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Show 8 UNIVERSITY PREVIEW• SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY • PALL 1996 Presidential Ambassadors_get involved Rubbing shoulders with President Gerald R. Sherratt, hobnobbi n' w ith alumni and friends of the university, host111g n:cruiting eve nts and giving tours of campus arc just a few of th e many benefit of the Presidentia l Amba s<1<lor program at SUU . The Pre idcntial Ambassadors is an organiza ti on whose purpo c is to represent SUU and the President to a lumni, potential tudcnts and the com munit y. They work closely w ith and arc directed by th e School Relati ons Office in hosting pccial recrui ti ng weeke nds for pntcnmil student , givi ng ca mpu tou rs and assisting · President Sherratt w ith th e ho ting of banquets and other special events. The group cnn is ts of about 30 highl y motivated anti energetic 5,tudent::. who wo rk hard to alway pre ent a good image of t he u nive rsity. An Ambassador mus t he ablt: tO communi ec1 te wd l under an y circums tances and he po nive and outgoi ng to tho e they com e in contact with . " We look for student~ who are outgoing an d friendly," aid Ta h,1 Ncl on, pre ident of th e Presidential Ambas adors. " Man y of the potential students who come here have never been to Cedar C ity or southern Utah before, so tour guides represent t he whole feeling of SUUthcy represen t a good image of SUU and the friendliness of the students, staff and faculty on campu s," she said. "Going up to someone you don't know and shooting the breeze ca n be intimidating, but th o e arc the kind s of people that make good Presidential Ambassadors," Nelson added. SU USA President Valarie Ekins is a Presiden tia l Ambassador, a well as Mary Heybornc, an SU USA Senator, and T re ion Muller, the 1996-97 Academic Vice President. "We select peop le who arc dedicated and have a good attitude abo ut the school," Ne lso n said. Accordmg to Jared Bleak, director of chool Rela ti ons, "Th e Am bassadors arc wonderful representatives of the university and allow SUU to he seen positively u nder many di flcrcnt circumstance<;. Th ey arc a real asset to the univers it y. " The amount of ttme pent bei ng an Ambassador can range from one hour a week to 10 hours n week. " It' a lot o f vo lu nteer work, but we understand some people are bus ier than other and it 's up tO the individual how muc h ti me they wan t to spend being an Am bassador," said Nelson. The Pres identia l Ambassadors is an outsta nd ing organization to become involved in. They play an important role in the success and growth of SUU and work to help the university reach its full potential. Invo lvement in the group is a grea t way to make a lasting contribu tion to suu. Presidential Amba5sadors, some of whom are shown here, have fun while they serve the campus in a vvriety of ways. SUU music department grows, advances The SUU music department has experienced an unprecedented period of growth. The number of students majoring in mus ic has increased by 15 l percent in the past five years. Not only docs the department have the highest number of music majors in the history of the institution, it is the 10th largest department on campus. Performing grou ps in the music department generally enroll 350 to 400 students each term . The membership of these performing groups include students from every department and major on campus. The vocal group OPUS is a chamber cho ir that performs for the annual Dickens Feast-Christmas Dinner, o n Temple Square for t he Christmas Season series, and tours. In May of 1996 OPUS perform ed a concert tour in Engla nd. OPUS is a select group of singe rs who perform a wide variety of music from 16th century mad rigals to 20th ce ntury co mpositions. The instrum ental progra m ar SUU has experienced s ignifica nt growth, both in terms ot nu mber of tudents en ro lled anti quali t y of performan ce. The Band program undn the direction oi Protcsso r James Will iam son provides a ma rching ba nd for football sea. on and a pep band for basketball season in addition to Concert Band program during t he year. The Band also sponsors three events to involve high school band students: Band Day during m arching season, High School Honors Band in January, and Summer Band Camps. An other opportunity for involvement for college students who have had expe rience playing instruments is the SUU Jazz Band. The Jazz Band performs for various events both on and off campus. The SUU Orchestra is under direction of Professor David Cole. Professor Cole has led the David Coles conducted the SUU Orchestra at the orchestra to a new level of I excellence in performance. The orchestra for the SUU Opera Theater productions, and performs for other programs on campus and in the surrounding area. In addition to the performing groups mentioned above, the department also provides opportunities for student participation through the following small ensembles that perform for various events: brass ensembles, string ensembles and woodwind ensembles. Dr. Don Massengale, Professor of Piano at SUU, has brought national recognition to the music department by establishing a piano competition of the highest quality. The Maurice Hinson Piano Competition, named after the internationall y known piano performer and schola r, draws the best piano perform ers fro m all across the United States. Opera Theater at SUU has flouri shed under the direct io n of Professor Carol Modesitt. Productions for the past three years have included Gil bert and Sul livan's T rial bv fu ry. Puccini ' Gwnni Schicch1, Mozart's Impresario, Pucci ni ' La Uoh em e, T he Broadway Magic of Rodgers and Hart, and Frank Locsscr'~ Guv I!!) Dolls. The growth and succcs of SUU ' music depart ment ca n be att ributed LO many things. Proba bly two of th e most important arc a hi ghl y qual ifi ed fa culty and talented and motiva ted students. The wea lth of training and experience of the faculty bring an understanding of national standards which provide SUU students with an education that i competitive with other colleges and universities. Students who are interested in becoming involved in the music program at SUU are encouraged to visit the Music Building and talk with one of the professors or call 586-7890. 97th annual Commencem ent in fun e. |