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Show JTHURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1001 We've got the gown for you! Beautiful, fresh gowns at a rental price. 586-8606 - call today / t ' Xor!h 400 ·W es/ 23.ridafandprom yawn renlafs. Open by special appointment only - Please call 586-8606 ' ' I commute to Sierra College in Rockl in, Calif., where he received his certificate in residential construction , and later in 2000 , his contractor's license in Nevada. Then , a few months ago, Renee Ballenger explained, a friend gave her a copy of the book Who Moved My Cheese?, a book about the role of"change in one 's life. At the same time Danny Ballenger began perusing job banks on the internet. "Ever since we met,· Renee Ballenger said, "Danny has always spoken of southern Utah; how he wanted to take me there one day, and maybe even live there." Danny Ballenger came across the information services position on the internet and showed Renee. She applied to a job listed with Southern Utah University and now the Ballenger's new home is Cedar City. "Each day I'm here in this area , and in my new position , l become more excited and more grateful," Renee Ballenger said. ' I know that being here is going to be a wonderfully positive change for me and m_y family, in a lot of ways ." Renee has hit the ground running in information services and has goals for the program. Most importantly, Renee Ballenger said she wants her co-workers and SUU alumni to know that she is here to serve the University. She plans on acc:omplishing th is by promoting it in every opportunity she can to its various publics. Dean O'Driscoll: director of public relations and marketing, said , ·suu is very fortunate to have a person of Renee's caliber Join our staff." Renee Ballenger has been added to the SUU public relations/marketing office as the new director of information services. Ballenger is replacing Jim Robinson who retired in December after 33 years at SUU. Ballenger moved to Cedar City from Fallon, Nev. She lived in Nevada for 18 years in Hawthorne where her father worked as the plant manager of the largest ammunition depot in the world. Prior to living in Fallon, she was living in Reno attending the Unive rsity of Nevada where she received her bachelor's degree in journalism with a public relations emphasis. For her student internship, she worked for former Nevada Congresswoman Barbara Vucanovich in Washington. D.C. for a summer. Ballenger entered into the industry fu ll-time at Harvey's Resort Hotel and Casino at Lake Tahoe as public relations coordinator. . Renee Balleneger married Danny Ballenger in 1992. The couple moved to Fallon where Danny Ballenger operated heavy equipment at Kennecott Rawhide Gold Min~. While living in Fallon, Renee Ballenger was the marketing director for the Fallon Nugget and Bonanza casinos. In 1994 when the couple's first daughter. Rachael Lorraine , was born, Renee Ballenger became self-employed and launched her own home business in which she executed manuscript, feature , public relations and motivational writing . along with resumes, speeches and editing . In 1997, a second daughter. Lisa Madeline, joined the family. At this time Danny Ballenger decided to since last .year. "What SUU offers in graduate studies is constantly expanding ." Barton said. "We have a master's program in business administration new this year, a master's of fine arts beginning next fa ll , and our ongoing, reputable master's in education program.· Barton said he believes the upward current in SUU enrollment will continue. · 1 predict increases directly due to expanded scholarships. and also to reinforcement efforts following the application and · admission steps in rton the process of Ba actual attendance to SUU, • he said. Barton said that 60 percent of applicants to a higher learning institution are accepted , and then actually enroll and attend. ·suu:s application retention is parallel to the national average ," he said. Barton concluded , "Overall , SUU's enrollment is healthy with a very prof!lising future ." 161 s Ballenger joins the SUU staff ~UU enrollment figures are continuing to rise Enrollment at Southern Utah University continues its increasing trend with the number of total students this spring semester higher than this lime last year. A total of 6,249 students are attendin~ SUU this semestermore than..a_ 3 percent increase from last year's enrollment and a nearly 5 percent rise from the '99 spring session. Enrollment from last semester is up 286 students. D. Mark Barton, ,assistant vice president for student services. attributes the rise partly to enhanced advisement programs. "Not surprisingly, more focused and concise academic advisement lends itself to better o. Mark retention of freshmen , in particular,· Barton said. Full-time students equal 5,012 , which indicates an increase of 1,000 students in the last two years alone. Significant growth appears in the graduate student category. Eightysix percent more graduate students have chosen to continue their higher education at SUU . PAGE UNIVERSITY JOURNAL CAMPUS NEWS I • .,. ' + ' .._ I • '~ " I ~ • ' \ ' 1' • |