Utah State University

The academic year comes to an end with Utah State University's 111th commencement, and the year has brought its share of accomplishments.

Utah State's Wright Flyer team continued to bring honor and recognition to the university. The plane was the first to fly over Huffman Prairie Flying Field since the Wright brothers themselves took to the air in Ohio for test flights. The team was recognized at Utah State's Robins Awards this spring, capping a project that involved thousands of hours of work.

The Aggies had a successful basketball season, breaking into the national rankings for the first time in 33 years.

A dialogue about creating a sustainable "green" campus has emerged, and a committee is in place to make recommendations and give support to the initiative.

Students have continued the long-standing tradition of hands-on research and presented research findings at Utah's state capitol and in Washington, D.C. Students built a moonbuggy, a satellite and designed award-winning bridges. Students in the performing arts captured national titles in percussion and piano, and costumes designed by a student are competing at the national level at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Artwork by a student graphic artist graced the cover of the country's best-known graphic design publication.

Utah State Today opened the year with a look at Utah State's new freshman class and will end the year with comments from students who celebrate the completion of another year. We've included a summary of our commencement stats and a look at award-winning faculty who will be honored at commencement as well.

Utah State University Commencement 2004

Dee Glen Smith Spectrum
Saturday, May 1, 9 a.m.

2004 class size: 3,699

1994 class size: 2,670

Degrees:

Associate's: 177
Bachelor's: 3,002
Certificates: 4
Master's: 481
Doctorate: 35

Annual Resident Tuition: $3,374 (full time)

Geographic Origin

Number of countries: 38 (India: 48; China: 41)
Number of U.S. states: 46
Utah: 2,330

Ethnicity:

American Indian/Alaskan Native: 14
Asian: 53
African American: 12
Caucasian: 3,235
Hispanic: 55
Mexican American: 2
Pacific Islanders: 1
Puerto Rican: 0
Other: 50

Gender:

Male (undergraduate): 1,118
Female (undergraduate) : 1,881

Age Range:

Age of youngest graduate: 19 (bachelor's)
Age of the oldest: 77 (master's); 66 (bachelor's)

Most Popular Degrees:

Elementary Education: 171
Family and Human Development: 140
Accounting: 133
Business Information Systems: 129
Psychology: 103

Commencement Speaker:

Jane Clayson Johnson, award-winning broadcast journalist

Honorary Degree Recipients:

Jane Clayson Johnson (Doctor of Humane Letters); Ruth L. Novak (Doctor of Science and Engineering); Merlin Olsen (Doctor of Business); C. Booth Wallentine (Doctor of Agriculture).

Faculty Awards:

Christine Hult, D. Wynne Thorne Research Award; John S. Seiter, Eldon J. Gardner Teaching Award; Debra Spielmaker, E.G. Peterson Extension Award

Professors of the Year (Teaching Excellence Awards):

Craig Aston, College of Agriculture; L. Dwight Israelsen, College of Business; Beth E. Foley, College of Education and Human Services; Jacob Gunther, College of Engineering; Robert H. Schmidt, College of Natural Resources; and Joseph R. Mendelson III, College of Science. John S. Seiter, representing the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, received the Eldon J. Gardner Teaching Award.

Special Awards:

The faculty of the Department of English and the School of Accountancy will receive Department Teaching Excellence awards.

And finally, here's what current students have to say about Utah State University as they complete another year:

"There are so many good things and fine people at Utah State. You won't find any better anywhere else. The professors and fellow students are very helpful and laid back."

"I've really enjoyed Utah State. After graduation I plan to go out of the country and play professional hockey, and possibly teach Japanese students English."

"I came here to Utah State because one of my friends said it was a safe place and a good school. I want to stay here and work for while, and then maybe go back to Japan."

"I love Utah State, the social work program is excellent here. We have a really strong networking program, and the professors and students are all great."

"We have a really strong social work program here, and I have learned amazing things at Utah State. I'm excited to be able to learn new things."

"Academically, Utah State is great. The environment makes it possible for me to concentrate and I don't get distracted. The faculty is great to help and facilitate learning."