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Show Features WEDNESDAY MARCH 28 2012 A two generation graduation WSU students graduating in spring as a family By Jennifer Peterson correspondent I The Signpost Spring graduation 2012 at Weber State University is approaching, and the Marsh family of Roy said it is waiting anxiously for the prospective day. The family not only has one student participating in the procession, but five family members receiving a diploma. The future graduates include father Steve Marsh and sons Brad, Blake and Brandon Marsh. Also included in the group is Brandon's wife Jennifer Marsh. The Marsh family said it never anticipated for this type of academic union to occur, especially since each member's degree emphasis is entirely different from one another. "We all go to Weber, but there is not much overlap of things," Blake said. "It's good to hear about what the other departments have to offer. It makes me think that if I could do it over again, maybe I would go down another path because of how interesting it sounds." Each person holds a nontraditional student status, experiencing busy external schedules, spouses and fulltime jobs. Each one has had a very different college experience, including different areas of involvement and time expended at WSU. Steve, 52, refers to himself as the "nontraditional nontraditional" type of student. "The reason I say that is because I don't go to school during the day," Steve said. "I go to class at night, and I'm generally the oldest person in the class, even if I take classes online." Steve will receive his Bachelor of Science in construction management and technology. The process to commencement has taken him a total of eight years. He currently works for the United States Army Corp of Engineers, operating in construction management on all scales from residential to industrial. Steve said his job was the reason he went back to school. "They have a program that helps people like me further their education," Steve said. "Not all of the tuition, but they've helped out quite a bit. It's been a great benefit for me in my career." One particular achievement Steve received during his educational process was the recognition of being the only student in the history of the construction management department to ever pass the Level II AIC test, better known as the Certified Professional Constructor. "I am the only student who has ever done that while PHOTO BY AMANDA LEWARK I THE SIGNPOST Members of the Marsh family. Back row: brothers Blake, Brandon and Brad Marsh. Front: their father, Steve Marsh. Five members of the Marsh family anticipate graduating from Weber State University this semester. as a student attending Weber State," Steve said. "That's why construction management is good here. They have taught us so well that Level II can be passed." Brad, 32, is the oldest of the three sons. He has attended WSU on and off for the past 10 years. He will receive his associate in general studies and will continue working toward a Bachelor of Science in technical sales. Brad said he has seen a great amount of growth and change happen to WSU during his time spent on campus. "It's been really amazing to see what has changed from when I first started coming here," Brad said. "I would say See Marsh page 8 A campus-wide celebration IBLDPRPL Women's history brings campus participation WSU license plate aids scholarship fund By Jerrica Archibald features editor I The Signpost By Lorri Thurgood correspondent I The Signpost Few occasions bring campuswide participation at Weber State University quite like Women's History Month. In 1978, the people of Sonoma County, Calif., began celebrating a women's history week at the beginning of March to honor the contributions of women throughout history. In 1981, Utah's own Orrin Hatch, along with Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, worked together to have Congress recognize a national Women's History Week. By 1987, Congress expanded this week into Women's History Month for the entire month of March. WSU organizations such as the women's studies department, the Diversity & Unity Center, and the Women's Center collaborate with many different educational departments across campus to create displays, show movies and host activities for Women's History Month. "We have contacts with lots of other departments on campus, and we are actually going to apply an executive council which is made up of representatives from In 2011, the Utah state government passed a law requiring Weber State University to have a minimum of 500 WSU collegiate license plates on the road. According to www.utah.gov, Utah legislature HB0506 says, "Beginning on January 1, 2012, each participating organization shall collect and hold applications for support special group license plates authorized in Section 41-1a-422 on or after January 1, 2012, until it has received at least 500 applications." This law came about because many groups wanted to have their own license plates, and a requirement needed to be implemented. WSU currently had about 400 plates on the road. This was not enough. "To ensure the future of our license plate, we've set a goal of 1,000 plates on the road by January 2012," according to www. alumni.weber.edu . They now have more than 600. PHOTO BY AIMEE SMITH THE SIGNPOST One of the Women's History Month displays at the Diversity Center. a lot of other departments, such as education, science, technology education and a variety of areas other than social sciences and humanities," said Cara Angell, the women's studies secretary. "We try to work through our executive council to the faculty." Some of the events hosted throughout the month of March included a showing of the film Miss Representation, a "create your own herstory" writing activSee Women page 8 "If WSUAA can meet this goal, there will be $25,000 available every year for scholarships," said Lynell Gardner, executive director of the WSU Alumni Association. The WSU plates have been around since the early 1990s. The yearly donation is $25, and it comes with the yearly vehicle registration fee. Those interested can also pay the $25 directly to WSUAA, and they will give them a receipt to mail into the DMV. There is a one-time fee of $15 the DMV charges to transfer the plates. Each year thereafter is only a $25 donation. There are some perks to having the WSU license plate, including a tax deduction, because 100 percent of the $25 goes to scholarships and showing WSU pride. "I just love seeing the Weber State license plates around town," Gardner said. All of the money goes to the alumni scholarship fund. People can specify which department or scholarship fund they would like their donations to go to. Last year, WSUAA gave out more than $12,500 just from the license plates. The recipients of the scholarships are chosen by a board of members. The selection is See Plate page 8 |