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Show Wednesday, October 1, 2008 8 U G Q T 6 6 continued from page i "I want a better job and I've almost topped-out," he said, "but I want to change my vocation." Lutz works as a superintendent for a small sub-contracting company, but said he wants to move into a better position. "There are so many opportunities with the degree in my field that, right now, the sky's the limit," Lutz said. He is majoring in construction management, and estimated that he would double his yearly income once he completes his degree. Statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau show that a person with a college degree will make almost double the income in their lifetime, hitting an average of $2.1 million, while someone with only a high school diploma averages Si.2 million. The Career Services Center provided information for students on specific degrees and thetypesof jobsavailableonce they graduate. If students are unsure of their career plans, they can also meet with an adviser to get help and direction. Robert Lutz, a41-year-old WSU freshman, said he found that his career choice wasn't giving him the income he wanted, and so he started college last year. "I want a better job and I've almost topped-out," he said, "but I want to change my vocation." Lutz works as a superintendent for a small sub-contracting company, but said he wants to move into a better position. "There are so many opportunities with the degree in my field that, right now, the sky's the limit," Lutz said. He is majoring in construction management, and estimated that he would double his yearly income once he completes his degree. Comment on this story at Famous author comes to Ogden to raise money Alexander McCall visits Ogden High as part of a fundraiser sponsored by the Ogden School Foundation By Colleen Henstra correspondent I The Signpost Author Alexander McCall Smith, author of the popular "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series came to Ogden on Tuesday as part of the Fall Author Event a fund raiser for die school district sponsored by the Ogden School Foundation. The Ogden High auditorium was filled with 600 students from local high schools, including Ben Lomond and St. Joseph's as well as from Weber State University. Each year the foundation hosts a well-known author. "We fund books for the high schools and then they read some of the authors particular works," said Janice Vause, director for Ogden School Foundation. McCall Smith is known for his words, but what he began with yesterday was a discussion of his music. He and his wife have created and perform with "The Really Terrible Orchestra," a group of notvery-talented musicians who still love to play and perform together. "We actually have the gall to go on tour," he said. "We went on tour to London last year and 850 seats were sold out in the hall. At the end we got what was either a standing ovation or a rush for die exit." In the orchestra, die author plays the bassoon but cannot manage any of the high notes. "When the orchestra hits those high notes," Smith said, "I just stop playing and wait until they come wsusignpost.com back down then I start to play again." Most of die performers in the group follow this same idea, he said. Students were able to meet the author. "It's really been a life-changing experience for some of our kids," Vause said. The speecli was potentially lifechanging for David Bland, a WSU sophomore, who attended the lecture for extra credit in an English class, but now thinks he might make English his major. "He was a fascinating guy," Bland said. "I could sit and listen to him talk all day. I like his humor in particular. What probably impressed me the most about him is that he could feel at home in so many countries." On Tuesday evening die foundation sponsored a dinner with the author at the Eccles Conference Center. The event drew a crowd of 951 people. Several departments from WSU buy tables. "It's a great opportunity for students to sit at the feet of worldclass authors and hear what it took for them to become writers," Vause said. The annual event will raise between $50,000 to $60,000 for the foundation. The money is used to provide "mini-grants" for educators in die Ogden district. The money goes to such expenses as a music stand for die xylophone, cameras for the high school newspaper or larvae for a classroom to raise butterflies. Students and others asked SOMKCt' OCDfN SCHOOL FOl'ND-VflON Author Alexander McCall visited Ogden on Tuesday. Smith questions about his writing style and about his books. Smith has written more than 60 books. He wrote a series of African fables and was first published in 1980. Bom in Zimbabwe and educated in Scotland, he bases most of his writing on the people in Africa. "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" is about a woman named Precious Ramotswe who lives in Botswana and starts a detective agency. As part of his research, McCall Smith returns to Botswana every year. As he talked about this series, he shared his style of writing. "I almost go into a trance," he said. "I just sit mere and I type because I believe fiction comes from the subconscious mind." He gave advice to students wanting to write. "Writing is a wonderful way of exploring and making sense of the world," he said. "Try to write about what you know." He also suggested that students listen to people around them to understand conversation. "Keep your ears and eyes open and listen to what people are saying," he said. Janice Vause's husband Mikel Vause, a professor at WSU, helped start the National Undergraduate Literature Conference in 1985. In 1996, Mikel Vause suggested that his wife do the same type of thing for the Ogden School Foundation. Both events offer opportunities for Weber State University students to hear from world-class authors. "Any time students can attend, it enhances their educational experience," Mikel Vause said. As part of the event, the Ogden School Foundation held a writing contest for high school students. WSU English faculty judged the entries and 10 winners were chosen. Each winner was presented with a signed copy of McCall-Smith's book and were invited to sit on the stage and ask questions. As McCallSmith answered each question, he remembered die student's name. "He didn't just brush off the student's questions," Mikel Vause said, "but gave insightful responses to what the people in the audience were asking of him." WSU students who missed this event can attend the National Undergraduate Uterature Conference in the Spring. The event is held near the end of March or beginning of April each year and is free to students. A schedule of events can be found on their Web site at http://departments.weber.edu/ce/ conferences/nulc/. Comment on this story jt wsusignpost.com. The Musical 7:30 PM October 3, 4 , 7 , 8, 9,10,11 2:00 PM October 4,11 Tickets: $8.50/$5.50 Step up! Get involved! Perform professional level repertoire in the Austad Auditorium Dee Event Center Tickets 1-800-WSU-TIKS weberstatetickets.com or at the Browning Center Ticket Office beginning one hour before performance Seating is limited. Buy your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment a venue with unparalleled acoustics and state of the art recording facilities - Ogden'!, home of Ihe Utah Symphony Benefit from coaching by the WSU music faculty • Be more competitive for scholarships Concert: Sunday, February 15, 2009 with the Weber State Symphony Orchestra Rehearsals: Mondays, 4-6 PM beginning October 27 BC133, Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts This program is funded by National String Project Consortium Ogden City Arts Bonneville Youth Orchestra Auditions Monday, October 13 • 4-6 pm or by appointment BC133 • Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts Audition Requirements scale in 3 octaves, (2 octaves for instruments for which 3 octaves is not practical) solo repertoire r.a.m.p. R C C H C A T O H . A R T S . « J 1 [ ' j )i i . p WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY College of Arts & Humanities & Department of Performing Arts Registration: $25 for audition appointment: mpalumbo@weber.edu • 626-6991 The future: A water shortage puts an end to all private toilets! Public toilets are regulated by a corrupt business! You PAY to perform your private necessities, or else! This satrical comedy musical channels Les Miserable, Evita, Annie and other genre favorites to make fun of capitalism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, petty small town politicas and itself. Environmentalist!! with a sense of humor! Share this message with a young person you know! Get them into Weber by way of music! CULTURAL ™ 1 V J Saturday ^ O c t o b e r 4# 2009 7:30 pm *is/*i2 Peery's Egyptian Theater 2415 Washington Blvd. Tickets: 626-8500 or at the Egyptian Theater weber.edu/culturalaffolrs/ /*• f MARR1NERS.E Straight from France! Samarabalouf plays original music in the spirit of Gypsy jazz with influences from boogie-blues to flamenco rock, a touch of waltz, tango, and rumba with subtle flashes of Arabic and ska and these guys let loose with energy, humor, and virtuosity,!^. SAMAKABA |
