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Show ML English major takes degree to Europe By Monica Valdez Signpost features writer Senior Ed Richards is looking forward to graduating this June. The goal of achieving a bachelor's of science degree has taken him over five years and through several academic majors. Richards finally decided to earn his degree in English with a minor in communication."I wanted to earn a degree in something that I enjoyed, not just something that would give me a job title," he said. Richards said a common misconception other people have about an English degree is that it only applies to the field of teaching. "An English degree is much more versatile than people perceive it to be," he said. Richards said the major has made him more aware of the world around him, along with improving his oral and written communication skills. He also said a recent survey revealed the English degree was the degree held most commonly by CEOs in the business world. Richards said the critical thinking skills cultivated in Honor student Frodsham secures job immediately following graduation By Wynne Rasmussen Signpost features writer Few Weber State University students have anchored their careers with a job after graduation. Joe Frodsham is one senior who has, and looks forward to working for Becton Dickinson, a medical diagnostic equipment supply company. Frodsham was hired for his pursuits in manufacturing engineering technology and is one of few June graduates nationwide selected for a three-year training program with B.D. "Employers want experience, and B.D. is willing to give you that experience and a broad base for that experience," Frodsham said. "It's a great opportunity." Individuals selected for the program will be relocated each year to a different company base in the United States. Frodsham hopes to work in the Salt Lake City division once he is through the training program. He and his wife would like to settle in Utah to raise their family. This was an opportunity Frodsham could not turn away because it will accelerate his career immeasurably. "Once I am through the program I will be given the opportunity for a management position, or a job as a senior engineer," he said. "These types of jobs usually take at least 10 to 15 years to work up to " analyzing and writing about literature are useful in the business sector. He said in the future he definitely intends to go to graduate school, and is looking into the fall of 1997. Although he is uncertain about what emphasis his studies will be in, Richards said he will at least earn a master's degree. Before going on to graduate school, Richards plans to teach conversational English in Europe. "The opportunity to teach English in another culture will be an education in itself," he said, "not to mention a great way to have an extended vacation after going to college for such a long time." In the meantime, Richards is mainly concerned about maintaining his grades for graduation. His advice to other students is to make good use of advisors and deans in their field. "You can save a lot of time and money if you are taking the right classes to graduate on time," Richards said. He also emphasized exploring elective classes during the first year of school to find the major that best suits your interest. Going into the interview at WSU Career Services, Frodsham wanted the job badly, and he had the experience to put him over the top. "I did an internship with BOEING and I believe this experience was pivotal in me getting the job with B.D.," he said. Frodsham is a transfer student from Brigham Young University, and has maintained high academic status throughout his education.He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Honor Society, and was recently awarded the Outstanding Student in the manufacturing engineer technology department. Frodsham is his group's senior project team leader this year. His father owns Frodsham's Better Lawns, a fertilizing company in the Davis area. The group of engineer students decided to take on the development of a combined liquid and dry fertilizer dispenser.Frodsham is one senior who took advantage of services available on campus. He opened a senior file last fall through Career Services and was prepared for the best opportunity. "Joe is a classic example of someone going for the opportunity regardless of the location," said Pat Wheeler, manager of corporate and education recruitment for Career Services. Frodsham and his wife will leave to Connecticut June 20. Dual major finds right road after trying many paths By Brett Ferrin Signpost features writer Ten years ago, fresh out of high school, Dave Dixon started his first quarter at WSU. He was going to go to school and get a degree to "become somebody." "Somebody once told me that 80 percent of males who go to college start out wanting to be a doctor," Dixon said. "That's what I was going to do, too." It has been two and a half years since Dixon began going to school full time. Before this, he went part time off and on. Besides changing from part time to full time, he has also changed his major several times. He started out wanting to be a doctor, then he was going to go into pharmacology and then decided physical therapy sounded better. This June, he will graduate with a double major in psychology and criminal justice. - "I couldn't decide what to do. I was all but finished with physical therapy, but then I did some volunteering and decided I couldn't take that. I liked my psychology classes Signpost success By Jenny B. Scothern Signpost features writer Hard work, love, and encouragement is what helped Lisa Jensen, technical sales and Communication double major, make it ot graduation day, she said. Jensen started Weber State University right after high school graduation in 1992. She graduated from Clearfield High School and received full tuition for all but one year at WSU because of her high school GPA, Jensen said. "My last year of college I only got a half tuition scholarship because it is a competitive scholarship," she said. Jensen will receive her Bachelor's degree in only four years, and is excited but scared to enter the real world, she said. "It's a big change in my life because I've always gone to school. Change is scary but I'm ready to move on, although I will miss the stimulation of learning everyday," Jensen said. r f As in , .. . Dave Dixon and family and I had an interest in criminal justice, so I decided to major in both instead of choosing just one," Dixon said. Dixon and his wife Stephanie have one son and just recently bought a home. One of his concerns now is finding a job that will pay him enough to support his family and make the house payment. While attending WSU, he worked as a welder at Petersen Specialized Fabricators. "I have worked there for so long that I can't start out anywhere else without taking a writer Lisa inspired by Jensen got married half way through her college career to Griff Jensen and has had fun going to school with her husband she said, but regrets she is graduating and he isn't, because he will still have school and homework. Jensen is happy with her education at WSU and said it is important for students to get involved. "A lot of students are married so it's hard to get involved, so married people need to find other areas," Jensen said. She enjoyed writing for the Signpost, she also said she enjoyed the teachers at WSU. Out of all the teachers, Larry Stahle has impacted her the most, she said. "I believe Larry really cares and likes students. He's there for students' welfare and likes them to succeed," Jensen said. Although Jensen is about to graduate from WSU, she is also about to enter a new life. Jensen interviewed for a management training program last September through Career Services, and will begin work with the Federal Government cut in pay," Dixon said. Dixon will soon begin a volunteer internship with the adult probation and parole department in Ogden. "The thing I have found out is that to get a good job in either of these two fields, you have to have at least a master's degree. I will probably go back and get it some time," Dixon said. Dixon said if he had to do it all over again, he would do things differently. First, he would have been more serious about his grades in high school. Second, he would have decided earlier in life what he wanted to do, and then would have stuck with it. Dixon will receive his degree a few weeks before his 28th birthday. Dixon wanted to share some advice from the perspective of a graduating senior, "If you decide to change your major, don't tell anybody but your wife or close family. Finish your schooling and then get a job. Don't tell anybody what you plan on doing until it is done. People can drive you nuts. My family called me a professional student." Jensen's family at the end of June. "It's the Copper Cap Program with the Federal government. I'm going to be learning a lot of different areas, but I will be dingin governemnet contracting basically putting the government in debt," Jensen said. The advice that helped Jensen find a job was to really conccntrat on what Career Services can do for students."Pat Wheeler would just do anything to help you, and students should utilize all the services they have there," Jensen said. Now that Jensen is graduating, she's going to start her new job, go on a small vacation, and work on her garden, she said. She also said she is contemplating to pursue a masters in Human Resource Management. Before all of those plans, however, Jensen said she is going to take up mountain biking and try to keep up with her husband on the trails. Jj |