Campus News Briefs
Zions Bank awards USU students
Zions Bank recognized the first group of 11 Utah freshmen to receive the distinguished Zions Bank Founders Scholarship at an April 17 luncheon in downtown Salt Lake City.
Zions Bank awards the four-year, full-tuition Founders Scholarship annually to 11 Utah high school students entering each of the state’s institutions of higher learning. The bank established the scholarship program in July 2001 in honor of the 200th birthday of its founder, Brigham Young.
Among the honorees was Erik Merkley, a freshman at Utah State University who plans to be a physician.
He graduated with a 3.9 grade point average from Northridge High School in Layton, where he was involved in cross country, madrigals and student government. This summer, Merkley will leave to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Forth Worth, Texas, but will retain his scholarship to USU upon his return.
Zions Bank President and CEO Scott Anderson said at the luncheon, “As Utah’s oldest financial institution, Zions has a long-standing commitment to our community and that means a commitment to the education of our young people. This scholarship allows us to show our support for promising students like all of you, who have demonstrated your hard work and community service.”
Along with the full-tuition scholarship provided to the students, Zions Bank will continue to honor the award recipients at annual luncheons and will stay involved with them as they progress through their years in higher education.
Information regarding the Zions Bank Founders Scholarship Program is being made available to high schools throughout the state. Students wishing to apply for a scholarship should contact the Utah college or university of their choice.
Garden Show to be held
The Whittier Community Center is hosting a gardening show Saturday, May 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The show, entitled “Your Garden Bed,” will take place at the Whittier, 290 N. 400 East.
Master classes will be taught for $3 every hour.
The show will include cooking presentations, exhibits, seeds, plants, pots and more. Admission is $1 for everyone.
Congressman to graduate from USU
Like many of his fellow graduates, Michael Simpson is looking forward to commencement exercises at Utah State University.
However, unlike many of his peers, he isn’t sweating last-minute projects and final exams. He completed his degree requirements almost 30 years ago.
Simpson had to rearrange congressional committee hearings to participate in graduation ceremonies.
Simpson said he is just now receiving his diploma because, “I was accepted to dental school while still an undergraduate. I jumped at the chance to go. After all, they only accepted about 80 students out of nearly 5,000 applicants.
Simpson entered the Washington University School of Dental Medicine in St. Louis in the fall of 1974 and, upon graduation, joined his father and uncle in the family dental practice.
“I’d always intended to complete the paperwork while still an undergraduate, Simpson said, but I was busy with dental school, then dental practice, family and starting a political career, and well, the years just flew by.”
But a chance meeting with Utah State political science professor Randy Simmons led to discussions with the USU undergraduate adviser Mary Leavitt, who reviewed Simpson’s transcripts and determined he had indeed earned a degree.
Despite his truncated undergraduate career, Simpson said he carries fond memories of his “Aggie Days.” He recalls proposing to Kathy, his wife of 31 years, on Utah State’s Old Main Hill.
“She’s a Utah State graduate,” he said.
Simpson said graduation will be a proud and memorable experience.