Southern Utah University: Notable Alumni and Their Impact
Southern Utah University (SUU), nestled in Cedar City, Utah, has a rich history dating back to its establishment as the Branch Normal School (BNS) in 1897. Over the years, SUU has evolved into a comprehensive university offering a wide array of academic programs and fostering a vibrant campus community. Its alumni have made significant contributions across various fields, leaving a lasting impact on society. This article highlights some of the most notable graduates and former students of Southern Utah University, showcasing their diverse achievements and contributions.
From Branch Normal School to Southern Utah University: A Historical Overview
In the spring of 1897, Cedar City was selected as the location for the "Branch Normal School," the first teacher training school in southern Utah. Citizens worked to complete Ward Hall on Main Street for the first school year, and by September 1898, Old Main was almost completed. Milton Bennion served as the first principal, instilling a code of integrity in the students and establishing a self-governing student body. The BNS started with four teachers, now known as the Founding Four: Milton Bennion, Howard R. Driggs, George W. Decker, and Annie Elizabeth Spencer Milne.
Over the years, the institution underwent several transformations, reflecting its growth and expanded mission. Roy F. Homer became principal in 1913, ushering BNS into the next stage as the "Branch Agricultural College" (BAC), a branch school of the Utah State Agriculture College. In 1951, Daryl Chase became president and was responsible for the school's heightened vision and name change to the "College of Southern Utah" (CSU). Royden C. Braithwaite, who took office in 1955, oversaw significant campus expansion and the establishment of the Utah Shakespeare Festival in 1961 by Fred C. Adams. In 1969, Braithwaite oversaw the school's name change to "Southern Utah State College". The largest expansion of growth happened under the direction of Gerald R. Sherratt who was president from 1982 until 1997.
On February 14, 1990, the Utah State Legislature officially changed the name to Southern Utah University, effective January 1, 1991. Since 1969, three administrative bodies have governed SUU: the President's Council, the Board of Trustees, and ultimately the Utah Boards of Regents.
Notable Alumni
SUU boasts a diverse and accomplished alumni base. Here's a look at some of its most notable graduates:
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Politics and Public Service
- Harry Reid: A prominent figure in American politics, Harry Mason Reid Jr. was a United States Senator from Nevada from 1987 to 2017. He served as the Senate Majority Leader from 2007 to 2015, leading the Senate Democratic Caucus from 2005 to 2017. He enrolled at Southern Utah University in 1959.
- Michael Okerlund Leavitt: Served as the 14th Governor of Utah from 1993 to 2003. He later joined the George W. Bush administration, holding positions as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from 2003 to 2005 and as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) from 2005 to 2009.
- Celeste Maloy: Served as a U.S. Representative for Utah's 2nd congressional district. Prior to her congressional service, Maloy worked as the deputy county attorney for Washington County, Utah, and as a conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
- Walter K. Granger: U.S. Representative from Utah.
Arts and Entertainment
- Keala Settle: An accomplished actress and singer, Keala Settle originated the role of Norma Valverde in Hands on a Hardbody on Broadway in 2013. She was also part of the original Broadway cast of Waitress, portraying Becky. In 2017, she gained widespread recognition for her role as Lettie Lutz in the musical film The Greatest Showman, where she sang the award-winning song "This Is Me."
- Claybourne Elder: An American actor, singer, and writer known for his work on television and Broadway.
- Derral Eves: An American digital media producer, Derral Eves is known for executive producing The Chosen, the first multi-season series about the life of Christ, and the highest crowd-funded TV series or film project of all time.
- Lonnie Mayne: An American professional wrestler in the 1960s and 1970s who frequently went by the name Moondog Mayne.
Athletics
- Cameron Levins: A Canadian long-distance runner, Cameron Levins won the bronze medal in the 10,000 metres at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Levins had the best-Canadian finish ever of fourth in the marathon at the 2022 World Championships, setting a new Canadian record. He is the North American record holder for the marathon and the Canadian record holder for the half marathon.
- Fred House: An American retired professional basketball player.
- LeShaun Sims: A former American football cornerback who played college football at Southern Utah and was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL draft. Sims has also played for the Cincinnati Bengals.
- James Cowser: A former American football outside linebacker and current college football coach, currently the defensive ends coach for Weber State University. He played college football at Southern Utah. Cowser was Football Championship Subdivision Defensive Player of the Year (2015).
- Gabe Freeman: An American former professional basketball player.
- Matt Hodgson: An Australian professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Southern Utah University and Saint Mary's College of California before debuting in the National Basketball League (NBL).
- Nick Miller: A former American football wide receiver signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Southern Utah.
Coaching
- Barret Peery: An American college basketball coach and current assistant coach at UNLV. He was formerly the head coach at Portland State.
- Kerry Rupp: An American college basketball coach who is currently an assistant coach at Detroit Mercy. Previously, Rupp was head coach at Louisiana Tech from 2007 to 2011.
- Mazen "Maz" Trakh: A Jordanian-American professional basketball coach who is the head coach for APR BBC of the Rwanda Basketball League. Trakh previously coached in the National Basketball Association (NBA), Continental Basketball Association (CBA), American Basketball Association (ABA) and overseas.
- Bill Evans: A college basketball head coach, currently the head coach at USU Eastern.
Other Fields
- Jill Stevens: Miss Utah 2007, Jill Stevens is a combat medic in the Utah Army National Guard and served as a medic during an 18-month tour in Afghanistan from 2004 to 2006 supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
- Katie Savannah Steele: An American model rocketeer actively involved in the National Association of Rocketry.
Southern Utah University Today
SUU continues to thrive as a dynamic institution of higher learning. The university awards associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees organized into four colleges and two schools, offering a combined total of 140 bachelor's degree programs and 19 master's degree programs. SUU has a large number of performing and visual arts opportunities for students and the local community. SUU's location near numerous national and state parks provides students with ample opportunities for outdoor recreation. Southern Utah Thunderbirds have a rich history of competing against college teams throughout the country and in the State of Utah.
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