Alumni honored for dedication to USU
The mission statement of the USU Alumni Association, according to Cecile Gilmer, Event Coordinator for the Alumni Association, is to “Promote Utah State and the benefits of being an alumni as well as to reach out to the students and try to further the mission of Utah State.” In order to achieve this goal, the Alumni Association hosts and sponsors many activities for alumni and their families. One such event is the annual Hall of Honor Awards Night in which about three or four people are recognized for their dedication and time to the Alumni Association as well as USU.
Gilmer said, “Mostly people are chosen who have committed a lot of time to the Alumni Association, or financial resources, for years.” Gilmer also stated that often times these people have either been chapter presidents, or served on the board.
“Nominations can be taken from anyone, alumni, administrators, faculty or staff.” Gilmer said. From then, it is narrowed down to a handful of candidates who are then voted on and finally chosen by the executive board.”
This year’s Hall of Honor award was presented to Sydnee Madsen, Dennis and Lynn Sessions, and Randy and Kathie Watts on November 5th.
Sydnee Madsen, a USU graduate and Aggie Athletics advocate, currently lives in the Holladay area of Salt Lake City, with her husband and four children according to the Award program biography.
Regarding the recent award she received, Madsen said, “Of course its a great honor, but it also makes me excited for the years ahead of me. More than the award its the beginning of lots of opportunities to advocate Utah State and the Alumni Association.”
Madsen’s biography stated that during her time as a USU student Madsen was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority and a member of the Student Alumni Association Board. She was also promoted by the Political Science department with an internship in the office of Senator Orrin Hatch, in Washington D.C.
“It was a great opportunity for me to be so close to many historical places and to meet the people who came to visit Senator Hatch’s office.” Madsen said about her time in Washington D.C. and it was there that she met her husband.
Since then Madsen has graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and continues to be involved by devoting her time serving as the president of the Young Alumni Association, organizing events such as an annual “Aggie Ice Cream Party” for the families at the “Road Home” shelter in Salt Lake, as well as a member of the Alumni Association on the Davis County Alumni Board.
Madsen has also helped to create the 1888 club, a club sponsored by the Alumni Association for younger Alumni members who want to give back to Utah State but can’t give large amounts. “Its a great way for young people to give back to the university” said Madsen.
“The best part of serving in any capacity is just the opportunity to meet great people. I think that’s the best thing for me, its an opportunity to serve people outside of my comfort zone” said Madsen.
Madsen also states, “I always honk every time I see some one’s Aggie license plate, and I took all of my kids and we drove to Reno the last two years for the basketball tournament.”
To the students of USU, Madsen would advise “to just take advantage of the short time that they have on campus to be involved in things that they can take with them. The time on campus is so short.”
Dennis and Lynn Sessions have been long time supporters of USU. Both attended and graduated from Utah State, Dennis with a Bachelor degree in Business and Lynn in Elementary Education. With the support of his wife, Dennis headed the Eastern Idaho Alumni Chapter for years as President, and also served for two years as the President of the USU Alumni Association. Along with these leadership positions, Dennis has also served on the Board of Trustees, the Executive Council and is a Lifetime Sustaining member of the USU Alumni Association and members of the Alumni Legacy Board along with his wife Lynn.
About his time as President of the USU Alumni Association Sessions stated, “It was a great experience and I enjoyed meeting a lot of new Alumni as well as attending events around Utah and Idaho. I also got to better understand how the university operates.”
“We really take this (award) as an honor.” Sessions stated, “We were excited about it and felt it as a privilege. We’ve always tried to be good alumni and be involved at Utah State.”
The sessions also owned a hotel as well as an Ace hardware store which they are selling and with that heading into retirement.
Sessions stated, “I’ve been self-employed ever since I graduated and we’ve enjoyed being self-employed. You have to get through the tough times but during the good times at least you’re rewarded for your efforts.”
The Session’s contribution to USU has furthered with an established funding at USU for a Leadership Scholarship for students graduating from Teton High School near their home town of Idaho Falls.
“We’ve tried to be proud Aggies in our community and encouraging graduating seniors to go to Utah State for their education,” said Sessions.
Sessions encourages USU students to finish their degree. “Don’t leave school without it. We’re so fortunate we graduated and its opened a lot of doors in our life,” Sessions said.
Randy and Kathie Watts were the final receivers of the Alumni Hall of Honor award. “I am just very appreciative and I thank the University for that recognition,” said Mayor Randy Watts.
Both Randy and Kathie grew up in Logan and have been major supporters of USU. Now the mayor of Logan, Randy has served as president of the USU Alumni Association as well as a member of the Board of Trustees. The Watts are also members of the USU Community Associates, the Old Main Society, the Alumni Legacy Board as well as Lifetime Sustaining members.
“I just really enjoy my job in the Alumni because we are literally raising dollars for chapters which now put monies back at their disposal into students who would otherwise not get an education. That brought so much pleasure to me just to see that happen,” said Watts.
Mayor Watts has also had many other opportunities to serve Logan such as serving as the Vice President of Cache Valley builders and the Vice President of the Sunshine Terrace Board of Directors along with the Zions Bank Advisory Board.
“I’ve always said where would Logan be without Utah State?” Watts stated. “It brings a quality of life that we just otherwise would not experience.”
“Its all about the experience for the students at USU and trying to make it a better experience,” Watts stated and advises students at Utah State to never “loose sight of your Alma Matter as you move and and find those successes in life. Then look at what you can do to give back.”
Outside of their service, the Watts enjoy being outdoors. Randy loves to ski and hike and has served on the Beaver Mountain National Ski Patrol for 23 years, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Rainer, and trekked through Nepal.
His wife Kathy also enjoys being outdoors, traveling and mountain biking, but she also spends much of her time performing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and accompanying many of the Logan High School Musicals as stated in the program biography.
– allie.jepson@aggiemail.usu.edu