday through Nov. 12, with a final forum on Dec 3.
"Last year's forums were quite a success," Burton said. "I heard one student this week telling others that it is the "best" thing on campus because of the variety of the speakers and thei r interesting app roaches to life."
This year’s speakers will include DSC and SUU professors, artists from the East, local doctors with international connections and concerns, the managing editor for The Spectrum, and a Utah couple who were volunteers in New York City after last September's disaster.
Glen Blakley, professor of art at DSC, will be next week’s forum speaker. On Tuesday, Sept. 3, he will talk about how he keeps journals, which include both drawings and thoughts. He will also talk about creativity and the importance of the arts in our lives.
The entire Forum schedule for fall semester is as follows:
Aug 27 Nathan & David Osmond – actor/singers
Sept 3 Glen Blakley – artist and professor
Sept 10 Dr. Sharon Richens – eye surgeon who has traveled widely
Sept 17 Don & Carol Falvey Volunteers in Disaster Response
Sept 24 Dr. Earl Mulderink III "Natives" vs. "Newcomers": Immigration and Civil Society
Oct 1 John Duffy – a composer from Maine from the Mesa Project
Oct 8 Todd Seifert – managing editor of The Spectrum
Oct 15 Stephen & Emily Savage – artists from the Mesa Project
Oct 22 Eric Young & The Mountain Meadows Massacre
Oct 29 Eric Young & The Mountain Meadows Massacre
Nov 5 Dr. Doug Alder Back to our Roots
Nov 12 Elizabeth Rhodes Bingham – Chair of Dixie’s National Advisory Council
Nov 19 Career Day – no Forum
Dec 3 Dr. Keith Reber Humanitarian Medical Missions Abroad
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DSC Launches New Elementary Education Program
(ST. GEORGE, UT – Aug. 23, 2002) With the dawning of a new semester this week at Dixie State College, the college also dawned a brand new era with the launching of its new four-year elementary education program.
Dr. Michael Killeen, director of the program, addressed a group of about 70, including the 31 students that make up the cohort, at a kickoff dinner.
"You are the first ever group to begin and subsequently graduate with a B.S. degree in elementary education at DSC – congratulations."
The new degree marks the third four-year degree to come aboard at Dixie State College since 2000 at which time degrees in business administration and computer and information technology were introduced.
The Utah State Board of Regents voted on and approved the new elementary education program Oct. 19, 2001. The degree will include a built-in ESL (English as a Second Language) endorsement, the first program of its kind in the state.
Killeen reiterated the faculty's commitment to preparing Dixie State graduates to be highly qualified and ready for the challenges of the teaching profession.
"The art and science of effective teaching is to take people from where they are educationally, and then help them develop along that continuum to successfully reach the next higher level of understanding," Killeen said.
Killeen is joined by full-time department faculty members Doug Godwin and Margaret Leigh.
"I love innovation and am happy to be on the ground floor of a quality project on which we will build," Leigh said.
The cohort of 31 students are juniors and will take all their classes together over the course of the next two years. The program is intended to be very "field-based," meaning students will have numerous opportunities to visit schools, teach lessons, receive feedback from classroom teachers, and ultimately develop skills in dealing effectively with all age groups.
"We want to ensure that our elementary graduates will be top notch and represent our college well," said DSC president Dr. Robert Huddleston. "We’ve worked hard for this and are excited to have it materialize. This program will only add to what we feel is a solid and attractive base of four-year programs at Dixie State College."
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DSC Preschool gears up for fall
(ST. GEORGE – Aug. 8, 2002) The first day of classes at Dixie State College is approximately two weeks away. In addition to welcoming back thousands of college students Aug. 20, the college will welcome 72 preschoolers to campus one week later, beginning Aug. 29.
The Dixie State College Preschool offers four sessions each semester and is a program that traditionally has people lined up all night outside the door to guarantee themselves a spot.
While still popular, a limited number of openings remain available in the preschool’s Tuesday/Thursday afternoon, 1 – 3:30 pm session for the upcoming semester. All other sessions are currently filled.
"This is, in fact, an unusual opportunity for parents to get their children into this open session," said Dr. Sandra L. Sandberg, chair of education and family studies at Dixie State. "Most years we have a very long waiting list."
Dixie State College Preschool is not a daycare and is geared specifically toward preparing children for kindergarten. The preschool acts, in part, as a laboratory for college students involved in human development and child guidance courses. As a result, the preschool boasts an excellent adult to child ratio. All teachers at the preschool are certified with the public schools.
Children are eligible to enroll in Dixie State College Preschool if they were born prior to Sept. 1, 1998 and will enter kindergarten the year following the 2002-03 preschool year.
Children must have also completed all immunizations prior to the first day of preschool.
The cost for the entire semester, which runs through mid-December, is $180. Registration applications can be picked up in the Family and Consumer Science Building on the north end of campus right next to the Val A Browning Library. Those interested can also contact Susan Ledbetter at 652-7839 for more information. Information can also be found at www.preschool.dixie.edu.
A parents only meeting for those enrolled is to be held Aug. 15 from 7-8 pm in room 117 of the Family and Consumer Science Building. Registration will continue, however, until the available section is full. Preschool begins Aug. 29.
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Fall Registration continues at Dixie State College, enr ollment up 5-perce nt so far
(ST. GEORGE – Aug. 7, 2002) Fall semester at Dixie State College is less than two weeks away, and students are scrambling to finalize fall schedules. Aug. 20 marks the first day of classes.
"We’re seeing a crunch down the stretch like we normally do," said vice president of student affairs Bill Fowler. "A lot of students put school in the back of their minds for as long as they can during the summer. It kind of sneaks up on them, and there’s always a last minute rush as the first day of classes approaches."
The only problem with that strategy, Fowler said, is that students sometimes don’t always end up getting the courses they need or want. Enrollment for fall semester is already 5-percent ahead of where it was last year at this time prior to the semester. Ultimately, last fall semester resulted in the most frequented semester ever known at Dixie State. A record 8,115 students were enrolled in courses last fall at the college.
Students who may just now be thinking about registration for the first time might consider some of the alternatives to some of the more popular courses, which often fill up quickly.
For example, Sociology 1010, 1020, and 1200 all fill the same general requirement that Psychology 1010 and 1100 do for an associate degree. Likewise, American Literature (Eng 2400), Literature of England (Eng 2500), Creative Writing (Eng 2200) and Novels (Eng 2320) all satisfy the same general requirement that the more popular Children’s Literature and Short Story do.
"There’s a whole list of options that fulfill the same general education requirements that their more popular counterparts do," said dean of arts, letters, and sciences Joe Peterson. "Students often get locked in and think they have to have a certain class in order to graduate. That’s not always the case, and they can get through quicker if they look into some of the other options."
Another way for students to avoid scheduling conflicts, Fowler said, is to look into taking classes in the evening. Many of the classes listed above are also available in the evening hours. Several other courses, including criminal justice and political science courses, are also available in the evening.
Students who run into scheduling conflicts can contact the advisement center at 652-7690 to discuss the different options available within a certain department. Registration for fall semester runs through Aug. 22. Students can continue to add courses after that date with instructor permission through Sept. 16.
Registration can be done in person, by telephone at 652-7777, or online at www.dixie.edu in the admissions and registration section. As the August 22 starting date approaches, vice president Fowler recommends that students register in person at the college with the help of an advisor who can register students on the computer system as they meet. For general questions about registration, students can call 652-7701.
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And the winner is…KCEC-TV
(ST. GEORGE – July 25, 2002) KCEC-TV, Community Education Channel 25, now holds the distinction of being an award-winning television station – an Emmy and Telly Award winning television station to be exact. The Dixie State College based station recently received both awards for its achievement in sports broadcasting.
"What a wonderful measuring stick for our students and our program to be held up against major colleges and universities and win these awards," said KCEC director Stan Everett. "It validates what we have always said – that the hands on approach to learning these skills makes the theory and practice come to life."
The Telly Award, one of the most sought-after awards in the TV, commercial, and video industry, is a national award given for excellence in the technical aspects of a total television production.
The Emmy was presented to KCEC-TV by the Southwest Region of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Competing against four-year programs such as Arizona State University and the University of Texas, Dixie State College Sports Broadcasting was the only institution to win such an award.
KCEC-TV covers an average of 63 college and high school sporting events each year. Programming also includes college events and forums, concerts, and community events and meetings.
The station was introduced in 1995 as a non-profit partnership between the college, Washington County School District and the cities of St. George, Santa Clara, Washington, and Ivins. Charter Communications, Skyview Technologies, and ClearVision Cable are also contributing partners.
Both college and high school students contribute heavily to the station, which also serves as the hands-on laboratory for Dixie State College broadcasting and production classes. Everett, along with Cory Clyde (producer) and Ben Tanner (engineering), manage the station. Each year, they start the semester from scratch with a brand new team as students graduate and begin their careers.
Everett is currently assembling his team for 2002-2003 and will be at Snow Canyon, Dixie, and Pine View High Schools Aug. 1-2 to recruit this year’s crew.
"We’re looking for the next Emmy winners," Everett said.
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Dixie State College High School Automotive Program places 6th at national competition
(ST. GEORGE – June 27, 2002) Archie Romney, coach of the Dixie State College automotive team, said all along that he thought his team had an excellent shot of placing in the top 10 at the AAA/Ford National Automotive Contest held this month in Washington, D.C. The team of Justin Larson and Gerald Holt, both students at Dixie High School, did precisely that by placing sixth overall at the national event. Both Larson and Holt have been enrolled in Dixie State’s ASE certified concurrent enrollment automotive program this year.
The national competition featured the top team from each of the fifty states. Judging was based on each team’s ability to diagnose a vehicle plagued with same 10 mechanical "bugs," repair them, and the time it took to do so. Larson and Holt successfully diagnosed and repaired all 10 problems on their vehicle. Both students won $1,200 in either bond or sch olarship money as w ell as a large school trophy. The team representing the state of Ohio was this year’s national champion.
Romney said this year’s competition was more challenging than those of year’s past due to the vehicle used in the competition – a 2002 Ford Mustang Convertible, something a lot of schools were unable to get a hold of to practice on. In fact, two of the repairs had to do with the convertible top.
Troubleshooting areas included a defective crankshaft sensor keeping the car from starting, a defective mass air flow sensor causing the car to run very rich and emit black exhaust, a defective camshaft sensor, a defective EVR valve causing the engine to misfire, a blown convertible top fuse keeping the top from moving, a defective lowering relay keeping the convertible top from returning to the down position, and a defective stop light system.
"I’m extremely proud of these two young men," Romney said. "This was enough to challenge any automotive technician today. They are two of the nation’s best automotive technicians."
The sixth place finish comes fresh off the heels of a first place finish at the state version of the same competition where the team of Larson and Holt was able to diagnose and repair their automobile’s mechanical problems faster than any of the other nine schools by 15 minutes, earning them a berth in the national contest.

Throughout both competitions, the Dixie State team was sponsored by St. George Ford, which provided a 2002 Ford Escape and a 2002 Ford Mustang for the students to practice and train on.

"We want to especially thank St. George Ford for their continued support of Dixie State College," Romney said. "Without their support the students would never have been able to be the success that they were."
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DSC’s Gardner Student Center to expand
(ST. GEORGE – June 12, 2002) The Kenneth N. Gardner Student Center on the campus of Dixie State College is on the verge of expanding its waistline by about 11,000 feet, an expansion that, ironically enough, happens to be food related. Filling that new space eight months from now will be a state-of-the-art food court, kitchen and dining area. In addition, 5,000 sq. feet of existing space will be renovated.
"Similar to our bookstore, we want this new facility to be comparable to any in the state," said DSC executive director of auxiliaries Randy Judd. "That’s what we’re working on – that’s what we want it to be."
The $2 million addition, construction on which is just underway, will be built onto the south end of the existing building. No state funds will be used for the addition – DSC has assumed all financial responsibility.
Highlighting the new building will be a food court made up of six different food stations, including a grill, a pasta/pizza station, a deli, a traditional station, a desert station, and a station featuring five international cuisines. A large salad bar will also serve the food court.
A 240-seat dining area overlooking the Encampment Mall will also be built into the new addition. Currently, three dining areas, including one large ballroom, are housed in the Gardner Center. An additional 60-seat dining area will take the place of what is now the Gardner Center kitchen and snack bar. A small meeting room, a service/storage area, a new elevator and loading dock, and a remodeled convenience store will round out the expansion. The substantial finish date for the project is Dec. 20, 2002, just in time to open for business for the start of spring semester in January 2003.
The prospect of this new building has been welcomed with open arms by many on campus. Heading the welcoming committee is DSC’s Food Services department.
For months now, that department has had to function under several different roofs. For years, the Whitehead Student Services Center just north of the Gardner Center was home to the student cafeteria. In 1999, the cafeteria was shut down and a buffet line was moved across the way to the Gardner Center in its place to accommodate changing student eating habits. It also freed up some space for offices and helped promote the other eating facilities in the Gardner Center and was a good interim fit while the new food court was planned. At the same time, the now 35-year old main kitchen, not to mention the majority of the washing facilities, remained in the Student Services Center putting the Food Services crew in the difficult position of having to run back and forth from building to building.
The new food court will allow them to work under the same roof just steps from the Gardner Ballroom and other dining areas, something that everyone, including the business and community groups the college hosts each day, will benefit from. Not only that, but they’ll have a brand new kitchen complete with top of the line equipment to work with.
Much of the space freed up by the new food court will be turned back over to the students, something that’s bringing a smile to their faces as well. Specifically, the buffet area and the snack bar dining area will again be the students’ to use at their discretion. At one point, pool tables filled that area. Nothing has yet been finalized, but this time around there’s talk of turning the area into a conversational/individual study furnished with lounge chairs and tables where students can study in a somewhat more relaxed and casual atmosphere.
"If you look around campus, there are very few places where that’s possible," said vice president of student services Bill Fowler. "There’s a definite need, and it looks like that might be a priority at this point. Students have said they’re glad to get that space back."
As a student center, the building has been funded completely through student bonding, auxiliary services (including the college book store, food services, and student housing), and private donations since its original construction in 1994. The addition will tap the same resources this time around. The Gardner family, after whom the building is named, was instrumental in making the building a reality originally and has donated $300,000 in the addition’s behalf.
A few growing pains are typical of any expansion and some will be in evitable this fall during the interim building period. The main difference this fall from last will be the absence of the snack bar and grill, which have already been closed for construction. The convenience store will remain open, however, as will the buffet. Sandwiches, soups and salads will continue to be offered as normal. Any other food formerly available through the snack bar, such as hamburgers and French fries, will remain available, although via the Student Services Center with the other buffet items. Out of necessity, all food will be available only at normal mealtime hours.
The Food Services department admits that while they may not be at their best this fall – and understandably so – the payoff for any inconveniences endured will be will worth it come spring semester 2003.
"The main thing is to upgrade and better the image of food on campus." Judd said. "It will also upgrade the service we provide to our students, not just those who live on campus, but those who live off campus as well."
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New dean named at Dixie State College
(ST. GEORGE – May 30, 2002) A new dean of business, technology, and health sciences has been named at Dixie State College. Dr. David P. Borris, Pensacola, FL, will take over that position beginning July 1. Borris will replace Dean Richard VanAusdal who was recently named regional president of the new Dixie Applied Technology College (DXATC).
"I am excited about joining Dixie State College," Borris said. "The college has a rich history and excellent facilities. I chose Dixie State because I was looking for a college that puts students first and is concerned about their success."
Throughout his career in higher education, which has spanned over 35 years, Borris has been a faculty member, department chair, and dean.
Borris comes to Dixie State College from Pensacola Junior College in Florida where he has spent the past two years as chief academic officer on PJC’s Milton campus, a dean level position, and the 10 years prior as dean of school of sciences, advanced technology, and business, the largest school at the college.
In addition, he has served in various teaching, research, and administrative positions at the University of South Florida, University of Mississippi, University of Illinois, and Arizona State University. He is also a former executive director of the Florida Institute of Phosphate Research and is president of Applied Science Consultants, a business he founded in 1975.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Arizona State University and a Ph.D. in chemistry from State University of New York in Albany.
"Dr. Borris comes to us very highly recommended and his credentials are very impressive," said Dixie State vice president of academics Dr. Max Rose. "We look forward to him beginning his new assignment, and we’re confident he’ll be a real asset to the college and to the programs and students that will fall under his jurisdiction."
Borris will ultimately oversee two of DSC’s three baccalaureate programs, including Business Administration and Computer and Information Technology.
"Dixie State has a good academic foundation on which to build programs," Borris said. "I look forward to being a part of that process to help meet the education and training needs of the community."
Both Borris and his wife, Kathy, grew up in Arizona, so they aren’t strangers to the Southwest. Their children and three grandchildren also currently live in the Western United States.
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DSC’s Mark Petersen takes over reins of national organization
(ST. GEORGE – May 13, 2002) Mark L. Petersen, longtime resident of St. George and director of marketing, public relations, and publications at Dixie State College, was recently named president of the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR), a professional development and support organization for community, junior, and technical colleges nationwide.
Headquartered in Greeley, Colo., NCMPR has nearly 1,600 members from over six hundred colleges across the United States, Canada, and the Bahamas. The organization is governed by a 16-member board of directors, all of whom are community college marketing professionals who volunteer their time and services in behalf of the organization.
"It is an awesome and exciting challenge," Petersen said. "I hope to continue the hard work of our past presidents -- creative professionals who have helped lead this organization and inspire excellence among its members."
He has spent the past year serving as NCMPR’s vice president/president-elect, has served seven years as a member of its board of directors, and has been an active member of the organization for 12 years. He has been the recipient of four gold Paragons and 20 Medallions, awarded for exemplary work in the marketing and public relations fields on the national and district level respectively.
A Weber State University alumnus, Petersen has worked in higher education public relations for 22 years, the past 15 of which he has served at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah, a community in which he has a long track record of service.
In 2001, Petersen was elected to the St. George Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and has served as a Chamber Sunshiner since 1989 where he is a past president. He is a past president and founding board member of the Southern Utah Advertising Federation and also a past president of the Dixie State College Staff Association. In addition, Petersen is a former member of the St. George Arts Commission, First Night and United Way Boards.
He has played leading roles in college and community theatre productions for 25 years and is a vocal soloist for numerous community programs. He has been married for over 21 years to his wife Becky, with whom he performs regularly, and they are the parents of six children.
Petersen will serve as NCMPR president through March 2003 at which time he will head the 29th annual NCMPR National Conference in Las Vegas, Nev., to close out his presidency.
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Free CPR & AED Training to be offered at Dixie State College
(ST. GEORGE – ; May 13, 2002) Cardi ovascular disease is the number one killer of people over the age of 45 and a high contributor to cardiac death among young adults and children. Many of these deaths, however, are avoidable. This is why the American Heart Association, Community Training Center at Dixie State College and its local area training sites have joined forces to create "Save a Life, Learn CPR & AED Training."
"Save a Life, Learn CPR & AED Training," will be held Saturday, June 1 at the Dixie State College Old Gym on the corner of 700 East 300 South. Free non-certification one hour training sessions will be offered to the public at 9 am, 10 am, 11 am, and 12 noon.
The program is designed to teach the public how to perform CPR and become familiar with an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED), an electrical device frequently used by non-medically trained people at businesses and airlines to jumpstart the heart through shocking.
"CPR is an essential life skill that everyone needs, especially those who have daily contact with people over the age of 45," said Linda Davis, American Heart Association assistant coordinator for the Dixie State College Community Training Center. "We also want to introduce our community to the AED. The American Heart Association estimates that 50,000 more lives could be saved per year with widespread use of AEDs."
Training sessions will include an AED demonstration, a video presentation, and hands-on practice on CPR training manikins. Qualified CPR instructors will be on hand to teach how to recognize an emergency, call for help, and perform CPR. Those attending are encouraged to arrive 10 minutes before their chosen class time.
"Save a Life, Learn CPR & AED Training," is sponsored by the American Heart Association and Dixie State College. For more information, call (435) 652-7885.
In addition, a certification class in adult, child, and infant CPR will be held June 14, from 4 pm to 8 pm in the Jennings Technology Building, room 115. Pre-registration will be available during the non-certification courses on June 1. Space is limited.
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DSC confers record number of degrees, certificates
(ST. GEORGE – May 3, 2002) Dixie State College graduated the largest class in its 91- year history Friday night, including its first class of baccalaureate degree holders. The college conferred a record 986 degrees, up 13 percent over last year. In addition, 400 vocational and technical certificates were awarded.
In 2001, DSC awarded its first two bachelor degrees. Just one year later, 42 walked through the traditional block ‘D’ to receive baccalaureate degrees.
"The excellent students who attend Dixie State College will always be the school’s greatest asset, and we salute you," said DSC president Dr. Robert Huddleston to this year’s graduates.
The Reverend France A. Davis, pastor of the historic Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City, was this year’s commencement speaker. The theme of his speech was "Move up a Little Higher." He recounted a story of a father and son’s observation of a lone pine on the summit of a mountaintop as it endured the winds of a violent storm. Reverend Davis likened that pine tree to each student and audience member in attendance.
"The greatest trees are always those that have weathered the greatest number of storms," Reverend Davis said. "The question is not what is happening to the tree, but what is happening in the tree. Storms are part of the enlightening experiences that make us what we are."
Reverend Davis was also the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree.
Seven different countries, 26 states, and 27 Utah counties were represented in the Class of 2002. Fifty-two percent of the graduates are from Washington County, and 85 percent are from Utah.
Emily Heaton, Alton, Utah, is this year’s Valedictorian among those graduating with baccalaureate degrees and the first ever to receive that honor at Dixie State College. And Ryan Hafen, Santa Clara, was honored as Valedictorian among those graduating with associate degrees.
Recognized as Distinguished Citizens for their exemplary service to the college and community were Terri Draper, Jay Ence, Eldon McArthur, and Gayle M. Aldred.
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Two DSC students place in Top 10 at international competition
(ST. GEORGE – May 2, 2002) With first place finishes under their belts at the state level, two Dixie State College students went on to place in the top 10 of their respective categories at the Delta Epsilon Chi (DEX) International Career Development Conference held recently in Salt Lake City.
Brandon Condie, a senior from Washington, UT, placed in the top 10 in the Financial Services Marketing/Management category after placing first in that category at the state competition.
Trent Lay, a junior also from Washington, placed in the top 10 in the E-Commerce Decision Making category, a category he too was tops in at the state level.
Both are four-year business students at the college.
Delta Epsilon Chi (DEX), a college division of DECA, is an international college level marketing club geared toward providing leadership and career-oriented opportunities to students. Both state and international competitions are held on an annual basis in association with DEX.
In order to qualify for internationals, Condie and Lay had to at least place in the top eight of their respective categories at the state competition earlier this spring.
Categories in over 20 different career areas make up both the state and international competitions. Interviews, tests, role-plays and written project reports were used in the judging. Approximately 2,500 students from thirty-five states and Canada took part in the international competition.
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First Surgical Technician class graduates at DSC, other new programs on the horizon
(ST. GEORGE – May 2, 2002) Seven students recently graduated from the Surgical Technician program at Dixie State College, the first to do in the program’s young history.
Yolanda Brown, Cassie Gordon, Kristine Jones, Karen Laser, Andrea Lund, Tami Rubow, and Judy S anders all graduated w ith surgical technician certificates.
The Surgical Technician program, which began fall semester 2001, is a two-semester program that works in a close partnership with Dixie Regional Medical Center. The program prepares students to work in the operating room as a surgical technician, or scrub tech, and assist physicians with instruments.
The students spent several days in April at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City doing their cardiovascular and neurosurgical clinical rotation. They also did clinical rotations at DRMC, St. George Surgical Center, and Valley View Medical Center.
"These students are looking forward to the new hospital here to be completed and have the ability to perform those surgeries here," said DSC professor of nursing Jan Call who oversees the surgical technician program. "It has been a wonderful year, these kids are sharp and well prepared."
DSC administrators have said that they are dedicated to a continuing partnership with DRMC in several areas of emphasis, even more so with the new hospital on the horizon.
The college is currently looking into adding several new programs that would fall under the health sciences umbrella, including a four-year program in health science administration and programs in medical radiography and phlebotomy. Dixie State is also exploring the possibility of a radiological technology program in collaboration with Weber State University. All programs would function in close association with DRMC.
"DRMC will have significant personnel issues as they move to their new facility," said DSC vice president of academics Max Rose. "These are positions that are really needed. When they open the doors to the new hospital, we want our students to be ready to fill those positions. The current situation of needing to look to other schools for trained staff will change as soon as we get more programs here at Dixie."
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DSC collecting backpacks for refugees
(ST. GEORGE – May 1, 2002) Dixie State College, in association with the University of Utah, is collecting used backpacks for refugees from around the world now through Friday, May 3, at noon. Backpacks are often the only means refugees have of moving their belongings from camp to camp.
The backpacks will be donated to the Humanitarian Resource Center of North America (HRCNA). They will then be filled with educational supplies and sent to children living in poverty or in refugee camps in Mali, Ghana, Mozambique, Afghanistan and other places throughout the world. The goal of the project is to eventually collect 500,000 backpacks.
Those interested in donating can contact Lena Judee in the Dixie State College Advisement Center located in the Student Services Center or by calling 652-7693. Donations must be made by Friday at noon. Judee will take all donated backpacks to the University of Utah this weekend. The University of Utah will continue to take donations through May 15.
The HRCNA is a public charity that gathers humanitarian resources for organizations helping those in desperate need. They serve the poorest and most vulnerable populations on earth including people caught in the effects of war and natural disaster, as well as families enduring catastrophic poverty.
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Phi Theta Kappa established at Dixie State College
(ST. GEORGE – April 30, 2002) Phi Theta Kappa, the official general honor society for institutions offering associate degree programs, now has a presence at Dixie State College. The DSC chapter, which will be known as Beta Kappa Sigma, was recently established at the college.
As part of the chartering ceremony, 50 students were inducted into Beta Kappa Sigma. Membership is contingent on a minimum GPA of 3.5, high character, and excellent academic potential.
Chartering Officer Dr. Dorothy D. Chase, who has been a Phi Theta Kappa Nevada/California Regional Board member for six years, was on hand to represent the Phi Theta Kappa international office and induct the students. She also presented the chapter charter to DSC president Dr. Robert Huddleston.
"What a wonderful thing it is to be a scholar," Huddleston said to the 50 inductees. "Knowledge is a powerful thing to have as part of your repertoire."
Since 1918, Phi Theta Kappa has recognized and promoted scholarship among associate degree seeking students. Phi Theta Kappa has chartered 1,100 chapters on campuses throughout all 50 of the United States and Canada.
In order to be granted the charter, the college had to go through an extensive application process, which included accreditation information, petitions by the president and academic vice president, and a thorough portfolio submitted to the Phi Theta Kappa international headquarters.
DSC vice president of academics Dr. Max Rose said that in addition to increased support of honors efforts on campus, significant scholarship opportunities and impressive resume material for members, the new Beta Kappa Sigma Chapter will simply help further promote the academic culture on campus.
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DSC to graduate 1,332 Friday
(ST. GEORGE – April 29, 2002) Dixie State College will again graduate its largest class ever at its 91st Annual Commencement Exercises this Friday, May 3, at 6 pm in the Avenna Center Burns Arena.
DSC saw an 11 percent increase in enrollment this past fall over last year. The number of degrees that will be awarded at this year’s graduation will reflect that growth nearly to a T.
The college will confer 985 degrees, up 13 percent over last year. In addition, 347 vocational and technical certificates will be awarded. A decade ago, DSC conferred 760 degrees and certificates. In 2001, DSC awarded its first two bachelor degrees. In 2002, 46 will receive bachelor degrees.
"That’s a remarkable increase in just one year’s time," said DSC president Dr. Robert Huddleston. "We’re extremely pleased with the progress of our four-year degrees, even at this early stage in the game. We’re just as pleased with the caliber of students graduating from these programs and from the college in general."
The average age of this year’s graduating class is 22, the range falling betw een 17 and 70 years of age. Fifty-eight percent of the graduates are female while 42 percent are male. In terms of ethnic origin, 15 Hispanic students, 10 Asian American/Pacific Islander students, nine international students, five Native American/Alaskan Native students, four black students, and over 900 white students make up the Class of 2002. Six different countries, 26 states, and 27 Utah counties are represented. Fifty-two percent of the graduates are from Washington County, and 85 percent are from Utah.
Emily Heaton, Alton, Utah, is this year’s Valedictorian among those graduating with baccalaureate degrees and the first ever to receive that honor at Dixie State College. And Ryan Hafen, Santa Clara, will be honored as Valedictorian among those graduating with associate degrees.
The Reverend France A. Davis, pastor of the historic Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City, will be this year’s commencement speaker and will receive an honorary doctorate of humanities. Being recognized as Distinguished Citizens for their exemplary service to the college and community are Terri Draper, Jay Ence, Eldon McArthur, and Gayle M. Aldred.
Graduates will march from DSC’s Old Gym down the palm-lined walkway to the Burns Arena beginning at 5:40 pm on Friday. The community is invited to participate in all commencement activities.
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Annual Spring Garden Tour set to bloom
(ST. GEORGE – April 23, 2002) The annual Spring Garden Tour to will be held Saturday, April 27, from 10 am to 3 pm. All proceeds from the Garden Tour go directly toward Dixie State College scholarships.
Ten privately owned gardens throughout the St. George area, each with different landscapes varying from flower, vegetable, lush and desert landscaping, will be on display for public viewing as part of the tour. Different locations are chosen each year for the Spring Garden Tour.
"This is a great springtime outdoor event that everyone can enjoy, whether they have a green thumb or not," said Director of Community Education Janet O’Riley "It’s a decade and a half-old tradition in this community, the really neat part being that it helps further someone’s college education."
This year, gardens specifically in the Green Valley, Morningside, and Sunset Plateau areas will be highlighted. Specific garden locations and directions to those locations are printed on the tickets. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Community Education office at Dixie State College located at 100 South 900 East in St. George. They are also available at R & K Bookstore, Evelyn’s Inc., The City of St. George Rec. Center, and Lillywhite Plant World. The gardens can be visited in any order through 3 pm.
The Garden Tour first began in 1986 in Santa Clara and Leeds to help support students who were returning to Dixie College. The event is sponsored by the American Association of University Women, the Lady Lions of St. George, St. George Business and Professional Women, the Dixie Garden Club, and Community Education.
For more information about the Spring Garden Tour, contact Janet O’Riley at 652-7671.
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Four to be honored as Distinguished Citizens at DSC Graduation
(ST. GEORGE – April 23, 2002) Four community members will be honored as Distinguished Citizens at Dixie State College’s 91st Annual Commencement Exercises May 3, at 6 pm in the Avenna Center, Burns Arena.
Eldon McArthur, Jay Ence, Terri Draper, and Gayle Aldred will be the recipients of this honor.
"This is a service based award, and each of these individuals has given of themselves considerably, not only in behalf of the college but the entire community," said DSC president Dr. Robert Huddleston. "It’s only fitting that we honor them in this special setting before our students as they themselves prepare to make contributions in their respective communities."
ELDON McARTHUR
Eldon McArthur was born in St. George in 1920 and attended the Woodward School, Dixie High School, and later Dixie State College where he learned the welding trade for the war effort. After World War II, he taught at the college in the Industrial Education area for many years and started McArthur Welding in 1943 where he continues to work.
He served on the St. George city council for eight years during the city’s early growth period and was active in acquiring water, power and the necessary infrastructure for growth. He also served with the Civil Air Patrol as a pilot to help with search and rescue missions and has been credited with four saved lives.
In 1966 he joined the Rotary Club, which broadened his service activity to the entire world. McArthur and his family have hosted students from all over the world. He became club president and then District Governor for all of Utah and was heavily involved in helping wipe Polio from the world, a goal that is now in sight.
McArthur’s wife, Denise, whom he married in 1940, suffered an attack of rheumatic fever in 1950 and was not well the rest of her life. He became her constant caregiver and nurse. In July 2000, their children held a celebration of their 80th birthdays and 60th wedding anniversary. A month later she passed away quietly at home. They have 50 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren.
JAY ENCE
Born in Santa Clara, Jay Ence has lived in the Dixie area all of his life and has an extensive track record of service in the area. He is the founder of Ence Construction Company and Ence Realty and served as CEO and President since 1975. He is a lifelong supporter of local education, both at the high school and collegiate levels.
He is a current member of the St. George Lion's Club where he has been involved for forty-five years and serves as on the board of directors for Sun First Bank. He is a past member of the St. George Rotary Bowl Committee, First Security Advisory Board of Southern Utah, Washington County Water Conservancy District, board of directors of Dixie Regional Medical Center, board of directors of the Washington County Fair Board, board member of the Washington County Planning Commission and board of directors of the St. George Chamber of Commerce. He is also a past president of Washington County Racing Association and the Dixie High School Booster Club.
Commun ity improvement projects spearheaded by Ence include the Dixie Downs Race Track, the St. George City Dog Pound Facility, the Jubilee Home of St. George, and the Dove Center. He facilitated the restoration of the Historic Gubler Home in Santa Clara together with the Stucki Family.
The recipient of numerous civic honors, he has been awarded the Utah Total Citizen, 1985; St. George Chamber of Commerce Business Man of the Year, 1990; and Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, 1994.
He and his wife Janice Esplin Ence have four children and one foster son, twenty-two grandchildren, and one great grandchild.
TERRI DRAPER
Terri Draper, director of public relations at Dixie Regional Medical Center, is strongly committed to IHC's nonprofit mission of providing excellent healthcare regardless of ability to pay. She helped grow the hospital’s health fair from a small event with a few hundred attendees to the current two-day fair and expo at the Dixie Center, which attracts thousands. She brought the convenient concept of drive-through flu shots to life and hosts the weekly IHC Today Community Edition talk show on KCEC-TV.
Born at Utah’s Dugway Proving Grounds, Draper grew up in Enterprise and has a passion for southern Utah. She currently chairs the St. George Area Chamber of Commerce Community Action Committee, is the Chamber Board’s Past-Chair and a Sunshiner. In addition to her volunteer work for the Chamber she has served on local boards in support of the American Heart Association, the Dixie Rotary Bowl, the Women’s Conference in Dixie, the Southern Utah Advertising Federation, and the Southwest Symphony. Prior to her employment at the hospital, she worked for St. George Magazine for 12 years.
She holds an Associate of Arts degree from Dixie College and has returned often to the campus to judge drama, music, speech, and debate tournaments and to serve on ad hoc committees. Nothing is more important to Terri than her family. She and her husband have three children, Jasmine, Jamison, and Nicholas.
GAYLE M. ALDRED
Gayle M. Aldred will also be honored as a Distinguished Citizen. Born in Mapleton, Utah, he entered the military service in 1948 and served in the Korean War where he received a Medal of Appreciation from the Korean president.
An engineer by trade, Aldred was involved in several noteworthy construction projects including McCarren Field and Nellis Air Force Base. He later became one of the owners of Western Rock Products Corp. in Cedar City. And in 1981 he formed and operated G.M. Aldred & Sons, Corp. and ran this business until 1992 at which time he sold the operation to Western Rock Products Corp.
In 1988, Aldred was elected to the Washington County Commission, and is in his twelfth year as Chairman. He will step down from the commission this year.
Commissioner Aldred is also a member of the board of directors of Sun First Bank and served on the Governor’s Board for four years. He has been honored by the St. George Chamber of Commerce with the Man of the Year Award and the St. George Business Couple of the Year Award.
Aldred and his wife, Mary Ellen, a registered nurse, were the previous owners of Aldred Home Health Care, which served Washington County. They have six children, 20 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
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The Reverend France A. Davis to Speak at DSC Graduation
(ST. GEORGE – April 19, 2002) The Reverend France A. Davis, pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City, will be the speaker at the 91st Commencement Exercises at Dixie State College. Commencement will take place Friday, May 3, at 6 pm in the Avenna Center, Burns Arena. Reverend Davis will also be the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree.
Reverend Davis was born number eight of nine children to John and Julia Davis on a Burke County farm in Georgia about 100 miles from Atlanta. He attended public schools until moving to Tuskegee for college. There he met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and marched as part of the Selma to Montgomery Alabama Voting Rights March.
He served four years in the United States Air Force as a jet mechanic during the Vietnam conflict. Upon honorable discharge he returned to school and now holds degrees in African-American Studies from Merritt College; Arts and Humanities from Laney College; Rhetoric from University of California at Berkeley; Religion and Philosophy from Westminister College; Mass Communication from the University of Utah; and a Master's of Ministry from Northwest Nazarene College.
Reverend Davis came to Utah in 1972 recruited as a teaching fellow and graduate assistant. He was appointed Instructor in 1973 and continues to teach courses as Adjunct Associate Professor in Communication and Ethnic Studies at the University of Utah. He helped design and conduct a special Black Clergy Training Program at Westminster College, which gave ministers the opportunity to earn their first college degree.
Since 1974 the Reverend Davis has served as the full-time pastor of the historic Calvary Baptist Church in inner city Salt Lake City. The congregation completed construction of a new facility with worship, educational, and recreational space in November 2001. Reverend Davis was selected twice as part of the National Baptist Missionary preaching team to travel to southern Africa. He has moderated for the local association of National Baptist Churches, taught Old Testament classes on the national level, and served as assistant to the dean of Christian Education. He serves on numerous boards including the Salt Lake County Career Service Council, the Salt Lake Housing Authority, Intermountain Health Care Foundation, and the Salt Lake Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
Special honors and awards given to Reverend Davis include a Community Services Award from Utah State University, an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Utah, an Honorary Doctorate from Salt Lake Community College, and Mayor of the Day for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.
The Reverend Davis is married to Willene Witt. They have two daughters, Carolyn and Grace; one son, France II, and one grandson, Cedric.
This will mark Reverend Davis’ second visit to Dixie State College this year. He was both a World Week and Dixie Forum speaker at the college in January.
"Again and again, the name France Davis was mentioned as I sought out speakers for Dixie Forum this ye ar," said Dixie Forum coordinator and DSC English professor Terre Burton. "Reverend Davis is well known throughout the state for his speaking ability, his knowledge of the African-American experience in Utah, his dedication to the humanities, and his love of music. Dixie State students who have heard him rave about his programs, and we’re anxiously looking forward to him being on our campus once again for this special occasion."
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USU’s MBA the topic of discussion at Dixie State College
(ST. GEORGE – April 19, 2002) Dr. Michael Parent, Associate Dean for the Business Graduate Studies at Utah State University, will be on the campus of Dixie State College on Tuesday, April 23, to meet with students interested in the pursuit of an MBA degree. The meeting will take place in the Udvar-Hazy business building, room 220 from 6 to 8 pm.
Utah State University and Dixie State College officials have worked together to bring the USU MBA back to the Dixie campus for its third cycle. The MBA Program in St. George is an opportunity made available to those students who have completed a bachelor’s degree and all basic business and related accounting course work. Utah State University previously sponsored successful programs in Cedar City, 1993-95 and with Dixie State College, 1997-1998 and 2000-2001.
The College of Business at USU is very well known for its "Traveling MBA" program taught throughout the state, region, internationally, and in cooperation with industry and professional associations. Students enter the MBA program and proceed through it as a cohort, working in groups on team projects that reflect the real-world setting of industry. All courses are taught in person by USU faculty.
The Business Graduate Studies Office in the College of Business at USU will administer the MBA program with on-site technical assistance provided by personnel at Dixie State College.
For further details, contact (435) 797-2360, or email helquist@b202.usu.edu. You may also contact Marcia Campbell at Dixie State College at (435) 652-7739.
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U.S. Department of State economic officer to speak at final Dixie Forum of the semester
(ST. GEORGE – April 12, 2002) Joseph A. Parente, a U.S. Department of State economic officer, will be the speaker at Dixie Forum: A Window on the World Tuesday, April 16 at noon in DSC’s Dunford Auditorium, Browning Building. It will be the final forum for this spring semester.
Parente just completed two years as the economic officer at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, Republic of China. In June 2002, he will begin an assignment in the Consular section of Embassy London.
"I think what he has to say may be of interest to business students, government or history students, or any students, faculty, staff, or community people who have an interest in our world," said Dixie Forum coordinator Terre Burton.
Parente joined the U.S. Department of State in January 1997, working as a civil servant in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management. In this position he worked closely with the U.S. embassies abroad to help American citizens overseas in a variety of both emergency and non-emergency situations.
During his most recent assignment, Parente has been involved in reporting to the U.S. government on China's external economic relations, the Beijing municipal economy, and some WTO-related issues.
He will be discussing the American Diplomat in the 21st century and American Diplomacy in China.
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D-Queen crowned at Dixie State College
(ST. GEORGE – April 12, 2002) D-Week at Dixie State College is in full swing, particularly now that the D-Queen has been named. Canessa Craigo was recently crowned with that honor at DSC’s annual D-Queen Pageant.
The D-Queen Pageant isn’t a typical beauty queen pageant, but is based more on being a great student and contributor to campus life at DSC. Candidates are judged by a panel and assessed points in several different areas.
Categories consisting of service and activities, an interview, and GPA make up 60 percent of the contest. The on-stage personality and eveningwear categories make up the balance of the pageant.
Craigo, Salt Lake City, holds a 4.0 GPA at Dixie State College, even after taking 20.5 credits per semester. She graduated from Skyline High School with honors, a 3.95 GPA, and ranked 36 in a class of 600.
She has been involved in a host a service activities, her most memorable of which was making puppets and puppet stages for a local autistic school.
In addition to being proficient in many dance forms, Craigo sings and plays the flute. She performed a flute number as part of the on-stage personality category of the pageant.
After graduating from DSC, she plans on attending the University of Utah to pursue a degree in nursing.
Ten contestants made up this year’s pageant. Marci Bundy, St. George, was named first attendant. Marie Monson, Centerville, and Jennifer Wozab, Murray, were named second and third attendants. Katie Gause, St. George, was voted Miss Dixie Spirit by her fellow candidates.
While GPA is weighted heavily in the judging and letters of invitation are sent out to those holding the highest GPAs, any graduating female student from the college can enter in the pageant.
The D-Queen pageant has long been a staple of D-Week, which first began at the college in 1915 as a way to increase school spirit among students, alumni, and the community.
Also a part of D-Week is the return of "The Great Race," a large-scale relay throughout campus, which took place Friday evening. Sixteen student, alumni, and faculty/staff teams snaked their way through the track, softball field, a bike course, a basketball shootout, a rollerblade course, a mud pit, and a slip and slide course. Dixie trivia was also a part of the race.
Also Friday evening, a drive-in movie was shown in the Old Gym parking lot. On Thursday, a quilting service project was held.
Saturday’s activities include the annual white wash of the "D" on Black Hill, which will take place at 7 am. A breakfast will follow at 8 am. Both the DSC softball and baseball teams will be in action at noon and 4 pm respectively. D-Week will culminate with the D-Dance at 9 pm in the Gardner Ballroom. Tickets for the dance are free if picked up in advance, $5 at the door.
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Dixie State College announces Symphonic Band Concert
(ST. GEORGE – April 12, 2002) The Dixie State College Music Department will present the Symphonic Band with guest Dixie High School Band in concert on Tuesday, April 16. The concert will be held in the Avenna Center Cox Auditorium at 8 pm.
The program will include a variety of interesting compositions for symphonic band including "Farandole" by Georges Bizet, "El Camino Real – A Latin Fantasy" by Alfred Reed, "Cuban Overture" by America’s Great George Gershwin, and one movement from Malcolm Arnold’s "Four Scottish Dances." The Dixie High School Band, directed by Rob Schmidt, will also be performing three numbers.
The Symphonic Band is approaching the end of a very successful year, recently returning from performing in an exchange concert with UNLV and, with the Jazz Ensembles, will be performing and recording in Disneyland.
Cost for the concert is $2 per person or $5 per family. Students with a current activity card will not be charged.
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2002 Rebel Awards given out at Dixie State
(ST. GEORGE – April 11, 2002) Nearly 700 people packed the Dixie State Gardner Center Ballroom for the annual Rebel Awards program Monday to honor students, faculty, and staff who have excelled in various areas of achievement. DSC valedictorians and honor graduates were also announced and recognized during the program. The Rebel Awards have been a tradition at the college since the 1960s.
"This is one of the real cherished and deeply rooted traditions at Dixie," said vice president of student services Bill Fowler. "The Rebel Awards program begins an ending note to the year, and it is only proper that we celebrate the accomplishments of our finest students with this noteworthy event."
This year’s Bachelor Degree Valedictorian is Emily Heaton. Heaton, originally from Alton, Utah, will graduate in computer and information technology with a 3.991 GPA. Ryan Hafen of Santa Clara, Utah, was named this year’s Associate Degree Valedictorian. Ryan carries a 4.0 GPA and plans to major in actuarial science. Historically, the Valedictorian Award is the highest honor a Dixie State College student can receive.
The Rebel Awards recognize excellence in the areas of academics, athletics, and service. Nominations for each of the nine Rebel Awards categories were narrowed down to between six and seven finalists who were each recognized during the program. Finalists and winners were all selected by the Rebel Awards Committee.
This year’s Outstanding Freshman Student Award went to co-winners Gian Ferrari and Rebecca McKay. Ferrari is a re-entry student who has held a 3.86 GPA and been actively involved in the NETO Club. McKay was the recipient of both WUE and music scholarships this year and is involved in numerous student clubs and councils. She is also DSC’s student body vice president-elect.
Winning the Outstanding Sophomore Student Award was Jacob Hunt who plays on the Rebel football team and has been on the high honor roll each semester he has been at Dixie State.
The Distinguished Service Award winner for 2002 is Casey Bullock. Bullock has served on the ASDSC Council and numerous campus committees this year and had scholarships in student government, band, academic achievement, and VICA.
The Achievement of the Year Award went to Laura Callahan, also a re-entry student. Despite having to endure extreme family difficulties, including overcoming spousal abuse, Callahan has achieved a 3.92 GPA as she’s pursued her degree.
Stanton Roseman won this year’s Personality of the Year Award. Roseman is this year’s ASDSC public relations chairman and is the editor-in-chief of the alternative newspaper, "The Rebel Union." He also won last year’s Outstanding Freshman Student Award.
The Dixie Spirit Award was awarded to Ben Joe Markland who has been actively involved in DSC’s Student Executive Council and is the student body president-elect for 2002-2003. Markland won the Dixie Spirit Award in 1997 as well.
Rebel soccer player Jennifer Henry received the Female Scholar Athlete Award. Henry has a 3.52 GPA and was named an All-American during last year’s national championship season and this year’s national runner-up season. The Male Scholar Athlete Award went to Rebel baseball player Brock Jacobsen. Jacobsen, who has a 3.54 GPA, helped lead DSC to the JUCO World Series national championship game in 2001.
The 2002 Outstanding Teacher Award went to fine arts department chair Eric Young. A favorite among students, Young was a "Telly Award" finalist in two categories, "Best Historical Documentary" and "Best Educational Documentary" for his Mountain Meadows Massacre production last year.
Ed Rogers, Jr., the college’s director of school relations and enrollment management, won this year’s Distinguished Service Staff Award. Rogers, who served as the college’s student body president in 1982, is also known for his work as the Rebel sports P.A. announcer.
In addition to the Rebel Award winners and valedictorians, 316 honor students were recognized during the program. Three-hundred associate degree-seeking students will graduate with honors; 153 fifty-three Cum Laude Graduates (3.5 – 3.74 GPA), 94 Magna Cum Laude Graduates (3.75 – 3.89 GPA), and 53 Summa Cum Laude Graduates (3.90 – 4.00 GPA).
Sixteen bachelor degree-seeking students will graduate with honors; eight Cum Laude Graduates, five Magna Cum Laude Graduates, and three Summa Cum Laude Graduates.
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DSC students, all from Washington Co., take first place in Utah State Career Development Conference
(ST. GEORGE, UT – April 9, 2002) Three Dixie State College students recently took first place at the 2002 Utah State Career Development Conference and are on their way to the International Career Development Conference where they’ll t ry and do the same.
Both annual conferences are a competitive forum for marketing students, specifically members of Delta Epsilon Chi (DEX), an international college level marketing club geared toward providing leadership and career-oriented opportunities to students.
Winning first place in the Financial Services Marketing/Management category of the state competition was Brandon Condie, a senior student from Washington, UT.
Trent Lay, a junior also from Washington, won first place in the E-Commerce Decision Making category, a new category this year. And Wiley McArthur, a senior from St. George, won first-place in the Sales Manager Meeting category after an international first-place finish last year in the retail-merchandising category. All are four-year business students at DSC.
Students were judged primarily on their ability to analyze and come up with impromptu solutions to case studies. The competition consists of eighteen different categories.
"It takes everything I’ve learned from every class and puts it into one experience that says this is how you apply it," Condie said.
In all, nine DSC students, including the three first-place winners, will advance to the 2002 International Career Development Conference in Salt Lake City April 13-17. In order to qualify for internationals, students had to at least place in the top eight of their respective categories at the state competition. Jonathan Denninghoff, Tami Fehlman, Cade Johnson, Misty Lee VanIeperen, Amber Vincent, and Harley Williams each advanced. Approximately 2,500 students from thirty-five states and Canada will take part in the international competition.
Historically, approximately 20 percent of the first, second and third place winners at the international competition come from Utah schools, according to Dixie State DEX advisor Brent Snow. DSC has actively participated in DEX for approximately 25 years and has had an international first, second, or third place winner every year with the exception of one. In 2001, DSC had two international first-place finishes.
"It is a privilege to be associated with these students and witness their level of professionalism in a business atmosphere," said DSC business professor and DEX advisor Shari Gowers who received the "Rookie Advisor of the Year" award at this year’s conference. "We are very proud of their achievements."
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Rock bands and creativity the subject of next Dixie Forum
(ST. GEORGE – April 5, 2002) Looping Riffs: The Creative Process of a Rock Band’s Rehearsals will be the subject of the next Dixie Forum: A Window on the World on April 9 at noon in Dixie State’s Dunford Auditorium, Browning Building. DSC sociology professor Matthew Smith-Lahrman will be the forum’s feature speaker.
"Within the world of rock music, the most elementary grouping of people is the band. It’s the unit around which rock worlds are structured," Smith-Lahrman said. "Although much creativity occurs during live gigs and the making of recordings, rehearsals are where the creative process begins for rock bands."
Smith-Lahrman will give an in depth description of band members’ interactions as they jam, prepare for gigs, and write songs. He will also discuss the disagreements members have as a routine part of their creative activities.
"I hope to also shed some light on creativity as a collaborative project, not only within rock bands, but as a generically basic social process," he said.
In addition to his teaching duties at the college, Smith-Lahrman hosts a weekly radio show for kids, The Sandbox, which airs each Saturday morning from 9 am to 11 am on KOEZ 105.1 FM The Disc.
"I'm looking forward to hearing from Matt, one of the creative new voices at the college," said Dixie Forum coordinator Terre Burton. "His positive attitude, creativity, and good humor have made him a great colleague, but I'm really eager to hear from him about one of his great loves--music."
The forum is the second of three consecutive forums to finish out the semester. On April 16, Joseph A. Parente, a U.S. Department of State economic officer who has just finished a tour of duty at the American Embassy in Beijing, Republic of China will be this semester’s final forum speaker. Any questions about Dixie Forum can be directed to Terre Burton at (435) 652-7812.
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DSC Campus To Community Spring Pproject Set For April 5
(ST. GEORGE – April 3, 2002) Last fall, DSC students spearheaded a large-scale yard sale that raised over $5,000 to benefit an eight-year old near drowning victim. On Friday, April 5, from 1 pm to 4 pm, DSC students, alumni, and faculty/staff will follow that up by helping develop The Southern Utah Water Conservation Garden as part of the college’s Campus to Community program.
"The community rallied behind us so much and we had such a big success with the fundraiser in November that we decided to do something to benefit the entire community to say thanks," said Dixie State student body president Connor Shakespeare.
The purpose of The Garden, which will be located just west of Tonaquint Park, will be to educate the community on ways to reduce water consumption and demonstrate low water, landscaping alternatives that are conducive to desert living. Partnering to create The Garden is the City of St. George, Costanza PS Associates, the Utah State University Extension Service, and the Washington County Water Conservancy District.
"From the start, we have tried to make this garden a community project, and when we have people who are willing to contribute their time that’s exactly what it becomes," said Julie Breckenridge with the Washington County Water Conservancy District."
Volunteers, which can include any within the community interested in helping, will mainly help plant trees and other vegetation that will fill The Garden.
"We’ll be there," said DSC alumni director Kalynn Larson. "This is a community effort, and our alumni are looking forward to being a part of it. We’re expecting about 25 or so, but would encourage any other alumni to come out and help."
After the three hours of work and planting are completed, volunteers will be treated to a b arbecue and volleyball match . Shakespeare is quick to point out, however, that the significance of the project runs much deeper than free food.
"When you get involved in projects like this you get so much out of it just knowing what it’s going for and that you took part in it," Shakespeare said. "This community gives so much to the college, and it’s important that the college give something back. This our way of doing that."
The Campus to Community program, new to the college this year, is geared toward serving and giving back to the community. The program consists of one large-scale student service project each semester.
"Service is kind of the rent you pay for the life you get to live here upon this earth," said Donna Stafford, director of student activities. "You have to get involved in projects like this sometimes to develop community pride. When people get involved it becomes their project."
Those interested in participating in the project should meet at The Garden, located at 1581 Dixie Drive, Tonaquint Park, at 1 pm on Friday, April 5. City employees will be on hand to oversee the labor, so previous tree planting experience is not required. According to Shakespeare, volunteers need only come ready to work. Gloves are recommended, but most of the other equipment and will be provided.
For any questions about the service project, call Connor Shakespeare at 652-7517.
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"Cow Sounds and Pitchers' Mounds: The Wordmusic of Phillip Kent Bimstein"
(ST. GEORGE – Mar. 29, 2002) Former Springdale mayor and former MTV rocker Phillip Kent Bimstein will present at Dixie Forum: A Window on the World April 2 at noon in Dixie State’s Dunford Auditorium.
An alternative classical composer, Bimstein will demonstrate how he combines sounds, voices, orchestral instruments and storytelling into original musical works.
Born in Chicago and a graduate of Chicago Conservatory Music, music has been a passion for Bimstein throughout his life. In the 1980s, he led the new wave band Phil ‘n’ the Blanks whose three albums and six music videos were MTV hits.
His 1997 album, Garland Hirschi’s Cows, received international acclaim, and his music has been performed by a host of ensembles in venues ranging from the Kennedy Center to the Aspen Music Festival.
Bimstein’s recent work includes "The Bushy Wushy Rag," a work celebrating baseball and the city of St. Louis, which was nationally broadcast on PBS in 2001. He has also recently performed and written for the chamber folk quartet blue haiku.
In the 1990s, Bimstein began a career in politics as the mayor of Springdale, Utah where he currently resides. In 1997, he was elected to a second term as mayor in which capacity he was an outspoken advocate for protection of the environment and Utah’s wilderness.
He didn’t, however, leave his musical background behind once he entered politics and instead mixed the two. In 1997, it was said of Bimstein on National Public Radio’s "All Things Considered" that he "uses the voices, natural sounds and culture of his adopted home in his compositions, and he practices politics with music in mind."
"I asked him about the connections between being a musician and conductor and a mayor and he told me that there really are some similarities in conducting music and conducting a public meeting," said Dixie Forum coordinator Terre Burton.
Bimstein has also been described by Outside Magazine as "America’s only all-natural politician-composer."
The forum will be the first of three consecutive forums in April to wrap up the semester.
On April 9, Matt Smith-Lahrman will talk about the creative process that surfaces from a rock band’s rehearsals. On April 16, U.S. Department of State economic officer Joseph A. Parente, who has just finished a tour of duty at the American Embassy in Beijing, Republic of China, will be the forum speaker. For more information about Dixie Forum, contact Terre Burton at (435) 652-7812.
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New building to be dedicated at DSC’s Hurricane Center
(ST. GEORGE – Mar. 8, 2002) On Jan. 7, 2002, the first day of spring semester at Dixie State College, the college opened its doors to a brand new building on the Hurricane satellite campus. The new building, which will be called the Jonna P. and Boyd C. Stout Building, will be dedicated Wednesday, Mar. 13, at 11 am at the Hurricane Center located on 112 South 700 West. The community is invited to attend the dedication.
Construction on the 4,500 sq. foot-plus second phase officially got underway during a public groundbreaking ceremony in late August 2001. That the building was completed in just over four months time on budget and on time is only the half of it. Construction on the building was completely financed through private donations.
"It’s a little unusual that people have that much love for their community that they’ll step forward and be that generous," said Stan Plewe, DSC vice president of college services.
DSC first began offering courses in the Hurricane area in 1995. At that time, all classes were housed at Hurricane High School – the college continues to borrow classroom space at the high school today.
As demand for classes grew, however, so did the need for a building the college could call its own. That need was met in Sept. 2000 upon the dedication of the 6,005 sq. foot Walter C. Lichfield, which also came largely as a result of donations from people within the community. The eight acres worth of land upon which the Alan Joseph Stout Hurricane Center sits was also all privately donated.
Before construction on Phase I of the Hurricane Center was even completed, Jonna Stout of Hurricane, UT met with DSC administrators and offered to fund a second building.
"Never in my life did we ever think the college would be right here in little Hurricane, and we’re excited that it is," said Jonna Stout, who made the donation in memory of her late husband, Boyd.
Initially, Stout had planned to keep the entire project anonymous and only wanted her husband’s name to appear on the building, but her children insisted otherwise. Both her son and one of her gra ndsons graduated from the college.
The expansion comes at a time when the entire East county area is itself expanding, an area the Hurricane Center is specifically geared toward serving. Hurricane alone has experienced a 110 percent growth increase over the past ten years, growing from 3,915 in 1990 to a population of 8,250 in 2000.
Enrollment at the Hurricane Center has reflected that growth. When DSC first began offering classes in Hurricane during fall semester in 1995, 34 students total were enrolled in two courses. Nearly 500 students were enrolled in over 30 courses this past fall semester at the Hurricane Center.
Nancy Perschon teaches communications classes at both Hurricane and St. George campuses. Being a resident of Hurricane, she enjoys the convenience the Hurricane Center provides, not only for herself, but for her students.
"In addition to the typical student, I am teaching single mothers. I’m teaching fathers who work all day. I’m teaching young people who are struggling with different issues," Perschon said. "The Hurricane Center is a real star on the forehead of this end of the county. It’s amazing."
Prior to the addition, the Hurricane Center consisted of two large 60-seat classrooms and a computer lab. The new building consists mainly of classroom space. In all, four new classrooms have been added to the center. Before it’s all said and done, an atrium area, will nestle in between the two buildings as well.
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DSC Dance Company poised to take center stage
(ST. GEORGE – Mar. 8, 2002) The Dixie State Dance Company, under the direction of Dr. Li Lei, will present its Spring Dance Concert on Mar. 28, at 7:30 pm in the Cox Performing Arts Center. The performance will mark the company’s first formal performance since it was founded in fall of 2001.
"Even though we’re a new program, I think people will be surprised," Lei said. "Our dancers have been working diligently and looking forward to providing an exciting evening of dance for our students, faculty and staff, and the community."
The dance program, which is relatively new itself, was introduced at the college in fall of 2000, at which time Lei was given the charge to lay the groundwork. While that process hasn’t been a challenge-free one, she discovered early on that this community has quite an appetite for dance. Last year, prior to the organization of the Dance Company, she directed a similar, though less formal and free, concert. Over 800 people packed last year’s venue for two shows.
The program has come a long way since then. A 14-member company has been auditioned and formed, and this year’s concert will be performed in the 1,200-seat Cox Performing Arts Center. Though there is a small fee attached to the concert, the variety that the audience will be exposed to will be worth the price of admission, Lei said.
All told, the performance will feature ballet, modern dance, jazz dance, ballroom dance and hip-hop.
Lei, who is the concert’s artistic director, has an extensive background in dance. At an early age, she was selected to dance as part of a professional dance company in China, a company that later appointed her its principal dancer. She danced professionally for over eight years and has also been the artistic director for various dance companies. Lei specializes in ballet, ballroom dance, modern dance, and ethnic dance. Reserved seating is currently on sale at the Central Ticket Office, Cox Auditorium. Tickets are $4 for adults, $3 for youth and $1 for students. The box office can be reached at (435) 652-7800.
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American literary history novelist will present at Dixie Forum
(ST. GEORGE – Mar. 1, 2002) Marilyn Arnold, novelist, former BYU professor, and current Dixie State College Board of Trustees member, will be the next speaker at the Dixie Forum: A Window on the World on Mar. 5 at noon in the Dunford Auditorium. The title of her presentation is "The Artist and the Village," which illustrates the paradoxical relationship between artist and community.
Arnold is a noted authority on Willa Cather and other American writers, having written four books and hundreds of essays on Cather alone who is considered by many to be one of the most interesting women in American literary history.
"Marilyn has such a delight in the world, both the real world out-of-doors and the world of literature," said Dixie Forum coordinator Terre Burton. "Even though she’s a fine scholar, her language and approach to literature is accessible to all of us."
Since her retirement from BYU in 1992, Arnold has lived in St. George, served on the Dixie State College Board of Trustees for eight years, and written four novels: Desert Song, Song of Hope, Sky Full of Ribbons, and Fields of Clover, which will be released this spring.
She has also taught classes for adult learners on Willa Cather, Eudora Welty, and a variety of other subjects.
Arnold, who grew up in Ogden, attended both Weber State and BYU before going to the University of Wisconsin to earn a Ph.D. She has been a member of the Utah Humanities Council Speakers Bureau and has presented "The Artist and the Village" as part of that speakers bureau for the last year.
Dixie Forum is a noontime forum series introduced at the college this year. Its purpose is to expose students and the community to a variety of cultures and points of view. The series is free to the public and takes place every other Tuesday at noon through the end of the semester. The next forum falls on Mar. 19 and will explore how Utah Jewish families maintained their culture, traditions, and lifestyles while adapting to western living in Utah. For more information of Dixie Forum, contact Terre Burton at 652-7812.
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Employment Fair hits Dixie State College
(ST. GEORGE, UT – Feb. 27, 2002) Representatives from companies throughout the region will be on the campus of Dixie State College to recruit students at the college’s annual Employment Fair on Monday, Mar. 4, from 9 am to 2 pm in the Gardner Center Ballroom.
While the recent downturn in the economy has impacte d this year’s fair, there are employers out there looking to hire.
"The people who are coming are people who are willing to hire, who have jobs available," said Virginia Woodward, director of the Career Center and vocational assessment at Dixie State.
The fair will be designed to take on all comers, Woodward said, from four-year and two-year program completers to certificate completers. Companies in attendance will primarily reflect the areas of study that the majority of students are finishing up in.
This year marks the first year that the fair will target four-year degree holders at Dixie State. Consequently, many of the jobs highlighted at the fair will fall under the business administration and computer and visual technology areas. Interest has also been expressed in DSC’s nursing students and the other health and vocational areas, Woodward said. A number of companies will also be on hand looking for continuing students seeking internships and seasonal employment.

"We think we have some good companies coming and that this will be a good opportunity for our students," Woodward said. "It would really be to their advantage to attend since a number of companies will be here at the same time. It’s going to be a little bit of a tough job out there this year for graduates looking for jobs, and this just gives them a head start."
Students who attend the fair should go prepared to fill out an application and be interviewed informally. Woodward also recommends bringing a handful of resumes and wearing appropriate attire.
On Thursday, Feb. 28, a workshop on resume polishing will be held at 1 pm in the Dixie State College Career Center. Students can call 652-7737 or 652-7669 for more information about the Employment Fair.
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"Bach To Jazz"concert honors J. S. Bach
(ST. GEORGE – Feb. 27, 2002) Devoted Johann Sebastian Bach fans and music lovers are invited to attend Bach’s 317th Birthday celebration at the Fifth Annual Bach Festival held in St. George, Utah and co sponsored by Dixie State College of Utah.
"Bach to Jazz," the first of three spring concerts honoring Bach, will be held Sunday, March 3 at 7 p.m. in the St. George Tabernacle. There is no charge for admission.
This year the name has been changed from the "St. George Bach Festival" to the "Utah Bach Festival" to encompass all of Utah’s music enthusiasts who enjoy the works of Bach and his musical heirs, according to Robert Douglas, Executive Director of the Bach Festivals.
Opening the program with a Bach "Brass Fanfare" will be the Dixie State College Brass Ensemble composed of Gary Caldwell, Tyler Kidd, Nate LeBaron, Brooke Callahan, Stephanie Gentry, Corry Snow, Morgan Hall, Taylor Hanson, Lisa Shelton, Ellen Imley, and Layne Ransom.
Narrator for the celebration will be the 2001 Miss St. George, Taisley Forsberg, who will soon be turning over her crown to the new 2002 Royalty. Organ accompanist for many of the artists will be Suzette Fradella.
Edith Mackay, organist, will play Bach’s "Sinfonia" followed by a vocal duet "Lord Bless You" sung by Terri Draper and Amy Seifert.
Bach’s famous "Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring" will be performed by Carolyn Matthews, soprano, and Denis Zwang, flute with "Second Sonata for Solo Violin in A Minor" being played by violinist Percy Kalt.
An instrumental ensemble composed of Stephany Caplan, flute; Liz Nicholls, flute; Denis Zwang, clarinet; and Toni Caplan, piano, will perform Bach’s popular "Sheep May Safely Graze."
The audience will be included in singing the rousing "God of Our Fathers" by G.W. Warren with the Dixie State College Brass and organist Robert Douglas who will also play "Piece Heroique," by Cesar Frank.
Two vocal solos "After a Dream," by Gabriel Faure, and "If With All Your Hearts," by Felix Mendelssohn, will be rendered by Bruce Stringham, tenor and Nancy Harris, soprano.
The final number of the night will be "Bourree from Suite for Lute" by Bach featuring Denis Zwang, flute/tenor sax; Lukas Marshall, bass; Nic Chamberlain, drums; Ryan Tilby, guitar and Kali Terry, piano.
"St. George is fortunate to have musicians of this caliber who compare favorably in Bach Festivals held in other locations all over the world," said Lu Jennings, Bach Festival Chairperson.
The second Bach Concert, sponsored by the Utah Bach Festival in conjunction with the Celebrity Concert Series, will present the "Welch-Hancock Duo" Friday, March 8, at 8 p.m. in the Cox Auditorium. Pianist Russell Hancock will join with organist James Welch. Tickets can be purchased at the Cox Performing Arts Center for $10 adults, $6 youth and $3 Dixie State College students.
Music students of Washington County Schools will perform in the Third Bach Concert entitled "Youth Play Bach & Other Well Constructed Music," Tuesday, March 12, at 7 p.m. in the St. George Tabernacle. There is no charge for this concert.
Two fall concerts, also honoring Bach and other musicians, will be "Celestial Beauty" Sunday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. in the St. George Tabernacle and "Famous Chorale Settings from Cantatas" Thursday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. in the Dunford Auditorium, Dixie State College.
Bach was born in 1685 to a family of professional musicians. He composed works in every genre, and played the clavichord, harpsichord, and violin. The last ten years of his life he was nearly blind and died in 1750 of a stroke just ten days after his sight was unexpectedly and suddenly restored. Many years after his death other outstanding composers including Felix Mendelssohn rediscovered the master musician and revitalized the Bach legacy.
Bach is considered by many to be one of the most influential composers in history. Choral music, orchestral performance, keyboard performance, jazz and musical interpretation all owe him an immense debt for the foundations he laid and the masterful works he wrote. Four of his sons also became distinguished composers.
"Our goal in the Utah Bach Festival," explains, Douglas, "is to expand and share the works of Bach so his legacy will enrich the music lovers in this corner of the world." For more inform ation, contact co-chairman Robe rt Douglas (435) 673-7693.
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Sierra Leonean poet in exile to speak at Dixie State College
(ST. GEORGE, UT – Feb. 25, 2002) Exiled poet and novelist Syl Cheney-Coker will be on the campus of Dixie State College on Thursday, Feb. 28, to give an honors forum presentation. The forum has been added to the lineup of Dixie Forum: A Window of the World and will take place at noon in DSC’s Dunford Auditorium.
Cheney-Coker has been banished from his native Sierra Leone, where he also worked as a journalist, for angering the government with his writing. He is currently the first artist in residence at The MESA, a program in Springdale, UT that plays host to scholars and artists from around the world and provides them a creative infrastructure to work in.
Douglas Unger, who has authored four novels, including Leaving the Land, a finalist for the Pulitzer and Robert F. Kennedy awards, will accompany Cheney-Coker. Unger also works actively for the Freedom to Write Project and City of Asylum International in Las Vegas, both advocacy groups for writers seeking refuge from political persecution.
The forum will cover topics ranging from artists living in exile to current affairs and the art of writing.
"We’re looking forward to having both of these gentlemen on our campus," said Dixie Forum coordinator Terre Burton. "They will certainly further the goal of our series to broaden the horizons of our students, as well as the community, and expose them to a variety of cultures and points of view. As the Mesa project grows, we hope to hear from more writers and artists in the future."
Born to Christian Creole parents in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Cheney-Coker’s writing revolves heavily around the African experience. In addition to his earliest uncollected poetry, he has written and published three volumes of poetry, not to mention making a significant mark as a novelist. He has long been recognized by critics as one of the more "exciting and strident voices" among the younger African poets and is best known for his passion and energy.
"Syl Cheney-Coker is so charming and so provocative that this forum should be quite lively," said Kim Konikow, executive director of The MESA.
Cheney-Coker has been a resident at The MESA since Feb. 15. There he will spend one month working on his new novel, the last of the "Malagueta" trilogy, which deals with the extraordinary complexities of history, people, war, and peace in Sierra Leone. Future residents may include Barry Lopez (nature writer), Stanley Crouch (New York journalist/critic), John Duffy (composer), and Bill T. Jones (choreographer).
Douglas Unger currently directs the new M.F.A. International in Creative Writing at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is also a frequent contributor to "The New York Times Book Review" and "The Macneil-Lehrer News Hour." His most recent book is Voices from Silence: a novel of repression and terror in Argentina.
Both students and community members are invited to attend the forum, which is sponsored by the Utah Humanities Council. Admission is free. For further information on the forum, call Darl Biniaz at 435-652-7813. For additional information about The MESA, call Kim Konikow at 801-518-0788.
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Winners announced at Sears Dixie Invitational Art Show
(ST. GEORGE, UT – Feb. 21, 2002) The winners of the 2002 Robert & Peggy Sears Dixie Invitational Art Show at Dixie State College were recently announced. This year’s Best of Show Purchase Prize winner is St. George artist, Wallace Lee. Lee’s "Snow Fall in Snow Canyon," a watercolor painting, earned him the honor.
A retired dentist and former mayor, Lee didn’t begin his art career until 1990. After enrolling in art classes at Dixie State College taught by Del Parson and Max Bunnell, Lee discovered his enormous talent and knack for painting. He later taught watercolor and oil classes himself at the college. In addition to watercolor and oils, Lee works with pastels. In addition to this year’s award, Lee has taken first place in the Sears Dixie Invitational watercolor category on four separate occasions, 1997 through 2000.
Del Parson, took first place in this year’s oils category with his painting "Mary Kept These Things in Her Heart." Parson won the 2000 Purchase Prize Award in the Sears Dixie Invitational.
Second place in the oils category was awarded to Russian born Alexander Selytin for "Keeper." Bill Barber won third place for "Night Travelers" and A.D. Shaw won fourth place for "After Lunch." Shaw was the Purchase Prize Winner at the 1998 show.
In the watercolor category, Kay Homan’s "In the Forest Deep" took first place. Second place was awarded to Carl Purcell for "Gothic Rose" and third place went to Ian Ramsay for "Dock Repairs."
Taking first place in the pastels category was Arlene Braithwaite for "January at the Breaks." Second place went to Jerry Hancock for "Headin’ Home," with third place going to Carol Harding for "Path of Many Colors."
In the other media category, the first place ribbon went to Shery Doty for "Madonna & Baby in White." Tom Finley was awarded second place for "Live by the Sword – Junco & Yuccas." Paul Fuentes took third place for "My Favorite Juniper."
All artwork will remain on display through Mar. 17 in the Avenna Center, Cox Auditorium at Dixie State College from 10 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday, 2 pm to 6 pm Sunday.
Each work exhibited is for sale to the public, a portion of each purchase going toward the construction of a new fine arts facility. The public is invited to view the exhibit free of charge.
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Kenneth Cope to perform at Sears Dixie Invitational Art Show Gala Dinner
(ST. GEORGE, UT – Feb. 12, 2002) Guitarist, singer and songwriter, Kenneth Cope, will be the honorary chairman for this year’s Robert N. and Peggy Sears Dixie Invitational Art Show Gala Dinner. Cope, a noted sacred/inspirational and contemporary singer and songwriter, will provide entertainment and remark s throughout the evening of Friday, Feb. 15, beginning at 6 pm in the Gardner Center Ballroom at Dixie State College.
Cope received critical acclaim with his 1989 release of Greater Than Us All, an album that remains a top-seller. Songs like "His Hands" and "Never A Better Hero" have become classics.
After a number of other sacred/inspirational albums, Cope tried his hand as a contemporary singer/songwriter, which resulted in the critically acclaimed contemporary album Stories from Eden’s Garden. He was the recipient of 5 PEARL Awards in 1999, including Male Vocalist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Contemporary Song of the Year ("Eden’s Garden"), Contemporary Album of the Year and Album of the Year, all awarded by the Faith Centered Music Association (FCMA).
In addition, he has received the LDS Booksellers Association Listener’s Choice Award for Best Male Vocalist in 1994, 1995 and 1996. In 1999, Cope returned to the sacred/inspirational genre and has recently ventured into the world of film scoring as a writer and producer.
Tickets for the Gala Dinner are $75 a plate or $600 for a table of eight, of which $50 per ticket may be applied to any art purchase made at the show. Dinner guests will be the first to view and have the opportunity to buy this year’s artwork. Nearly 200 works representative of over 100 artists are expected to be part of this year’s show.
The show will be on display through Sunday, Mar. 17 at Dixie State’s Cox Auditorium. Each work exhibited will be for sale, a portion of each purchase going toward the construction of a new fine arts facility, something that has always been done with the proceeds form the show. The public is invited to view the exhibit free of charge. Art show hours are 10 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday and 2 pm to 6 pm on Sunday.
For more information or to purchase tickets to the gala dinner call (435) 652-7537.
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Salt Lake artist Bonnie Posselli to kick off Sears Dixie Invitational with art symposium
(ST. GEORGE, UT – Feb. 12, 2002) Award winning and notable Utah artist, Bonnie Posselli, will be the speaker at an art symposium this Friday leading up to the 15th annual Sears Dixie Art Invitational Show. The symposium, which gets underway at 3 pm in the Dunford Auditorium at Dixie State College, will showcase Posselli’s work, talent, and creativity.
As the winner of the 2001 Sears Dixie Art Invitational Best of Show Award, Posselli will have also just completed judging this year’s invitational. Posselli’s ‘Fanciful – Jordanelle State Park, Utah’ won Best of Show in last year’s invitational.
Posselli is known for her quiet and meticulous rendering of trees, as well as her rich, luscious hues depicting the many moods of Utah’s red rock country. Born in Salt Lake City, Posselli cultivated a love for the beauty and mystery of the area’s raw landscape at an early age, and her many years of outdoor painting experience are evident in her pure, serene nature settings.
Some of her recent awards include the Art for the Parks, Grand Canyon Purchase Award, 2000; Maynard Dixon Invitational, People’s Choice Award, 2000; Deseret News Purchase Award, 1999; and the Utah Governor’s Artist Achievement Award, 1997.
Galleries currently showing Posselli’s work include Torrey Gallery in Torrey, Utah, Williams Fine Art Gallery in Salt Lake City and A Gallery also located in Salt Lake.
Posselli holds a degree in illustration from Salt Lake Community College and has also studied with Utah’s noted portrait painter Alvin Gittens at the University of Utah. She has taught art privately for many years and regularly conducts outdoor painting workshops. Posselli recently bought property in Torrey, Utah just outside of Capitol Reef National Park where she plans to build a second home and studio.
Art lovers at every level are invited to come and meet Posselli and learn about her style and passion for painting. Admission to the symposium is free.
The symposium will be followed by a Gala Dinner beginning at 6 pm in DSC’s Gardner Center Ballroom. Dinner guests will have the first opportunity to purchase paintings exhibited in the show later that evening and can begin previewing the artwork beginning at 4 pm in the Cox Auditorium.
The exhibit itself will open in the Avenna Center, Cox Auditorium on Saturday, Feb. 16. It will run through Mar. 17 and is open from 10 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday and 2 pm to 6 pm on Sunday.
For additional information on the symposium, exhibit or to purchase tickets for the Gala Dinner, call Ann Theobald at (435) 652-7537.
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DSC golf program may continue after all
(ST. GEORGE – Feb. 7, 2002) Dixie State College officials have received verbal pledges from local boosters to fund the Rebel golf program for the next two years.
“This verbal commitment is just further evidence of what we’ve always known – the support that exists in this community in behalf of the college is unrelenting,” said Dr. Robert Huddleston, college president. “That’s
something we recognize and truly appreciate.”
Following a $600,000 reduction to the college’s budget, the college recently opted to discontinue its golf program after this season. This decision was made in conjunction with many other financial cuts recently made at the college.
“The $25,000 price tag for the program may not seem to be much,” Huddleston said, “but it is equal to the annual salary of an employee, and we felt we couldn’t justify any further reductions in personnel.”
Legislative officials notified Dixie State of the permanent cuts to the college in mid-January, and college officials acted quickly to assist the student-athletes with future golf plans. After receiving several calls from local golfers, however, Dexter Irvin, DSC athletic director, called a meeting in which boosters verbally pledged financial support for the program
over the next two years.
“Our boosters were very anxious to help with the program,” Irvin said, “but they were unaware we had to make such a prompt decision on golf since ath letes were just a week away from the ‘letter of intent’ signing date.”
According to Irvin, all pledged funds must be collected by July 1, 2002, to ensure the existence of the golf program for the prescribed two years--otherwise the program will, by necessity, be cut as planned. Approximately $50,000 will be needed to operate the program for two years. Similar ongoing contributions will be needed in order for the program to
continue beyond that.
Those interested in contributing to DSC’s golf program can contact Rick Adams or Alan Archibald or Dexter Irvin at (435) 652-7526.
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Registration open for spring block at Dixie State
(ST. GEORGE – Feb. 1, 2002) While skiers, ice-skaters, bobsledders, and curlers are breaking records in Salt Lake this month, students at Dixie State College can complete their courses in record time, compliments of the block schedule.
Spring semester began the first week in January, but second block classes don’t get underway until Feb. 19, giving students another opportunity to get in an entire semester’s worth of work by the end of April. Block courses follow an eight-week schedule as opposed to the traditional 15 weeks that make up a semester. So while classes are taught at a faster pace, most of which meet daily, course duration is cut nearly in half.
"Block courses do some wonderful things for students," said Louise Excell, assistant dean of art, letters and sciences at Dixie State College. "They’re demanding, but if the student is capable, these classes are really great. Sometimes they’re a godsend."
Some students get off to a bad start and end up needing to retake certain classes. The block gives them that fresh start, Excell said. Others may have wanted to enroll but were unable to do so at the beginning of the semester because of other obligations.
"Rather than having to wait until summer semester, students can jump in and still register for a full load and not be put at any sort of disadvantage," said David Roos, executive director of registration and records.
In addition, many students work and need a little more flexibility, some may be close to graduation and want to pick up an extra class or two in order to graduate on schedule, and others simply thrive on the intensive study.
All of the above are what the block schedule is designed to accommodate, but because courses are more intense, Excell suggests that students use some discretion in the number of block courses they enroll in.
Most of the classes offered during the block either satisfy general education requirements or are popular electives. Second block offerings include a variety of lower division English, math, business, communication, science, social science, history and P.E. courses. A complete list of specific classes offered during the block can be found on page 18 of the DSC class schedule. A number of block courses are also offered at DSC’s Hurricane Center and can be found on page 60 of the class schedule.
Dixie State will remain open through the Olympics, a decision that was made after soliciting student input and feedback last spring, which indicated that most weren’t particularly interested in not being in school. Spring block, however, will allow those students who want to have their cake and eat it too to do so.
"Our block system does afford students who get Olympic fever and take off for Salt Lake City an opportunity to have the Olympic experience and still finish up the semester on schedule," Excell said. "When block classes start on Feb. 19, the Olympics will be in its final week."

Block classes can be added through Mar. 4. Registration for block courses can be done online at www.dixie.edu in the admissions and registration section or via the telephone system at 435.652.7777. In addition, students can call 435.652.7708 for registration assistance over the phone or register in person at the Edith Whitehead Student Services Center. Students can also still be admitted to the college specifically for the block. Applications for admittance can also be found at the college’s website.
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Dixie State College Disability Resource Center announces new award
(ST. GEORGE – Feb. 1, 2002) The Dixie State College Disability Resource Center is proud to announce a new award that will be presented to one faculty member each month who puts extra time and effort into assisting students with disabilities.
The new "Bridge Builder Award" got its name from a poem with the same title. The poem tells the story of an old traveler that dedicates his time and effort into building a bridge that he knows he will never use again, but puts in the effort anyway for others that will travel down the same path. Many professors on the DSC campus go the extra mile to build similar bridges for their students, both for students with and without disabilities, which is what this award is geared toward recognizing.
"I became aware that there were some teachers on campus who were really working hard to help students who were struggling with disabilities succeed," said Mike Handley, director of the Disability Resource Center. "I felt that their efforts deserved to be recognized, so we came up with this award as a certificate of appreciation. After seeing the poem about the bridge builder, I realized it was a perfect theme for the award."
In October, Gordon Russell, a developmental math professor, became the first recipient of the Bridge Builder Award. According to his students, Russell takes extra time in and outside of class to assure that his students understand the concepts he is teaching.
November’s award went to Curt Walker, a biology professor. Walker is known for his unique teaching methods, which make it easier for his students to relate to what they are learning.
In the month of December the award was presented to Donna Dillingham-Evans, mathematics department chair. She has expressed great concern for her students who are struggling with disabilities and is a constant source of encouragement for them.
Each "Bridge-Builder Award" presented has been custom made for each month. The border of each has been colored by high school students at the Beehive Preparatory Academy. The Disability Resource Center felt that the hand-drawn borders would add a special touch to the meaning of this award.
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"Desert Wife: Life on a Navajo Trading Post" to be performed at Dixie Forum
(ST. GEORGE – Feb. 1, 2002) Debora Threedy, professor of law at the University of Utah and former professional actress, will be on the campus of Dixie State College Feb. 5 to speak and perform at Dixie Forum at noon in the Dunford Auditorium.
Threedy, who also holds an undergraduate degree in theater, will present "Desert Wife: Life on a Navajo Trading Post," a one-woman play based on Hilda Faunce Wetherill’s adventures at a remote trading post on the Navajo reservation in the early 20th century.

"I know that audiences love these programs," said Dixie Forum coordinator, Terre Burton, who has created two dramatic monologues of her own. "They feel as if they have gone back in time to visit with a real person--one who has lived a challenging, exciting life. Our nation has changed so much in the past hundred years that it is especially valuable for us today to examine what it might have been like back then."
Dramatic monologues are designed to give audiences a vibrant glimpse of some point in history. The writer/actress steeps herself in the language and the landscape of the period and then brings it alive to the audience.

Originally from the Midwest, Threedy has lived in Utah for 16 years and has a home in Grover, UT just outside Capitol Reef National Park. She teaches contracts and commercial law at the U of U law school, as well as seminars dealing with archaeology, law and literature, and civil rights.
As always, community members are invited to attend free of charge. Lena Judee will speak at the next Dixie Forum on Feb. 19. She will talk about her own experiences as a modern Navajo woman.
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DSC employee to perform in Opening Ceremonies at 2002 Olympics
(ST. GEORGE – Feb. 1, 2002) Lena Judee, long time member of the St. George community and employee at Dixie State College, will perform with the Paiute Nation as part of the 2002 Olympic Opening Ceremonies on Feb. 8.
A Navajo by birth, Judee also considers herself an adopted Paiute in a sense since she’s lived in St. George for so long and has had so much involvement with the Paiute people in the area. She’s lived in St. George just over 18 years and has worked at the college nearly just as long as multi-cultural program coordinator.
Judee will be participating in two dances during the Opening Ceremonies. She will perform in traditional Paiute attire, which she made herself.
"In my judgment this is probably the greatest tribute to Native American people that this country has ever given," Judee said. "For a worldwide global event such as this to give some attention to Native Americans, especially Utah natives, and give them the opportunity to welcome the world is a wonderful tribute."
Judee grew up in Arizona in a traditional Native American setting. Her father was a medicine man and her mother made a living weaving rugs.
On Tuesday, Feb. 19, Judee will be the feature speaker at Dixie Forum: A Window on the World where she will talk about her experiences as a Navajo woman as well as those of other Navajo women today. The forum will be held at noon in DSC’s Dunford Auditorium. Admission is free.
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Sears Dixie Invitational Art Show again hits southern Utah, celebrates 15th year
(St. George, UT – Jan. 29, 2002) The Robert N. and Peggy Sears Dixie Invitational Art Show, recognized as one of the biggest art events in the state of Utah, will again return to the campus of Dixie State College beginning Feb. 15, 2002.
The Sears Dixie Invitational, now entering its fifteenth year, will feature over 1 60 paintings representative of appr oximately 90 artists. Among those invited to participate in this year’s show include Bill Rushing, Valoy Eaton, Roland Lee, Nancy Lund, Bart Morse, Glen Hopkinson, Al Rounds and Del Parson.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for people who may be passing through town on their way to and from the Olympics to get in on some first-rate artwork from all over the state and country," said Elizabeth Bingham, committee co-chair for the 2002 Sears Dixie Invitational Art Show. "It also provides another alternative for those who may want to get away from the crowds, not to mention the cold, during the Olympics."
An opening gala dinner will be held Friday, Feb. 15 at 6 pm in the college’s Gardner Center Ballroom to kick off the art show. Dinner guests will be the first to preview this year’s artwork and make purchases beginning at 4 pm. Tickets for the dinner are $75 apiece or $600 for a table of eight, of which $50 per ticket may be applied to any purchase made at the show.
Guitarist, singer and songwriter, Kenneth Cope, will be this year’s honorary chairman and provide entertainment and remarks throughout the evening. Cope is known for his inspirational songs such as "His Hands" and "Never A Better Hero." His 1989 album Greater Than Us All remains a top-selling inspirational album. Cope has also made his mark as a critically acclaimed contemporary singer/songwriter.
Earlier Friday afternoon at 3 pm, Salt Lake City artist Bonnie Posselli, winner of last year’s invitational, will host an art symposium in DSC’s Dunford Auditorium. Posselli is known for her quiet and meticulous rendering of trees, as well as her rich, luscious hues depicting the many moods of Utah’s red rock country. The public is invited to come and meet Posselli and learn about her style and passion for painting. Admission to the symposium is free.
The artwork associated with the show will be on display through Sunday, Mar. 17 at Dixie State’s Cox Auditorium. Each work exhibited will be for sale, a portion of each purchase going toward the construction of a new fine arts facility. The public is invited to view the exhibit free of charge. Art show hours are 10 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday and 2 pm to 6 pm on Sunday.
For more information or to purchase tickets to the gala dinner call (435) 652-7537.
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"Babies, Brains, and Books: Reading Makes a Difference"
(ST. GEORGE – Jan. 28, 2002) An encore presentation of "Babies, Brains, and Books: Reading Makes a Difference" will be featured at this week’s Dixie Forum: A Window on the World on Jan. 29 at noon in the Dunford Auditorium on the campus of Dixie State College.
Kathleen Pope, psychology professor at Dixie State College, will lead the presentation, which she originally gave as part of the annual Alder Faculty Honors Lecture earlier this month. Each year She will discuss the powerful effect reading has on brain development.
Pope received a bachelor's degree in English from Utah State University in 1965. She has taught at Rancho Alamitos High School in Garden Grove, California and at West Lake Junior High in Granger, Utah. She spent two years teaching English in Tokyo, Japan to Japanese businessmen. In 1978, she completed a Master's degree in counseling psychology from Utah State University.
She came to Dixie State College in 1976 as a counselor. Later, she became the Director of Counseling and Advisement. For the past fourteen years she has been a full time faculty member teaching courses in psychology and English, particularly Children's Literature. In 2000, Pope was named at the Outstanding Teaching at Dixie State College.
Community members are invited to attend the forum. Admission is free.
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Reading and brain development the subject of Alder Faculty Honors Lecture
(ST. GEORGE – Jan. 16, 2002) "Babies, Brains, and Books: Reading Makes a Difference" will be topic of the 8th annual Alder Faculty Honors Lecture, which will be held at Dixie State College Jan. 22, 2002 at 7 pm in the Cox Auditorium. This year’s speaker, Professor Kathleen Pope, will discuss the powerful effect reading has on brain development.
The Alder Faculty Honors Lecture was instituted by Douglas Alder, former president at Dixie State, and his wife Elaine. The purpose of the lectures is to promote faculty scholarship, faculty communication and camaraderie and improvement in teaching and learning.
"This is a great way for our community to see our professors and their current research," said Demaree Johnson, family and consumer sciences chair and professor at Dixie State, who has chaired the Honor Lecture committee for seven years. "The college is primarily a teaching college and, as a result, the faculty doesn’t often have the opportunity to spend a lot of time on research. The lecture not only gives our professors an opportunity to study, research and write on a topic of their own interest, but to share it with the community at the same time."
Nominees for the Honors Lecture are presented by the college staff and faculty and voted on by the faculty senate board. Any full time faculty member is available for nomination and the presenter is chosen to recognize excellence in teaching and scholarship. The papers associated with the Honors Lecture are published each year in a booklet form that is available at the lecture or by contacting Demaree Johnson at 652-7867.
Kathleen Pope received a bachelor's degree in English from Utah State University in 1965. She has taught at Rancho Alamitos High School in Garden Grove, California and at West Lake Junior High in Granger, Utah. She spent two years teaching English in Tokyo, Japan to Japanese businessmen. In 1978, she completed a Master's degree in counseling psychology from Utah State University. She came to Dixie State College in
1976 as a counselor. Later, she became the Director of Counseling and Advisement. For the past fourteen years she has been a full time faculty member teaching courses in psychology and English, particularly Children's Literature. In 2000, Pope was named at the Outstanding Teaching at Dixie State College.
Pope will give a similar presentation at Dixie Forum: A Window on the World on Tue sday, Jan. 29 at noon in DSC’s Dunford Auditorium.
For more information about the Alder Faculty Honors Lecture, contact Demaree Johnson at 652-7867. Community members are invited to attend the lecture. Admission is free.
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Human Rights Day activities slated at Dixie State College
(ST. GEORGE – Jan. 16, 2001) AmeriCorps Adult Education at Dixie State College is hosting two events in celebration of Human Rights Day.
On Monday, Jan. 21, the needy in the St. George community will be treated to a breakfast. Breakfast will be served beginning at 8 am at East Elementary on 453 South 600 East in St. George. Anyone who feels in need of this service is welcome to come. Food will be served for as long as supplies last.
On Tuesday, Jan. 22, Dr. Edwin Brown Firmage will speak at the Gardner Center Ballroom at 6 pm. The title of Dr. Firmage’s speech is "The One and the Many." Dr. Firmage teaches constitutional law and international law at the University of Utah College of Law.
He has served as a White House Fellow on Vice-President Hubert H. Humphrey staff with responsibility for civil rights. In that capacity, he worked with Roy Wilkins of the NAACP and the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. In August 2001, Dr. Firmage received the "Lifetime Achievement" Gold Medaille d’Excellence Laureates in Geneva, Switzerland.
Following Dr. Firmage’s speech, an awards presentation will be held for the "I have a dream" Essay and Art competition for Washington County School District 4th, 5th and 6th grade students. The evening will conclude with a musical finale. Both students and community members are invited to attend. Admission is free.

AmeriCorps is a program similar to Peace Corps, except it is a national program consisting of volunteers wanting to make a difference within their own community. The Southern Utah Literacy Program is the title of the AmeriCorps branch in this area. AmeriCorps’ main office is housed at Dixie State College. The program works with a variety of people ranging from school children in grades K – 9, tutoring adults for their GED and high school diplomas, teaching English to foreign residents of the community, and tutoring inmates at Purgatory Correctional Facility.
In addition to Human Rights Day events, AmeriCorp regularly sponsors Make a Difference Day and the annual Book Give Away, which will be held on April 13, 2002.
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Fitzcarraldo to be shown at Dixie State’s Bob Dalton Film Festival
(ST. GEORGE – Jan. 16, 2002) The second showing of the first annual Bob Dalton Film Festival will take place Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 7:30 pm in the Dunford Auditorium on the campus of Dixie State College. Fitzcarraldo (1982), directed by Werner Herzog, will be this week’s feature film.
"We chose this film not only for its portrayal of the sheer nerve of its protagonist and his capacity for monumental thinking, but also for its suggestive illustration of the power, scope and meaning of cinema itself," said Darl Biniaz, English professor at Dixie State College, who will help lead a discussion on the film. "If, as the film leads us to believe, "life is the illusion behind which lies the reality of dreams," then one might claim that the cinema is the most appropriate means to experience and rescue those dreams."
Fitzcarraldo is the story of one man’s attempt at the impossible: to build, deep in the Andean jungle, a grand opera house worthy of the famous Italian tenor, Enrico Caruso. The plot centers around Fitzcarraldo (played by Klaus Kinski) convincing the local natives to assist him in hauling a huge river boat over a mountain in order to establish a rubber plantation which will serve to fund his project.
La Strada, an Italian production, will be the final showing of this year’s festival on Jan. 30 at 7:30 pm in the Dunford Auditorium. Each night a discussion will be led following the showing of the films.
The film festival, which will be an annual event, is being held in honor of the late Robert O. Dalton, who worked at Dixie State College in various capacities for over 30 years, including 11 years leading the Dixie College Associated Students’ Feature Film Series. An average of 30 films were shown per year as a part of that series. Dalton passed away in September 2001.
Members of the community are invited to all three showings of the film festival. Admission is free. For more information about the Bob Dalton Film Festival, call Terre Burton at 652-7812 or logon to library.dixie.edu/bobdaltonfilmfestival.
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Dixie State College to host film festival
(ST. GEORGE – Jan. 11, 2002) Beginning Jan. 16, Dixie State College will host the first annual Bob Dalton Film Festival. The film festival will be held in honor of the late Robert O. Dalton, who worked at Dixie State College in various capacities for over 30 years, including 11 years leading the Dixie College Associated Students’ Feature Film Series. Dalton passed away in September 2001.
"The idea of a film festival started when some of us tried to think of a better way of honoring Bob than simply sending flowers to the funeral," said Dr. Terre Burton, English composition and literature department chair at Dixie State College, who first came up with the idea of the festival. "He had been one of us for so long at the college that we thought it fitting to honor him in a way that exemplifies what he loved doing."
In all, three films will be featured as part of the festival, the first of which, "Three Seasons (Ba mua)"(1999), will be shown Jan. 16 at 7:30 in DSC’s Dunford Auditorium.
Admission to all three showings is free.
"Three Seasons" tells the intertwined stories of characters seeking love at three stages of life – childhood, adulthood, and old age. Winner of the 1999 Sundance Film Festival Award, the film is set in Saigon during the 1990s and shows four characters’ search for meaningful relationships.
Harvey Keitel plays an American who, during the war in Vietnam, fathered a child and now searches for her among Saigon’s bars and brothels. A young woman who works harvesting lo tus flowers seeks to understand an elderly man who is dying of leprosy. An eight-year-old, orphaned "street child" sees friendship in a viciously hostile environment. And a rickshaw operator tries to help a cynical but beautiful prostitute.
Week two of the festival will feature "Fitzcarraldo" (1982), directed by Werner Herzog, which will be shown Jan. 23. "La Strada," an Italian production, will be the final showing of this year’s festival on Jan. 30. Each film program will start at 7:30 pm in DSC’s Dunford Auditorium. Each night a discussion will be led following the showing of the films.
Soon after Dalton’s passing, those close to him began making donations to the video collection at the DSC library as a way to honor him. A number of faculty members and Dalton’s film students have also given money to the library for additional purchases toward what will be known as the Bob Dalton Film Collection.
Dalton began teaching at the college in 1957 and taught both English and philosophy over a 30-year period. In 1965, he originated and administered the Dixie College Associated Students’ Film Series. An average of 30 films were shown per year as a part of that series. Dalton was also the recipient of 12 grants from the Utah Humanities Council to administer both film and film/lecture series.
For 12 years during his career Dalton doubled as library director and, in 1965, founded the Celebrity Concert Series. Dalton also worked as director of Dixie College Cultural Affairs and manager of the O.C. Tanner Amphitheatre.
Members of the community are invited to all three showings of the film festival. Admission is free. For more information about the Bob Dalton Film Festival, call Terre Burton at 652-7812 or logon to library.dixie.edu/bobdaltonfilmfestival.
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World awareness to be promoted during DSC’s World Week
(ST. GEORGE – Jan. 11, 2002) Beginning Jan. 14 and running through Jan. 18, Dixie State College will host World Week, an annual student-run activity geared towards celebrating diversity in the world. Now in it’s ninth year, the theme for World Week is "One World, One People, One Week."
"This activity is a celebration of the differences in people," said Donna Stafford, director of student activities at Dixie State College. "We look forward to this event every year, but perhaps even more so this year with the Olympics and world coming to our state. Nothing but good can come out of becoming more familiar with and embracing different cultures, and that’s what World Week is designed to facilitate."
World Week kicks off Jan. 14 at noon in the Gardner Center Plaza with a parade of flags, music by the Dixie Stage College Chorale, and remarks by Jonathan Morrell, director of Student Support Services at DSC.
"One of the main purposes of world week is to expose the general student body to the bit of international diversity that exists at Dixie State," Morrell said. "The more aware of our differences we become, the better we are able to celebrate those differences."
On Jan. 15, Reverend France Davis, pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City, will speak at Dixie Forum: A Window on the World at noon in the Dunford Auditorium and then again at 7:30 pm in the Dunford. Reverend Davis is renowned throughout Utah for his motivational speaking abilities.
Wednesday, Jan. 16, has been designated as "Latino Day." Activities will run throughout the day beginning at noon in the Gardner Center Plaza. Later that evening at 9 pm in the Gardner Center Ballroom, comedian Chad Taylor, will perform as part of Entertainment Dixie. Nicknamed "Mad Chad," Taylor is known for his chainsaw juggling act. Cost for Entertainment Dixie is $2 with an activity card, $3 without.
Beginning at noon on Jan. 17, "International Food and Entertainment Day," dishes from countries such as Korea, Japan, France and others will be available for sale in the Gardner Center Plaza. Performers from various cultures will also be on hand to provide entertainment.
The "World Games" will kick of Friday’s activities at noon in the Encampment Mall. A climbing wall and games including sumo wrestling and water balloon volleyball will be made available. A dance, "The American Pride Stomp," will be held the evening of Jan. 18 at 9 pm in the Gardner Center Ballroom. Admission again is $2 with an activity card, $3 without.
Community members are invited to participate in all World Week activities. For more information about any of the week’s activities, call Donna Stafford at 652-7513 or Jake Denning at 652-7517.
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Reverend France A. Davis to speak at Dixie Forum as part of World Week
(ST. GEORGE – Jan. 11, 2002) One of Utah’s most renowned speakers will be on the campus of Dixie State College Jan. 15 to speak to students and members of the community, not once, but twice.
Reverend France A. Davis, pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City, will first speak at Dixie Forum: A Window on the World at noon in the Dunford Auditorium and then again at 7:30 pm in the Dunford as part of World Week. Rev. Davis is recognized throughout the state for his motivational speeches and presentations. The subject of his presentation will be communicating through music
"Again and again, the name France Davis was mentioned as I sought out speakers," said Dr. Terre Burton, Dixie Forum coordinator. "Rev. Davis is well known throughout the state for his speaking ability, his knowledge of the African-American experience in Utah, his dedication to the humanities, and his love of music. Dixie State students who have heard him rave about his programs, so we’re anxiously looking forward to him being on our campus."
Born in Georgia, Rev. Davis came to Salt Lake City in 1972 to study and later teach communications at the University of Utah where he continues to teach today.
He holds degrees in Afro-American Studies from Merritt College; Arts and Humanities from Laney College; Rhetoric from University of California at Berkeley; Religion and Philosophy from Westminister College; Mass Communication from the University of Utah; and Master's of Ministry from Northwest Nazarene College.
For 22 yea rs, Reverend Davis has served as the full-time pastor of the historic Calvary Baptist Church of Salt Lake City, Utah. He and his wife have two daughters, a son, and one grandson.
Rev. Davis’ speech can also be heard live on the college radio station at 105.1 FM, marking the first live broadcast of a forum since the series began last fall. The forum is also scheduled to air on the Community Education Channel (Channel 25) the following Thursday at 1 pm and again at 8 pm. Check your local listings for programming changes.
DSC psychology professor, Kathleen Pope, will speak Jan. 29. The title of her presentation is: "Babies, Brains, and Books: Reading Makes a Difference." Members of the community are invited to attend each forum. Admission is free.
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Still time to register for spring classes at DSC
(ST. GEORGE – Jan. 7, 2002) Monday marked the first day of spring semester classes at Dixie State College. Spring enrollment is up over two percent over last year at this time, but plenty of classes remain available, and registration will continue through the week with no penalty.
"There’s definitely still time to register," said David Roos, executive director of registration and records at Dixie State College. "Typically, professors use much of the first day of instruction to introduce their courses, so it doesn’t take too much to catch-up at this point. In fact, some courses haven’t even started yet depending on the day they’re held. And there are classes that are held once a week, so there’s still time to make it to the first day of classes depending on what students want to take."
Students can actually continue to add classes to their schedule through Feb. 1, but a $25 late registration fee kicks in beginning Jan. 15.
Though registration began just after Thanksgiving, a steady stream of students registered today, the first day of instruction, and Roos expects more of the same throughout the week. In some cases, Roos and his staff are admitting students and helping them register at the same time, a one stop shop so to speak, and they are doing their best to accommodate students with those needs.
"We’re seeing a lot of students who haven’t even applied yet who are showing up with their applications, and we’re able to get them admitted and registered fairly quickly," Roos said. "People shouldn’t think, ‘Well, I haven’t even applied yet, so I shouldn’t even bother because I’ve missed the deadline and it’s too late,’ because it’s a simple process to get them into the computer system and ready to go."
Roos advises students not to wait too much longer, however. Many classes are filled to capacity and have consequently closed, and others are filling quickly, particularly the more popular general education courses.
"While there is still time, classes are filling up quickly," Roos said. "If people are planning on it, they need to get in and see us."
The fastest way to register for admitted students, Roos said, is on the Internet at www.dixie.edu in the admissions and registration section or via the telephone system at 435.652.7777. Students can also call 435.652.7708 for registration assistance over the phone. For students who aren’t yet admitted, their best bet is to visit the admissions and registration office in person, located in the Edith Whitehead Student Services Center in the heart of campus.
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Spring Dixie Forum set to begin at Dixie State College
(ST. GEORGE – Jan. 4, 2002) Dixie State College’s noontime forum series, first established at the college this past fall, is set to get underway for spring semester. Dixie Forum: A Window on the World, similar in nature to SUU’s Convocation, will once again be offered every other Tuesday in the Dunford Auditorium in the Browning Building, the first taking place Jan. 8 at noon.
This semester’s first speaker will be Dr. Max Rose, vice president of academics at Dixie State College. A native of Henrieville, UT, Rose earned degrees from Southern Utah University, Utah State University, and Brigham Young University before coming to Dixie where he has delighted, encouraged, and educated students since 1972 as both a professor and administrator.
"Max is as entertaining and engaging a speaker as they come and always draws a crowd," said Dr. Terre Burton, professor of English at Dixie State and Dixie Forum coordinator. "It will be great for our students, many of whom are on their own for the first time in their lives, to hear from someone who grew up in the tiny town of Henrieville and has become one of the most prominent educators in the State of Utah. He’ll be a great kickoff to this semester’s series."
Among the subjects Rose has taught over the years at DSC include chemistry, astronomy, statistics and mathematics. Dr. Rose's subject for the forum will be "The House that Math Built" and he will discuss the role math plays, and has played since the ancient Greeks and Mesopotamians, in the world.
DSC administrators have placed a good deal of emphasis on the forum series and its value, so much so that a "free" or "dead" hour was created so that all faculty and students could participate.
"We are, of course, hoping that many students will attend this first forum, but also hope they will be joined by members of our Washington County community who are more than welcome to attend each forum," Burton said.
Burton has made creativity the focus of the series in this its first year. Each of the presenters for the series is in a field that demands creativity and fresh visions.
Though most forums this semester will be held every other week, the second forum this semester will take place the following week on Jan. 15. Reverend France A. Davis from Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake will speak about communicating through music.
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